"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 7-31-10

Last weekend, Tony DeAngelo--my co-host on CTV-14's "Monday Night Sports Talk"--referred to the concession stand at Yankee Stadium as "The Extortion Booth." Why? For starters: While there, I bought him a bottle of water and a hot dog which set me back THIRTEEN DOLLARS. What REALLY made me laugh (but actually CRY on the inside) was the small pizzas I saw them selling in one of the mezzanine suites; each pie was the size of a frisbee and the thickness of a half-dollar coin. The price? Again--THIRTEEN DOLLARS..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The lowly 1986 Pittsburgh Pirates had just ONE starting pitcher with a record above .500. Can you name this former right-handed hurler? Answer to follow..........Oh--and after I bought the aforementioned items at Yankee Stadium last weekend, I said to the girl behind the counter, "Is this a stick-up?" She wasn't amused..........I was listening to WFAN Radio last week when a clueless N.Y. Yankees fan called up host Marc Malusis--and said that since MLB doesn't have a problem with A-ROD's past steroid abuse, that makes it perfectly OK with him, too. Malusis: "So if you walked into a department store and the security guard was sleeping, then it's OK to STEAL, right?"..........Gotta love WFAN's Joe Benigno's disinterest/disdain for fantasy sports games/leagues. As Benigno has reminded us on so many occasions, "My fantasy team is one with NO men on it." Can't disagree, Joe..........This week in sports history, August 2, 1979: New York Yankees team captain/catcher Thurman Munson dies in a fiery plane crash when his twin-engine jet clips some trees and goes down short of the runway at the Akron-Canton Airport in Ohio. Two survivors--Jerry Anderson and David Hall--tried to save Munson, but the intense heat from the flames thwarted their valiant efforts. As a hitter, Munson had topped the .300 mark five times in his career and hit .292 lifetime. He was also the AL Rookie of the Year back in 1970 and won the league's MVP Award in 1976..........ITEM: Florida State linebacker Nigel Carr is arrested by Tallahassee police on charges of auto burglary, criminal mischief, credit card theft, and fraud. Wow--shame on naive yours truly. While all these transgressions were happening, I just assumed that Carr was holed up somewhere in the Robert Manning Strozier Library on the campus of FSU--brushing up on his knowledge of microbiology or examining various Shakespearean sonnets..........The death of the wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher (Kaye) from skin cancer should send a message out to all the "sun worshippers" out there--especially if you're over the age of 50. Contrary to popular belief, sun block should be used YEAR-ROUND--even on cloudy days; if you possess very light hair or skin, it's even MORE important to protect yourself. Also, wear a hat or sunglasses when you go outside, folks; seems simple enough, but it COULD save your life--especially if your family has a history of skin cancer. We hope Kaye Cowher's death simply sheds additional "light" on a disease that CAN be avoided using simple precautions..........Just sayin', Red Sox fans: Don't you wish pitcher Tim Wakefield had aged HALF as well as lovely model Christy Brinkley has over the past year or so?..........Answer to trivia question: RICK RHODEN--who went 15-12 (ERA of 2.84) for Jim Leyland's sixth-place ball club..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former MLB outfielder Troy O'Leary--who will blow out 41 candles on August 4th. A native of Compton, CA, O'Leary spent 11 seasons in the big leagues between 1993 and 2003--hitting .274 lifetime. O'Leary spent the majority of his career with the Red Sox (seven years), but also played with the Brewers, Expos, and Cubs. Perhaps Troy's best year came in 1999 while with the Red Sox--a season in which he smacked 28 home runs and drove in 103 runs; he also led all American League left-fielders with 296 putouts that year. Best wishes, Troy..........Finally, it was sad to hear about the passing of former MLB manager Ralph Houk--who died last week in Florida at the age of 90. Really--what can you say about a man who was a MUCH bigger hero OFF the field than ON? This was a man who took part in the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, was exposed to a barrage of enemy fire, and received a Silver Star for his brave, heroic actions. "The Major," they called him--and he later found time to win three straight American League pennants along with a pair of world championships as the skipper of the New York Yankees. Altogether, Houk won 1,619 games as manager of the Yankees, Tigers, and Red Sox--always being known as a "player's manager." Houk leaves a daughter, a son, four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; his wife, Bette, predeceased him in 2006. May "The Major" rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 7-24-10

Yes, I used to think a Ron Guidry slider was a pure thing of beauty, that is, until I saw a picture of actress/model Carmen Electra the other day--decked out in a skin-tight, blue dress at a hotel in Las Vegas. My goodness.........TRIVIA QUESTION: Who is the only member of the Florida Marlins to be named the MVP of MLB's yearly All-Star game? Answer to follow..........Call me crazy, but there's something funny/ironic about the fact that the State College Spikes (NY-Penn League) have a pitcher on their roster named Brooks Pounders---and his weight is currently listed at 271 lbs..........This week in sports history, July 27, 1993: 27-year-old Boston Celtics forward Reggie Lewis dies at a Massachusetts hospital after collapsing while shooting baskets at the team's Brandeis University training center. Lewis died of apparent cardiac arrest; he had collapsed due to a heart condition the previous April during a playoff game vs. Charlotte, but continued to work out lightly due to conflicting diagnoses. Lewis had averaged 20.8 points per game during the '92-'93 NBA season and also was a participant in the '91-'92 NBA All-Star game..........ITEM: Eleven Notre Dame athletes, including eight football players (one of whom was Nate Montana--son of Joe) are arrested for underage drinking at an off-campus house. I'm just wondering how long it will take some distillery out there to market a new type of booze called "Fighting" Irish whiskey..........Answer to trivia question: JEFF CONINE--who homered in the 8th inning of the 1995 All-Star Game--helping the National League to a 3-2 victory over the AL..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Terry Taylor--who blows out 46 candles on July 28th. If the name doesn't ring a bell, there may be a good reason: Taylor spent just one season in the "bigs"--1988 with the Mariners--starting five games for the last-place Seattle club. The results weren't pretty either, folks: He pitched a total of 23 innings--giving up 26 hits and walking 11 batters while giving up 17 runs. Yes, Terry Taylor's lifetime numbers? 0 wins, 1 loss, with an ERA of 6.26. Hey, they all can't be the "Big Unit", right? Best wishes, Terry..........Finally, I've been asked to comment about the death of longtime Yankees owner George Steinbrenner--who passed away last week at the age of 80. To me, the man was fascinating--and truly lived a Jekyll and Hyde-type existence. A ruthless owner at times-- but a devoted humanitarian, too. Yes, my main criticism of George over the years is rather simple--and involves others: Steinbrenner and some fellow owners--along with a greedy posse that still calls itself a "union"--truly set the tone for the "briefcase mentality" so prevalent in baseball these days. Yes, it was during "The Boss'" reign that baseball truly became BIG BUSINESS--NOT a game anymore--along with becoming much too corporate. The current game of baseball--for the TRUE baseball fan out there--remains a shell of what it once was strictly due to the INSANE amounts of money involved; "Joe Fan" remains too far-distanced from the prima donna player of today due to ridiculous salaries and rising prices--phenomena that can be traced directly to individuals like George Steinbrenner. However, we must be reminded that his "payroll overkill" and lavish spending were always within the rules; as Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free-Press recently wrote, "He used his money advantage constantly." Steinbrenner simply used a well-developed, ruthless business approach: Spend money to MAKE money---and he did it better than any Yankees fan could have imagined after he took over a struggling franchise back in 1973. My personal, rather immense respect of the man goes well-beyond the scope of baseball. He should be highly commended for his "no-nonsense" approach to business along with his huge disdain for incompetence; he was a tough boss and simply demanded the absolute best from his employees. He held people ACCOUNTABLE for perceived mistakes and continually expected the highest quality of work from them--an approach that sadly seems outdated today. His drive/want to succeed (albeit sometimes at almost any cost) cannot be criticized. His payment of college tuition for countless, disadvantaged individuals went under-publicized; that was the way he wanted it. He even contributed regularly to the Jimmy Fund--a charity usually associated with the rival Red Sox--and did it almost anonymously. Let's just say that George Steinbrenner has become the model for the modern owner in ANY sport. He changed the game of baseball; for some, it was in a negative fashion--for others (especially Yankees fans), it was glorious. In a money-fueled society, this fact surely stands out: The man used about $150,000 of his own money to buy a team back in 1973; the team was worth approximately $1.5 BILLION when he took his last breath. Without question, THAT'S success, my friends. Finally, the Boss' life SHOULDN'T be sugar-coated--something that my fellow columnist Phil Mushnick of the N.Y. Post has written so candidly about. But there is absolutely NO doubt about his impact on the game of baseball--and that's worthy of Hall of Fame enshrinement.

Rest in peace, Mr. Steinbrenner.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 7-17-10

Ah, yes, the "jockocracy"--a phenomena that Howard Cosell spoke so critically about--rears it ugly head once again as former NFL linebacker Antonio Pierce retires from the game and immediately joins ESPN as an analyst. If you recall, Pierce was with gun-toting teammate Plaxico Burress back in 2008 when an unlicensed firearm went off in a nightclub; Pierce then drove home with the gun in his glove compartment and arranged for it to be returned to Burress' home in New Jersey. Oh--and Pierce's journalistic background? Ummm, perhaps it was his weekly appearances (as a player) on WFAN Radio during past NFL seasons--where his "stand-offish" personality was quite apparent while his answers to hosts' questions were usually curt in nature. Yes--a "brilliant" hire, ESPN; meanwhile, Howard groans once again from his resting place.........TRIVIA QUESTION: Name the last member of the Los Angeles Dodgers to lead the National League in runs scored; answer to follow..........Regarding Lebron James/"The Decision": Initially, I promised myself I wouldn't insult my intelligence by watching this televised piece of garbage, but--as a columnist--thought I'd later be asked to comment about it. So I vowed to have fun with it; using the letters E-S-P-N, I decided to think of the first four adjectives that popped into my head as I viewed this farce. The result? Egotistical, Staged, Pathetic, Narcissistic..........Column reader David Kramer submits yet another reason for yours truly to someday interview hot dog-eating champion Joey Chestnut on "Monday Night Sports Talk" via telephone instead of in-studio: There simply would be no need to "beef up" security when talking to Chestnut over the phone lines..........ITEM: University of Georgia athletic director Damon Evans is arrested on a drunken driving charge; the arresting officer said the married Evans had a pair of red panties between his legs at the time that belonged to a 28-year-old female passenger who was NOT his wife. Sheesh--gives a whole new meaning to the expression "being caught red-handed", huh?..........Answer to trivia question: BRETT BUTLER--who led the NL by scoring 112 times for Tommy Lasorda's second-place club back in 1991..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league outfielder Mickey Stanley--who blows out 68 candles on July 20th. Stanley spent his entire 15-year career with the Tigers between 1964 and 1978--appearing in 1,516 games. Used mostly as a center-fielder, Stanley hit only .248 lifetime; however, he left his mark on the game with his exceptional glove. Stanley won Gold Gloves in 1968, '69, '70, and '73; in '68 and '70, Mickey did not make a SINGLE ERROR while patrolling the outfield. He also had six hits in the 1968 World Series--helping the Tigers to a world championship. Best wishes, Mickey..........Condolences go out to the family of former NBA player/All-American center Melvin Turpin--who died recently in Kentucky of a self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was 49. Nicknamed "The Big Dipper", Turpin helped the Kentucky Wildcats to three consecutive regular season SEC titles during his college days; he was the sixth player taken in the 1984 NBA draft--which featured players such as Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Turpin spent five seasons in the NBA between 1984 and 1990 with the Cavs, Jazz, and Bullets--averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Turpin often struggled with weight problems during his professional playing days--perhaps an explanation for his brief career. Most recently, he had been working as a security guard at UK. Melvin and his ex-wife, Lisa, were divorced in the mid-90's; his current wife, Kerry, had been dealing with various health problems over the past few years. Sadly, Turpin never had a relationship with his three children--ages 24, 20 and 18. May Melvin Turpin rest in peace..........And what can one really say about the passing of longtime Yankees P.A. announcer Bob Sheppard? When you're coined with the nickname "The Voice of God," a few simple words in this type of forum seems inadequate and won't do the man justice. Let's just say that Sheppard's voice was simply the background of my youth; when I entered Yankee Stadium for the first time as an eight-year-old, it was Sheppard's unique/resounding diction that convinced me I was in a special place. Yeah, I had heard it on television before, but to have experienced it in-person was truly special. Something about his voice made you want to follow AND play baseball; it was THAT powerful. And he sounded EXACTLY the same when I'd take the subway to all Yankee home games while in college--and years later when gray hairs started appearing. How 'bout "The Voice of a Few Generations" due to his longevity? It may sound corny, but when I heard his comforting voice for the first time every April, all was right with the world once again. Yes, a special voice -- and a man who can now be mentioned in the same breath with the great "Yankees" of all-time. A special part of MANY of us is now gone--but the fond memories will go nowhere. We'll miss you, Mr. Sheppard.

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

*Great cause: Team Hole in the Wall is a terrific attempt/approach to generate funds in support of the mission of Hole in the Wall Camps--the world's largest family of camps for children with life-threatening diseases. Athletes can participate in bike races, marathons, 10K runs, triathlons, and various other events. Participants are given the necessary online tools in order to generate funds for a Hole in the Wall Camp in their area of residence. For more information on how to get involved--or to just make a donation from afar--please visit www.teamholeinthewall.org ..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1991 Cleveland Indians--who finished with a record of 57-105--had only ONE pitcher on the staff who reached double-figures in wins. Can you name this former hurler? Answer to follow.........I saw a photograph the other day of gorgeous actress Sharon Stone leaving a restaurant in Beverly Hills. I'll just say THIS: She's definitely gotten better with age and--as far as I know--did it WITHOUT the help of steroids..........ITEM: Joey Chestnut wins his fourth straight Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest--consuming 54 hot dogs (AND buns) in ten minutes. Column reader David Kramer suggests that I book Chestnut as a guest on my cable TV show "Monday Night Sports Talk." Kramer added, "After all, you could do the interview over the phone--so you won't have to feed him."..........This week in sports history, July 13, 1934: Nearing the end of an incomparable career, the great Babe Ruth hits home run #700--helping the Yankees beat the Tigers 4-2 in Detroit. The 39-year-old legend hit his milestone homer--a two-run shot--off Tigers pitcher Tommy Bridges in the top of the third inning. Ruth--the holder of practically every power-hitting record in history--had reason to believe his all-time HR mark would last for a LONG time: As of 1934, only Lou Gehrig and Rogers Hornsby had reached the 300-HR plateau..........Folks, you haven't lived until you hear Connecticut Tigers (NY-Penn League) P.A. announcer Ed Weyant pronounce the name of Tigers outfielder Chao-Ting Tang before each at-bat--in drawn-out fashion. Priceless, Ed..........Speaking of the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest: How 'bout the "Chew-View" camera utilized by ESPN during the telecast--giving the viewer an up-close look from the mouths of contestants? Yeah, I know--ain't technology GREAT? What's next--a "Toe-Cam" in the NFL when kickers attempt field goals?..........Answer to trivia question: CHARLES NAGY--who compiled a record of 10-15 while starting 33 games for his seventh-place Tribe ball club..........ITEM: Detroit Lions team president Tom Lewand is arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in Roscommon County, Michigan. Hey, I'm ALL for throwing the book at drunk drivers. But if found guilty, I'm just wondering if a sympathetic judge in this case (maybe a Lions fan) would consider a more lenient sentence for Lewand--seeing that the man had to witness his team go 42-118 over the past decade..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Joe Cannon--who blows out 57 candles on July 13th. A native of North Carolina who attended Pensacola Junior College, Cannon spent just four seasons in the big leagues between 1977 and 1980 as a member of the Astros and Blue Jays--appearing in 148 games. Perhaps the reason why Cannon didn't hang on longer in the majors is THIS: In 227 lifetime at-bats, Cannon could only muster 40 hits--thus rendering him with a career batting average of just .176. He CAN tell his grandchildren that he DID hit one major league home run--as a member of Toronto in 1979. Hey--they all can't be like the "Toy Cannon", Jimmy Wynn, right? Best wishes, Joe..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL coach Don Coryell--who died last week in California at the age of 85. After coaching at Whittier College (CA) from 1957 to 1959, Coryell became the architect of the football program at San Diego State where he coached from 1961 to 1972--compiling an impressive record of 104-19-2. Then the pros came calling: He became head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 and led them to a pair of divisional titles. But he will forever be known for his "Air Coryell" offense as head coach of the San Diego Chargers--which emphasized passing and forced changes in defensive alignments throughout the N.F.L. Altogether, Coryell posted a record of 111-83-1 as a pro head coach; he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He is survived by a son, daughter, and three grandchildren; he was predeceased by his wife, Aliisa, back in 2008. Rest in peace, Don Coryell.