"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 10/1/11

Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game played last weekend down south, South Carolina St. obliterated Delaware State 69-0; the winning squad racked up 687 total yards on offense while limiting their hapless opponent to just 84. I haven't seen a 'mismatch' like that since 89-year-old J. Howard Marshall married Anna Nicole Smith back in 1994..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1989 Chicago Cubs--who won the NL East under manager Don Zimmer--had three pitchers who won 16 or more games apiece that season. How many of these hurlers can you name? Answer to follow..........ITEM: NBA veteran Marcus Camby is arrested in Houston on a charge of marijuana possession; it happened not far from a school. Someone needs to explain to Marcus that the term "penetrating a zone" applies to basketball only--and does NOT include a "drug-free" zone..........This week in sports history, October 4, 1955: The Brooklyn Dodgers win their first World Series championship--beating the Yankees 2-0 in Game 7 as Johnny Podres pitches an eight-hit shutout. The Dodgers had won seven National League pennants in team history (the last one in 1953) without ever capturing the World Series. Podres was helped in this game by a fabulous catch by outfielder Sandy Amoros in the sixth inning; Amoros then relayed a throw to the infield to complete a game-changing double play while Podres would cruise the rest of the way.........."Raven" Update: Yes, a close call last week. My good friend Robert "Raven" Kraft of Miami Beach had his consecutive daily running streak of more than 37 years (8 miles daily) in jeopardy after experiencing chest pains/shortness of breath. He proceeded to see some doctors who surmised that he might need some type of surgery due to a possible blockage--which would obviously halt the incredible streak. However, after ten hours of multiple tests came up negative, "Raven"--armed with an inhaler and instructions to take an aspirin daily-- went back to the beach and completed yet another eight-mile jaunt. The streak continues--as well as the legend simply known as "Raven"..........Yes, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has aged very well. But has anyone out there seen any recent photos of lovely actress Sofia Vergara modeling her new line of clothing for K-Mart? Sorry, sports fans--Ms. Vergara takes the art of "aging gracefully" to an ENTIRELY different level..........Did you know that, in 2001, RB Garrison Hearst of the San Francisco 49ers carried the ball 252 times and caught 41 passes--but only fumbled ONE time? Amazingly, Hearst fumbled a DOZEN times as a member of the Arizona Cardinals four years earlier--while having approximately the same number of touches..........Answer to trivia question: GREG MADDUX (19), MIKE BIELECKI (18), and RICK SUTCLIFFE (16)..........Morning personality Mike Stevens on WDRC-FM last week--after the struggling Red Sox had lost yet again to lowly Baltimore (and were still stuck on five wins for the entire month of September): "Do they WANT to make the playoffs?"..........Can you imagine if LPGA golfer Lori West married former MLB outfielder Bill North, divorced, married singer/songwriter Joe South--divorced again--then married DC-area environmental health specialist John East? She'd be strolling golf courses with the full married name of Lori West North South East..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NFL running back-turned-broadcaster Mike Adamle--who blows out 62 candles on October 4th. An All-American fullback at Northwestern, Adamle went on to play seven seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs, Jets, and Bears--rushing for 1,149 yards in his career. He later joined NBC Sports (hosting Sports World) and was also the co-host of American Gladiators from 1989-1996. Currently, Adamle is still involved with broadcasting in the Chicago area; best wishes, Mike..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former major league outfielder/college baseball coach Danny Litwhiler--who passed away recently in Florida at the age of 95. A native of Pennsylvania, Litwhiler spent 11 seasons in the majors between 1940 and 1951 as a member of the Phillies, Cardinals, Braves, and Reds--hitting .281 lifetime. He was an All-Star with the Phillies in 1942 and played in a total of 1,057 games. He later went on to coach baseball at Florida State and Michigan State--winning 678 games over 28 seasons; altogether, he led teams to nine NCAA tournament appearances. Litwhiler was also very instrumental in developing the radar gun to measure pitching speed. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and eight children. May Danny Litwhiler rest in peace.