"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 10-2-10

*Mandi Schwartz Update: The Yale women's hockey center received her long-awaited stem cell transplant last week in order to beat cancer; with her immune system having been wiped out due to chemotherapy and radiation, the hope is that the transplanted stem cells begin to grow in her bone marrow and manufacture new blood/immune cells. Prior to the transplant, Mandi had these heartfelt words for her fellow hockey teammates: "I'm praying every day for everything to work out, and I know you all are thinking about me and praying for me; thank you very much--your support means the world to me. I think about the team, your workouts, the busy school day, and the beautiful feeling of stepping out onto that ice every day." Trust me, Mandi--many people you've never even met are thinking of YOU, too. Best wishes, Mandi..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1990 Chicago White Sox--who finished 2nd in the AL West under manager Jeff Torborg--had three players who stole more than 30 bases apiece. Can you name this trio? Answer to follow..........There have been many questionable decisions over the years regarding baseball's postseason awards, but how 'bout this one for pure insanity: In 2000, Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies led the NL in hits, doubles, RBI's, batting average, on-base%, slugging %, and total bases--and finished FIFTH in the MVP voting. Just unfathomable..........ITEM: N.Y. Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards is arrested for DUI--reportedly registering a blood-alcohol level of .16. When I first saw that number, I immediately asked myself if it also was his approximate grade-point average while he was attending Michigan..........This week in sports history, October 5, 1985: Grambling's Eddie Robinson becomes the winningest coach in college football history as his Tigers defeat Prairie View A&M 27-7 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The victory was the 324th in Eddie's remarkable career--breaking the record of 323 formerly held by Alabama coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant (who retired in 1982). Over 36,000 fans and 500 media members were on hand to witness Robinson's record-setting win--which came in his 45th year as a coach..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game last week, Wisconsin annihilated Austin Peay 70-3; the Badgers scored TD's on all SEVEN of their first half possessions. My first thought? Since Wisconsin is a leading state in milk and cheese production, I'm wondering if the current Austin Peay players will become nauseous after consuming ANY type of dairy product over the remainder of their lifetimes.........If any retailers up there in the Boston area are interesting in peddling more antacids, just continually remind Red Sox fans of THIS: The team will pay under-achieving starters Josh Beckett and John Lackey approximately $33 million in 2011. {{belch}}...........Answer to trivia question: LANCE JOHNSON (36), IVAN CALDERON (32), and SAMMY SOSA (32)..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NFL cornerback Albert Lewis--who blows out 50 candles on October 6th. A native of Louisiana who attended Grambling, Lewis played a remarkable 16 seasons in the league between 1983 and 1998; he spent eleven seasons with the Chiefs and five with the Raiders. Albert intercepted 42 passes in his career and appeared in four consecutive Pro Bowls from 1987-1990. Lewis was named Chiefs MVP for the 1986 season when he recorded 69 tackles and four interceptions. He was elected to the Chiefs 25-Year All-Time Team in 1987 and was also inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in March of 2007. Best wishes, Albert..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Utah high school basketball/football coach Ray Odette--who passed away recently due to a stroke at the age of 72. Odette may not have been a national, household name, but he developed an immense reputation throughout Utah as a selfless coach who flat-out LOVED kids; he was a second father to many young men who were fortunate to cross paths with him. Just how respected was Ray Odette? After going 0-8 at Dixie High back in 2000, many parents begged him to stay on as coach due to the immense, positive influence he had on their children. He spent the majority of his coaching life at Dixie, but also coached for three years at Snow College. Odette truly led by example; unlike many current coaches, he wasn't classified as the in-your-face/"rah-rah"-type. He even preferred to sit on the visitor's side of the field while viewing games in retirement in order to remain anonymous. Yes--he truly disdained the limelight; refreshing, huh? Odette leaves his wife of 51 years, Rose, three sons, and a daughter. Rest in peace, "Coach"--you'll truly be missed.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 9-25-10

Continued well-wishes go out to Yale women’s hockey center Mandi Schwartz--who was scheduled to undergo a stem cell transplant this week at the University of Washington Medical Center. The transplant, which utilizes stem cells from two umbilical cord blood units donated anonymously to public cord blood banks, is just another step in Mandi's battle against cancer. She has been battling acute myeloid leukemia for almost two years and needs a stem cell transplant to survive. Hang in there, Mandi--and keep fightin'..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1987 Cincinnati Reds--who finished 2nd in the NL West under Pete Rose--had four players who hit more than 20 home runs apiece. How many of these players can you name? Answer to follow..........I used to think that a Steve Carlton slider was a pure thing of beauty--that is, until I saw a recent picture of actress/supermodel Eva Mendes wearing a stunning green dress at the London premiere of "The Other Guys."..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game played last weekend in Ohio, Malone defeated Anna Maria (MA) 69-0; the winning squad held a 521-150 advantage in total yards, forced two fumbles, and blocked a pair of punts. My first thought when I saw this outrageous score was that an outnumbered INDIVIDUAL named Anna Maria was facing the opposition by HERSELF--and could never get things going offensively..........This week in sports history, September 28, 1941: In a final-day doubleheader played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Boston's Ted Williams tallies six hits in eight at-bats--enabling him to finish the season with a phenomenal .406 batting average. Before the twin bill started, Red Sox manager Joe Cronin had offered Williams the day off in order to maintain his .400 batting average (.39955)--but the 23-year-old refused. Williams went 4-for-5 in the opener and followed that up with a single and double in three-at-bats in the nightcap--helping the Red Sox to a sweep of Philadelphia. Williams became the first .400 hitter since the New York Giants' Bill Terry (.401) in 1930 and the first in the AL since Detroit's Harry Heilmann (.403) in 1923..........I'd like to see former University of Florida golfer Eleanor Tucker hook up with English soccer player Andrew Rigby. If they ever walked down the aisle, fans of the Beatles' Revolver album would surely delight in the bride's new married name of Eleanor Rigby..........Congratulations go out to former Yale pitcher/current A's reliever Craig Breslow--who has been nominated for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award for humanitarian and community service. Breslow is the founder of the Strike 3 Foundation--a charitable organization that heightens awareness and raises funds for childhood cancer research; he created the foundation in honor of his sister, Lesley--a survivor of pediatric thyroid cancer. Breslow, an '02 Yale graduate, was honored by the A's in a pregame ceremony before the Sept. 8th game against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum. On-line voting for the award is available on Major League Baseball’s website, mlb.com, through Oct. 8. Having had the opportunity to interview Breslow in the past, I can vouch for the man's integrity and tremendous charitable nature; great job, Craig..........Answer to trivia question: ERIC DAVIS (37), DAVE PARKER (26), KAL DANIELS (26), and NICK ESASKY (22)..........Terrific quote from Tim McCarver last week on FOX--commenting about the way Braves manager Bobby Cox has conducted business/approached his work over a long career: "If Bobby Cox had been a college football coach, 98% of his players would graduate."..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Craig Lefferts--who blows out 53 candles on September 29th. Lefferts spent 12 seasons in the "bigs" between 1983 and 1994 pitching for six different teams--appearing in 696 games during his career. Used mostly in relief, Craig won 58 games and compiled 101 saves--while pitching to a career ERA of 3.43. Perhaps Lefferts' best year came in 1990 while with the Padres--a season in which he went 7-5, saved 23 games, and pitched to an impressive ERA of 2.52. Back in 1986, Lefferts appeared in 83 games--leading both leagues. Best wishes, Craig..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Oklahoma Sooners basketball player Ken Pryor--who passed away recently at the age of 85. Pryor was famous for making the game-winning shot with less than ten seconds remaining in OU's 1947 NCAA semifinal victory over Texas; his team eventually lost to Bob Cousy and Holy Cross in the championship game. After his career at Oklahoma, Pryor played some amateur basketball, worked at an oil company, and opened his own insurance agency. He was also an accomplished golfer and was a long-time football/basketball official for the Big Eight. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pauline, three daughters, and a son. May Ken Pryor rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 9-18-10

Great quote by WDRC-FM's Mike Stevens last week following the Red Sox 14-5 loss to Tampa Bay--a game where Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up EIGHT earned runs in just over four innings: "Dice-K was serving up more meat than the Golden Arches."..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1987 Baltimore Orioles--who finished sixth in the AL East under Cal Ripken, Sr.--were led in home runs by a player who hit less than 100 round-trippers during his entire career. Can you name this former outfielder? Answer to follow..........Yes, suffice it to say that yours truly likes baseball just as much as the next guy. But when it comes down to either watching the aforementioned Dice-K start a game for the Red Sox or Christie Brinkley doing an infomercial, the woman in Spandex wins out EVERY time..........*Here goes: Former Citadel volleyball player Ashley Winter marries music superstar Stevie Wonder, divorces, then marries author Jon Land. Her full married name as the cold weather approaches? Ashley Winter Wonder Land..........Ah, yes, it surely seems that many people I know are excited that the pro football season has returned and is now underway. Check out this gem of an equation just submitted to me by a friend of mine, Marcie: " N.Y. Giants football + homemade onion dip with BACON pieces in it + an endless supply of Hoegaarden = The Perfect Sunday..........This week in sports history, September 21, 1985: Larry Holmes' seven-year reign as heavyweight champion comes to an end in Las Vegas as he loses his title to Michael Spinks in a unanimous 15-round decision. Spinks, the light-heavyweight champion who was moving up in weight class, was the busier of the two fighters as Holmes could only offer an occasional weak jab during the bout. Holmes was bidding to tie former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano's record of 49 straight professional wins; ironically, Holmes' loss to Spinks came exactly 30 years to the day when Marciano won his 49th in a row against Archie Moore. The victory enabled Spinks to claim the title that his brother Leon had held briefly back in 1978..........WFAN's Mike Francesa was discussing the N.Y. Jets last week--specifically how the team will have a target on its back this season due to the continuous "trash-talking" nature of coach Rex Ryan. Francesa talked about opposing defenses and the aggressiveness they will bring while going after QB Mark Sanchez: "These guys (the opposing defenses) are gonna go around the left guard like they're on the L.I.E." He also added: "When Rex Ryan talks, Sanchez better DUCK."..........ITEM: University of Miami baseball player Frankie Ratcliff is arrested for trying to sell marijuana to undercover detectives; officers later searched his apartment and found three more bags of pot and 19 vials of steroids. My first thought was that this guy is probably more familiar with various drugs than 3/4 of the students enrolled in the PRE-MED program at Miami..........Answer to trivia question: LARRY SHEETS--who led Baltimore in home runs that year with 31 while also hitting an impressive .316..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league catcher Cesar Devarez--who blows out 41 candles on September 22nd. Few may remember this native of the Dominican Republic--who played just two years in the "bigs" with the Orioles back in 1995 and '96. Devarez appeared in just 16 major league games; he came to bat a total of 22 times in his short-lived career and accumulated just TWO hits--thus compiling a lifetime batting average of .091. However, he CAN brag to anyone who will listen that one of his two career hits was a TRIPLE; hey--not bad for a catcher, huh? Best wishes, Cesar..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former women's college basketball coach J. Kelly Hall--who passed away recently after suffering a heart attack at his home in South Carolina; he was 51. Hall was the winningest coach in the history of Louisiana-Lafayette--tallying 86 victories during his five seasons there (2002-2007); he was the 2005 Sun Belt Coach of the Year. Hall had previous assistant coaching jobs at places like Louisville, Auburn, Cal State Fullerton, and Alabama; he left the LA-Lafayette program to serve as head coach at the University of Cincinnati from 2007-09. During his career, Hall was known as one of the best defensive coaches in the women's college game--famous for his expertise of the match-up zone. Hall is survived by his wife, Meredith, two daughters, and a son; may Coach Hall rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 9-11-10

Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week" (a no-brainer): In a college football game last weekend, Oregon defeated New Mexico 72-0--with the winning team having led during this 'laugher' 59-0 at HALFTIME. The Ducks piled up a school-record total of 720 yards on offense and (get this) played WITHOUT starting RB LaMichael James. But what stood out to me was what New Mexico defensive end Johnathan Rainey said after the game--remarking that this should be a "wake-up call" for the losing Lobos. Put it this way, Johnathan: If THAT kind of score doesn't wake your team up, then I'm truly convinced that you and your teammates would have nodded off during the ear-splitting Who concert I saw at the Meadowlands back in 1982..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1990 Philadelphia Phillies--who finished 4th in the NL East under manager Nick Leyva--were led in victories by a starting pitcher with a measly total of just TEN. Can you name this former left-handed hurler? Answer to follow..........I have a new nickname for Bill Hall of the Boston Red Sox: "The Pendulum." WHY? Because he's ALWAYS swinging. When he drew a walk last weekend vs. Chicago, it was his first in 85 at-bats--dating back over a MONTH. I'm totally convinced that the next time a floating hot dog wrapper is near home plate while Hall is in the batter's box, he'll offer at it and start running to first base..........This week in sports history, September 14th, 1968: The Detroit Tigers rally for two runs in the bottom of the ninth--defeating Oakland 5-4 and enabling pitcher Denny McLain to garner his remarkable 30th win of the season. Willie Horton drove in the winning run for Detroit--singling over a drawn-in infield to score Mickey Stanley. The victory improved McLain's season record to 30-5; he became the first 30-game winner in the American League since 1931 when Lefty Grove compiled a record of 31-4 while pitching for Philadelphia..........Is it me--or are baseball announcers currently supplying more useless/non-impressive information than ever before? During last week's meeting between Cincinnati and St. Louis, Cardinals color man Al Hrabosky remarked that Jonny Gomes of the Reds had hit safely in 4 of his last 5 games. Wow, Al, now you have me wondering if a parade should be in order if a player hits in 15 or more consecutive games..........Anyone out there catch a glimpse of the dress that 47-year-old "supermodel" Elle MacPherson was wearing recently at the opening of a lingerie shop in Brazil? Three comments: 1) This woman looks as good right now as she did at age 27. 2) Elle and Mariano Rivera could make a fortune collaborating on a book titled Secrets to Anti-Aging. 3) She surely lives up to her nickname of "The Body."..........Answer to trivia question: PAT COMBS--who led the Phils in wins that year while pitching to a record of 10-10..........Anyone out there remember major league shortstop Tom McMillan? I didn't think so. Well, he'll celebrate his 59th birthday this week. Perhaps the reason why his name is so "foggy" to the average baseball fan is because he played just ONE year in the "bigs"--1977 with the Mariners--appearing in just TWO games. McMillan came to bat five times that year without a hit--thus joining a select group of players who've gone into the MLB record books with a lifetime batting average of .000. Hey--he CAN tell his grandchildren that he handled five chances in the field that season WITHOUT making an error; yes--he can always brag that his career fielding % will forever remain a perfect 1.000. Best wishes for many more birthdays to come, Tom..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former Yale football player Jim MacLaren--who died recently at the age of 47. Jim was a three-year letter-winner at Yale--graduating in 1985--but he'll truly be remembered for his heroic actions OFF the gridiron. Struck by a New York City bus in 1985, MacLaren had his left leg amputated from the knee down but went on to become one of the world's most prolific amputee distance runners/triathletes. Tragedy struck again in 1993 when Jim was struck by a van during a triathlon competition in California--which resulted in him becoming a paraplegic. Making the most of his plight, MacLaren became a motivational speaker and formed the Choose Living Foundation--supporting various philanthropic endeavors that were dear to his heart. A former recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, we ALL can learn a lesson from the way MacLaren approached life. Back in the mid-90's, I'd occasionally see Jim at Claire's Corner Copia (restaurant) in New Haven; he was always wearing his racing gear and would park his bike near the front entrance. We became casual acquaintances simply due to our shared athletic interests and mutual fondness for Claire's menu. When we'd crossed paths there, I'd often say, "How ya doing, Jim?" And he'd smile and usually say something like, "Great--and you? Nice day for a ride!" He was a true gentleman and an inspiration to countless individuals; yes, albeit a short one, his was a life well-lived. Rest in peace, Jim.