"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 3-6-10

Congrats go out to Derby High (CT) wrestling coach Walter "Buster" Jadach--who will be inducted into the CT chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on April 10th at Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Jadach has been coaching at DHS for almost 30 years and has won more matches than any other coach in state history. His teams have won four Class S state titles; during a four-year stretch from 1999-2002, Jadach's teams went a staggering 96-2-1. Jadach was the CT High School Coaches Association coach of the year in 1999 and one of eight finalists for national coach of the year in 2007. Well done, "Buster"..........TRIVIA QUESTION: In the history of the Los Angeles Clippers, what player has converted the most three-point field goal attempts? Answer to follow..........Gotta love the headline in last weekend's New York Post--after Gatorade ended its endorsement relationship with Tiger Woods: Tiger Just Can't Hold His Drink..........Question: When Andy Roddick loses a tennis match, does anyone REALLY feel sorry for him--seeing that he has Sports Illustrated cover girl/wife Brooklyn Decker waiting for him at home?..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a CT girls high school basketball game (ECC tournament) last week, Windham annihilated Tourtellotte 79-21. The score at halftime? 50-4 in favor of Windham. What do I say at intermission if I'm the coach of the losing squad? This: "Shall we make a break for the exits NOW--or will we cause some alarms to go off?"..........This week in sports history, March 9, 1971: The Chicago Bulls put an end to the Milwaukee Bucks' NBA-record 20-game winning streak--defeating them 110-103 in overtime at Chicago Stadium. Bob Love led the Bulls with 23 points; however, it was Bob Weiss who scored six points in overtime to seal the victory for Chicago. Milwaukee--who was led by Lew Alcindor with 39 points--had not lost since February 6th. The N.Y. Knicks had possessed the previous consecutive win streak record--having won 18 games in a row during the 1969-'70 season..........Good cause: A "March Madness" Dinner and Raffle is slated for April 3rd at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield; it will raise funds for the Browning Scholarship--which provides financial assistance to needy students (including former high school athletes) at both SHU and the University of Bridgeport. More info can be obtained by calling (203)261-6709..........The "Unwatchable NBA" Update: In a recent game played at Madison Square Garden, the Bucks defeated the Knicks 83-67; New York scored a GRAND TOTAL of just 26 points in the entire second half of this disaster. Just HOW pitiful is that? The orange section/"nosebleed" seats at MSG carry a higher number dollar-wise than the amount of points the Knicks scored in the second-half that evening..........The Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance will honor New England prep hockey fixture John Gardner of Avon Old Farms, former high school/college coach Joe Benanto, former Westbrook High boys and girls basketball coach Pete Shuler, and UConn legend Scott Burrell of Hamden with coveted Gold Key Awards at the 69th Annual Gold Key Dinner on April 25th; it will take place at 4:30 PM at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. Tickets can be obtained by mailing a check for $75 to Gold Key Dinner/CSWA, P.O. Box 70, Unionville, CT 06085. Any other questions, please contact Alliance VP Matt Conyers at (860)874-4166..........Answer to trivia question: ERIC PIATKOWSKI--who made a total of 738 three-pointers as a member of the Clippers between 1994 and 2003..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league infielder Mack Neal "Shooty" Babbit--who blows out 51 candles on March 9th. A native of Oakland, Babbit played only one season in the "bigs"--1981--with his hometown A's. He began his career with a seven-game hitting streak, but ended up playing in only 54 major league games as a second baseman. He later did some major league scouting and has also done some broadcasting work for the A's; best wishes, "Shooty"..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former college basketball coach Dana Kirk--who died recently after suffering a heart attack; he was 74. A former assistant at Louisville, Kirk coached Memphis State to a Final Four appearance in 1985 (later vacated due to NCAA rules violations); in seven years at Memphis, Kirk compiled a record of 158-58. Sadly, he was let go after the 1986 season prior to being indicted on income tax evasion charges. Yes, Dana Kirk may not have stayed on the straightest of paths throughout his working life, but he surely loved to coach basketball--and he did THAT very well. Rest in peace, "Coach."