The “Unwatchable NBA” Update: In a game played in Charlotte last week, the Bobcats dismantled the Heat 104-65; Miami shot a putrid 22-for-76 from the floor (29%). The topper? This included the Heat shooting a pathetic 2-for-23 (9%) from three-pt. range. Yes–somewhere, Steve Kerr is weeping, folks…….TRIVIA QUESTION: The lowly 1990-1991 Miami Heat–who finished 24-58 under coach Ron Rothstein–were led in scoring by a former Big East player. Can you name this individual? Answer to follow…….ITEM: Following a year in which he won 12 games for the Phillies, pitcher Joe Blanton signs a 3-year, $24 million dollar extension. Again, at least when it comes to modern-day baseball, mediocrity breeds BUCKS…….Lazzari’s “Lopsided Score of the Week”: In a girls high school basketball game played here in CT last week, Career annihilated North Haven by a score of 78-18. I’m just wondering if the losing coach is a TRUE optimist and complimented the squad on their consistency after the game: yes, they scored nine points in each half……This week in sports history, February 1, 1987: In a marathon NBA contest, the Golden State Warriors beat the New Jersey Nets in FOUR overtimes–150-147–in a game played in Oakland. Golden State was led by Joe Barry Carroll’s 43 points and 24 rebounds; Sleepy Floyd–who set an NBA record by playing 64 minutes–chipped in with 29 points for the Warriors while Chris Mullin added 25. It was the seventh quadruple overtime game in league history and the first in three years…….Can you imagine if singer Courtney Love married contemporary artist Jim Shack? Fans of a popular tune by the B-52’s would surely delight in her full married name of Courtney Love Shack…….Yes, an additional meaning of the word “ugly” should be added to the dictionary immediately–this one related to college basketball: My alma mater, Fordham, is 9-61 against ranked teams since the AP weekly poll started in 1948. Ughhhhhhhh…….I don’t know about you folks, but I want either Wade Phillips or Norv Turner–who both lost recent NFL playoff games but kept their jobs–to purchase my next set of lottery tickets…….Hubie Brown–commenting on ESPN last week about the length of a successful three-point attempt by the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant while he was playing at Madison Square Garden: “That one came from the MEADOWLANDS.”…….As I’ve said before, I consider a Ray Allen jump shot a thing of pure beauty. But Jennifer Aniston and the dress she wore at the recent Golden Globes elevated the word “beauty” to an ENTIRELY different level…….Answer to trivia question: SHERMAN DOUGLAS–a Syracuse product who averaged 18.5 ppg along with 8.5 assists per contest…….Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league infielder Buddy Biancalana–who blows out 50 candles on February 2nd. A native of California, Buddy played a total of six seasons in the “bigs” between 1982 and 1987 as a member of the Royals and Astros–hitting just .205 lifetime in 311 games. Biancalana CAN claim fame to this: he was the starting shortstop for the Royals in all 14 postseason games in 1985–playing errorless ball while helping the team to a World Series victory over the Cardinals. Yes, he MAY have been associated with the famed “Mendoza Line” for his lack of offense, but he can always show off his World Series ring at the local pub. Best wishes, Buddy…….Finally, condolences go out to the family of former college basketball coach Dan Fitzgerald–who died recently in the state of Washington after collapsing in a restaurant; he was 67. He began his coaching career at Archbishop Mitty High School (1969-’71) and was named California’s high school coach of the year in 1970. A San Francisco native, Fitzgerald built Gonzaga into a national power while coaching that program from 1978 to 1997; he compiled a 252-171 record there and also served as the school’s athletic director. At Gonzaga, he recruited John Stockton and took the ‘Zags’ to their first NCAA tournament in 1995. May Dan Fitzgerald rest in peace.