"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 7-3-10

ITEM: Three incoming UCLA football players--Joshua Shirley, Shaquille Richardson, and Paul Richardson--are arrested for allegedly stealing another student's purse during the school's summer session. I'll go out on a limb and say THIS: The chances of just one of these "gentlemen" having been the valedictorian of his high school class are about the same as yours truly dating Jenny McCarthy, Sharon Stone and/or Charlize Theron by the end of 2010..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1980 Houston Astros--who finished first in the NL West under manager Bill Virdon--had three relief pitchers who won 7 or more games apiece while also having ERA's under 3.00. Can you name this trio? Answer to follow..........I'm currently in a personal debate--wondering what was more enjoyable: gazing at the plum colored dress worn by Salma Hayek after a recent taping of the Letterman show or the Ben & Jerry's ice cream bars that were served to media members at the recent Travelers Championship..........**Attention parents: A neat birthday idea for your child? How 'bout spending it at Dodd Stadium with the Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League? The honored child will receive tickets to the game, a cake, and either a hot dog/pizza to eat; he/she will also be recognized on the video scoreboard while getting to meet/obtain autographs from a Tigers player. To learn more about this special birthday celebration, call the Tigers front office staff at (860)887-7962..........This week in sports history, July 5, 1947: Former Negro League star Larry Doby becomes the American League's first black player--pinch-hitting for Cleveland pitcher Bryan Stephens during a game vs. the White Sox at Comiskey Park. Doby had been batting .415 with the Newark Eagles before his contract was purchased by Indians owner Bill Veeck. In a game played in front of more than 18,000 fans, Doby was greeted with a warm reception before being struck out by White Sox hurler Earl Harrist; Jackie Robinson was the first individual to break baseball's color barrier--having done it three months earlier for the Brooklyn Dodgers..........ITEM: Shots ring out at a party in Virginia Beach attended by none other than dog-abusing/slime ball quarterback Michael Vick. Shame on me--and I thought he'd be home at the time preparing for a possible Sunday school teaching gig just a few days later..........Answer to trivia question: JOE SAMBITO (8-4, 2.19), FRANK LaCORTE (8-5, 2.82), and DAVE SMITH (7-5, 1.93)..........Speaking of the Travelers Championship: While in the media center at the TPC in Cromwell last weekend, one overhead TV set was showing the United States/Ghana World Cup soccer match. During a break in the action, a camera panned to a shot of Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton sitting together while watching the match. Then comes the quote of the day from John Nestor--a freelance writer covering the golf tournament for Reuters--sitting next to me: "Now THERE'S a party waiting to happen!"..........And thanks to tournament director Nathan Grube and media/marketing manager Scott Dolch for their tremendous hospitality during my stay at the Travelers Championship--one of my favorite sporting events to attend yearly. Couldn't ask for a better winner than Bubba Watson, too--one of the more likeable players on the tour whose father Gerry is battling cancer right now. Best of luck to the entire Watson family..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Lance Johnson--who blows out 47 candles on July 6th. Johnson played 14 seasons in the big leagues between 1987 and 2000--mostly with the White Sox--batting .291 lifetime. While in Chicago, Lance led the American League in triples each year from 1991-1994; he also led the National League in three-baggers and hits while with the N.Y. Mets in 1996--when he tallied a total of 21 and 227 respectively. The speedy Johnson also stole 327 bases during his career--with a personal high of 50 also coming in 1996. Though he was sent to the minor leagues at mid-season by the Yankees in 2000, he was given a World Series ring for his contributions to the team. Best wishes, Lance..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former All-American football player Jack Cloud--who died recently of kidney failure in Annapolis, MD at the age of 85. Cloud was a fullback at William and Mary; he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1950 and later played for the Washington Redskins until he suffered a career-ending knee injury in 1953. Cloud was an assistant football coach at Navy under Wayne Hardin and George Welsh in the 60's and 70's; he also did color commentary on radio broadcasts of Navy football games during the 1980's. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Charlotte, three children, a brother, and several grandchildren/great-grandchildren. May Jack Cloud rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 6-26-10

ITEM: Former NFL defensive player Keith McCants is arrested on a charge of use and possession of drug paraphernalia in Mobile, Alabama; it's at least the FOURTH arrest in less than a year for Mr. McCants. Call me crazy, but if this guy is allowed to continue to walk the streets, I'm predicting his total number of arrests will exceed his pro career sack total (13.5) sometime in the year 2012..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 2002 Kansas City Royals, who lost 100 games under three different managers, had a pair of players who drove in more than 100 runs apiece--both of whom went on to star for other teams. Can you name these two individuals? Answer to follow............Call me the retrospective-type (or flat- out NUTS), but I miss baseball players with nicknames like Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd, John "Blue Moon" Odom, and Walt "No Neck" Williams..........I used to think that a Ron Guidry slider was a pure thing of beauty--that is, until I saw some recent photos of actress/model Megan Fox that appeared in the June 2010 issue of Allure Magazine..........This week in sports history, June 29, 1990: Dave Stewart of the Oakland A's and Fernando Valenzuela of the L.A. Dodgers make baseball history--becoming the first hurlers to throw complete game no-hitters on the same day. Stewart no-hit the Blue Jays at the SkyDome in Toronto--striking out 12 batters along the way. Valenzuela--pitching at home at Dodger Stadium--beat St. Louis 6-0; Fernando had walked Willie McGee to begin the ninth inning, but then helped himself by deflecting a Pedro Guerrero line shot up the middle--which caromed directly to second baseman Juan Samuel for a double play..........Interesting #'s: As of last weekend, David Eckstein of the S.D. Padres was the toughest MLB player to strike out--fanning just 11 times in 276 plate appearances (a K/PA rate of 25.1). In contrast, Mark Reynolds of the Arizona D'backs had struck out a mind-boggling 99 times already in 278 plate appearances--meaning that he was K'ing at a rate of once per every 2.8 plate appearances..........How 'bout golfer Vicky Hurst--who missed the cut at last week's ShopRite LPGA Classic after finishing with rounds of 76 and 89 (23 OVER par)? I can picture this woman having to load up on the antacids BIG TIME prior to buying groceries at ANY ShopRite in the very near future..........Did you know that the lowly 1988 Baltimore Orioles were led in victories by a pair of pitchers who tallied just EIGHT apiece? Jeff Ballard (8-12) and Dave Schmidt (8-5) tied for the team lead in wins--with Schmidt doing most of his pitching in relief. The team finished 54-107 under managers Cal Ripken Sr. and Frank Robinson..........Answer to trivia question: CARLOS BELTRAN (105) and RAUL IBANEZ (103)..........ITEM: 20-year-old Jennifer Song wins in her professional debut last week at the Duramed Futures Tour's Players Championship; she fired a nine-under 61 on Sunday to win the tournament by six strokes--finishing at 19-under-par. Yes, congrats ARE in order--but it got me thinking, too (dangerous territory, folks): If she someday marries professional poker player Steve Sung, divorces, then marries former Iowa defensive end/Arena Football League player Larry Blue, Neil Diamond fans would surely celebrate her full married name of Jennifer Song Sung Blue..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Shawn Jeter--who blows out 44 candles on June 28th. If the name doesn't ring a bell, you're excused; the native of Louisiana played only ONE season in the "bigs"--1992 with the White Sox--and appeared in just 13 games during his short-lived career. Stats? Jeter went 2-for-18 that year (striking out seven times)--thus going into the record books with a lifetime batting average of .111. Hey--they all can't be like the OTHER Jeter, right? Best wishes, Shawn..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former University of Montana football player Tim Bush--who died last week in a mining accident in Idaho; he was 29 and due to be married in September. An undersized walk-on who played defensive end from 2000-2003, Bush was a starter on Montana's 2001 team that went 15-1 and won the Division I-AA national football championship; he was first-team All-Big Sky Conference in 2002 and still holds the Montana career record for sacks (with 34.5) and tackles for a loss (with 50). Bush is survived by his parents, Ken and Sharon, his fiance, Jennifer and their son, Davon, two sisters, and a brother. May Tim Bush rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 6-19-10

ITEM: Florida sophomore wide receiver Frankie Hammond is arrested on a DUI charge; he failed a couple of sobriety tests while two open bottles of Crown Royal were found inside his vehicle (by the way, at least 28 Gator players have been arrested during the Urban Meyer era). Could it be that Meyer had already instructed his team that Royal Crown (cola) should always be the team's beverage of choice--and the young receiver simply misunderstood him?..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1993 Houston Astros--who finished third in the NL West under manager Art Howe--had three pitchers on the staff with 15 or more wins. Can you name these three individuals? Answer to follow..........Some people remain rather critical--in a negative way--of the amethyst/lilac gown worn by actress Charlize Theron at the 2010 Oscars. These people must be the same individuals who STILL think that Mets pitcher Oliver Perez is a bargain at $12 million per season...........This coming week, the 2010 Travelers Championship gets underway at the TPC in Cromwell; primary beneficiaries of the tournament are The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and the Greater Hartford Jaycees. Once again, tournament director Nathan Grube and his staff have done a terrific job assembling an impressive field of players--despite the tournament being played one week after a major golf event (U.S. Open). Ticket prices and more tournament information (including history, records, etc.) can be obtained by visiting www.travelerschampionship.com .........Call me crazy, but I'm still reminded of "Hogan's Heroes" every time I think of former major league reliever Joe Klink..........This week in sports history, June 22, 1937: 23-year-old Joe Louis becomes boxing's first black heavyweight champion in twenty-two years--knocking out James J. Braddock in the eighth round in a fight held at Chicago's Comiskey Park. The 31-year-old Braddock was making his first title defense and actually sent "The Brown Bomber" to the canvas in the early moments of the bout. However, Louis dominated the rest of the way--finally putting Braddock away with a powerful right to the jaw that required him to be carried out of the ring. Jack Johnson had been the last black heavyweight champion--having ruled the boxing world from 1908-1915..........Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing former MLB pitcher Milt Wilcox--who played with many terrific players during a 16-year career spent in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and Seattle. When the question of the toughest/most competitive teammate he ever played with came up, Wilcox said it was a "no-brainer": None other than Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry..........O.K.--here goes, by popular demand: New Jersey lawyer Karen Venice marries former NFL defensive back Bo Orlando, divorces, marries martial arts expert Ken Melbourne--divorces again--then walks down the aisle with PGA golfer Keith Clearwater. Fans of "The Sunshine State" would surely delight in her full married name of Karen Venice Orlando Melbourne Clearwater..........Answer to trivia question: MARK PORTUGAL (18), PETE HARNISCH (16), and DARRYL KILE (15)..........I know one can bet on almost ANYTHING in Las Vegas--but I'm now wondering if wagering has commenced yet (i.e. over/under date) on when the N.Y. Yankees will ultimately land Stephen Strasburg..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league catcher Jorge Brito--who blows out 44 candles on June 22nd. A native of the Dominican Republic, Brito spent just two seasons in the "bigs"--1995 and 1996 with Colorado--and didn't exactly take advantage of Coors Field's comfy surroundings. Brito came to bat 65 times in his major league career and tallied just 12 hits--resulting in a lifetime batting average of just .185 (anyone remember something called the "Mendoza Line?"). Hey--they all can't be Joe Mauer, right? Best wishes, Jorge..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Louisiana-Lafayette football coach Nelson Stokley--who died recently from complications of Alzheimer's disease; he was 66. A native of Texas, Stokley guided the Ragin' Cajuns from 1986-1998--coaching such notable players as Brian Mitchell, Jake Delhomme, and his son, Brandon. After his team endured a 2-9 season in 1992, Stokley guided the Cajuns to one of the best turnarounds in Division I college football history--going 8-3 in 1993 and capturing a share of the Big West Conference Championship. He also served as the school's athletic director from 1988 until 1992. Stokley was a pretty impressive player himself (a former LSU quarterback)--leading the Tigers to the 1966 Cotton Bowl and the 1968 Sugar Bowl. May Coach Stokley rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 6-12-10

" Learn as if you were to live forever;
live as if you were to die tomorrow"
~~John Wooden

The numbers remain staggering: 88 straight wins, 10 NCAA titles (seven consecutive), over 600 victories at one school--UCLA. We lost the great John Wooden last week at the age of 99--yes, another another staggering number--but the man's magnificence will never be measured by throwing digits around. When I think of Mr. Wooden, I think of ONE word at this juncture: INTEGRITY; boy, did he possess a ton of it. When I first learned of his recent death, I immediately thought of the life lessons that this gentleman passed along to people he never even met OR coached; wow, what a gift to leave--for sure.

While risking oversimplification, I'll offer that John Wooden was a teacher--who just happened to be one of the greatest basketball coaches (college OR pro) in history. One of his prized pupils--Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar--relayed the following in a statement released by UCLA: "He taught in a very simple way. He just used sports as a means to teach us how to apply ourselves to any situation. He set quite an example. He was more like a parent than a coach. He really was a very selfless and giving human being, but he was a disciplinarian." And a quiet one at that as there were never any self-serving outbursts and/or outrageous sideline antics in order to get points across on the part of Coach Wooden. Rather, it seemed that preparation and hard work were his means to instilling discipline in his players; he once developed this 'novel' idea that his players could "out-condition" the opponent and win games with a fast-paced style. Positive results gave way to young men buying into his extremely successful system--to the point where players interested in playing at the Los Angeles school eagerly recruited HIM as their desired coach of choice. Slightly different than the skewed system of today, huh?

Coach Wooden's three team rules were as follows: no swearing, no tardiness, no criticizing fellow teammates. You see, to one John Wooden, "we" superseded "me"--and his part as a role-model to some impressionable college kids was one he embraced and never strayed from. Behind the bespectacled, pale-blue eyes was a fiercely competitive man who wanted his "students" (as opposed to "athletes") to win handily at the game of life; oh, by the way, this approach translated to wins on the court, also. Some may say that he "dressed the part", too--looking like a true professor on the sidelines during his coaching days with his rolled-up game program always in hand. However, one thing's for sure: the "part" he played was always that of HIMSELF--one of an incomparable, selfless molder of young men.

As Mr. Wooden's legacy unfolded, it seemed that his famed quotes/inspirational messages rivaled his vast number of wins on the basketball court. His legendary "Pyramid of Success" was closely examined and treasured by coaches in VARIOUS sports; it also became a guiding force for many "higher-ups" in the business world. Over the years, it has also become very clear that a majority of his popular sayings were direct offshoots from his Seven Point Creed--advice given to him by his father Joshua upon his graduation from grammar school. It bears repeating here and states the following:
*Be true to yourself.
*Make each day your masterpiece.
*Help others.
*Drink deeply from good books--especially the Bible.
*Make friendship a fine art.
*Build a shelter against a rainy day.
*Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Personally, I always admired Coach Wooden's gracious and pleasant demeanor--which would be hugely apparent during interviews he gave LONG after his coaching days had ended. Ah, no surprise as he always DID stress poise both on AND off the basketball court--defining it as "not being thrown off stride in how you behave or what you believe because of outside events." Balance, fundamentals, calmness in the face of adversity--all characteristics of any John Wooden-coached team; for some reason, especially in today's complex world, his approach seems timeless and relevant.

I never had the opportunity to meet or speak with John Wooden--probably one of my biggest regrets as a sports journalist. Why? Because the legendary status he achieved during his lifetime had NOTHING to do with dribbling or shooting a basketball; coach Mike Krzyzewski called him the "gold standard of PEOPLE"--and not just of COACHES. He taught life lessons CONSTANTLY; coaching was just simply one of the many "suitcases" he utilized in which to carry them. And does it shock anyone that former players Jamaal Wilkes and Bill Walton rushed to be by his side during the final week of his life? They'll ALWAYS remember, Mr. Wooden--and will forever be thankful.

John Wooden never liked the nickname "The Wizard of Westwood"--bestowed upon him many years ago; I can only surmise that it made him feel "singled out" while he spent a great part of his lifetime preaching against this and about teamwork. I'd like to think that he's now reunited with his beloved wife Nellie--who died in 1985--both content in knowing that his wisdom will continue to mold, shape, and guide people of all ages for generations to come.

I'll include one last Wooden quote--one of many that will continue to inspire/fuel the masses (including one admiring sports scribe) for at least the foreseeable future: "All of life is peaks and valleys. Don't let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low." May you rest in peace, Coach Wooden--and thanks for being the ultimate "life coach."

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 6-5-10

ITEM: Kansas defensive tackle Jamal Greene is dismissed from the team after he and former teammate Vernon Brooks are arrested in connection with an attempted aggravated robbery (Brooks had ALREADY been dismissed from the team before spring practices for violating various team rules). My first thought? This will simply give these 'outstanding' young men more time to work on term papers, visit the school library, take additional/challenging classes, and help old ladies across the street.........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1979 Chicago White Sox were led in wins by a pitcher whose victory total that season was more than one-third of his CAREER total. Can you name this individual? Answer to follow..........Just thinking: If Ken Griffey Jr. of the Mariners had aged HALF as well as actresses Jennifer Aniston and Sharon Stone, then Seattle would be leading the AL West by 5 games at this juncture..........I'd love to see LPGA golfer Angela Stanford hook up with New Mexico State infielder Joel Cardinal; if they ever tied the knot, fans of a Palo Alto, CA school would surely delight in her full married name of Angela Stanford Cardinal..........This week in sports history, June 8, 1968: L.A. Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale's 58-inning scoreless streak comes to an end as a fifth-inning sacrifice fly by Philadelphia's Howie Bedell scores Tony Taylor in a game played at Dodger Stadium. Just two innings earlier, Drysdale had passed Walter Johnson's previous mark of 55 2/3 scoreless innings--drawing a standing ovation from more than 50,000 fans in attendance. Philadelphia ended up scoring three runs off Drysdale during the game, but he ultimately improved his record to 8-3 during a 5-3 Dodgers victory.......... Regarding the disaster better-known as Oliver Perez: Don't you think this guy should at LEAST donate a few million bucks worth of Sominex to the Mets--who can then distribute the sleep-aid to fans who've endured so many restless nights since his ridiculous signing?..........Did you know that the 1979 Los Angeles Dodgers had FIVE players with 20 or more home runs apiece--but finished with a sub-.500 record? Joe Ferguson, Dusty Baker, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, and Steve Garvey all homered at least 20 times, but the team finished 79-83 under manager Tom Lasorda--11 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Cincinnati Reds.......... Answer to trivia question: KEN KRAVEC--who went 15-13 in 1979 while winning just 43 games over his entire eight-year career..........Just wondering: Do you think a muscled-up "A-ROID" thought of his past steroid use after hitting that scorching line drive off the head of Indians pitcher David Huff last weekend? Wait a second--a member of the MLB player's union with a true CONSCIENCE??? Nahhhhhh............Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA center Bryant "Big Country" Reeves--who blows out 37 candles on June 8th. While at Oklahoma State, Reeves averaged more than 17 points and 8 rebounds per game over his four-year college career and led his team to the Final Four in 1995. Reeves became the first-ever draft pick of the Vancouver Grizzlies and spent six seasons with them from 1995-2001--averaging 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds over the course of his NBA career. One of the highlights of Reeves' career was setting a Grizzlies club record in March of 2000 when he converted 11 straight field goal attempts against the Seattle SuperSonics. Sadly, weight and injury problems took their toll on Reeves in the late 90's--causing him to retire at a very young age. Best wishes, "Big Country"..........Finally, condolences go out to former Oklahoma coach Ray Thurmond--who passed away recently at the age of 89. Thurmond was named as OU's golf coach and freshman basketball coach back in 1967; while working under Sooners head basketball coach John McLeod, Thurmond helped develop such star players as Clifford Ray and Garfield Heard. A World War II veteran, Thurmond attended North Texas State and went on to coach FIVE different sports at the high school level (in Texas, Georgia, and California) before joining OU's physical education staff in 1960. Any person familiar with "Sooner Country" will attest to the fact that Ray Thurmond undoubtedly was one of the most popular figures in Oklahoma sports history; he'll surely be missed. Rest in peace, "Coach."