"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" -- 12-18-04

From the "How Much Do I Love Thee?" Dept.: Former lightweight boxing champion Paul Spadafora has been busted AGAIN--this time for violating terms of his bond for using cocaine; he has been arrested on NUMEROUS charges the past couple of years--including shooting his girlfriend in the abdomen in October of 2003. The clincher? These two "lovebirds" are now ENGAGED to be married. Gotta admit that this gal demonstrates the true meaning of the word "devotion"--or is it "INSANITY"?..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: Who was the first NFL running back to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons? Answer to follow..........Do you get the feeling that these current NFL color commentators (listening, Phil Simms?) talk WAY too much on broadcasts? Many continue to offer opinions/insights that can be considered nothing short of SOLILOQUIES after EACH AND EVERY play on telecasts; they offer superfluous analysis that would make the most ardent Freud followers jealous. Just because they are paid a "king's" ransom to add commentary doesn't mean they have to TALK as much as Larry King..........When Barry Bonds breaks Henry Aaron's all-time home run record, shouldn't there be an asterisk next to his name that's the current size of his HEAD?..........The "Lazzari Hooters Update": I was just thinking; golfer Fred Couples recently won his fourth Skins Game title in California, right? I think the waitresses at my favorite sports bar should compete in their OWN golf tournament--complete with the garb/outfits that have made Hooters girls famous worldwide. Now THAT would give the term "Skins Game" an entirely new meaning..........If the fans in Philadelphia once booed Santa Claus, then what's gonna happen when newly acquired outfielder Kenny Lofton goes on an 0-for-20 streak and/or says something really stupid to the media?..........Answer to trivia question #1: JOHN BROCKINGTON of the Green Bay Packers, who rushed for 1,000 yards each season from 1971-1973--but never came close to that milestone again..........This week in sports history, December 19, 1948: Playing in a blizzard at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Eagles running back Steve Van Buren scores the game's only touchdown--leading his team to a 7-0 win over the Chicago Cardinals for the NFL championship. Van Buren's five-yard TD run would come just three plays after the Eagles' Bucko Kilroy recovered a Chicago fumble at the Cardinals' 17-yard line..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: What Cincinnati Reds pitcher holds the team record for striking out the most batters in a season? Answer to follow..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a women's college hoop game last weekend, SUNY-Farmingdale defeated N.Y. Maritime 113-28. The American Heritage Dictionary defines 'maritime' as "of or concerned with shipping or navigation." Question: Would YOU feel comfortable with members of the losing squad guiding a cruise ship you were on--knowing fully well that they can neither navigate toward the basket nor throw a BASKETBALL into the ocean?..........And in a Connecticut girls high school basketball game recently, Lyman Memorial beat Cheney Tech 66-8--with the losing team scoring just two points in the ENTIRE second half. I won't say the "Lady Techsters" need help on offense (OK, maybe I will), but FOUR girls from Lyman either equaled or surpassed the entire Cheney team's point total..........If Carl Pavano--a lifetime sub-.500 pitcher--is worth $10 million per season, then "The Sopranos" should be airing on The Disney Channel..........Former N.Y. Knicks guard John Starks recently appeared at the Yogi Berra Museum--signing copies of his autobiography. Don't feel bad, folks; I couldn't fit that into my schedule, either..........Did you know that, in 1960, Boston's Pete Runnels (.320) and Pittsburgh's Dick Groat (.325) led their respective leagues in hitting--despite finishing with those relatively low averages for batting champions? It was the first time in major league baseball history that both leaders hit under .330..........Answer to trivia question #2: MARIO SOTO--who struck out 274 batters in 1982 for a Reds team that would finish last in the NL West..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former ABA/NBA player Bobby Jones--who blows out 53 candles on December 18th. Known as a tenacious defender, Jones played 12 seasons for the Denver Rockets/Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers and averaged over 11 points and 5 rebounds per game during his ten-year NBA stint--spent mostly in Philadelphia. Jones was a four-time NBA All-Star and a member of the Sixers' 1982-1983 NBA championship team...........Finally, condolences go out to the family of long-time Valley sports fan George Lesiw--who passed away recently at the age of 74. A former football player at Ansonia High, Lesiw continued to be one of AHS's biggest fans/supporters long after his playing days were over and seldom missed games--both at home AND on the road. Mr. Lesiw was a devoted employee of Sikorsky Aircraft for 36 years and was a DIEHARD Red Sox fan; I can assure you that NO ONE was smiling more than a proud man named George Lesiw when the Red Sox finally became world champions in 2004. He leaves three fine sons (Billy, Bobby, and George) and a slew of friends--all of whom would agree that if you were fortunate enough to have known this soft-spoken man, then you were truly blessed. Looking back, NO ONE ever had a bad word to say about one George Lesiw; we all should leave such a legacy. Rest in peace, George; you'll surely be missed--but never forgotten.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.