"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 12-19-09

Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a girls high school basketball game played last week here in Connecticut, Capital Prep dismantled Norwich Tech 78-7 (no need to put on the reading glasses, folks--you read that correctly); the winning squad held a 47-0 lead AT THE HALF (yes, a BASKETBALL game--NOT football, my friends). Comparing this to a women's boxing match, this bout should have been stopped before the losing fighter put on her TRUNKS...........TRIVIA QUESTION: Amazingly, the 1990-'91 Boston Celtics shot over 82% from the free-throw line as a TEAM. Can you name the player who led the team in FT % (minimum of 100 attempts) that season? Answer to follow..........I recently spoke with Eastern CT State University women's basketball coach Denise Bierly and asked her to reflect on her recent 300th career victory--which came against Rhode Island College. "I've had wonderful players here at Eastern," she told me. "It was never a goal of mine to win a certain number of games, but what I am proud of is continuing the excellence set by coach Bob Miller--who was here before me. Averaging almost 20 wins per season for the last 15 years is quite a statement about our program, but I reflect more on my relationships with my players and seeing them grow as people." Yes, a program that is in VERY good hands; congrats, Denise..........This week in sports history, December 21, 1974: Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler throws four touchdown passes--leading his team to a 28-26 AFC playoff victory over the Miami Dolphins. Stabler's final TD pass came with just 26 seconds remaining when he found Clarence Davis in a crowded end zone; the eight yard scoring strike capped an eight-play, 68-yard drive. Stabler's heroics enabled the Raiders to end Miami's two-year reign as Super Bowl champions..........Here goes: Shakopee, MN councilwoman Pamela Punt marries former Patriots RB Patrick Pass, divorces, then marries ex-Dolphins RB Jim Kiick. Fans of youth football competitions would surely enjoy her full married name of Pamela Punt Pass Kiick..........Did you know that Connecticut's own Scott Burrell is the only athlete in major professional sports history to be drafted in the first round in two sports? He was selected by the Seattle Mariners (as a pitcher out of Hamden High) in the first round of the 1989 MLB Draft; Burrell was later selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft after playing at UCONN. Burrell is currently an assistant basketball coach at Quinnipiac University under former UCONN assistant Tom Moore. (*Thanks to reader Bob Barth for his input on Burrell)..........Regarding this entire Tiger Woods fiasco: I've heard from people who've told me that he needs his ego checked, his head examined, and that he needs to be treated for sex addiction. I look at it this way: With a beautiful, blonde, Swedish model as a wife, I think Mr. Woods simply needs his EYESIGHT checked..........O.K.--one more crack about Tiger: His last name may be WOODS, but--when it comes to women--he surely has lots of IRONS in the fire, huh?..........Answer to trivia question: ED PINCKNEY--who converted 104-of-116 free throws for a percentage of .897; Larry Bird was second with a mark of .891..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA player Terry Mills--who blows out 42 candles on December 21st. A 6'10" forward out of Michigan, Mills played 11 seasons in the league between 1990 and 2001 as a member of the Nuggets, Nets, Pistons, Heat, and Pacers; he averaged 10.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for his career. Mills' best year came during the 1993-'94 season while with Detroit--a season in which he averaged more than 17 points and 8 rebounds per game; while at Michigan, Mills helped the Wolverines to the 1989 national title. Best wishes, Terry..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of Eastern Illinois offensive line coach Jeff Hoover--who died recently in a single-car accident following a game vs. Southern Illinois in Carbondale; he was just 41. Hoover joined Eastern Illinois in 2007 after serving as the offensive coordinator at Portland State; he also spent some time in the Arena Football League coaching the Sacramento Attack. He is survived by his wife, Penny, and two children, Lauren and Cole. May Jeff Hoover rest in peace.