"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 11-28-09

Yes--at first, I thought it was a basketball score, but I was wrong. In a Division II college football playoff game last weekend, West Liberty beat Edinboro 84-63 (I'm not kidding, folks); the teams combined for a Division II single-game record 1,394 yards of total offense. Here's the topper: QB Trevor Harris of Edinboro threw for an NCAA Division II playoff record 630 yards (on 50-of-76 passing, 5 TD's) and LOST. All I know is that the next time I come across Alpine Lace Swiss Cheese in my local supermarket, I'll think of these two teams' defenses.........TRIVIA QUESTION: Over the past 30 years, two members of the Montreal Canadiens have won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman. Can you name these two gentlemen? Answer to follow..........Can you imagine if Georgia-based artist Carol John married NBA guard Chris Paul, divorced, married Coast Guard football coach Bill George--divorced again--then married sprint car racer Nick Ringo? Fans of the "Fab Four" would surely delight in her full married name of Carol John Paul George Ringo..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college basketball game played last week, the school mentioned above--West Liberty--defeated Pitt-Titusville 145-70. Try to fathom these numbers, my friends: The winning squad had a staggering 41 assists as a team and made a total of 21 three-pointers. In addition, the 75-point margin of victory was the largest in school history. Geez, and I used to think that South American sloths were ugly..........This week in sports history, November 30, 1979: In Las Vegas, 23-year-old ex-Olympian Sugar Ray Leonard wins boxing's welterweight boxing title--scoring a 15th round technical knockout over previously unbeaten Wilfred Benitez. Referee Carlos Padilla stopped the bout with six seconds left in the final round after Benitez had climbed off the canvas following a Leonard left hook; Leonard had also knocked down the champion back in the third round. The victory was Sugar Ray's 26th in a row since turning professional while Benitez suffered his first loss in 39 pro bouts..........Post University of Waterbury (CT) has just announced it will join the Collegiate Sprint Football League next season; the team will play its first game at the University of Pennsylvania on September 24, 2010 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia. The interesting part? Sprint football has similar rules to regular college football, but the weight limit for players is 172 pounds. This league includes prestigious schools such as Army, Navy, Princeton, Cornell, Penn, and Mansfield; the focus is on providing students with a way to play competitive sports while building their leadership skills as they earn their college degrees. The school plans on hiring a coach in December and will play its home games at Municipal Stadium on Rt. 73 in Waterbury. Here's hoping that the inclusion of Post in this novel league will attract a loyal audience and provide an interesting addition to the local college sports scene in general ..........I used to think that a Jerry West jump shot was a true thing of beauty--that is, until I saw a photo the other day of supermodel Bar Refaeli modeling Passionata lingerie during a recent photo shoot..........Answer to trivia question: LARRY ROBINSON (1979-'80) and CHRIS CHELIOS (1988-'89)..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former ABA/NBA center/forward Jim Chones--who blows out 60 candles on November 30th. A native of Racine, Wisconsin who starred at Marquette, Chones played for five different teams in the two leagues between 1972 and 1982--averaging an impressive 12.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Chones was a valued member of the 1979-'80 world championship L.A. Lakers squad. Jim was elected to the Marquette University Hall of Fame in 2004; in his post-basketball-playing days, Chones has spent time doing broadcasting work for the Cleveland Cavaliers in various capacities. Best wishes, Jim..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of Stefanie Spielman--wife of former NFL and Ohio State star Chris Spielman--who died recently after a lengthy battle with cancer; she was 42. Stefanie was 30 years old back in 1998 when she discovered she first had breast cancer; amazingly, she survived four bouts with cancer before a fifth recurrence back in March. Stefanie and Chris became major advocates for breast-cancer early detection over the years and raised more than $6 million for research at Ohio State through the Stefanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Research. While with the Buffalo Bills, Chris gave up football for a year to stay home with his wife--even shaving his own head while she underwent chemotherapy treatments. Stefanie also helped form a support group for young women with breast cancer and was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 2002 for her terrific work; yes, folks, sometimes courage goes WAY beyond the football field. Stefanie Spielman is survived by her husband and their four children: Madison, Noah, Macy and Audrey. May this special lady rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 11-21-09

Congratulations go out to Eastern CT State University soccer player Sarah Swann of Oxford (CT)--who was recently named the Little East Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Swann scored nine goals and added three assists in seven conference matches; she also scored both goals during a 2-1 road win over three-time defending conference champion Western Connecticut. Swann (along with teammate Christine Lemieux) repeated first-team all-conference honors this past season; great job, Sarah..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Amazingly, the 1990-'91 Phoenix Suns had three starters on the squad who shot 83% or higher from the free-throw line. Can you name this trio? Answer to follow..........ITEM: San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker may miss up to a week due to a sprained left ankle. I'm totally convinced that Parker's injury probably warranted him missing about a MONTH--but being married to Eva Longoria speeds up the healing process DRASTICALLY..........This just in: Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler just attempted to throw a bottle into a garbage bin outside Soldier Field--and it got picked off..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college basketball game played last week, Arkansas dismantled Alcorn State 130-68; the winning squad built up a 71-26 lead BY HALFTIME. In addition, the Razorbacks' Rotnei Clarke scored 51 points in this terrible mismatch (making 13 three-pointers) while SITTING OUT the last five minutes of the game. Sheesh--and I used to think that the famed mugshot of Nick Nolte (following his DUI arrest in 2002) was ugly..........This week in sports history, November 23, 1991: Kansas running back Tony Sands runs for an NCAA-record 396 yards--leading his team to a 53-29 victory over Missouri in his final game as a college player. The 5-foot-6 Sands carried the ball a remarkable 58 times while scoring four touchdowns; he gained 240 yards in the second half on his way to breaking the previous mark of 386 set by San Diego State's Marshall Faulk earlier in the season. Sands' heroics enabled the Jayhawks to experience their first winning season since 1991..........Can you imagine if former Sacred Heart University scholar-athlete Kathleen Henry married ex-Florida State LB Andre Wadsworth, divorced, then married former Gwynedd-Mercy College pitcher Kyle Longfellow? Poetry fans would surely delight in her full married name of Kathleen Henry Wadsworth Longfellow..........ITEM: The great Vin Scully says he will continue to broadcast L.A. Dodgers games for yet another season. At this juncture, you can be sure of three things in life: yours truly will wake up each AM with joint stiffness, Carmen Electra will look good in ANY photo she takes, and Vin Scully will be calling a baseball game SOMEWHERE come summertime..........How 'bout Yale junior DB Jesse Reising--who was class valedictorian at Eisenhower High School (Decatur, IL)? Reising is double-majoring in Economics/Political Science and plans to join the Marines after graduation. Don't look for THIS guy to be caught cheating on any online music history exam in the foreseeable future..........Answer to trivia question: TOM CHAMBERS (83%), KEVIN JOHNSON (84%), and JEFF HORNACEK (90%)..........ITEM: Joe Namath's dog Leo has been deemed "dangerous" and must be muzzled and leashed even while on Namath's property in Florida. Let's just hope that "Joe Willie" doesn't get cited for animal cruelty should he decide to use panty hose in an attempt to keep the pup's jaw shut..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA player Gary Voce--who blows out 44 candles on November 24th. I know--WHO??? A native of Bridgeport (CT) who played at Notre Dame, the former 6-foot-9 forward is one of those handful of individuals who played in just ONE NBA game; Voce appeared in one regular season game for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1989-'90 season vs. the Washington Bullets--scoring two points (on 1-for-3 shooting) and grabbing two rebounds. Hey--they ALL can't be Lebron, right? Best wishes, Gary..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NBA center Alan Ogg--who passed away recently in Alabama from a staph infection that ultimately reached his heart; he was 42. The 7-foot-2 inch, 240-pound Ogg played collegiately at UAB; he remains that school's all-time leading shot blocker with a total of 266 over four seasons. Between 1990 and 1993, Ogg played in the NBA for Miami, Milwaukee, and Washington--appearing in 80 games; he also spent time playing overseas before retiring for good in 2001. May Alan Ogg rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 11-14-09

ITEM: Former NBA center/Yale grad Chris Dudley is running for governor of Oregon--as a Republican. Sheesh, if this guy should ever win and run that state like he once shot free throws, look for the following to happen: state taxes to rise at an astronomical rate, Oregon's unemployment rate to approach 50%, and HUGE chunks of the state to start eroding into the Pacific Ocean..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1991-'92 Golden State Warriors--who scored an impressive 118.7 points per contest--had three players on the squad who averaged more than 18 points per game apiece. Can you name these three gentlemen? Answer to follow.........This week in sports history, November 17, 1991: During his team's 21-10 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley suffers a paralyzing injury during a pass-blocking assignment. David Rocker of the Rams, who leaped in an effort to block Detroit QB Erik Kramer's pass, landed on Utley--who fell forward while fracturing his sixth cervical vertebrae. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Utley would undergo 2 1/2 hours of surgery to decompress fragments and tissue that were pressing against his spinal cord; doctors later claimed that the operation went as smoothly as could be expected, but still could not predict if the paralysis would be permanent..........Can you imagine if famed socialite (I'll stop short of saying "actress") Paris Hilton married Wake Forest track star Phillip Warsaw, divorced, married former Miami quarterback Brock Berlin--divorced again--then married sports talk show host Jim Rome? Fans of European geography would surely enjoy her full married name of Paris Warsaw Berlin Rome..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a game played in New Hampshire last Saturday, Southern Connecticut annihilated St. Anselm 71-14; SCSU scored 50 seconds into this "laugher" and held a 43-7 lead AT THE HALF. In theological history, St. Anselm is said to have been treated harshly by his father, but I'd be willing to bet that even Anselm himself would have had trouble fathoming the type of mistreatment that Southern CT handed out during THIS debacle..........New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley recently told the New York Post that his choice of preferred dinner guests would include both Bill Gates and Tiger Woods. My first reaction? Regardless of WHERE they chose to dine, there would be absolutely NO problem WHATSOEVER covering the tab..........So I hear that my alma mater, Fordham, has begun advertising its basketball program on WFAN Radio. Geez, having won just THREE games last season while going 1-15 in the Atlantic 10, I was beginning to think that the term "Fordham Basketball" was an oxymoron..........Speaking of the Fordham Rams: If that team makes the NCAA basketball tournament this season, then yours truly goes out on dates with Charlize Theron and Cameron Diaz on consecutive evenings sometime during 2010..........Answer to trivia question: CHRIS MULLIN (25.6 ppg), TIM HARDAWAY (23.4), and SARUNAS MARCIULIONIS (18.9)..........How 'bout that college football game in the Midwest last weekend--Crown (MN) defeating Eureka 69-63? The game featured over 1,400 yards of total offense and lasted nearly four hours. I'm just wondering--with the score tied at 42-42 late in the third quarter--if the eventual losing squad actually YELLED "Eureka!" when they finally forced Crown to punt for the first time..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league player Eli Marrero--who blows out 36 candles on November 17th. A native of Cuba, Marrero spent ten seasons in the "bigs" between 1997 and 2006--playing for six different teams. A versatile player who caught, played first base, and also played the outfield, Marrero was a lifetime .243 hitter; in 250 at-bats, he hit .320 for the Braves in 2004. However, Marrero had absolutely NO success as a postseason player; appearing in five playoff series as a member of the Cardinals and Braves, Marrero hit just .105--gathering only four hits in 38 at-bats. Hey--they all can't be Hideki Matsui, right? Best wishes, Eli..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Iowa football coach Forest Evashevski--who died recently in Michigan at the age of 91. A former star himself at Michigan, Evashevski was hired at Iowa in 1952 and led the Hawkeyes to a pair of Rose Bowl victories as well as three Big 10 championships; he coached the team until 1960. Evashevski was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000; he leaves his wife, Ruth, five sons, and two daughters. Rest in peace, "Coach."

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 11-7-09

The "Unwatchable NBA" Update (yes--sadly, this feature returns, folks): In a game played in Boston last week, the Celtics annihilated the Bobcats 92-59; Charlotte was 0-for-10 from 3-point range, had just 10 assists AS A TEAM, and shot a pitiful 52% from the free-throw line on 13-for-25 shooting. Geez, and I used to think that hippopotamuses, slugs, and Chihuahuas were ugly..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the last NBA player to lead the league in personal fouls in consecutive years? Answer to follow..........I'd love to see a bumper sticker in New York City that reads the following: DECISIONS, DECISIONS--MORTGAGE PAYMENT OR YANKEE GAME?..........Congratulations go out to Bill Brickett--long-time softball stand-out from Shelton, CT--who recently bowled the second perfect game of his career while competing in the Business/Industrial Bowling League at Colony Lanes in Wallingford. In addition to the 300 game, Brickett (son-in-law of New Haven-area sports announcer Bob Barth) added games of 246 and 214 for a three-game total of 760--raising his overall game average from 225 to 229. Great job, Bill..........This week in sports history, November 10, 1963: Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings becomes the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer--tallying #545 during his team's 3-0 victory vs. Montreal. Howe broke the record--previously held by Maurice "Rocket" Richard--at 15:06 of the second period. During the same game, Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk made some headlines, too--posting his 94th career shutout; his 39-save effort matched the NHL's all-time record for shutouts held by former Montreal goalie George Hainsworth..........For any "do-gooders" out there who may have been disturbed that WNBA star Diana Taurasi had to spend just a day in jail after her DUI bust: Taurasi's blood-alcohol level was 0.17--twice the legal limit in Arizona. Sorry, folks, but when one is THAT intoxicated--and behind a wheel--the vehicle becomes a lethal weapon. The truly disturbing/scary part is THIS: her actions are really no different than carelessly discharging a deadly firearm near a crowd of people--and LUCKILY not hitting anyone..........Can you imagine if USC standout rower Robin Hextrum married former NBA player Rory Sparrow, divorced, married NFL linebacker A.J. Hawk--divorced again--then married sportscaster Ian Eagle? Members of the National Audubon Society would surely take pride in her full married name of Robin Sparrow Hawk Eagle..........Sorry, but whenever I hear the words "baseball" and "integrity" in the same sentence, the term "oxymoronic" always comes to mind..........The other day, I came across a lovely picture of model/actress Elizabeth Hurley wearing a stunning, flowered dress at a luncheon for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Geez, and I used to think that Wade Boggs' SWING was a thing of beauty..........Answer to trivia question: KURT THOMAS of the New York Knicks--who led the league in personal fouls in 2001-'02 (341) and again in '02-'03 (344)..........How 'bout quarterback John Skelton of my alma mater Fordham--who threw 67 passes and also RUSHED 15 times last Saturday during a 41-27 loss to Holy Cross? I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the guy had NO need for melatonin, chamomile tea, or any other sleep aid that evening in order to get some badly-needed shuteye..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Dion James--who blows out 47 candles on November 9th. A native of Philadelphia, James spent 11 seasons in the "bigs" between 1983 and 1996--hitting a respectable .288 lifetime. James spent time with the Brewers, Braves, Indians, and Yankees during his playing days; perhaps his best year came with Atlanta in 1987 when he drove in 61 runs and finished fifth in the National League with a batting average of .312. Best wishes, Dion..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL assistant coach Darvin Wallis--who died recently in Colorado at the age of 60. Wallis spent time as a college assistant at Mississippi, Tulane and Adams State before beginning his NFL career with the Cleveland Browns under head coach Sam Rutigliano in 1982. He went on to spend 19 years with the Kansas City Chiefs as a defensive assistant/quality control coach before retiring in January 2008. Wallis is survived by his wife, Vicky, and three sons: Tyson, Darvin Jr., and Austin. May Darvin Wallis rest in peace.