"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 11/9/13

Yale football home games just aren't the same anymore without the presence of Mr. Sam Tilery--who passed away recently at the age of 65. The longtime promotions guy at WPLR-FM, I'd always stop by the radio station's tent outside the Yale Bowl just to see Sam. He possessed the type of warm personality that's difficult to explain; you just FELT it. He'd always be sitting in his usual folding chair near the exit where we'd exchange pleasantries; he'd always end the conversation by saying, "Awwwww-right, man--see you again soon." I'm a better man for having known you, Sam T.; you'll be missed..........TRIVIA QUESTION: The 1996 Denver Broncos had three players who accumulated more than 500 yards receiving apiece. Can you name this trio? Answer to follow..........Whenever I experience a tough time while shaving, I immediately think of Mike Napoli of the World Series champion Red Sox trying to remove ALL the facial hair that he sported during this past season. My own shave automatically becomes MUCH smoother..........I think most people remember former NBA player Yao Ming as a very good scorer/rebounder; after all, he DID stand 7 feet, 6 inches tall. But did you realize that the center from China shot an impressive 83% from the free-throw line during his eight-year career? Ming attempted nearly 3,000 free throws during his NBA days. His best full season came during the 2008-'09 campaign when he shot a blistering 87% from the charity stripe--converting 381 of 440 attempts..........*Here goes: Famed Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan marries former SUNY-Buffalo pitcher Charles Mye, divorces, then walks down the aisle with ex-major leaguer Albert "Don't Call Me Joey" Belle. Fans of Beatles music would surely delight in her full married name of Michelle Mye Belle..........Ah--if only Richie Incognito could live up to his surname, huh?..........I used to think that watching Jerry Rice running pass routes was the ultimate thing of beauty. That all changed the other day when I saw a picture of lovely actress Kate Beckinsale decked out in a stunning blue Gucci gown at an art/film gala in Los Angeles. Holy cow..........I'm thinking of having Eli Manning select my next set of lottery #'s. Why? Because he seems to have mastered the art of "pick 6's"..........I've always hoped/wished that I'd never have to say the following words: Tennis great Roger Federer can't win the "big one" anymore. Umm, I think I just uttered them..........Answer to trivia question: SHANNON SHARPE (1,062), ANTHONY MILLER (735), and ED McCAFFREY (553)..........Speaking of growing facial hair in order to duplicate the Red Sox' success: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that if all the members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were to grow beards right now, they STILL will not win five games this season..........Finally, condolences go out to the family of former California football coach Ray Willsey--who passed away recently in Idaho at the age of 85. Having played quarterback/defensive back for Cal in the early 50's, Willsey later played in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos for a couple of years. He then coached in various capacities at the pro and college levels; he coached Cal amid immense campus unrest in the late 60's--sometimes arriving home after practice having been exposed to TEAR GAS. In the NFL, Willsey was a Raiders assistant from 1978-'84 and was part of two Super-Bowl winning teams. He was predeceased by a wife, Barbara; he is survived by his partner of 30 years, Joanne May, three daughters, and five grandchildren. Rest in peace, "Coach."