"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5/28/11

I was saddened when I heard about the passing of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew--who died recently of esophageal cancer at the age of 74. Most important? He was a better person off the field than he was a player ON the field. Column reader Dan Santoro, a former Valley resident, recently weighed in on Killebrew--who was his favorite player growing up. "I was a 4th-grader browsing at the Lincoln School library in Derby--in 1968. Stuck between the Hardy Boys books and Nancy Drew Mysteries on the shelves was The Harmon Killebrew Story; it was my first baseball book. I went home and read it TWICE--and then Killebrew became my favorite player. I remember being so excited at the time while reading it--because I finally KNEW something about a big-league ball player. I'll never forget him."..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1993 Cleveland Indians--who finished 76-86 under manager Mike Hargrove--were led in victories by a pitcher with a modest total of just 10. Can you name this former starter who later found success as a reliever? Answer to follow..........I've read that some people have been critical of lovely actress Jennifer Aniston's new fragrance. I'll STILL go out on a limb and say that it smells MUCH better than the Dolphins locker room following a game played on a warm September Sunday down in Miami..........This week in sports history, May 31, 1986: In the closest three-car finish in the history of the Indy 500, Bobby Rahal holds off Kevin Cogan and Rick Mears to claim victory. Rahal slipped past Cogan with two laps remaining after a green flag was restored and would end up winning the race by 1.4 seconds. Rahal's average of 170.22 mph was a new race record--ironically beating third-place finisher Mears' old record of 163.712 set back in 1984..........Did you know that the 2000 Houston Astros had three players who drove in more than 113 runs apiece--but the team finished FOURTH that year in the NL Central? Pitching seemed to be the Astros main problem as Scott Elarton was the only starter who finished with a record over .500. The team's cumulative ERA that season? A robust 5.42--dead last in the National League..........ITEM: Former New Mexico guard Dairese Gary is arrested in Albuquerque on suspicion of driving drunk after he allegedly smashed into mailboxes at an apartment complex. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that basketball great Karl Malone DID NOT get his nickname "The Mailman" due to being involved in a similar predicament..........Answer to trivia question: JOSE MESA--who led the team in wins that season (10) and later saved 321 games over a 19-year career..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league catcher Larry Owen--who blows out 56 candles on May 31st. Drafted by the Braves in the 17th round of the 1977 amateur draft, Owen went on to play parts of six seasons with the Braves and Royals between 1981 and 1988--appearing in 171 games. Perhaps the reason why the name 'Larry Owen' may escape you is this: In 352 career at-bats, Owen could muster only 68 hits--resulting in a lifetime batting average of just .193. Yes, he was another one of those players who fell just short of the famed "Mendoza Line." An optimist would point out that Owen DID hit eight home runs during his playing days--and was intentionally-walked three times. Here's hoping that you have many more birthdays to celebrate, Larry--best wishes..........Finally, sincere condolences go out to my "Monday Night Sports Talk" co-host Tony DeAngelo; his wife of 20 years, Jeanne, passed away last week from an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 51. Jeanne, Tony, and I spent many good times together over the past decade or so; I'll surely miss her radiant smile and unassuming nature. I'll always remember Jeanne as being so loyal to her husband, and Tony would be the first to tell anyone that he was the luckiest man in the world to be able to call Jeanne his "better half." She was a soft-spoken, highly-intelligent woman--having been educated at Marymount College. I wouldn't call Jeanne a "huge" sports fan, but this conscientious woman always kept up on the latest sports news in order to be an active participant when our dinner conversations would ultimately turn to athletics. You see, it was all about OTHERS to Jeanne DeAngelo. Each time I was in her presence, I could never get my first 'hello' out before she'd chime in with, "Hi, Bob--how's the family?" Without doubt, she was one of the most kind, selfless individuals I've ever had the pleasure of being around. The way she lived her life should be a lesson to all of us: it's not the AMOUNT of time you have on this earth but the IMPACT you have on it while you're here. Yeah, I surely learned a lot from this remarkable lady. To use a baseball term, a team of "angels"--in some better place--just bolstered their line-up BIG TIME with the addition of Jeanne DeAngelo. Also, those lucky individuals like my late Mom just acquired one TERRIFIC teammate. Rest in peace, Jeanne; you'll surely be missed but never forgotten.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5/21/11

While at the Little East Championship (Division III) baseball game last weekend between Rhode Island College and Eastern CT, I told my friend Bryan via phone that the score was 5-4 (RIC leading) in the 5th inning. His response? "These teams are scoring faster than George Clooney at a singles bar!"..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1997 Colorado Rockies--who finished 83-79 under manager Don Baylor--had FOUR players on the squad who drove in more than 100 runs apiece. How many of these players can you name? Answer to follow..........Joe Garagiola once said that baseball is a funny game. It's also not FAIR, either. Need proof? Going into last weekend's action, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner's record stood at 0-6 with a very respectable ERA of 4.25. In contrast, Rockies pitcher Esmil Rogers had won 3 of his first 4 decisions with an inflated ERA of 7.66. Go figure..........This week in sports history, May 24, 1990: Silencing critics who predicted the team could never win without Wayne Gretzky, the Edmonton Oilers claim the Stanley Cup championship with a 4-1 victory over the Bruins in Game 5 at the Boston Garden. The Oilers tallied all the goals they would need in the second period as Glen Anderson and Craig Simpson found the net. Meanwhile, Edmonton goalie Bill Ranford stopped 29 of 30 shots and later was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. The Oilers were playing just their second season after trading "The Great One"--who had led Edmonton to four Cup victories from 1984-1988..........Congratulations go out to Eastern CT State University softball pitcher Molly Rathbun from Hebron--who has repeated as the Little East Conference Pitcher of the Year; she was named first team all-conference for the third straight season. A junior, Rathbun improved her record this year to 22-0 following last weekend's 5-1 victory over Saint Joseph's College (ME) in the Division III Regional in Providence. Her ERA after that performance stood at 0.66--having struck out 238 batters in 160 innings. Oh, and she was the team's top hitter, too--compiling a blistering .423 average (.711 slugging percentage) while also leading the squad in home runs with eight. Congratulations, Molly--and continued good luck..........Answer to trivia question: ANDRES GALARRAGA (140), LARRY WALKER (130), DANTE BICHETTE (118), and VINNY CASTILLA (113)..........Can you imagine if LPGA golfer Penny Hammel ever married Boston-area accounting professional Stephen Pincher? Those "cheapskates" out there would truly enjoy her married name of Penny Pincher..........I used to think that a Ron Guidry slider was a pure thing of beauty. That all changed the other day when I saw a picture of the red, semi-sheer gown that actress Rachel McAdams was wearing at the Cannes Film Festival. My goodness..........Question: Now that the lovely Bar Refaeli has split with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, do you think she'd have any interest in an aging sports columnist who's had a long-time desire to date SI Swimsuit Issue cover models?..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Todd Rizzo--who blows out 40 candles on May 24th. A native of Pennsylvania who was originally signed by the Dodgers, Rizzo played just TWO seasons in the majors--1998 and 1999 with the Chicago White Sox. Perhaps the reason why Rizzo never became a household name is THIS: In 12 major league games (all in relief), Rizzo pitched a total of just eight innings--giving up 16 hits, walking nine, and allowing a total of 11 earned runs. Yes, folks, Todd Rizzo is listed in the baseball record books as having a staggering lifetime ERA of 12.38. However, he CAN take pride in the fact that he never allowed a home run to a big league batter (the optimistic approach). Best wishes for many more celebrations to come, Todd..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NBA forward Robert "Tractor" Traylor--who was found dead recently in his apartment in Puerto Rico; he died of an apparent heart attack at the age of 34 and had been playing professionally with a Puerto Rican team. Nicknamed "Tractor" due to his large frame (over 300 pounds), Traylor attended Michigan where he was once implicated in a loan scandal involving university booster Ed Martin. He later went on to play for the Bucks, Hornets, and Cavaliers between 1998 and 2005--appearing in 438 games. Despite Traylor making news both on AND off the court, he may be best known for a trade in which he was involved. After being drafted by Dallas in '98, he was traded for Pat Garrity and Dirk Nowitzki; Nowitzki has proceeded to become a league MVP ('06-'07) and play in 10 NBA All-Star games. Traylor had undergone heart surgery following the 2005 season. May the "Tractor" rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5/14/11

O.K., you asked for it (well--at least SOME of you)--more of the "athletic matches" that have appeared in this column over the years.........

Can you imagine if former Central CT State University basketball player Denee Burgess had once married former NFL quarterback/TV commentator "Dandy" Don Meredith? Fans of the "Penguin" character on the old "Batman" television show would have delighted in her full married name of Denee Burgess Meredith..........If former women's tennis player Ai Sugiyama ever married ex-big league outfielder Jermaine Dye, divorced, married former outfielder Steve Brye--divorced again--then married ex-NBA player Johnny High, she'd be known as Ai Dye Brye High..........Former collegiate golfer Ashley Warsaw marries ex-NFL lineman Bubba Paris, divorces, marries sports talk show host Jim Rome--divorces again--then marries former University of Miami QB Brock Berlin. She'd be roaming the links with the European-themed name of Ashley Warsaw Paris Rome Berlin..........If ex-Trinity College women's hockey player Emma Handy ever tied the knot with former NFL lineman Charles Mann, fans of old James Taylor tunes would enjoy seeing the bride sporting the new married name of Emma Handy Mann..........Can you imagine if former Villanova women's basketball player Maria Getty married ex-big league pitcher Chris Eddy, divorced, married ex-Southern CT State University SID Rick Leddy--divorced again--then married NASCAR driver Kyle Petty? She'd be known as Maria Getty Eddy Leddy Petty..........Ex-Louisville women's basketball player Jazz Covington marries comedian Chris Rock, divorces, marries former big league pitcher Pat Rapp--divorces again--then marries PGA golfer Fred Funk. Music lovers of all genres everywhere would surely delight in her full married name of Jazz Rock Rapp Funk..........Former UCONN women's basketball player Kalana Greene marries Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks, divorces, marries former USC running back Charles White--divorces again--then marries NBA player Kwame Brown. She'd then be known by the colorful, full married name of Kalana Greene Redd White Brown..........If LPGA golfer Sarah Lynn Sargent ever tied the knot with former NFL wide receiver Webster Slaughter, wrestling aficionados throughout the land would surely enjoy her full married name of Sarah Lynn Sargent Slaughter..........If LPGA golfer Ji Young Oh ever tied the knot with PGA golfer/CT's own J.J. Henry, candy lovers would enjoy her strolling the fairways with the full name of Ji Young Oh Henry.........Picture this: If former LPGA golfer Carol Mann had once married ex-baseball manager Stump Merrill, divorced, married former college football coach Jackie Sherrill--divorced again--then married current MLB manager John Farrell, she would have been walking golf courses with the catchy name of Carol Merrill Sherrill Farrell..........I'd like to see former Penn St. basketball coach Renee Portland hook up with MLB pitcher John Maine. If they ever tied the knot, residents of the Pine Tree State would surely delight in her married name of Renee Portland Maine..........If LPGA golfer Young Jo married former NFL offensive lineman Duval Love, fans of country singer Sonny James would surely enjoy her strolling the links with the married name of Young Love..........If LPGA golfer Candie Kung married former NFL defensive lineman Charles Mann, fans of former MLB pitcher John Candelaria would surely delight in her married name of Candie Mann..........Scenario: The LPGA's Sally Little marries fellow pro golfer Rod Spittle, divorces, marries former big league OF/DH Ron Kittle--divorces again--then marries former MLB pitcher Rocky Biddle. She'd then be gracing the fairways with the catchy, married name of Sally Little Spittle Kittle Biddle..........I'd like to see LPGA golfer Nancy Scranton hook up with Champions Tour golfer Jim Chancey--for no other reason than if the two were to marry, she'd be teeing off with the catchy, married name of Nancy Chancey...........Finally, can you imagine if WNBA'er K.B. Sharp married PGA golfer D.A. Points, divorced, married columnist George Will--divorced again--then married former Lafayette College running back Jonathan Hurt? Those afraid of needles would surely have no problem warning others while saying her full, married name of K.B. Sharp Points Will Hurt.

Even more archived "matches" to come soon, folks..........

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5/7/11

I can just picture these general managers/team representatives at last week's NFL draft--and the checklists they were utilizing: 1) good speed? 2) coverage ability? 3) vertical jump measure? 4) 40 yd. dash time? 5) any pending felony charges?..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The lowly 1989 Detroit Tigers--who finished 59-103 under Sparky Anderson--were actually led in victories by a RELIEF PITCHER. Can you name this former hurler? Answer to follow...........There are MANY things to admire about former NBA superstar Karl Malone, i.e. his MVP awards, 19 seasons in the league, his yearly durability, etc. But did you know that "The Mailman" put together a staggering 17 consecutive seasons averaging more than 20 points per game? This occurred between 1986 and 2003 with his lowest average during that stretch being 20.4 ppg in the '02-'03 season--his last year in Utah. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also went 17 straight seasons while never averaging less than 20 ppg; Kareem's stretch spanned from 1969-1986 as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and L.A. Lakers..........I used to think that watching the Dave Concepcion/Joe Morgan double-play combination was a pure thing of beauty. That all changed last week when I checked out the hip-hugging dress that Kate Middleton's sister Pippa was wearing at the royal wedding. My goodness.........This week in sports history, May 11, 1974: At the Tom Black Classic held at the University of Tennessee, Ivory Crockett becomes the world's fastest human--covering 100 yards in 9 seconds flat. Crockett shaved 1/10th of a second off the previous record of 9.1 set by fellow American Bob Hayes back in 1963 (and matched five times). A 150-pound marketing representative for an Illinois-based computer firm, Crockett set the record on a wet track--with no wind affecting the legitimacy of his memorable sprint..........Did you know that the 1996 Kansas City Royals were led in RBI's by Craig Paquette with a modest total of just 67? The topper? Paquette accomplished this while appearing in just 118 games--accumulating a total of 429 at-bats for the season..........ITEM: Southern Mississippi basketball player Darnell Dodson is dismissed from the team after his arrest for allegedly stealing items from a USM fraternity house; this is the SAME dolt who was kicked off the Kentucky team last summer only to be arrested for disorderly conduct a few months later. Not to be judgmental, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Dodson will NOT be enrolling at a nearby school like Ole Miss in the very near future in order to study biochemistry...........Answer to trivia question: MIKE HENNEMAN--who went 11-4 while appearing in 60 games; starter Frank Tanana was second on the team with ten wins..........Classic quote from Chris Mascaro--one of my fellow co-hosts on Blog Talk Radio's "View From The Lone Red Seat"--after Carl Crawford's batting average dipped to .155 last weekend: "I think Crawford's new nickname should be 'The Priest' because he wears a COLLAR every day."..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league pitcher Marino Santana--who blows out 39 candles on May 10th. A native of the Dominican Republic, Marino may not have been one of the more popular Santanas to ever grace a major league roster as he spent just two seasons in the AL; he was a member of the Tigers in 1998 and Red Sox in 1999. In only 10 big league appearances (all in relief), Santana pitched 11.1 innings--allowing 17 hits and 10 earned runs while walking 11. Yes, folks, Marino Santana's career ERA was an inflated 7.94. I guess one can say that Santana's "claim to fame" was that he fanned 14 batters over the course of his short career--yes, an average of more than one per inning. Best wishes, Marino..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league infielder Reno Bertoia--who died recently in Windsor, Ontario after a battle with lymphoma cancer; he was 76. Bertoia was born in Italy in 1935 but his family moved to Canada when he was an infant. Reno spent a total of ten seasons in the "bigs" between 1953 and 1962--mostly as a member of the Tigers. Bertoia was only a .244 lifetime hitter, but actually led the American League in batting for the first half of the 1957 season. Among his favorite baseball memories was hitting a home run on opening day at Yankee Stadium in 1961 during a 6-1 Detroit victory over New York. After his baseball career ended, Bertoia spent 30 years teaching in Windsor Catholic schools and was also elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. He was a very good friend to Tiger great Al Kaline; the two remained close long after their playing days had come to an end. He is survived by three children as well as three stepchildren; may Reno Bertoia rest in peace.