"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 10/22/11

Did you know that, in 1990, quarterback Steve DeBerg of the Kansas City Chiefs rushed 21 times for a grand total of MINUS-5 yards? That comes out to about -0.2 yards per carry--which was even difficult to figure out using my calculator..........TRIVIA QUESTION: What player has the most yardage receiving all-time as a member of the New Orleans Saints? Answer to follow..........I used to think that watching Joe Namath throw a football was the ultimate thing of beauty. That all changed last week when I saw a picture of lovely actress Charlize Theron decked out in a black Dior dress at her Africa Outreach Project shindig out in Los Angeles. My goodness..........Tony DeAngelo (my co-host on "Monday Night Sports Talk") and I recently celebrated the 29th anniversary of Jim "Catfish" Hunter's Game 2 victory in the 1972 World Series (vs. Cincy) by having a DINNER of catfish and rice. Does that qualify us as baseball fanatics--or render us as just plain NUTS?..........This week in sports history, October 25, 1990: The short heavyweight reign of James "Buster" Douglas comes to an end in Las Vegas as he is knocked out in the third round by challenger Evander Holyfield. Douglas had shocked the world eight months earlier with a stunning, tenth-round KO of then-champion "Iron" Mike Tyson. However, Holyfield's powerful right to the jaw of Douglas enabled him to become the new heavyweight champion while winning his 25th consecutive fight..........Can you imagine if former U.S. gymnast Shannon Miller married NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, divorced, married Washington Nats special assistant Bob Schaefer--divorced again--then married American ice dancer John Corona? Beer lovers everywhere would surely raise a glass to her full married name of Shannon Miller Busch Schaefer Corona..........Lazzari's "Lopsided Score of the Week": In a college football game played in the Midwest last weekend, Central College (Iowa) defeated Loras 70-7; the winning squad held a 42-7 lead AT THE HALF and out-rushed Loras in this game 279-48. I haven't seen a mismatch like that since Angelina Jolie hooked up with Billy Bob Thornton..........Answer to trivia question: ERIC MARTIN--who caught balls for 7,854 yards while playing for the Saints between 1985 and 1993..........Almost EERILY quiet this past baseball season (even in a city like New York) was the fact that Yankees reliever David Robertson's ERA of 1.08 was the lowest in team history for any NY hurler who threw at least 50 innings. Wow..........ITEM: Cassius Chambers--a high school football coach in Chicago--is arrested after a dozen of his players attacked a disabled teen; Chambers and an assistant coach reportedly watched the beating but did nothing to stop it. I now wish that Chambers had been born in a different era and became a heavyweight boxer in the 60's--and was scheduled to step into the ring with ANOTHER guy named Cassius after exhibiting such disgraceful behavior..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NFL running back Jimmy DuBose--who blows out 57 candles on October 25th. A native of Alabama who attended the University of Florida, DuBose was the SEC Player of the Year in 1975 and rushed for over 2,000 yards while in Gainesville. He was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1976 draft and became the first Bucs player ever to gain 100 yards in a game (1978). Unfortunately, DuBose tore knee ligaments shortly thereafter and was limited to playing just three seasons in the pros (all with Tampa Bay)--gaining a total of 704 yards. DuBose was elected to the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987. Here's wishing you many more birthday celebrations to come, Jimmy..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL tackle Orlando Brown--who was found dead a few weeks ago in his South Baltimore apartment; he was 40. It was later uncovered that Brown died of diabetic ketoacidosis--caused by high blood sugar and a lack of insulin. A huge man standing 6'7'' tall and weighing 360 pounds, Brown played parts of nine seasons between 1994 and 2005--starting 119 games. He may be best-known for suffering a devastating eye-injury during a 1999 game (while playing for Cleveland) when he was struck by a referee's penalty flag; he later sued the NFL and eventually reached a settlement. Brown is survived by a daughter and three sons; may he rest in peace.