Monday, October 13, 2014

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 10/11/14

I recently had the opportunity to speak with former NFL wide receiver Eddie Kennison--whose current mission is to find a cure for lupus. An autoimmune disease, Eddie's wife Shimika was diagnosed with the malady back in 2003. Since then, Mr. Kennison has partnered with the ALR (Alliance for Lupus Research)--raising over $90 million in the battle to eradicate this disease. In my various media endeavors, I've come across many "top-shelf" individuals--and Eddie Kennison is surely one of them. Here's wishing Shimika the best of health as both of the Kennisons continue their tremendous humanitarian efforts. For more information on how individuals can join the fight vs. lupus, please visit www.lupusresearch.org.......... TRIVIA QUESTION: The 2006 Detroit Lions--who finished a pathetic 3-13 under coach Rod Marinelli--had a pair of wide receivers on the squad who had more than 1,000 yards receiving apiece. Can you name this duo? Answer to follow..........ITEM: Chinese tennis player Li Na, the reigning Australian Open champion, has announced her retirement at the age of 32--citing various knee surgeries as factors in facilitating her decision. However, two reasons NOT to feel too sorry for Ms. Na: 1) She's earned close to $17 million playing tennis since 2007 and 2) She'll never get writer's cramp while signing her name during any future autograph sessions..........*Scenario: Former NC-Wilmington basketball player Sheila Boles marries Eagles QB Nick Foles, divorces, marries Foles' teammate in Philly, Darren Sproles--divorces again--then weds former MLB pitcher Dickie Noles. She is then known by the full married name of Sheila Boles Foles Sproles Noles..........Two words why success in sports radio has NOTHING to do with journalistic talent, courtesy, and integrity: MIKE FRANCESA..........I used to think that a spiraling football thrown by former NFL quarterback Warren Moon was the ultimate thing of beauty. That all changed the other day when I saw a picture of actress Lea Michele decked out in a revealing, teal-colored gown outside Hollywood's TCL Chinese Theatre. Umm--sorry, Warren; goodness gracious..........Sad news about Cigar--the great racehorse who died recently at the age of 24 from complications following surgery. The maternal grandson of the great Seattle Slew, Cigar was a "late bloomer"--dominating the horse racing world at the ages of 5 and 6. He was the 1995 and 1996 Horse of the Year and won 16 consecutive races at one point--equaling the mark of the legendary Citation. Famed jockey Jerry Bailey called Cigar "the most talented horse I ever saw", and credited the thoroughbred for being solely responsible for his love of horses. Cigar spent his final 15 years at Lexington's Kentucky Horse Park; I can picture him now running free with his grand-daddy--in an incredibly beautiful setting. Thanks for the memories, Cigar..........How 'bout the pitiful NY Jets last Sunday--who rushed for a GRAND TOTAL of 31 yards vs. Denver (led by QB Geno Smith with 11)? But just when I thought it couldn't get any worse for New York football fans, I tuned in to the Giants game later on ; "Big Blue's" performance that evening made the Jets' effort vs. the Broncos appear to be superhuman. How ugly was the Giants' debacle? Eli Manning was sacked SIX times (he had only been sacked seven times all season entering the game). Umm--the Giants also scored ZERO points, folks. Oh--and Manning's replacement--Ryan Nassib--was sacked an extra couple of times, as well. The topper? The Giants lose Victor Cruz for the remainder of the season with a torn patellar tendon suffered during the third quarter. Truthfully--I'm not a fan of either NY team, but if I WAS, I'd be asking just ONE question this week: Is it 2015 yet????????..........Answer to trivia question: ROY WILLIAMS (1,310) and MIKE FURREY (1,086)..........*O.K.--one more: LPGA golfer Esther Lee marries MLB pitcher Jon Lester, divorces, marries NFL player Devin Hester--divorces again--then walks down the aisle with Indiana high school soccer player Cameron Mester. She is then navigating golf courses with the catchy, rhyming name of Esther Lester Hester Mester..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL linebacker Scott Ross--who was recently found dead in a church parking lot in Louisiana; he was just 45. Known for his toughness and hard-nosed approach, Ross was an All-Pac 10 linebacker for USC from 1988-1990 and played briefly for the New Orleans Saints in 1991. Sadly, he later claimed that he suffered immense head trauma while in the NFL due to concussions--and was never treated by doctors at the time. Scott Ross is survived by a daughter, Caroline, his parents (Janie and Marshall), and a brother, Jason. May this former talented football player rest in peace.


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