Lazzari's Sports Roundup - 12/12/08

by: Bob Lazzari | Staff Columnist - NY Sports Day | Friday, December 12, 2008



How 'bout that women's basketball game last week between Temple and Dartmouth--won by the Owls 65-29? Dartmouth shot 10-for-48 from thefield (not a misprint, folks!)--including 3-for-15 from three-pointrange. I still say that the gals from Dartmouth beat Temple in a gameof Trivial Pursuit..........TRIVIA QUESTION: During the 1980 NBAAll-Star Game, two members of the Atlanta Hawks combined for 40 pointsto help lead the East to a 144-136 victory. Can you name these twoplayers? Answer to follow..........I must mention the passing of a dearfriend--George Humeniuk of Seymour (CT)--who died recently of cancer atthe age of 56. Over the years, George and I spent many nights atvarious establishments throughout southern Connecticut--sometimestalking sports until the wee hours of the AM. He'd often talk about hisbeloved Cleveland Indians--but would also love interjectingconversation regarding the latest WWF storylines. Many of his friendscalled him "Big George" due to his imposing physical stature; I'llalways remember the man's bellowing laugh and fun-loving demeanor. Yes,we've lost a "gentle giant" who was filled with kindness. Mycondolences to his wife of 22 years, Patty, and the entire Humeniukfamily; he'll truly be missed..........Call me crazy/misguided, but I'mgonna go out on a limb and say that WR Plaxico Burress DID NOT major inBiochemistry and Molecular Biology as an undergraduate at MichiganState..........This week in sports history, December 15, 1973: In agame between two of college basketball's best teams, UCLA defeats NorthCarolina State 84-66--extending the Bruins' winning streak to astaggering 80 games. UCLA was forced to play without center Bill Waltonfor over 21 minutes due to foul trouble. However, forward Keith Wilkestruly picked up the slack--scoring 27 points for the Bruins whileholding N.C. State's star player David Thompson to 17. UCLA had comeinto the '73-'74 season as the winners of an amazing SEVEN straightNCAA tournament crowns..........Good news and bad news for the NewJersey Tech men's basketball program. The BAD news is that the squadhad lost 39 in a row going into last weekend--and not scored more than48 points in any game this season. The good news is that the team'shome court (Estelle and Zoom Flesher Athletic Center) has a seatingcapacity of just 1,500--thus limiting the amount of nausea experiencedby fans in N.J. to a select few..........Walking through a local mallthe other day, I gazed at a sporting goods store and a video storeadjacent to one another--with about FOUR Times as many young peoplefrequenting the latter establishment. Folks, that simply tells you TONSabout the youth of today--and it brings obvious, disturbing attentionto the sedentary lifestyle that many youngsters consider "normal"today.........ITEM: O.J. Simpson pleads for leniency while beingsentenced on armed robbery charges. Putting this case aside, I look atit this way: Here's a guy who killed two people and most likely willSTILL be back on the golf course in the year 2017. If I'm "The Juice,"I continue to do a celebratory dance each evening due to the fact thatI was able to beat the system; this slimeball (I'm being nice) shouldalso thank his lucky stars that he's breathing daily--unlike some otherpeople he was all too familiar with..........Answer to trivia question:Guard EDDIE JOHNSON (22 points) and forward/center DAN ROUNDFIELD(18)..........Happy birthday wishes go out to former NBA center JeffRuland--who blows out 50 candles on December 16th. In an eight-yearcareer spent with Washington, Philadelphia, and Detroit between 1981and 1993, Ruland averaged an impressive 17 points and 10 rebounds pergame; foot injuries kept Ruland from playing between 1987 and 1991before he made a comeback with Philadelphia. After his playing dayswere over, Ruland coached at his alma mater, Iona--leading the team tothree 20-win seasons; he currently is an assistant coach with the76ers. Best wishes, Jeff..........Finally, condolences also go out tothe family of former NHL player Hubert "Pit" Martin--who passed awayNovember 30th in a snowmobile accident in Quebec. Martin played 17seasons in the NHL from 1961-79 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings,Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks. In his finecareer, Martin posted 324 goals and 485 assists while appearing in over1,100 games; he played in four NHL All-Star games and won the BillMasterson Trophy in 1970 (perseverance and sportsmanship). Martin wouldhave turned 65 on December 9th; may he rest in peace.