"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 2-20-10

Congratulations go out to Eastern CT State University athletes Stephanie Norell and Brittany Whiteley (both juniors)--co-recipients of the 2010 Holly Zimmerman Memorial Award (Holly--a former ECSU athlete--passed away in 1993). The award is given yearly to individuals who've made significant contributions to the school's athletic program and possess Holly's qualities of determination, loyalty, and thoughtfulness. Norell possesses a 3.95 GPA and has been a three-year member of the soccer team. Whiteley--co-captain of the basketball squad--has played three years for the Warriors and has been a member of the LEC academic honor roll. Terrific work, ladies.........TRIVIA QUESTION: When the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1975, who was the team's leading goal-scorer that season? Answer to follow..........All I'll say about the 2010 SI Swimsuit Issue is THIS: Page 164, fellas--PAGE 164..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a CT high school girls basketball game last week, Bacon Academy battered New London 90-24. Just HOW bad was this fiasco? The winning team--presumably with its foot off the accelerator--outscored its overmatched opponent 30-7 in the final quarter. I'm just wondering if the New London coach was content to keep the opponent under the century mark--or extremely despondent that the losing squad's point output just BARELY toppled the frigid temps outside the gymnasium that evening..........ITEM: Troubled wide receiver Matt Jones signs with the Cincinnati Bengals; the team reportedly is also interested in the services of "Mr. Suspension"--Adam "Pacman" Jones. Sheesh--regarding this team's recent off-the-field history: Where will they look to next when it comes to possible signings--the walls of the nearest post office?..........I used to think that ex-pitcher Nolan Ryan did age-defying things while he was in his 40's--that is until I came across a picture of a bikini-clad Jennifer Aniston the other day celebrating her 41st birthday in Cabo San Lucas..........This week in sports history, February 23, 1960: With former Dodger players, officials, and fans in attendance, Ebbets Field is met with a wrecking ball--beginning the ten-week dismantling of one of baseball's most famous ballparks. Built in 1913 by Charles Ebbets, the building was abandoned back in 1958 when the Dodgers bolted for the west coast; the team had won nine pennants and one world championship while in Brooklyn. An interesting fact is that the white wrecking ball had stitches painted on its sides--thus resembling a baseball. Former players such as Ralph Branca, Roy Campanella, and Carl Erskine were introduced during a pre-demolition ceremony..........A sign that you're getting OLD: I was at the Eastern CT/UMASS-Dartmouth basketball game last week in Willimantic when Mountain's "Mississippi Queen" was played over the P.A. system during a time-out. The problem? I remembered when that song was released in 1970--which was approximately 20 years BEFORE a majority of the people present in the gym that day were even BORN..........Answer to trivia question: REGGIE LEACH--who tallied 45 goals for Fred Shero's Flyers that season as the team won its second consecutive Stanley Cup..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NHL player Tim Young--who blows out 55 candles on February 22nd. A native of Scarborough, Ontario who played center, Young spent ten seasons in the league between 1975 and 1985 with the North Stars, Jets, and Flyers; he tallied 195 goals and 341 assists for a career total of 536 points. Young's best season came during the 1976-'77 campaign while in Minnesota when he scored 29 goals while assisting on 66 others; he was named to play in the NHL All-Star Game that season. Injuries took their toll on Young late in his career as he played in a total of just 64 games with Winnipeg and Philadelphia between 1983 and 1985; best wishes, Tim..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former college basketball coach Bud Millikan--who passed away recently at the age of 89. Millikan coached at Maryland for 17 seasons between 1950 and 1967--compiling a record of 243-182. Bud's Terrapin team won the ACC title and reached the NCAA Elite Eight during the 1957-'58 season--a year in which Maryland finished sixth in the nation in the final rankings. Known for graduating his players and focusing on defense, Millikan coached current Terps coach Gary Williams (a point guard) from 1964-1967; to this day, Williams gives Millikan tons of credit for providing him the inspiration necessary to become a head coach at the college level. May Coach Bud Millikan rest in peace.