"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" -- 07-09-05

From the "No Doubt Nepotism" Dept.: Mike Fassel, son of former N.Y. Giants coach Jim Fassel, has been named the new director of football operations at Princeton University; he was a former walk-on player there who graduated just a year ago. Question: Would this young man have landed this high-profile job if he possessed the name of, say, Mike Smith or Mike Jones? Hmmmmmmm............TRIVIA QUESTION #1: What pitcher holds the Cleveland Indians' club record for most appearances in a season? Answer to follow..........Question: What would the late Billy Martin have done had he been Carlos Beltran's manager--and witnessed the "superstar's" disgraceful lack of hustle that led to a 3-6-3 double play last weekend? Ironically, it was "Beltran Bobblehead Day" that same afternoon; Martin would have most likely made Beltran's head dance around in an ENTIRELY different way..........Recently saw the movie "Brian's Song" (first time in YEARS)--complete with original footage of Gale Sayers running with the football. If that guy wasn't poetry wearing football cleats, then there's not an alligator in the Everglades..........Congrats go out to Spero Dedes--who has been named the new radio voice of the L.A. Lakers. Speaking on behalf of your fellow Fordham alumni, we all wish you luck in Hollywood, Spero, and we're extremely proud of your broadcasting efforts and new gig..........If Lou Piniella is worth more than $3 million per season to manage the lowly Devil Rays, then sports editor Bill Pucci will be a featured model in an upcoming Jockey advertising campaign..........I ran into Larry Ciotti, running backs coach at Yale, last week at the Governor's Cup High School All-Star Game at Rentschler Field. Honored at halftime due to his former coaching efforts at Hand High (FIVE state championships between 1970 and 1988), Ciotti's countenance gleamed when I asked him about RB Mike McLeod and QB Ryan Fodor--two All-State selections playing that evening who will attend Yale in the fall. Ciotti told me he expects McLeod to have an almost-immediate impact--and both to contribute greatly to the program over the next few years. Nice to see home-grown talent have the rare opportunity to shine at a local university; here's wishing these two fine players the best of luck as we follow their careers closely in the Ivy League..........Answer to trivia question #1: SID MONGE, who appeared in 76 games in 1979--winning 12 games and saving 19 more for the sixth-place Tribe..........This week in sports history, July 11, 1973: 19-year-old Californian Dwight Stones breaks the world record in the high jump--clearing 7 feet, 6 1/2 inches at a track meet held in Munich. His effort would break the previous mark of 7 feet, 6 1/4 inches--set by Pat Matzdorf in 1971--and would occur at the same stadium where Stones won an Olympic bronze medal just one year before..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: Tennis commentator Mary Carillo--once a player on the professional tour--won a Grand Slam doubles title in 1977. Name the event and her partner; answer to follow..........Did you know that former Red Sox outfielder Billy Conigliaro--who accumulated only 40 lifetime home runs--hit almost HALF of them (18) in one season? Billy and his brother Tony combined for 54 homers for the '70 Red Sox; Billy played only five big-league seasons and was done with major league baseball at the age of 26..........Until the "powers that be" address the yearly weather difficulties at Wimbledon (can they spell R-O-O-F?), many of us (including yours truly) will continue to have trouble getting fully immersed in those famed championships..........Former boxing champ Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is planning to fight on July 30th at the age of 46--first time he's been in a ring in FIVE years. Just further proof that those shots he took to the head years ago at the hands of Hagler and Leonard had a HUGE effect on Hearns' rational thought process..........Answer to trivia question #2: THE FRENCH OPEN, where Carillo teamed up with childhood pal JOHN McENROE to win the Mixed Doubles crown..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder/first baseman Ron Fairly--who blows out 67 candles on July 12th. Fairly played a remarkable 21 seasons from 1958-1978 with a variety of teams, but spent most of his big-league tenure as a member of the Dodgers and Expos. A two-time All-Star, Fairly amassed 1,913 hits during his career, drove in 1,044 runs, and batted .266 lifetime. Best wishes, Ron..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league catcher Dick Dietz--who died recently of a heart attack at the age of 63. Dietz played a total of eight seasons from 1966-1973 with the Giants, Dodgers, and Braves--hitting .261 over his career. His best season came in 1970 in San Francisco when he hit 22 homers and drove in 107 runs while being named to the NL All-Star team. May he rest in peace.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.