"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 6/23/12

Congratulations go out to Yale women's hockey player Aleca Hughes--who has been named one of 11 finalists for a hockey award named for her former teammate Mandi Schwartz--who passed away from cancer in 2011. The ECAC Hockey Mandi Schwartz Award is given to a student-athlete who has done exemplary work in the classroom, participated in at least 50% of the team's games, and demonstrates leadership. Aleca has been very instrumental in the Mandi Schwartz Marrow Donor Registration Drive at Yale; she also started the Mandi Schwartz Foundation--in order to keep alive Mandi's legacy of assisting other people. Aleca did NOT miss a game while playing at Yale and finished her career with 30 goals and 31 assists in 116 games. Yes, she excelled in the classroom, too--and will receive her fourth ECAC Hockey All-Academic honor this year. Continued good luck in the future, Ms. Hughes..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1999 Cincinnati Reds--who finished 96-67 under manager Jack McKeon--had three players on the team who stole 30 or more bases apiece. Can you name this trio? Answer to follow..........This week in sports history, June 26, 1970: Frank Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles hits TWO grand slams--leading his team to a 12-2 victory over the Washington Senators. Despite suffering a back injury the day before while making a catch vs. Boston, Robinson connected with the bases full in CONSECUTIVE innings (fifth and sixth) against pitchers Joe Coleman and Joe Grzenda. Robinson ended up taking pain-killing injections in order to deal with the discomfort, but still managed to hit his second blast in the upper stands in left-center field in Washington. With his two bases-loaded HR's, Robinson joined Jim Gentile and Jim Northrup as the only players ever to hit grand slams in consecutive innings..........If actress/media personality Mary Kitchen married PGA golfer Stewart Cink, do you think she'd prefer to be known by her full married name of Mary Kitchen Cink?..........ITEM: Temple basketball player Khalif Wyatt is arrested in Atlantic City on prostitution/resisting arrest charges; he was busted after he fled a hotel room while police officers were carrying out the sting operation. Hey--you have to admit one thing: he surely knows what the term "fast break" is all about..........I used to think that a John McEnroe backhand was the ultimate thing of beauty. That all changed the other day when I saw the dress that actress Eva Longoria was recently wearing at the Monte Carlo Television Festival. My goodness; some things in life are SO unfair, folks..........Answer to trivia question: MIKE CAMERON (38), POKEY REESE (38), and BARRY LARKIN (30)..........Does anyone out there remember when pitcher Kyle Abbott compiled a horrific record of 1-14 for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1992 season? Maybe not--due to the fact that Abbott pitched only four years in the "bigs" between 1991 and 1996. His lifetime record during that span? 4-17--which translates to a winning percentage of just .190..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA forward Jerome Kersey--who blows out 50 candles on June 26th. Drafted out of little-known Longwood University by Portland in the second round of the '84 draft, Kersey spent 17 seasons in the league (with six different teams) between 1984 and 2001; 11 of those seasons were spent as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Kersey averaged 10.3 ppg/5.5 rpg over the course of his long career; his best season came during the '87-'88 campaign with Portland--a year in which he averaged an impressive 19.2 ppg/8.3 rpg. Jerome was also a member of the 1998-'99 San Antonio Spurs--who won the NBA championship. Following his playing days, Kersey has been employed as an assistant coach in the NBA and has also been involved in various business ventures; best wishes, Jerome..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former NFL player/coach Jerry Tubbs--who died recently in the Dallas area at the age of 77. During his college days at Oklahoma, Tubbs--a center/linebacker--never lost a game as he was part of coach Bud Wilkinson-led squads that went 31-0 from 1954 to 1956. He finished fourth in the Heisman voting during his senior season--the year that Paul Hornung won the award (1956). Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the first round of the '57 draft, Tubbs spent most of his ten NFL seasons in Dallas; he was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1962 as a member of the Cowboys. He later became an assistant under Tom Landry in Dallas and coached in five Super Bowls. Jerry Tubbs is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame; may he rest in peace.