Tuesday, April 28, 2015

"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 4/25/15

Nice gesture by Signature Athletic Tape; the company is now offering a line of pink tape that will benefit Susan G. Komen and its fight against breast cancer. Throughout 2015, Sig-Tape will donate 10% of the retail sales price of each individually packaged athletic/kinesiology tape roll sold to the Komen organization. Kudos to co-founder Keith Moss and his staff for this kind, humanitarian gesture. Having a Mom who succumbed to the disease, I want to thank Sig-Tape personally for bringing added attention to such a noble cause/fight..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1999 Cleveland Indians--who finished 97-65 under manager Mike Hargrove--had FOUR players on the team who drove in more than 100 runs apiece. Can you name this hard-hitting quartet? Answer to follow..........Great point by Red Sox color man Jerry Remy during a devastating walk-off loss to Baltimore this past weekend--regarding reliever Koji Uehara. Jerry pointed out that Uehara's fastball is now clocked at a pitiful 85 MPH. Put that together with the fact that the majority of splitters he throws are NOT strikes--and teams are now very well aware of this. Yes, patience practiced by opposing hitters--plus an 85 MPH fastball--equates to ONE thing: BATTING PRACTICE, folks..........So the New England Patriots visit the White House and QB Tom Brady is a 'no-show'--citing a "family commitment." Put it this way: If I had a supermodel wife like Gisele Bundchen, I'd probably have no interest in visiting D.C., either. In fact, I'd consider a beauty like Gisele to be a continuous "walking family commitment."..........*Here's a score for you: In a recent girls high school softball game here in Connecticut, Windsor Locks defeated Gilbert 29-25; amazingly, Gilbert scored 13 runs in the fourth inning and STILL lost. Call me daring, but I'll go out on a limb and state that NEITHER of these teams will play a 1-0 game for the remainder of the 2015 season..........As BAD as the Philadelphia Phillies are this year, they still have (and always WILL have) the best mascot in the history of sports--The Phillie Phanatic. That being said, do you think the fans in Philly will embrace that fact in 2015 and keep their booing of the team to a minimal degree? No--I didn't think so, either..........No center fielder in MLB is better at going back on a fly ball (OR CHEWING gum) than the Orioles' Adam Jones..........Speaking of going back on fly balls: Shouldn't the Red Sox' Hanley Ramirez be wearing a HELMET in left field at Fenway in order to avoid injury at the hands of the Green Monster? (It HASN'T been pretty so far, folks)..........Congratulations go out to former UCONN basketball player Bruce Kuczenski--who will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in August. A Bristol native, Bruce played in Storrs from 1979-1983 and also played professionally with the Nets, Sixers, and Pacers during the 1983-'84 NBA season. A well-deserved honor; best wishes, Bruce..........*O.K.--rhyme time: USA Rugby WNT player Shaina Turley marries Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle, divorces, marries former NFL wide receiver Quinn Early--divorces again--then walks down the aisle with Rhode Island basketball coach Danny Hurley. She is then "sporting" the full married name of Shaina Turley Buehrle Early Hurley..........Answer to trivia question: MANNY RAMIREZ (165), ROBERTO ALOMAR (120), RICHIE SEXSON (116), and JIM THOME (108)..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL linebacker Doug Buffone--who passed away recently in Chicago at the age of 70. The son of a coal miner, Buffone played his college ball at Louisville and was selected in the fourth round of the 1966 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He went on to play his ENTIRE 14-year career in Chicago--appearing in 186 games and surpassing the 100-tackle mark in seven seasons. Blessed with an engaging personality, Buffone later became involved in radio work--including hosting a Bears post-game show with Ed O'Bradovich. In a statement, Bears Chairman George McCaskey showered Buffone with compliments--to the point of saying, "There was no one tougher on Sundays than Doug Buffone." Ahhh--some high praise, for sure. Doug Buffone is survived by his wife, Dana, and six children; may he rest in peace.

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