Wednesday, November 12, 2014

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 11/8/14

*As promised: the same type of column written back in September (regarding baseball players). Now comes the FOOTBALL surname-association version. Again, no rhyme, no reason, folks--just the first players who came to mind..........

A- Anderson (Ken)--the former Bengals All-Pro QB who played 16 seasons from 1971-85. Remember when he completed 70% of his passes in 1982--which was UNHEARD of at the time? Anderson throwing to Isaac Curtis was a beautiful thing to watch....
B- Brown (Jim)--the Hall of Famer whose name ALWAYS comes up when talking about the greatest RB of all-time. My Dad always said it was like a man playing vs. boys when Jim suited up. Played 9 seasons and led the league in rushing on EIGHT occasions; kinda says it all....
C- Cappelletti (John)--the '73 Heisman winner who went on to have a very "average" career in the NFL (like many Heisman winners). Rushed for less than 3,000 yards over a 9-year career....
D- Dumervil (Elvis)--must be the name "Elvis" that makes this current DE stick out--or the fact that I saw him play on TV recently....
E- Everett (Jim)--the former All-Pro QB who threw over 200 TD passes in his career. Quite the character, too, as I get the chance to speak with this man occasionally on "Thursday Night Tailgate" (Armed Forces Radio Network)....
F- Fischer (Pat)--the former undersized DB for the Redskins who played for George Allen in the 1970's. MAN, were those 'Skins teams fun to watch....
G- Gilliam (Joe)--I remember him playing QB for the Steelers during the early 70's; kids in our neighborhood called him "Jefferson Street Joe Willie Gillie Gilliam"--and had a BLAST doing it. Sadly, he battled heroin, alcohol, and cocaine addiction during his life and died in 2000 at the age of 49....
H- Hornung (Paul)--the Hall of Famer who was perhaps one of the most versatile players EVER. I never saw him play, but my father would always marvel at how this guy could run, throw, pass, AND kick (he probably sold popcorn during halftime, too). Was a star with the ladies, too, from what I've been told....
I- Inman (Jerry)--a defensive tackle for the Broncos in the late 60's/early 70's. I have NO idea how or WHY I remember this guy....
J- Johnson (Billy "White Shoes")--I mean, how can you FORGET a guy nicknamed "White Shoes?" The man could play, too--returning 8 kicks for TD's during a 14-year career with three different teams. Remember the wobbly leg TD celebrations?....
K- Kiick (Jim)--Remember the '72 Dolphins with Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris as his running mates? Undefeated and unforgettable....
L- Layne (Bobby)--Way before my time, but my Dad always said he was a hell-raiser both on AND off the field. Oh, this legendary QB is a Hall of Famer, too....
M- Marshall (Jim)--I remember him as a member of the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" defensive unit; the guy started 270 straight games and played TWENTY years as a defensive end. Unreal....
N- Namath (Joe Willie)--a 'no-brainer' as he was an idol of mine growing up. The man put the AFL (and the Jets) on the map and wore white shoes long before "White Shoes" (see above) did. His quick release/throwing of the football is still indescribable (almost like Christie Brinkley in an evening gown--ALMOST, I said). Man, if only he had a good set of knees....
O- O'Brien (Ken)--another former Jets QB who was a first round pick in 1983. Stuck around ten years--a slight disappointment for a first-rounder....
P- Pisarcik (Joe)--an awful QB (24 TD/48 INT during his career) who will always be known for "The Fumble" in 1978. Remind ANY NY Giants fan about it and he/she will immediately run to the nearest bathroom. I have NO idea how Walter Payton--my favorite player of all-time--didn't come to mind before Joe....
Q- Quick (Mike)--former Eagles WR who led the NFL in receiving yards in 1983. I thought he possessed Hall of Fame potential, but his career headed south once he approached the age of 30....
R- Roby (Reggie)--former All-Pro punter who spent most of his career with Miami. Remember how BIG this guy was for a punter (6'3"/250 pounds)?....
S- Sims (Billy)--spent just 5 years as a pro after winning the Heisman in '78. Three 1,000-yard seasons in the NFL with Detroit before blowing out his knee in 1984....
T- Tillman (Pat)--one of my favorite PEOPLE of all-time. What can one say about a talented DB who shunned the riches of the NFL in order to serve his country in Iraq/Afghanistan as a member of the Army Rangers? A free-spirit, hero, and special individual who died doing what he believed in. There will never be another Pat Tillman, folks....
U- Urlacher (Brian)--8-time Pro Bowl LB for the Bears who had one gear on the gridiron--OVERDRIVE. A "throwback" kind of player who was all business on the field. Current Packers' LB Clay Matthews appears to pattern his game after Urlacher--yes, a GOOD choice....
V- Vick (Michael)--Unfortunately, this slime-ball/dog-abuser (I know, I know--he did his time) was the first player who came to mind. A talented athlete, for sure, who dug his own grave as far as how his legacy will pan out. *Question: How come I couldn't come up with a name such as Volk (Rick) before Vick?....
W- White (Ed)--the former All-Pro guard (played 17 seasons) who should be a Hall of Famer. An accomplished artist, too, and a man whom I'm privileged to speak with on a regular basis....
X- To my knowledge, there has never been an NFL player whose last name starts with an "X". If there was, I'd surely remember it!....
Y- Yary (Ron)--a teammate of the aforementioned Ed White who IS in the Hall of Fame. Spent 15 years as a tackle in the league and was First Team All-Pro for SIX consecutive years ('71-'76). Very first pick in the '68 draft; yeah--he was THAT good....
Z- Zombo (Frank)--currently a LB for the Chiefs. LOVE the name--which was also the name of a character who appeared on "The Munsters" back in 1966 (played by Louis Nye). Yeah, I miss Fred Gwynne and company--don't you?

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