"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5-17-08

ITEM: Red Sox pitchers Tim Wakefield and Mike Timlin make history by becoming the first over-40 duo in the modern era to combine on a shutout--beating the Tigers 5-0. Yes, I'd imagine that there HAS to be a celebratory, Geritol commercial endorsement (to be filmed at a Boston area-nursing home) in store for BOTH of these guys in the very near future..........TRIVIA QUESTION: Only six major leaguers have hit for the cycle while having a grand slam home run among the four necessary hits. Who was the last major league player to accomplish this feat? Answer to follow..........I heard Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker tell WFAN's Ed Randall last Sunday that two of his former players--Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa--were "business-like" in their approach to the game. Translation: They were surly, selfish players who liked to be left alone..........If actress Brooke Shields marries former NFL player John Zook, divorces, marries former pitcher Jay Hook--divorces again--then marries former pitcher Dennis Cook, yours truly would then have WAY too much fun pronouncing her full married name of Brooke Zook Hook Cook..........This week in sports history, May 20, 1990: 16-year-old Monica Seles of Yugoslavia defeats Germany's Steffi Graff 6-4, 6-3 in the final of the German Open--ending Graf's amazing 66-match win streak. Numerous unforced errors plagued Graf as she was attempting to break Martina Navratilova's all-time best mark of 74 consecutive victories; Graf's last defeat had come in June of '89 to Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in the final at the French Open..........For those of you investors out there who get upset when your portfolio takes a slight "dip," think of the Yankees having invested $86 million in pitchers Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa; I GUARANTEE you'll feel a tad better..........ITEM: The N.Y. Knicks hire Mike D'Antoni as their new head coach. Yes, I do believe he's an improvement over Isiah Thomas, folks. But why do I get the feeling that the Knicks--who scored an average of 97 points per game this season and allowed more than 103--may average around 101 next year but give up 107?..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a girl's high school softball game played here in CT recently, Manchester annihilated Bulkeley 29-0 in a game shortened to five innings; the winning squad led 17-0 after just two frames and scored SEVEN in the fifth to put an exclamation point on this terrible mismatch. The clincher? The losing Bulkeley squad was the HOME team. I'd suggest the people at Bulkeley employ a sense of humor next time Manchester visits and place a sign at the field entrance that reads, "VISITORS WELCOMED--BUT LEAVE YOUR BATS ON THE BUS!"..........In an EXTREMELY perfect world, sultry actress Carmen Electra prefers aging, arthritic, New England-based sports columnists who have dimples..........Answer to trivia question: JAY BUHNER of the Seattle Mariners, who hit for the cycle--including a grand slam--in June of 1993 during a Seattle victory vs. the Oakland A's..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Jose Roman--who blows out 45 candles on May 21st. Roman played three seasons for the Cleveland Indians between 1984 and 1986; let's just say they were three "forgettable" seasons, too. Jose appeared in a total of just 14 major league games during his short big league tenure--pitching 44 innings, walking 42 batters, and giving up 40 earned runs. Yes, folks, Jose Roman goes into the record books with an all-time record of 1-8 with a career ERA of 8.12. Hey, they all can't be Bob Feller, right? Best wishes, Jose..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league outfielder Roy Foster--who died recently in Oklahoma at the age of 62. Foster was chosen as the Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year when he hit 23 homers and drove in 60 runs for the Cleveland Indians in 1970--a year in which he homered off the Orioles' Dave McNally in his very first major league game. Sadly (and almost inexplicably), Foster was done with baseball in 1972 after just three years with Cleveland; some have hinted that Foster’s lack of all-around talent may have played a part in hastening his mysterious exit from the game. Reportedly, he had been in a nursing home due to a previous stroke at the time of his death. May Roy Foster rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5-10-08

Looking back at last weekend's Kentucky Derby, we were reminded of the pageantry and celebratory joy so synonymous with horse racing; sadly, we were also privy to the cruel aspect of the "great sport of kings" as filly Eight Belles broke down shortly after finishing the race and was immediately euthanized. Yes, as race winner Big Brown now continues a Triple Crown quest, it's this special filly's remarkable second-place finish that I'll always remember about the '08 "Run for the Roses." Yes, she DID hang with the "big boys" and put it all on the line; my colleague Jeff Jacobs (Hartford Courant) included winning jockey Kent Desormeaux's post-race comments in a column he wrote last Sunday--with the jockey reportedly saying, "My horse showed you his heart--Eight Belles showed you her LIFE." Amen, Kent--and may this special horse's life--AND heart--never be forgotten..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What NBA player holds the league record for most 3-point attempts in a single postseason? Answer to follow..........Lazzari's "Cheap Win of the Week": This one definitely goes to L.A. Dodgers reliever Joe Beimel--who pitched 1/3 of an inning on May 1st vs. Florida and threw ONE pitch to end the eighth inning. Yes, he earns the "W" when Matt Kemp's tie-breaking RBI single in the ninth propels the Dodgers to a 5-3 victory..........This week in sports history, May 12, 1973: Led by George McGinnis' 27 points, the Indiana Pacers defeat the Kentucky Colonels 88-81 to claim their third American Basketball Association (ABA) title in four years. Indiana managed to hold Kentucky to just 11 points in the third quarter--a major reason why the Pacers claimed the Game 7 victory on the Colonels' home court, Freedom Hall..........Courtesy of John J. Buro of NY Sports Day: Although Padres reliever Trevor Hoffman has appeared in close to 900 major league games, he has NEVER started one. Perhaps even MORE surprising is that in almost 1,000 innings of work, Hoffman has NEVER committed a balk; yes, John, simply amazing..........In a perfect world, actresses Sharon Stone, Jennifer Aniston, and Charlize Theron would perform their own version of the "7th inning stretch" on my front lawn each evening for 30 consecutive days while filming a celebrity exercise video..........How 'bout goalie Michael Leighton of the Albany River Rats--who made a mind-boggling total of 98 saves recently in a game vs. Philadelphia--but witnessed his team LOSE in five overtimes 3-2? I compare that to wining and dining the girl of your dream for a nerve-wracking 3-4 hours--only to hear her say at the end of the date, "Thanks, Bob--I now think of you as that 'big brother' that I never had."..........Answer to trivia question: DENNIS SCOTT of the Orlando Magic--who attempted an incredible 151 three-pointers (making 56) during the 1994-'95 postseason (21 games)..........I compare Roger Clemens' credibility to my bank account over these past few months: Not much there to begin with--and getting lesser by the MINUTE..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league infielder Jim Driscoll--who blows out 64 candles on May 14th. Here's why you may not remember Jim: He played just TWO seasons in the "bigs"--1970 with the A's and 1972 with the Rangers--appearing in just 36 games during his short career. At the plate, he went 10-for-52 while playing for the A's and a BRUTAL 0-for-18 while in Texas; yes, folks, Jim Driscoll left major league baseball with a lifetime batting average of .143. Hey, he can still say that he played 36 more big league games than most of us, right? Best wishes, Jim..........Finally, condolences go out to the families of two former baseball greats--Tommy Holmes and "Buzzie" Bavasi--both of whom died recently. Holmes, who passed away in Florida, set the modern day NL record by hitting in 37 consecutive games in 1945 while playing with the Braves--a record ultimately broken by Pete Rose in 1978. A two-time All-Star, Holmes played 11 seasons in the National League with Boston and Brooklyn; during that memorable season in '45, Holmes hit .352, accumulated 224 hits, scored 125 runs, and struck out only NINE times. He proceeded to work many years as director of amateur baseball operations for the Mets. Bavasi was GM of the Dodgers (in Brooklyn and Los Angeles) from 1951-1968. During his tenure, the team won eight NL pennants and four world championships; he was selected major league executive of the year in 1959 and later worked for the Padres and Angels. May these two great contributors to the game of baseball rest in peace.

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 5-03-08

A message for N.Y. Mets fans: If some of the veterans on that team had aged like supermodel Carol Alt has over these past few years, I can almost GUARANTEE that more championship banners would be displayed throughout Flushing Meadows at this point in time..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What NHL player holds the league record for most losses in a season by a goaltender? Answer to follow..........Detroit Lions safety Kalvin Pearson was recently arrested on domestic violence charges and held without bail in Tampa. I'm just wondering if he was issued a generic prison shirt or a Cincinnati Bengals jersey..........No disrespect to my alma mater, Fordham, or to its women's basketball coach Cathy Andruzzi, but--in the current, competitive college atmosphere--HOW has this woman been able to keep her job (at least as of press time) while sporting a two-year record of 3-54?..........This week in sports history, May 6, 1953: Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns becomes the first modern-era pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his very first big-league start--shutting down the Philadelphia Athletics 6-0. Holloman battled control problems in the ninth inning--walking three--but was ultimately helped out by a double-play ball hit by the A's Dave Philley. A tiny crowd of just 2,473 at Sportsman's Park also saw Hollomon drive in three runs with a pair of singles during his unforgettable debut..........ITEM: Legends Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees, was renamed Steinbrenner Field this past February--honoring the current Yankees owner. Question: As the stadium was originally named for the Yankees' renowned collection of legendary players (who truly put the franchise on the map), shouldn't the powers that be have left the name alone and simply counted Steinbrenner AMONG those legends?..........Among this week's celebrations in Louisville is the Crown Royal Playboy Kentucky Derby party--featuring TWELVE Playboy playmates. I'm still waiting for an explanation from Valley Times sports editor Bill Pucci as to why yours truly wasn't sent there to cover it up-close and in its entirety..........Answer to trivia question: GARY "SUITCASE" SMITH--who accumulated 48 losses during the 1970-'71 NHL season while playing for the California Golden Seals..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a CT girls softball game recently, E.O. Smith beat up on Bulkeley 30-0 in a game shortened to five innings. The winning team scored EIGHTEEN runs (I kid you not) in the very first inning and followed that up with a "nine-spot" in the second while the losing squad committed a pathetic FIFTEEN errors during the course of this mismatch. Good news and bad news for Bulkeley: The good news is that they held E.O. Smith scoreless in the fourth inning. The BAD news is that they lost by more than four touchdowns--and this was NOT a football game..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league pitcher Larry Andersen--who blows out 55 candles on May 6th. A native of Portland, Oregon, Andersen pitched 17 seasons between 1975 and 1994 for six different teams--including two stints with the Phillies. Used strictly in relief, Anderson appeared in 699 games during his career--compiling an impressive lifetime ERA of 3.15; he went 9-5 and pitched more than 100 innings for the Astros in '87. Best wishes, Larry..........Finally, condolences go out to the families of two very special individuals who passed away recently. Longtime Manchester Journal Inquirer (CT) sports editor/columnist Randy Smith died on April 14th at the age of 61. A fearless journalist, he often wrote about UCONN athletics, horse racing, and golf. I was fortunate to have met the man on various occasions; those colleagues of Randy Smith will always remember his integrity and unique way with words. William "Billy" Shortell, 52, a former three-sport athlete at Ansonia (CT) High School, passed away on April 12. A distant cousin of yours truly, Billy helped lead Ansonia to a state championship in baseball in 1974 and is a member of that school's Hall of Fame. Paralyzed by a car accident in 1981, Billy never let his condition dampen a great sense of humor and an undying, caring nature; you'll always be a great inspiration to many, Billy--and not just family members. May these two gentlemen rest in peace.