"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 12/17/11

Yes, the celebratory, childish garbage that goes on after each TD in the NFL has now reached a pitiful point; basically, NONE of these dolts appear as if they've ever SEEN an end zone before. Perhaps my good friend/colleague Phil Mushnick of the New York Post put it best when he wrote the following in his popular column recently: "This game, at its highest level, is in such disgusting, desensitized repair that if it were a building, it would be condemned and knocked down to make room for something far more worthwhile--like a PRISON." Amen, Mr. Mushnick--and extremely well-put...........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1991 Cleveland Browns--who finished 6-10 under coach Bil Belichick--had three players who accumulated more than 500 yards receiving apiece. Can you name any of these gentlemen? Answer to follow..........Just thinkin': If LPGA golfer Candie Kung ever married Illinois attorney Stephen Corn, lovers of Halloween candy would surely enjoy her married name of Candie Corn..........Last weekend, I was invited to dinner at the home of my "Monday Night Sports Talk" co-host Tony DeAngelo. Shortly before arriving, Tony texted me as to what was on the menu that evening: "We're eating flounder--in honor of the 2011 Boston Red Sox."..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a Connecticut high school girls basketball game last week, Watertown dismantled Derby 52-9; the losing Derby squad did NOT score a point in the second or third quarters of this fiasco. If I'm the Derby coach, I'm not sure what I tell my team at the half--as the score was 38-4. Maybe this: "I'd like to STOP this, girls, but it isn't a BOXING match."...........This week in sports history, December 19, 1984: Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers becomes the youngest player in NHL history to amass 1,000 points--assisting on a first period goal during his team's victory over the Kings. The 23-year-old Gretzky reached the 1,000-point mark in just his 424th career game--less than six seasons--and shattered the former mark held by Guy Lafleur. In fact, Gretzky reached this milestone playing 300 games/four seasons LESS than Lafleur. During this memorable evening--a 7-3 Edmonton win--Gretzky would add two goals and three more assists in raising his career total to a mind-boggling 1,005 points..........The Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance will once again host the Bo Kolinsky Scholarship Golf Tournament on June 28, 2012 at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield. The tournament is named for the former high school sports editor of the Hartford Courant who died in 2003 at the age of 49. An entry fee of $170 includes a box lunch on the course, buffet dinner, prizes, and silent/live auctions. The Bo Kolinsky Scholarship is given to a CT high school senior planning to attend college in pursuit of a career in sports journalism. More information about this great event can be obtained by contacting Alliance president George Albano at (203) 434-2320 or by visiting www.ctsportswriters.org ..........I used to think that watching former NBA guard Steve Kerr shooting a 3-pointer was the ultimate thing of beauty. That all changed the other day when I saw a picture of lovely actress Charlize Theron decked out in a snug, black and white dress/high heels outside the Ed Sullivan theater in NYC. My goodness..........Answer to trivia question: WEBSTER SLAUGHTER (906), LEROY HOARD (567), and REGGIE LANGHORNE (505)..........Finally, congratulations go out to all the Connecticut high school football championship teams who were crowned at Rentschler Field last weekend. In particular, I want to single out Ansonia High--who trounced Ledyard in the final 38-0 to win the Class M title. It was a magical season for the Chargers--who finished 14-0 while record-breaking, sophomore running back Arkeel Newsome was nothing short of PHENOMENAL. I had AHS coach Tom Brockett on my TV show just a few days before the championship game--a true gentleman and one helluva football coach. I relayed to Brockett that my Dad, who passed away last June, was a HUGE fan of the team; he was a longtime Ansonia Gridiron Club member/booster. He was always so impressed how Brockett took over this legendary program back in '06 and was able maintain the winning tradition--amid the always-present pressure TO win at AHS. Yeah, Dad always loved his Chargers. I simply told Tom on the night of our taping that his team would be playing with a "12th man" last weekend vs. Ledyard; yes, I know Bob Sr. is still smiling somewhere up above after his alma mater won its record 17th state title. Thanks, AHS and Coach Brockett, for your outstanding efforts--and I know Bob Lazzari Sr. (AHS Class of 1945) thanks you, too.