Tuesday, May 15, 2012

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5/19/12

Great news: Every year around this time, I usually plug the Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic. Well, this year's event on June 6th in East Hampton, NY is already sold out; a charity dinner dance at Duck Walk Vineyards will also be held on Saturday, July 21st. Liguori, one of the original hosts at both WFAN Radio and the Golf Channel, runs the Ann Liguori Foundation--committed to raising funds/awareness for organizations that work in the field of cancer prevention. If anyone out there would like more information about the Foundation in general, you can email this caring/talented lady at innerview@aol.com; keep up the great work, Ann..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Who was the last member of the Kansas City Royals to lead the American League in slugging percentage? Answer to follow..........Classic quote from my good friend Mike Lynch--owner/executive producer at Seamheads.com: "I'm going to start a new workout: Every time a Red Sox starting pitcher gives up a run, I'm going to do 20 push-ups. I figure by the All-Star break, I'll look like The Incredible Hulk"..........From the "Telling It Like It Is" Dept.: Yankees radio guy John Sterling came up with a gem while talking to NY Daily News sports writer Sean Brennan last weekend during the Yanks/Mariners game. After learning Brennan was a Cincinnati Bengals fan, Sterling quipped, "You must love them for your column (subject material)--because they're always doing something DUMB"..........This week in sports history, May 22, 1975: 7-foot-2 center Artis Gilmore scores 21 points and pulls down a playoff record 31 rebounds--leading the Kentucky Colonels to a 110-105 victory vs. the Indiana Pacers for the ABA championship. Gilmore's heroics overshadowed tremendous efforts by Indiana's tandem of Billy Knight and George McGinnis--who scored 40 points and 31, respectively. Gilmore was helped out by teammate Ted McLain, who scored 19 points, and Louie Dampier--who handed out 12 assists. The Game 5 victory for the Colonels was played in front of a home crowd at Louisville's Freedom Hall..........Question: Now that stunning actress Sofia Vergara has split from wealthy boyfriend Nick Loeb, do you think she'd be interested in an aging, east coast-based sports columnist who still has to use coupons when grocery shopping? O.K.--DON'T answer that folks, but you have to admit: There is NOTHING wrong with my eyesight..........ITEM: Former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Torrin Tucker is arrested in Florida on drug/weapons charges after trying to sell marijuana to an undercover cop. Upon his arrest, Tucker allegedly possessed 18 bags of pot (packaged to sell), nine capsules filled with cocaine, and a handgun loaded with 11 bullets. No, this guy isn't going to Disney anytime soon, folks. Question: Should Tucker ever find a straighter path in life somewhere down the road, can he then put "pharmaceutical sales" as past employment on any job application he fills out?..........Answer to trivia question: DANNY TARTABULL--who led the AL with a slugging % of .593 back in 1991..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former MLB pitcher Jose Roman--who blows out 49 candles on May 21st. A cousin of former big league hurler Nelson Cruz, Roman did NOT have what most fans would call a "memorable" baseball career. The native of Santo Domingo pitched three years (1984-86) for the Cleveland Indians--appearing in just 14 games. In 44.1 career innings, Roman walked 42 batters--and allowed 40 earned runs. Yes, he goes into the MLB record books with a lifetime record of 1-8 with an 8.12 career ERA. Hey--they ALL can't be Bob Feller, right? Best wishes, Jose..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of Red Sox public address announcer Carl Beane--who died last week in Sturbridge, MA in a one-car crash after having a heart attack while driving; he was 59. Beane--the "Voice of Fenway Park"--worked in a variety of media capacities (including AP, ESPN, Sirius) before landing the P.A. gig following the 2002 season. A very amiable man with an unmistakable voice, Beane opened each game at Fenway the same way: "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Fenway Park"; it was his way of remembering his famed predecessor, Sherm Feller--who had uttered those same words countless times in the past. Born in Agawam, MA, Beane also taught at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and was a spokesman for the American Diabetes Association. His death hit me particularly hard, as Beane was to appear on my local TV sports talk show this summer on a Monday evening when the Sox were on the road. When we spoke this past winter, he simply said, "I'd be honored to do it." We'll never have that opportunity, Mr. Beane, but I can assure you that your willingness to do so--and overall kindness--will be remembered for many shows to come. Carl Beane is survived by his wife, Lorraine, a daughter, Nicole, and two granddaughters. You will surely be missed, Carl.

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