"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 2/15/14

Another "Warner Wolf Moment": If you had Wheelock College and 63 points, YOU LOST!!! Recent college basketball final score from a game played in Newark : New Jersey Tech 110, Wheelock 46..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Who are the top three goal-scorers in the history of the St. Louis Blues hockey franchise? Answer to follow..........Mark the day on your calendar, folks: Sunday, April 27th--the afternoon when the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance holds its 73rd Gold Key Dinner. Five individuals who made their mark in various sports will be honored; the Gold Key is regarded as one of the most prestigious awards given in the state of Connecticut. Honorees this year: West Haven High football coach Ed McCarthy, UCONN soccer coach Ray Reid, Branford High field hockey coach Cathy McGuirk, former Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot, and one-time New Britain Rock Cats President/GM Bill Dowling. For more information about the 2014 Gold Key Dinner, please contact CSWA President George Albano at (203) 434-2320..........Many of us remember former NFL All-Pro guard Ed White as an incredibly strong, talented lineman who blocked for Hall of Famers such as Fran Tarkenton and Dan Fouts (over an amazing 17-year career). But did you also know that Mr. White is an accomplished painter/sculptor whose work has been displayed in many private collections around the world? He's a helluva guy, too, as I recently had the pleasure of interviewing him on "Monday Night Sports Talk" (www.mondaynightsports.net). To find out more about this multi-talented individual and to view some of his fine works, visit www.edwhiteart.com..........*Interesting tidbit: Dwight Howard led the NBA in rebounding during the 2012-'13 season with a mark of 12.4 rpg--the lowest average ever for a league leader. The highest mark of all-time for one season? An astounding 27.2 rpg by the great Wilt Chamberlain back in 1960-'61. Amazingly, "Wilt the Stilt" and Bill Russell each averaged more than 20 rpg in TEN CONSECUTIVE SEASONS during their illustrious careers (Chamberlain 1959-'69/Russell '57-'67)--with career AVERAGES of 22.9 and 22.5 respectively..........ITEM: A-ROID voluntarily dismisses lawsuits against MLB, the MLBPA, and Bud Selig. Question: Don't you wish that this dolt had taken some of the money he's spent on lawyers and purchased an island instead? I'm talking about a faraway island--one which he and Justin Bieber could occupy together. Oh, yes--it would also be SUCH a remote place that EVERY news organization/media outlet would have ZERO interest in attempting to travel there..........I challenge ANYONE out there to say LPGA golfer Pornanong Phatlum's name ten times fast..........*O.K.--here goes: Connecticut Sun forward Mistie Bass marries Red Sox player Mike Carp, divorces, weds Angels outfielder Mike Trout--divorces again--then walks down the aisle with former Angels player Tim Salmon. She'd then be running up and down the court with the full, "fishy" name of Mistie Bass Carp Trout Salmon..........Answer to trivia question: BRETT HULL (527), BERNIE FEDERKO (352), and BRIAN SUTTER (303)..........*Amazing fact: Aside from his rookie year in 1998-'99, 7-footer Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks has NEVER averaged LESS than an 83% mark from the FT line in a season--and currently stands at approximately 88% for his entire career. Simply remarkable..........There's not much I can add to what has already been written about the recent passing of Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner. Much of my love for sports evolved by listening to Kiner, Lindsey Nelson, and Bob Murphy on N.Y. Mets telecasts in the 1970's. His post-game show, "Kiner's Korner", was always a treat for me; it gave many of us a close-up look at players from every National League team in a very serene setting following Mets home games. And Ralph's 'easy-going' interview style always seemed to be welcomed by anyone fortunate enough to be invited on his show. Thank you, Mr. Kiner, for being a major part of my childhood. I never had the honor of seeing you hit a baseball, but I take comfort in the fact that I was privy to your "second career" talents. Thanks for the memories, Ralph.