"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" ---- 10-08-05

I recently asked Yale running backs coach Larry Ciotti to comment on talented freshman running back Mike McLeod from New Britain--who has run for an impressive 278 yards in his first three college games. "Mike is doing well," he told me. "For a freshman, he is outstanding. The toughest part of being a college running back is learning to recognize the blitz and picking it up in pass protection. He's learning rapidly to do this." The prediction here is that, if McLeod stays healthy his entire four years at Yale, he'll have an extremely good chance of breaking Robert Carr's all-time Yale career rushing record of 3,393 yards..........TRIVIA QUESTION #1: What NHL team once had three linemates known as "The Production Line?" Answer to follow..........How 'bout O.J. Simpson last weekend--taking a break from seeking the "real" killer of his ex-wife and Ron Goldman to sign autographs at a horror movie/comic book convention in Los Angeles? Well, at least we know "The Juice" is familiar with that type of venue: his murder case and subsequent acquittal was a "horror show" while his book I Want To Tell You reads like the "funnies."..........This week in sports history, October 10, 1968: The Detroit Tigers complete their amazing comeback--defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in Game 7 of the World Series after having trailed three games to one. Mickey Lolich would pitch a stellar complete game--giving up only five hits; he was helped by a misjudged ball by Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood in the seventh inning--which gave the Tigers a lead they'd never relinquish..........Answer to trivia question #1: The DETROIT RED WINGS--whose line of Sid Abel, Gordie Howe, and Ted Lindsey earned the nickname for its uncanny scoring proficiency during the 1948-1949 NHL season..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game in the Midwest last weekend, Nebraska-Omaha defeated Panhandle State 71-0. Question: With a name like "Panhandle," do you think the losing team was doing any "begging" toward the end of this "laugher"--particularly for some leniency on the part of their overpowering opponent?..........TRIVIA QUESTION #2: In the unforgettable 1981 AFC divisional playoff game between the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins (won by San Diego 41-38), QB Don Strock of the Dolphins completed a pass to a player who then lateraled to another for a touchdown. Besides Strock, who were the other two Miami players involved in that memorable play? Answer to follow..........Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone has just given birth to a baby girl named Lorelei. With the experience of childbirth now behind her, I'll go out on a limb and say that Krone doesn't consider "saddle soreness" all that bothersome/painful anymore..........Gotta love this guy Steve Silva--the tailback/offensive weapon from Holy Cross College. Watching him play last weekend at the Yale Bowl, I can attest that this man truly does it ALL--i.e., running with the football, receiving, and returning punts and kickoffs (including an 84-yard return to ice the victory over Yale); hell, he's even THROWN for two TD's this season. I swear, I fully expected to see Silva selling souvenirs that day while his team was on defense--and for him to also serve me my lunch in the press box during halftime..........Can you imagine if LPGA golfer Sally Little tied the knot with Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Brandon League? Young ballplayers everywhere would be delighting in her new married name of Sally Little League..........Answer to trivia question #2: DURIEL HARRIS and TONY NATHAN; Harris caught the 15-yard reception from Strock and then lateraled to a trailing Nathan for a 40-yard touchdown with time running out in the first half..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league catcher/outfielder/DH Brian Downing--who blows out 55 candles on October 9th. Downing played a remarkable 20 seasons (despite a slew of injuries) from 1973 to 1992 for the White Sox, Angels, and Rangers--accumulating 2,099 hits, 275 home runs, and 1,073 RBI's. An All-Star with California in 1979, Downing was an avid weightlifter during his early playing days--before this practice became popular among baseball players. Despite his lack of speed on the base paths, his first major league hit happened to be an inside-the-park home run off of Detroit's Mickey Lolich in '73. Best wishes, Brian..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league first baseman Donn Clendenon--who died recently of leukemia at the age of 70. Clendenon played 12 big league seasons between 1961 and 1972 for the Pirates, Expos, Mets, and Cardinals. His best season came in 1966 with Pittsburgh--when he hit 28 home runs and drove in 98 runs while hitting at a .299 clip. He will likely be best remembered for hitting three home runs for the New York Mets during the 1969 World Series vs. Baltimore--leading the "Amazins" to an unlikely world championship while personally capturing the Series MVP Award. Donn Clendenon was an extremely bright individual in addition to being a professional athlete; he'll surely be missed. May he rest in peace.

Bob Lazzari

Reprinted by permission of the Valley Times.