"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5-23-09

Column reader Dr. David Kramer of California recently chimed in about the greatness of Sandy Koufax--pointing how he came back on just two days rest to shut out the Twins in Game 7 of the 1965 World Series. He also added this: "When Koufax announced his retirement, it was the only time I remember REPORTERS giving an athlete an ovation."..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1979 Minnesota Twins RBI leader was an infielder who played in all 162 games that season. Can you name this individual? Answer to follow..........N.Y. Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett recently told the New York Post that his favorite meal is steak and eggs from the Waffle House. I'm now wondering if the Yanks should have insisted on including monthly cholesterol checks as part of his new 5 year, $82.5 million contract..........This week in sports history, May 25, 1991: Mario Lemieux tallies a goal and three assists--leading his Pittsburgh Penguins team to an 8-0 victory over Minnesota for the team's first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Joe Mullen added two goals and goalie Tom Barrasso stopped 39 shots as the Penguins dominated Game 6--which was played at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. "Super Mario" finished the playoffs with an amazing 44 points--three less than Wayne Gretzky's all-time record..........Congratulations go out to the defending national champion Trinity College (CT) baseball squad--who have moved on to the Division III World Series in Grand Chute, WI (along with seven other teams) after beating a terrific Eastern Connecticut team in the New England Region final last weekend. Coach Bill Decker of Trinity is a TRUE class act, and it surely seems his talented player follow suit in that regard. Go get 'em, Bantams..........If Preakness winner/celebrity filly Rachel Alexandria now lands a commercial endorsement for a women's product such as Femiron or VIACTIV, I'm giving up following horse racing FOREVER..........Speaking of horse racing, if we had people in Washington, D.C. making decisions as well as jockey Calvin Borel, this country would be in a LOT better shape..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a Connecticut girls softball game last week, Farmington embarrassed Bloomfield 27-1; the losing squad made NINE errors during the course of this abbreviated, five-inning fiasco. And going into this week, Bloomfield has lost on SEVEN different occasions this season by 15 runs or more--all of those games having been shortened due to mercy purposes. The Bloomfield squad currently reminds me of the Obama administration: not having a lotta luck so far overcoming huge deficits..........Answer to trivia question: ROY SMALLEY--who drove in 95 runs for Gene Mauch's fourth-place ball club..........To me, the beauty of actress Diane Lane is just as underrated as first-pitch strikes in major league baseball..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Bob Knepper--who blows out 55 candles on May 25th. An Ohio native, Knepper pitched for both the Giants and Astros in a 15-year career that ended in 1990. A winner of 146 games during his career, Knepper's best year came in 1978 while with San Francisco--a season in which he went 17-11 with six shutouts and a fine ERA of 2.63. Knepper was named to the NL All-Star team in 1981 and 1988 and won 15 or more games in a season four times; best wishes, Bob..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NBA player Wayman Tisdale--who passed away last week following a battle with cancer at the age of 44. A three-time All-American at Oklahoma, Tisdale averaged over 15 points per game over 12 NBA seasons as a member of the Pacers, Kings, and Suns; he was also on the U.S. team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. He became an accomplished jazz musician after his playing career ended-- recording eight albums. Perhaps his greatest legacy will be his positive outlook on life; in the face of a two-year battle with cancer that would eventually take his life, Wayman Tisdale never abandoned the uplifting personality that was his trademark. He is survived by his wife, Regina, and four children; rest in peace, Wayman.