"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" ---- 10-01-05

Former Raiders center Barret Robbins is now being held without bond in Miami due to a recent marijuana arrest in San Antonio; this is after Robbins had been free on bail following his January arrest on attempted murder charges after brawling with police in Florida. Get this: His lawyer said recently that if Robbins was allowed to keep his freedom for the time being, his family in Texas would be better able to keep him on his medication and out of trouble. Question: Where has his family been since his FIRST arrest? Perhaps they considered MARIJUANA to be just another one of his "medicines" when he was busted near his home in Texas, right?..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: Name the last fighter that the legendary Muhammad Ali defeated by knockout; answer to follow..........New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera recently told the New York Post that the best piece of advice he ever received from his mother or father was to always respect other people. One thing's for sure: He obviously doesn't appear to be respecting opposing hitters when he throws those WICKED cut fastballs to them--cracking bats almost at will and making it seem as if a man is pitching against Little Leaguers..........It appears that UCONN basketball coach Jim Calhoun will shelve "laptop criminals" A.J. Price and Marcus Williams until some time around Thanksgiving--pending a university hearing regarding this pair of crooks. The guess here is that, since these two "fine young men" can help the team win games, they'll be given clearance to play just around the time UCONN starts playing the "meat" of their schedule (just a coincidence!). One wonders if athletes from Yale would be allowed to play AT ALL under similar circumstances. Then again, Yale student-athletes probably wouldn't have been in that kind of trouble in the FIRST place, correct?..........This week in sports history, October 2, 1968: St. Louis Cardinals ace Bob Gibson--who had won 22 games and pitched to a miniscule 1.12 ERA during the regular season--strikes out a record 17 Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the World Series at Busch Stadium. Gibson broke Sandy Koufax' previous record of 15 and sealed the 4-0 victory by striking out the side in the ninth inning. His victims in that final frame were Al Kaline, Norm Cash (for the new record), and Willie Horton..........Can you imagine if LPGA golfer Rosie Jones married former major leaguer Steve Hosey--divorced--then married Buffalo Bills linebacker Jeff Posey? She'd be walking around golf courses with the catchy name of Rosie Hosey Posey..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game last weekend in the Midwest, Rockford defeated Principia 82-12. I haven't seen anything that ugly since Frank, my ex-roommate at Fordham, put on a leotard before going to see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."..........Answer to trivia question #1: RICHARD DUNN--whom Ali defeated in five rounds during a May 1976 bout held in Munich, Germany, to retain his world heavyweight title..........Say what you'd like about Red Sox OF Manny Ramirez--including things about his flaky nature, "Manny being Manny," etc. But the man RARELY argues balls and strikes with umpires--unlike a growing majority of major leaguers. I wish other players would follow suit..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: What player holds the NBA record for most seasons scoring 2,000 or more points? Answer to follow..........Did you know that, in 1929, rookie outfielder Johnny Frederick of the Brooklyn Dodgers had 206 hits, 52 doubles, and batted .328? Amazingly, Frederick duplicated his hit total the following year (he later hit a record SIX pinch homers in 1932). The ironic thing? After such an impressive start, he ended up playing a total of only six big league seasons--accumulating a modest total of only 954 career hits..........After watching him break down toward the end of yet another season, do you now get the feeling that the Mets' signing of Pedro Martinez was MAINLY to put fannies in the seats at Shea--with them fully knowing that this guy will most likely contribute VERY LITTLE to any possible, future post-season situation?..........Answer to trivia question #2: KARL MALONE--who scored more than 2,000 points in 12 different seasons during his stellar career..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former big league first baseman Bob Robertson--who blows out 59 candles on October 2nd. A Maryland native, Robertson played 11 major league seasons between 1967 and 1979 for the Pirates, Mariners, and Blue Jays--hitting 115 home runs along the way. He is best known for hitting three homers in Game 2 of the NLCS in 1971 vs. the Giants while playing for Pittsburgh; he was also a key contributor in the World Series that year as his Pirates team defeated Baltimore. Sadly, knee surgery in 1974 limited his effectiveness during the prime of his career. Best wishes, Bob..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of legendary sportscaster Chris Schenkel--who died recently at the age of 82 after battling emphysema; he had recently celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Fran. Schenkel's well-roundedness was his strength--as he covered virtually ever major sports competition during a career that spanned over six decades. His voice was unmistakable; hell, I remember occasions when I'd turn on ABC's BOWLING coverage for no other reason than to hear Schenkel's comforting delivery. In short, many of us grew up enjoying a VARIETY of sports due to the versatility of broadcasters like Chris Schenkel. Thanks, Chris, for the sports memories that will forever remain in the minds of people my age; rest in peace.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.