"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5-1-10

Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a recent high school baseball game played here in CT, East Catholic annihilated Weaver 36-0 (I kid you not, folks); after leading 22-0 after just three innings, East Catholic tied a BIG bow on this one by adding 14 more runs in the fourth inning--during their final at-bat. Yes, after reading about that game, I no longer think that armadillos are as ugly as I once did..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The lowly 1982 Cincinnati Reds were led in RBI's by a pair of players who each tallied a modest total of 57. Can you name these two individuals? Answer to follow..........Red Sox fans: Too bad that David Ortiz hasn't aged as well as beautiful actress Jane Krakowski, huh?..........This week in sports history, May 3, 1980: Genuine Risk becomes the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby since 1915--covering the 1 1/4 mile course in a time of 2:02. The three-year-old had finished a disappointing third at the Wood Memorial back on April 18th--making her victory at Churchill Downs all the more surprising. Jockey Jacinto Vasquez brought Genuine Risk all the way back from a significant deficit on the home stretch--which ultimately resulted in a one-length victory over runner-up Rumbo.........."RAVEN" UPDATE: My good friend Robert "Raven" Kraft--the legendary "streak runner" from Miami Beach--recently celebrated his 35th anniversary of running his 8-mile beach route EVERY day; he has NOT missed a day of running since he started this outrageous streak on January 1st, 1975 (started as a New Year's resolution to run every day for ONE year). He's now run more than 12,800 consecutive days--covering approximately 103,000 miles. In addition, more than 1,000 runners have joined him over the years to take part in his daily celebration--aka the continuation of the streak. An amazing individual, an amazing friend, an amazing accomplishment. Learn more about this remarkable man--AND the streak--at www.ravenrun.net; keep runnin' Raven..........O.K.-- just imagine if total wellness coach Melissa Redd married former MLB shortstop Frank White, divorced, then married ex-big league pitcher Vida Blue. Patriotic people would then delight in her full married name of Melissa Redd White Blue..........I hereby issue a formal invitation to actress Cameron Diaz for a tennis date, a golf date, a rollerblading date--ANY kind of date. I know--I have the same chance of THAT happening as the Orioles have of winning the AL East, right?..........Answer to trivia question: CESAR CEDENO and DAN DRIESSEN--who led the last-place Reds with 57 RBI's apiece..........Saw a pic the other day of the lovely Charlize Theron drinking a beer courtside during a Thunder/Lakers playoff game. My first thought? BREW-TIFUL! (sorry, folks--couldn't resist)..........Lazzari's "Cheap Win of the Week": Definitely goes to Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren--who recently gave up nine hits and SEVEN earned runs over six innings vs. the Cardinals. However, he picks up his second win of the season as his team pounds out 15 hits of their own during a 9-7 Arizona victory..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league first baseman Jack Baker--who blows out 60 candles on May 4th. If you can't remember this native of Alabama, there's a good reason: Baker played only parts of two big league seasons--'76 and '77 with the Red Sox--and appeared in a total of only 14 major league games. The topper? In his very brief career, Baker came to the plate 26 times and tallied only THREE hits (one of them a home run)--thus going into the record books with a lifetime batting average of .115. Hey--they all can't be Wade Boggs, right? Best wishes, Jack..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Kansas State quarterback Dylan Meier--who died recently from a fall of nearly 100 feet while hiking in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas; he was just 26. Meier played at K-State from 2002-2006--starting 11 games while throwing for 2,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. A member of the 2003 Big 12 championship squad, Meier was known as the ultimate team player and graduated with a degree in business finance. Memorial contributions can be made to the Pittsburg High Quarterback Club, the Pittsburg YMCA, or the K-State football program by sending a check to: Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th, Pittsburg, KS 66762. May Dylan Meier rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4-25-10

Thanks, Phil


Dear Mr. Mickelson:

I could spend some time thanking you for the obvious: for giving us golf aficionados some tremendous thrills during your recent Masters win; it was special to watch. Yeah--you shot magnificently off the pine straw, maneuvered around trees, and ended the tournament with a birdie. In fact, I'm sure MANY people are thankful right now as they'll always be able to say that they saw you in your prime at your absolute best. But let me extend my own personal thanks just a tad further.

Thanks, Lefty, for hanging tough over the years and showing many of us the power of perseverance. You were once known to the masses as "the best golfer to never win a major"; that all changed when you became a Masters champion back in 2004. Oh, how an 18-foot birdie can change one's life, huh? Thank you for not resting on your laurels as you followed that up with a PGA Championship win the following year at Baltusrol along with another Masters victory in 2006. Sure, there was the mental meltdown at Winged Foot shortly thereafter--but you never let that affect your positive demeanor both on and off the course. In fact, that's something you've ALWAYS impressed me with, Phil--your even-tempered presence--even though I KNOW you've probably wanted to offer some choice expletives over the years after errant tee shots. Yes, you've taken the high road--and I thank you for that.

Thank you, Phil, for always being classy/cooperative during various TV interviews. You're the model for how one should handle the press after finishing a round of golf--whether it's shooting a 66 or 76. Yeah--I guess the expression is "even keel"--a sometimes elusive quality for ALL of us. And thanks for becoming a little "looser" with the crowds over the past few years, Lefty, as they now see you as a more REAL, approachable individual; yes, even though you're a very rich man, it's not too difficult anymore to think of you as one of "us", Phil.

Yes--and thanks for the mental toughness you've shown in the face of true adversity, Phil. You proved that in gargantuan fashion a few weeks back as health issues plagued your family; yeah--you were playing for just a bit more than another green jacket. I know what it's like, Phil, to see one's own Mom deal with cancer; to see your wife go through a well-publicized battle with the same dreaded disease has tested the depths of your overall strength. Yeah, I know--a bit tougher than chipping from the fringe to within a couple inches, huh? Thanks, Phil, for showing such compassion and true devotion as you suspended your PGA schedule in support of these two beautiful women; yeah, I guess family means a LOT more to you than a certain other golfer I have in mind. And thanks, Lefty, for always being so loyal to your better-half, Amy. Your only "conquests" over the years have been limited to names like Pebble Beach, Bay Hill, and Augusta--and NOT names such as Cori, Jamie, and Holly. I'm sure at this juncture, Phil, your wife appreciates your devotion more than you'll ever know.

And as a Connecticut resident, Phil, I'd like to thank you for showing up to the tournament here in Hartford a few times--unlike some other egotistical scoundrel who's given the impression that he's WAY above gracing the TPC in Cromwell with his presence. When I was able to talk to you for a minute or two when you won here back in 2002, you were nothing but cordial and sincere--offering me your hand when we were done chatting on your way to the practice range. You seem to "get it", Mr. Mickelson; yeah, I assume you DO like to pile up wins just as much as Windermere, Florida's most famous resident--but you have some personality and class, too.

Thank you, Lefty, for you continued charitable efforts; yeah, I know there are many wealthy individuals who do similar, kind acts, but your sincerity truly seems genuine. It's not just a smokescreen, tax write-off, or PR thing with you; the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation has made FAMILY its number one priority--with an interest in strengthening bonds by supporting a variety of youth and family initiatives. For some reason, I think a certain guy with the new nickname of "Cheetah" cannot quite relate to the whole "family" thing--at least not yet.

Finally, Phil, thank you for showing that one CAN still remain grounded in the midst of immense celebrity status. You're just that "regular guy" who happens to be a tremendous golfer--and NOT the other way around. Golf means a lot to you, but FAMILY means more. The tears shed between Amy and yourself shortly after you emerged victorious at Augusta earlier this month were symbolic of MUCH more than the joy of winning yet another tournament. No, that emotional moment--at least on Amy's part--had more to do with how great an INDIVIDUAL you are than how you "mastered" another tough golf course.

Thanks, Phil Mickelson, for having carried yourself in such an upstanding way over the years--more accurately, the RIGHT way.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4-17-10

Lazzari's "Cheap Win of the Week": I'll give this one to Royals reliever Kyle Farnsworth--who pitched an inning vs. Detroit last week while giving up three hits and the go-ahead run. However, Kyle proceeds to pick up the "W" as his team scores a pair in the bottom of the 11th en route to a 3-2 victory..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1989-'90 Phoenix Suns--who finished 54-28 under Cotton Fitzsimmons--had two All-Stars on the roster who averaged more than 22 points per game apiece. Can you name these two former players? Answer to follow..........A "must have" DVD for baseball fans: Ball Talk: Baseball's Voices of Summer--produced/directed by Kevin Bender. Hosted by Larry King, the documentary features interviews with sportscasting pioneers Mel Allen, Red Barber, Jack Brickhouse, Jack Buck, Curt Gowdy, and Ernie Harwell. For more info about this tremendous compilation--filmed 20 years ago--visit www.balltalkdvd.com ..........O.K., here goes--by popular demand: Can you imagine if actress Eve Marie Saint had once married former Mets outfielder Johnny Lewis, divorced, then walked down the aisle with a MUCH younger man--New Mexico State infielder Joel Cardinal? She'd then be sporting the full married name of Eve Marie Saint Lewis Cardinal..........Yeah--gotta love when WFAN's Steve Somers refers to the AL team that plays in the Bay Area as the "Oakland Anabolics"..........Now that Jenny McCarthy has split with Jim Carrey, do you think she'd have any interest in an aging sports columnist who appreciates perky, pretty blondes?..........This week in sports history, April 20, 1986: The Boston Celtics survive a playoff-record 63-point outburst by Chicago's Michael Jordan on their way to a 135-131 double overtime victory over the visiting Bulls at Boston Garden. Jordan eclipsed Elgin Baylor's previous record of 61 points--which was also accomplished vs. Boston back in 1962. Larry Bird led the Celtics with 36 points while Kevin McHale scored 27 and grabbed 15 rebounds during a game that lasted more than three hours.........Congratulations go out to Eastern CT State University All-America third baseman Melvin Castillo of Danbury--who recently broke team records for career RBI's and total bases; he already holds the school record for home runs and is currently closing in on the all-time hits mark at ECSU. Excellent job, Mel..........Great site for the true baseball aficionado out there: www.seamheads.com. Founded by Mike Lynch in 2007, the site features approximately 65 writers--many of them published authors. Lynch calls his writers an "eclectic staff"; it also includes multiple members of The Society For American Baseball Research (SABR). I consider myself very fortunate to be a part of this wonderful staff/site as Mr. Lynch has posted various past columns/interviews I've done. Keep up the fine work, Mike; it's a true gem for the baseball junkie out there..........Answer to trivia question: TOM CHAMBERS (27.1 ppg) and KEVIN JOHNSON (22.5)..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Gary Peters--who blows out 73 candles on April 21st. A native of Pennsylvania, Peters spent 14 seasons in the "bigs" with the White Sox and Red Sox--compiling a lifetime record of 124-103 along with a 3.25 career ERA. The 1963 AL Rookie of the Year, Peters went on to lead the league in ERA twice while in Chicago ('63 and '66); he also won 20 games in 1964. A two-time All-Star, Peters ended his career in Boston in 1972 while being used mostly in relief; best wishes, Gary..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former boxing referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.--who passed away last weekend in Westbury, NY at the age of 90. Mercante was the third man in the ring at more than 140 championship fights--including the famed 1971 battle between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier; Mercante also refereed the 1973 fight in Jamaica when George Foreman won the heavyweight title while handing Joe Frazier a severe beating. A childhood friend of Rocky Marciano while growing up in Brockton, MA, Mercante graduated from NYU in 1942 and later received a master's degree in physical education from that school after serving in the Navy. He began his refereeing career in 1954 and retired in 2001; he later served as a boxing judge at various matches. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and four sons: Arthur Jr. (a longtime boxing referee who followed in his Dad's footsteps), Glenn, Jim and Tom. Rest in peace, Mr. Mercante.

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

Yes, folks, the 2010 season is underway; there's further talk of performance-enhancing drugs and tainted records--which reminds me: I've been having headaches lately so will head to Canada soon to get some ibuprofen. Anyway, here's how they'll finish this season:

AL EAST
N.Y. Yankees
Boston Red Sox
T.B. Rays
Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays

AL CENTRAL
Minnesota Twins
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Cleveland Indians

AL WEST
LA Angels
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers
Oakland Athletics

**Notes:
AL EAST- New York's Nick Johnson gets hurt more than Evel Knievel did, but he'll be able to JOG around the bases most of the time; don't think Beltre and Ortiz will give Boston the 'pop' they desperately need to overtake NY. Longoria may be the league's MVP, but will B.J. Upton rebound? Orioles could finish at .500 as young pitchers like Bergesen and Matusz develop; Toronto won't get enough outfield production, may lose 100 games, and should hand out handkerchiefs to fans every time Halladay starts for Philadelphia.
AL CENTRAL- Hudson helps Twins A LOT and--even without closer Nathan--Gardenhire will find a way to win the division. White Sox' starting pitching will keep them near the top of the division, but which Alex Rios will show up? Tigers will score enough but overall team health may be a concern. Royals lack power and just won't get around the bases; Tribe's pitching is the reason they'll occupy the cellar as EVERYONE becomes trade bait in September.
AL WEST- Angels still have enough talent and the best manager in the league while Matsui is a great clubhouse addition; I question the back end of Seattle's rotation and how much Griffey has left in the tank. Texas has some good young arms, can score, and may challenge Seattle if Josh Hamilton stays vertical. Oakland simply won't score runs and no player will SNIFF the 100-RBI mark--putting way too much pressure on a decent, young staff.

NL EAST
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
N.Y. Mets
Florida Marlins
Washington Nationals

NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates

NL WEST
Colorado Rockies
S.F. Giants
L.A. Dodgers
Arizona D'Backs
S.D. Padres

**Notes:
NL EAST- A good Philadelphia team got better, but will Lidge be closing come October? Don't know if Atlanta can score enough although their pitching looks decent; I have more questions about the Mets pitching staff than I do about Obama's health-care plan. Florida will have trouble closing games and their defense is suspect. Nats' closer Capps had an ERA close to SIX last year--and guess what? He'll probably be closing AGAIN in 2010.
NL CENTRAL- Third base could be a concern for St. Louis, but Holliday adds some needed power; I question the bridge to Marmol in Chicago and Piniella's best managing days may have passed. A better-than-average Aaron Harang could be the key to the Reds' success; I don't like the Brewers' pitching staff OR Hoffman closing games in the clutch. Astros need Oswalt to be better but their bullpen still won't get it done; the Pittsburgh PR people could offer MAJOR incentives/prizes at EVERY home game if the team scores five or more runs--simply because they WON'T.
NL WEST- A high team on-base percentage--along with a healthy Jeff Francis--get the Rockies to the playoffs; lack of team speed--along with a low on-base percentage--will hurt the Giants. Dodgers won't pitch as well as last season and Manny's #'s will continue to decline; a non-healthy Brandon Webb seals D'Backs' fate. San Diego will have trouble pitching on the road and won't score at ANY stadium in which they play.

*Postseason: Yes, my friends--a replay of last season's Fall Classic as the Yanks and Phils emerge from their respective leagues. Yankees' core players get to enjoy a repeat as the edge goes to the NY closer--making all the difference as frigid fall temperatures arrive. Enjoy the season, everyone.