"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4-3-10

Congratulations go out to the Hamden (CT) High hockey team for recently winning its record 17th state title--defeating Fairfield Prep 6-5 for the Division I championship. It was the second consecutive championship for the Green Dragons--a feat that hadn't been pulled off by a CT public high school since Hamden did it back in 1976; ironically, current coach Bill Verneris was a member of that same Hamden squad Hamden in '76--a national championship team. Yes--Hamden continues to maintain its storied hockey history; it's a town where kids often begin playing the sport as soon as they can hold onto a stick. Great job, guys..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1989-'90 Milwaukee Bucks were led in scoring by a bench player who did NOT start a single game. Can you name this individual? Answer to follow..........I used to think that watching Fred Biletnikoff catching a football was a thing of beauty--that is, until I saw a recent picture of Victoria's Secret model Candice Swanepoel during a photo shoot in L.A...........Gotta love WFAN's Ed Randall--talking about past/current drug use among players in MLB on his show last week: "If they (the players) are going out there "not alone," is it WRESTLING?"..........Speaking of which--I'm in need of some ibuprofen for my recurring arthritis--and am thinking about crossing the Canadian border to get some.........And I don't care HOW much you can put drug/steroid use on the back-burner in order to enjoy the current game of baseball; if you don't get a slight "sick" feeling when you're watching a game these days--due to it being tainted--then you can't consider yourself a TRUE baseball fan..........**Great cause: The Yale football and women's hockey teams will lead a marrow donor testing drive on Thursday, April 22nd from 11 AM to 3 PM at Commons--located on the corner of College and Grove Streets in New Haven. The donor test consists of a single cheek swab and takes approximately 15 minutes; those interested can contact Yale assistant football coach Larry Ciotti at larry.ciotti@yale.edu or (203)671-9805..........This week in sports history, April 6, 1987: Fighting outdoors at Caesar's Palace, Sugar Ray Leonard scores a 12-round split-decision over Marvelous Marvin Hagler to capture the WBC middleweight championship. In front of a crowd of more than 15,000, Leonard outboxed Hagler early in the fight and was able to hold on as the fight ended in a slugfest. Hagler lost for the first time since 1976; Leonard--fighting for just the second time in five years due to an eye injury--won for the 34th time in 35 pro fights..........Classic stuff by the New York Post's Peter Vecsey last weekend--in reference to the NBA using "gunner" Gilbert Arenas in its "Read to Achieve" public service campaign; Vecsey commented that the types of sentences that children can now learn are "simple, compound, complex, and court-ordered".........I was listening to radio host Sid Rosenberg on WFAN last weekend talking about his Dad taking him to spring training years ago in order to see his baseball heroes--Lee Mazzilli and Dave Kingman of the Mets. He said that an unapproachable "Maz" was surrounded by security while wearing a leather jacket in the Florida heat; a very surly Kingman refused to sign any autographs. Lesson for kids out there: BE CAREFUL WHEN CHOOSING HEROES..........Answer to trivia question: RICKY PIERCE--who came off the bench in all 59 games he played while averaging an impressive 23.0 points per game..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league infielder Rennie Stennett--who blows out 59 candles on April 5th. Stennett played 11 seasons in the "bigs" between 1971 and 1981 as a member of the Pirates and Giants--hitting .274 lifetime. While with Pittsburgh in 1975, Rennie went 7-for-7 in a game vs. Chicago; unfortunately, he broke his leg in '77 when he was hitting at a blistering .336 clip, but didn't have enough plate appearances to qualify for the NL batting title. He was a member of the 1979 "We Are Family" Pirates world championship squad before playing two years with the Giants; best wishes, Rennie..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Delta St. University football coach Horace Lowry McCool--who died recently in Mississippi at the age of 81. McCool served as coach of the Statesmen from 1961-1973 and remains the only coach in school history to have six consecutive winning seasons. He compiled a career record of 76-48-3 and was honored in 2007 when the school named its football stadium after him. Survivors include a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; rest in peace, "Coach."

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 3-27-10

As promised--Part II of a select group of twelve former athletes who've truly fascinated me over the years. *Reminder: Part I included "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Joe Namath, Barry Sanders, Wayne Gretzky, Bjorn Borg, and George Brett.

~Walter Payton--"Sweetness--#34. Thirteen years in the NFL and missed ONE game (during his rookie year)--mind-boggling when you realize the guy WELCOMED physical contact and exploded into would-be tacklers. Nine-time Pro-Bowler with ten 1,200+ yard seasons--sometimes running behind a mediocre offensive line. Blew my mind when he rushed for a record 275 yards in a game back in '77--just TWO days after having been bed-ridden with the flu. Yes, one of those special athletes who became stronger as the game progressed. Possessed a work ethic like few others; training regimen included repeated sprinting up steep hills--along with a grueling weight-training schedule. Also caught close to 500 passes--125 TD's in all. A rare liver disease took him from us at age 45--which devastated me like no other athlete's death previously. Why? Simply because we'll never see another Walter Payton.
~Julius Erving--"Dr. J." Single-handedly put the ABA on the map in the early-to-mid 70's while never averaging LESS than 27 ppg for the Squires and Nets; the Afro, the red/white/blue basketball, the stars/stripes on his uniform--the DOCTOR was unmistakable. Averaged 22 ppg in 11 seasons with Philly in the NBA. What Maravich did for basketball BELOW the rim, Erving did for the league ABOVE it; his slam-dunks during contests (from the free-throw line) were legendary. Hang-time, behind-the-board reverse layups, you name it; it was always something more breathtaking than the night before. Along with Maravich, named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team; if these two guys ever played for the same team (which almost happened in '72 for the Hawks), it would have been 'Globetrotters South.' Had his number retired by TWO franchises; much like "The Pistol," WAY ahead of his time.
~Roberto Duran--103 wins--70 by knockout. "Manos de Piedra"--a brawler who could BOX--and whose defense was vastly underrated. Won titles in four weight classes; I never saw such FIERCENESS in the ring when this guy fought--was simply BORN to fight. The "No Mas" incident in New Orleans will forever haunt him/taint his legacy (perhaps more than it SHOULD), but still probably the greatest lightweight of all-time. Won junior middleweight/middleweight crowns (vs. Davey Moore, Iran Barkley) WELL past his prime; should have retired from boxing BEFORE the Barkley fight. Fought in FIVE different decades (insane) and would balloon up in weight in-between fights (cost him dearly during Leonard II). Bottom line? When in shape and in his prime, NO ONE was more exciting in the ring; the man was unbeatable and FEARED.
~Pete Rose--"Charlie Hustle" lived up to his nickname; I yell "HUSTLE" to the kids I currently coach at the middle school level and STILL think of Rose. Appeared in 17 All-Star games at FIVE different positions; will that ever be repeated? But then there's THE #: 4,256--as in HITS. Yes, the true catalyst of the famed "Big Red Machine" who played an amazing 24 seasons; had a 44-game hitting streak in '78. But the fascinating part? The way he PLAYED the game--just ask Ray Fosse and Bud Harrelson. Sprinting to first after WALKING and sliding headfirst were trademarks; played with reckless abandon which set a tone among his teammates. Fathom this: considering the way he approached/played the game, he appeared in 148 or more games in 19 of his 24 seasons (you read that correctly). Ineligible for Hall of Fame consideration (at least right now) due to gambling--but unforgettable if you ever saw him play. Yeah--gutsy.
~Secretariat--yes, a spectacular athlete--albeit the equine type. When I saw this superstar run each quarter-mile faster than the one BEFORE it while winning the '73 Kentucky Derby (record time), I knew a "freak" was in our midst; barring injury, something special would happen. Then came a last-to-first run at the ensuing Preakness; again, something even MORE special was to come--but HOW special? THIS: a 31-length victory at the Belmont in a record time that still stands today. Without doubt, the greatest of the Triple Crown champions; "Big Red", they called him--as was his heart, literally (revealed to weigh close to 22 pounds). The fact that he still holds records at the Derby and Belmont--37 years later--is the fascinating part. Honored on a 33-cent postage stamp--yeah, an American hero. I know that when jockey Ron Turcotte rode him, he just held on and smiled; I cried when the horse was euthanized in 1989, but smile now when I think of this special champion.
~Michael Jordan--O.K.--we'll end with a 'no-brainer'. But it wasn't all about the six championships that made him fascinating--or the fact that he averaged 30 ppg for his career. What made MJ special was the COMPLETE nature of his game; how this man could score THAT much and ALSO be a 9-time NBA All-Defensive First team player is beyond impressive. Also was an 84% free-throw shooter--which sometimes goes under the radar screen. Led by example and played 3-4 inches taller than his 6'6" frame. Records, accolades are too numerous to mention here; simply popularized the game of basketball around the globe and single-handedly changed the way the NBA markets the game. Willed his teams NOT to lose—yes, the "go-to" man; Phil Jackson should bow to a picture of him daily.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 3-20-10

*fascinating--arousing unflagging interest, as by charm or beauty; captivating.
~~The American Heritage Dictionary

I'm often asked to identify some of the athletes of the past who have truly impacted/fascinated me over the years--the ones who've made me exclaim "WOW!" when I've witnessed their exploits. Yes, there are many of them, but I've somehow whittled the list down to a dozen (in no particular order)--which I'll share with my readers over these next two columns. Here is Part I--a few former athletes I've considered FASCINATING:

~"Pistol" Pete Maravich--the words "electrifying", "forerunner", and "magician" come to mind--a child prodigy who could do anything with a basketball. My father pointed him out to me on TV circa 1969--saying, "Hey Bobby--come here and watch this college guy throw a full court/behind-the-back pass." Still college basketball's all-time leading scorer--3,667 points. Yes, he was the trail-blazer for the dribbling maneuvers/no-look passes we take for granted now. Still put on the greatest sports performance I've ever seen in 1977 when I watched him score 68 points against the Knicks and defensive whiz Walt Frazier--WITHOUT the benefit of a three-point shot. The Basketball Hall of Fame called him "perhaps the greatest creative offensive talent in history"--a 'no-brainer' as far as I'm concerned. A "freak"--a "wunderkind" who played with a congenital heart defect and died way too young. Just watch some old highlights; you'll smile, then you'll cry.
~Joe Willie Namath--"Broadway" Joe--who lived up to his name; possessed the athletic talent to play three sports professionally. "Guaranteed" a Super Bowl victory in '69--and delivered. First QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a season (14 games); took my breath away in '72 when he threw for 496 yards and SIX TD's in a game vs. Baltimore. Drained his knees at halftime regularly in order to finish games; SCARY to think what he could have done with just ONE good knee (and maybe a curfew, too). Could read defenses like they were children's books. Still think he threw the "prettiest" ball I've ever seen and MAN--that quick release! Single-handedly put the AFL on the map--while wearing the Fu Manchu at times along with the white shoes.
~Barry Sanders--most elusive running back in football history; never rushed for less than 1,000 yards in a season and went over 2,000 in 1997(with 14 consecutive 100-yard games). I often imagine what this guy would have done if he had a GOOD offensive line blocking for him in Detroit. Tackling this guy? It was like catching a water flea with a pair of pliers. Actually handed the ball to the referee and congratulated his teammates after he scored; soft-spoken individual who left the game quietly with his health intact at the age of 30--within range of becoming the NFL's all-time rusher. Refreshing, huh?
~Wayne Gretzky--"The Great One"--kinda says it all. He's the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season--a feat he accomplished four times (yes, you read that correctly). Didn't SKATE on the ice--it was more like GLIDING. He possesses more records than any athlete I can think of and probably isn't even aware of HALF of them. I was fortunate enough to see him play in Hartford during the 80's vs. the Whalers--yes, it was laughably unfair; don't think I've ever seen ANY athlete at the professional level who was SO much more talented than any other player around him. Never said much, never fought, and didn't play much defense because his OFFENSE was his defense. One of a kind.
~Bjorn Borg--Won a staggering 89.8 percent of the Grand Slam singles matches he played; 11 grand slam titles--all at Wimbledon and in Paris. Some called him "Ice Borg" for his calm court demeanor; almost seemed disinterested at times but his physical conditioning was second to none. Just loved watching his "cool" style of play--yes, he was the "anti-Connors/McEnroe." Would out-think opponents and his laser-like/topspin ground strokes were unique--contributing to the way the game is still played today. Seems to have rubbed off on the great Roger Federer--who conducts himself in the same fashion--"cruelly cool." Probably could have won more Grand Slams (played the Australian just ONCE) but was never truly interested in history/numbers. Retired at age 26.
~George Brett--LOOKED like a ballplayer with the eyeblack and high socks; always got his uniform dirty. Not blessed with a ton of speed, but led the league in triples THREE times (tells you something). 20 or more doubles, triples, AND homers in '79--a rare feat. Had all baseball fans reading K.C. boxscores in 1980 while flirting with .400; the HR he hit off Goose Gossage in the playoffs that year may STILL be traveling (hit .337 LIFETIME in the postseason). A line-drive machine; smooth swing--almost effortless--thanks to Charlie Lau. Underrated defensively--a complete player who had ice in his veins during big games. Singled in his final big league at-bat--yeah, predictable. Without doubt, my favorite baseball player of all-time--always the kind of player you wanted on YOUR team.

**To be continued next week.....

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 3-13-10

In the mood for some good basketball reading? Check out Open Court: A Year With The New York Knicks --by author John J. Buro. A "must-read" for diehard Knicks fans, the book chronicles the team's nightmarish play under former coach Isiah Thomas; part of it is in diary form--with dated entries. For a limited time, “Open Court” will be offered for the special price of just $7.99; this is the entire 311-page book in PDF form. After it is downloaded to your computer, you will receive a key to unlock the PDF file. For more info--including excerpts from this fine publication--go to www.opencourtbook.com ..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What basketball player holds the Portland Trail Blazers team record for most career assists? Answer to follow..........O.K.--this tidbit goes into "The Unwatchable NBA Update" Hall of of Fame (or should it be SHAME?): The lowly New Jersey Nets beat the Knicks last weekend 113-93; the Knicks--playing at home--shot (ready for this?) 0-for-18 from three-point range during this pathetic embarrassment. For once, I'll refrain from commenting further as this speaks for itself; sorry, I have nothing more to add, folks..........For the ladies out there: I was talking to former world champion figure skater Tai Babilonia recently who alerted me to her fine web site: www.taibabilonia.com. Featured there is her Tai Collection--beautiful clothing that can be worn on the ice, in exercise class, in the dance studio, or even for casual day wear. The site also offers info about purchasing the book Forever Two As One --chronicling Tai's long-time relationship with skating partner Randy Gardner..........This week in sports history, March 16, 1938: In the inaugural National Invitation Tournament final, Temple defeats Colorado 60-36 before a crowd of more than 14,000 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Owls were led by Don Shields' 16 points; Howie Black and Ed Boyle added 14 points apiece for Temple--the Eastern Conference champions. Having led 33-18 at halftime, Temple coach Jimmy Usilton had the luxury of removing his starters from the game just six minutes into the second half..........How 'bout newly-acquired Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie--who has fathered seven children with six different women in five different states? Two thoughts on this: 1) Since this guy's life seems to involve numbers in descending order, will he ask for a four-year deal when his contract expires next season? 2) WHERE would a future family reunion be held in order to make it fair for everyone involved in terms of travel expenses?..........Congrats go out to coach Bill Geitner and the Eastern CT State University basketball squad, who just completed a 20-10 season--the first 20-win season since the '92-'93 campaign and only the third in school history. And there's MORE to be optimistic about in Willimantic: the team loses only one senior (albeit a good one, Edwin Ortiz) to graduation while many underclassmen saw playing time in '09-'10. Excellent job, Warriors..........Answer to trivia question: TERRY PORTER--who dished out 5,319 assists as a member of the Blazers between 1985 and 1995..........The only person on the universe who has come even close to aging as well as Christie Brinkley is Yankees closer Mariano Rivera--but it's still not THAT close..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA player Matt Othick--who blows out 41 candles on March 16th. On paper, some of Othick's career numbers look FANTASTIC--i.e. a field goal percentage of 60%--including 50% from three-point range. The catch? Othick took just FIVE shots in his entire one-year career (spent with the '92-'93 Spurs)--playing in four games while connecting on 2-of-4 from "downtown." A native of New Mexico who played at Arizona, Othick later spent some time in the CBA and subsequently became a broker/investor. Hey--as far as basketball is concerned--they all can't be George Gervin, right? Best wishes, Matt............Finally, condolences go out to the family of former college basketball player/coach Phil Vukicevich--who died recently of cancer in Petaluma, CA at the age of 79. Vukicevich played at the University of San Francisco in the early 1950's; he led the Dons in scoring during the '52-'53 season with an average of 12.9 points per game. He later coached at USF--compiling a career record of 51-55; his best season came in 1967-'68 when the Dons went 16-10 and finished third in the West Coast Athletic Conference. Phil Vukicevich is survived by his wife, Edie, a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Lisa. Rest in peace, "Coach."

"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."