"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4/30/11

Did you know that the lowly 1985 Pittsburgh Pirates--who finished 57-104 under manager Chuck Tanner--were led in RBI's by second baseman Johnny Ray with a modest total of just 70? The team didn't hit many home runs, either (80 total round-trippers), as first-baseman Jason Thompson was the team leader with only 12..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Name the leading scorer for the 1987-'88 world champion Los Angeles Lakers--who finished the regular season with a record of 62-20 under Pat Riley. Answer to follow..........ITEM: Canadian football player Yonus Davis is busted in California after federal agents nail him possessing nearly 67 pounds of Ecstasy tablets. Davis, the most outstanding special teams player in the CFL's West Division last season, was arrested April 9th by DEA agents posing as FedEx workers when he accepted a package containing the pills. My first thought was that Davis has MUCH more success recognizing kick returners/blocking schemes than he does recognizing the "feds"..........This week in sports history, May 3, 1980: Ridden by jockey Jacinto Vasquez, Genuine Risk becomes the first filly in 65 years to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Having finished a disappointing third at the Wood Memorial two weeks earlier, the filly put together a terrific stretch run while holding off Rumbo for a one-length victory--covering the 1 1/4 mile course in a time of 2:02. The last filly to have won this prestigious race was Regret--who was victorious at the Derby back in 1915..........Gotta 'love' the hypocrisy of the NBA and its players in general. During last weekend's Indiana/Chicago playoff game, the Bulls' Carlos Boozer appeared in an "NBA Cares" commercial--talking about his responsibility to kids, staying in school, etc. Ten minutes later, the same guy is given a technical foul for trash talking/taunting..........More negative news coming out of the questionable UCONN basketball program as forward Jamal Coombs-McDaniel is arrested on drug charges. Sheesh--I think I was MORE surprised when gasoline prices rose another nickel the other day..........Just wondering if Reds pitcher Mike Leake--recently arrested on shoplifting charges--lists the album "Sticky Fingers" by the Rolling Stones as one of his favorites of all-time..........Did you know that Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan swiped 689 bases in his terrific career--but NEVER won a stolen base title? Morgan's career high in a season was 67, which he accomplished twice--in 1973 and 1975; in both years, he finished second in the league in stolen bases behind Lou Brock and Davey Lopes, respectively..........Answer to trivia question: BYRON SCOTT--whose average of 21.7 ppg was higher than teammates such as James Worthy, Magic Johnson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar..........It's hard to believe that it's been seven years since the death of Pat Tillman--the true American hero who walked away from a lucrative NFL contract only to lose his life in Afghanistan. This week, as I reflect on Tillman, I'm wondering what he'd now think of the league and its players being unable to come to an agreement on how to divide TONS of money. The image I get of him right now is a man sitting on a high cliff somewhere--shaking his head in total disgust; I also picture him composing himself and then simply laughing at the absurdity of it all. In a skewed, warped society lacking TRUE heroes, you are sorely missed, Pat Tillman..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major leaguer Keith Moreland--who blows out 57 candles on May 2nd. Drafted by the Phillies in the seventh round of the '75 amateur draft, Moreland was a three-time All-American at Texas--where he led the Longhorns to three NCAA College World Series berths. In the big leagues, Moreland played 12 seasons as a member of the Phillies, Cubs, Padres, Tigers, and Orioles--hitting .279 lifetime. He was used as a catcher, first baseman, third baseman, outfielder, and DH throughout his career--appearing in over 1,300 games. Perhaps Moreland's best year came in 1985 while with the Cubs--a season in which he hit .307 and drove in 107 runs while appearing in 161 games. Recently, Moreland was named as a color commentator on Cubs radio broadcasts; best wishes, Keith..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former PGA golfer Mason Rudolph--who died recently in Alabama at the age of 76. In a 23-year PGA career, Rudolph was an amazingly consistent golfer--making cuts in 409 of 430 career starts. He amassed five victories on the PGA Tour, and once went 105 consecutive tournaments WITHOUT hitting a ball out of bounds. Rudolph was also one of the youngest golfers ever to play in a major golf tournament when he qualified for the U.S. Open in 1950 just SIX days after his 16th birthday. He later went on to play 44 events on the Champions Tour and also coached golf at Vanderbilt University. He is survived by his wife, Carol, and his sons Mason II and Griff; he was predeceased by a son, Craig, who died in a 1998 helicopter crash. May Mason Rudolph rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4/23/11

Did you know that Alfonso Soriano--then of the New York Yankees--led the American League in stolen bases in 2002 with a modest total of just 41? That was the lowest total to lead the league since Luis Aparicio of the Orioles led the AL with 40 swipes back in 1963..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the last major league player to have more than 400 total bases in a season? Answer to follow..........ITEM: California youth football coach Saivaauli Savaiinea is arrested on a felony battery charge after attacking a parent; he allegedly punched the parent in the shoulder and then kicked him in the stomach--causing the victim to fall to the ground. The topper? The confrontation took place after Savaiinea thought he overheard the parent trying to recruit one of his best players (this took place in a league consisting of 9, 10, and 11-year-olds, folks). I can just picture Savaiinea taking his physically-intimidating tactics to the more competitive college atmosphere in the near future--where some "football factory" assigns him the new job title of Protector/Safeguard of Prized Recruits..........This week in sports history, April 26, 1952: Golfer Patty Berg sets a new women's record by shooting an opening round 64 at the Richmond Open--ultimately zooming to a seven stroke lead. Berg had ten birdies and two bogeys during her record-breaking performance--lowering the previous low mark of 66 shared by both Babe Didrickson Zaharias and Opal Hill. Berg shot a blistering 30 on the front nine at the Richmond Country Club; in addition, four of her birdies came on putts that were from distances of 12, 15, 25, and 31 feet..........After keeping tabs on this recent Barry Bonds fiasco/farce that was disguised as a federal trial, I just have one question: If I start ingesting flaxseed oil on a regular basis, will I able to write longer sports columns in HALF the usual time?..........Anyone out there remember when former Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Richie Hebner used to spend his off-seasons as a gravedigger at a cemetery run by his brother and father? It just got me thinkin' (which can be dangerous): Do you think he ever choked up on the shovel to increase his digging speed?..........Answer to trivia question: SAMMY SOSA--who put together a monstrous total of 425 total bases in 2001 as a member of the Chicago Cubs..........Anyone out there catch Steve Somers on WFAN Radio last weekend--"officiating" a memorial service in honor of the "dead" arm of Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes? I haven't laughed that hard in a LONG time; funny stuff, Steve..........Did you know that the last MLB pitcher to throw ten shutouts in a season was the Cardinals' John Tudor--who accomplished it back in 1985? Amazingly, Tudor started that season with a 1-7 record through the month of May before going a mind-boggling 20-1 the rest of the way. Though finishing 21-8 with an impressive ERA of 1.93, Tudor finished second in the Cy Young voting that season as a young Dwight Gooden went 24-4 with the Mets with an ERA of 1.53..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA player Dexter Boney--who blows out 41 candles on April 27th. Boney may have never been a star in the league (he played in only eight career games for Phoenix--all during the 1996-'97 season) but he surely left his mark on basketball in other ways. He was a three-time All-State player at Brandywine High School in Delaware; he holds the state scoring record with over 2,000 points. He later played at Nevada-Las Vegas and went on to become the CBA's MVP during the '96-'97 season while playing for the Florida Beachdogs--averaging 21.7 points per game. In 1999, Boney was named as one of the "Top 50 Greatest Delaware Sports Figures" by Sports Illustrated. Here's wishing you many more birthdays to come, Dexter..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league player/manager Eddie Joost--who passed away last week in California at the age of 94. An infielder who was used mostly as a shortstop, Joost spent 17 seasons in the "bigs" between 1936 and 1955; he played for the Reds, Boston Braves, and Athletics before finishing his career with the Boston Red Sox in '55. Joost compiled a lifetime batting average of just .239, but DID have six straight seasons ('47-'52) of 100+ walks. A two-time All-Star while in Philadelphia ('49 and '52), he later replaced Jimmy Dykes as manager of the Athletics for the 1954 season before finishing his career as a utility infielder with the Red Sox the following season. At the time of his death, Joost was the oldest living member remaining from the 1940 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds. May Eddie Joost rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4/16/11

Anyone out there see the picture of the lovely Christie Brinkley last week wearing a skin-tight red dress outside the Good Morning America studios in NYC? She's 57 YEARS OLD, folks. My first thought was that if Shaquille O'Neal had aged HALF as well as the "Uptown Girl," the Celtics would have clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference back in FEBRUARY..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1991 Houston Astros were led in saves by a pitcher who had 86% of his career total (of saves) during that one season. Can you name this former hurler? Answer to follow..........Immense praise is in order for the San Francisco Giants due to their admirable treatment of longtime clubhouse attendant David Loewenstein. Afflicted with advanced Crohn’s disease and diabetes, Loewenstein was in and out of hospitals during the team's championship run in 2010; he was forced to leave the team for good shortly before the playoffs began. The players huddled together and decided to give Loewenstein a FULL World Series share--which came out to over $317,000. He continues to have massive medical bills today; he cannot work and is gravely ill, but the team has allowed him to remain on both the current payroll and the club's insurance plan. Yes, in a sport where BAD news sometimes dwarfs actions like this, the Giants' generosity is HIGHLY commended. Great job, guys..........This week in sports history, April 18, 1942: The Toronto Maple Leafs complete the greatest Stanley Cup-series comeback in NHL history--beating the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 in Game 7 before more than 16,000 fans at Maple Leaf Gardens. Down three games to none, Toronto rallied to win Games 4, 5, and 6 by scores of 4-3, 9-3, and 3-0 respectively. Dave Schriner became the hero for the Leafs in Game 7 as he scored twice in a three-goal third period--allowing Toronto to become the first team to recover from a three-game Stanley Cup final deficit..........NBA tidbit: Did you know that the 1981-'82 San Diego Clippers averaged an impressive 108.5 points per game--but won only SEVENTEEN GAMES all season? Yes, defense was the team's Achilles' heel as Paul Silas' squad gave up a staggering total of 115.9 points per game--easily cementing a sixth-place finish in the league's Pacific Division..........Answer to trivia question: AL OSUNA--who saved 12 games in 1991 while accumulating a grand total of just 14 in his career--one that lasted from 1990-1996...........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a Connecticut high school girls softball game last week, Oxford annihilated O'Brien Tech 34-0; the winning squad led 22-0 after just two innings while O'Brien Tech made NINE errors during the course of this fiasco. Sheesh--and I used to think that star-nosed moles and sloths were ugly............Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Jim Eisenreich--who blows out 52 candles on April 18th. In a 15-year career that spanned from 1982-1998, Jim played for five different teams--hitting an impressive .290 lifetime. Possessing Tourette Syndrome, Eisenreich went on the voluntary retirement list between 1984 and 1987 while he was undergoing treatment. He was later named as the first recipient of the Tony Conigliaro Award in 1990---given to a major league player who best overcomes an obstacle. Eisenreich was also a member of the 1997 world champion Florida Marlins; that season, he hit .280 in 293 at-bats. He now runs the Jim Eisenreich Foundation for Children with Tourette Syndrome--which he founded with his wife back in the 1990's. Best wishes, Jim...........A true hero has left us as Mandi Schwartz--a member of the Yale women's hockey team--recently passed away at the tender age of 23. You've read about Mandi before in this column as I've attempted to bring attention to her valiant fight vs. leukemia and the need for umbilical cord blood/bone marrow donors. Having recently talked with her teammate Aleca Hughes at length about this special young lady, I was immediately struck by the courage she demonstrated throughout her ordeal; her uplifting attitude and selfless nature were ALWAYS present as she fought the dreaded disease. Yeah--I guess we all could learn a lesson from the life of one Mandi Schwartz. Her name will now live on as the Yale athletic department has named its annual marrow donor registry drive in honor of Mandi. On April 21st, readers out there--along with the general public--can help save lives by being part of the nationwide "Get in the Game/Save a Life" campaign for the Be The Match Registry. It will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and take place at the Yale University Commons on the corner of College Street and Grove Street in New Haven where food will be served. Anyone out there interested in helping with the Mandi Schwartz Marrow Donor Registry Drive at Yale can contact Larry Ciotti with the Yale football team at larry.ciotti@yale.edu or by calling (203) 671-9805. We all miss you, Mandi.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4/9/11

Yes, folks, the 2011 MLB season is underway. Rosters have changed and managers have changed; Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens HAVEN'T changed. Here's how they'll finish:

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

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

AL WEST
Texas Rangers
Oakland A's
LA Angels
Seattle Mariners

**Notes:
AL EAST- If anyone out there thinks that Boston has a SIZEABLE advantage in this division, you've been nipping at the Samuel Adams way too much. Still a coin toss between Boston and NY--though I think neither will win 95 games; I'll put the Red Sox on top strictly due to the Crawford/Gonzalez additions (I also did a quick coin flip). Boston will just have TOO many men on base TOO often; bullpen is deeper but will guys like Beckett and Dice-K burn it out? Yanks still have WAY too much offense AND Rivera--and will NOT go away due to aging as some suggest; they'll acquire someone during the 'dog-days' of summer for their post-season run. Rays still have a formidable staff, but scoring runs and a shaky closing crew (Farnsworth?) will catch up with them. O's will score runs but strike out WAY too much; staff is still too unproven. Jays won't pitch well enough, and closing games for them will be more difficult than keeping Lindsay Lohan away from Hollywood gin mills.
AL CENTRAL- White Sox have best rotation in division, and Adam Dunn gives them additional pop; Guillen a maniac but a good manager. Twins' approach to the game (and possibly having baseball's best manager) renders them perennial contenders, but will Joe Nathan be a shell of his former self? After Verlander and MAYBE Scherzer, I question Detroit's staff. Royals will need to score SIX runs a game to win regularly--and just won't do that. Tribe has no legit .300 hitters and the starting staff will have manager Manny Acta chewing more Pepcid tablets than bubble gum on a daily basis.
AL WEST- Even w/o Cliff Lee, Rangers will hit a ton AND pitch well enough; I like the whole Nolan Ryan throwback approach. A's have some great arms (and an improved offense), but will the staff burn out come August? Angels have some proven vets (Hunter, Abreu), but don't hit enough for average; they'll continue to have a low OBP, too. Ichiro will be Ichiro, but M's won't generate enough runs--cementing a last-place finish.

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

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

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

**Notes:
NL EAST- Phils and Braves will go down to the wire. I prefer the Phils experience and their stellar starting pitching; Braves will be able to close well by committee, but the over/under date for Chipper Jones to get hurt is June 15th (they're also shaky defensively). I'm just not sold on the Marlins' pitching staff after Josh Johnson. Mets' health issues (Santana, Bay, Beltran) will put them under .500 and a "fire-sale" in July is imminent. Nats will score some runs, but Jayson Werth--while being able to pick up dinner tabs NIGHTLY for teammates with no worries whatsoever--will STILL wish he was back in Philly by June 1st.
NL CENTRAL- The Reds return a formidable offense and if they pitch just a little better than expected, they'll win the division; Chapman will be dominant out of the 'pen. Brewers will get monster years out of guys like Fielder and Braun and newcomer Greinke will be solid; will they be able to close games effectively and often? Wainwright going down seals Cards fate; Cubs can overtake St. Louis if some underachievers (hello, Mr. Soriano!) just ACHIEVE. Astros lack offensive pop and I question their bullpen. If you can name the Pirates rotation, you need to get a job, get a grip, or get a LIFE.
NL WEST- Giants' pitching staff STILL too good--and they now have championship swagger. Rockies can contend (which Todd Helton shows up?), but I question Huston Street's closing ability and their 'pen in general. Dodgers have talent, but will Mattingly motivate effectively and be able to handle everyday pitching decisions? Padres won't score enough, will miss Adrian G. too much, and hit home runs as often as yours truly dates supermodels. Can fiery Kirk Gibson motivate some players in AZ who truly NEED motivating? NO--they finish dead last.

*Postseason: For some reason, I foresee a problem with the Red Sox pitching staff--particularly Beckett and Dice-K; too many 5 inning starts will catch up with their 'pen. This will enable the Yanks--who get better starting pitching than expected--to emerge from the AL while the Phillies stay fairly healthy all year long and represent the NL in the Fall Classic. Call me boring--it's the same prediction as I made last year. Rivera REMAINS Rivera (shocking!) throughout October (I'm STILL convinced he's not human)--allowing the Yanks' core players of Mo, Jeter, and Posada to win their final championship together. Enjoy the season, everyone.