Lazzari’s Sports Roundup – 06/25/10

ITEM: Former NFL defensive player Keith McCants is arrested on a charge of use and possession of drug paraphernalia in Mobile, Alabama; it’s at least the FOURTH arrest in less than a year for Mr. McCants. Call me crazy, but if this guy is allowed to continue to walk the streets, I’m predicting his total number of arrests will exceed his pro career sack total (13.5) sometime in the year 2012……….TRIVIA QUESTION: The 2002 Kansas City Royals, who lost 100 games under three different managers, had a pair of players who drove in more than 100 runs apiece–both of whom went on to star for other teams. Can you name these two individuals? Answer to follow…………Call me the retrospective-type (or flat- out NUTS), but I miss baseball players with nicknames like Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, John “Blue Moon” Odom, and Walt “No Neck” Williams……….I used to think that a Ron Guidry slider was a pure thing of beauty–that is, until I saw some recent photos of actress/model Megan Fox that appeared in the June 2010 issue of Allure Magazine……….This week in sports history, June 29, 1990: Dave Stewart of the Oakland A’s and Fernando Valenzuela of the L.A. Dodgers make baseball history–becoming the first hurlers to throw complete game no-hitters on the same day. Stewart no-hit the Blue Jays at the SkyDome in Toronto–striking out 12 batters along the way. Valenzuela–pitching at home at Dodger Stadium–beat St. Louis 6-0; Fernando had walked Willie McGee to begin the ninth inning, but then helped himself by deflecting a Pedro Guerrero line shot up the middle–which caromed directly to second baseman Juan Samuel for a double play……….Interesting #’s: As of last weekend, David Eckstein of the S.D. Padres was the toughest MLB player to strike out–fanning just 11 times in 276 plate appearances (a K/PA rate of 25.1). In contrast, Mark Reynolds of the Arizona D’backs had struck out a mind-boggling 99 times already in 278 plate appearances–meaning that he was K’ing at a rate of once per every 2.8 plate appearances……….How ’bout golfer Vicky Hurst–who missed the cut at last week’s ShopRite LPGA Classic after finishing with rounds of 76 and 89 (23 OVER par)? I can picture this woman having to load up on the antacids BIG TIME prior to buying groceries at ANY ShopRite in the very near future……….Did you know that the lowly 1988 Baltimore Orioles were led in victories by a pair of pitchers who tallied just EIGHT apiece? Jeff Ballard (8-12) and Dave Schmidt (8-5) tied for the team lead in wins–with Schmidt doing most of his pitching in relief. The team finished 54-107 under managers Cal Ripken Sr. and Frank Robinson……….Answer to trivia question: CARLOS BELTRAN (105) and RAUL IBANEZ (103)……….ITEM: 20-year-old Jennifer Song wins in her professional debut last week at the Duramed Futures Tour’s Players Championship; she fired a nine-under 61 on Sunday to win the tournament by six strokes–finishing at 19-under-par. Yes, congrats ARE in order–but it got me thinking, too (dangerous territory, folks): If she someday marries professional poker player Steve Sung, divorces, then marries former Iowa defensive end/Arena Football League player Larry Blue, Neil Diamond fans would surely celebrate her full married name of Jennifer Song Sung Blue……….Happy birthday wishes go out to former major league outfielder Shawn Jeter–who blows out 44 candles on June 28th. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’re excused; the native of Louisiana played only ONE season in the “bigs”–1992 with the White Sox–and appeared in just 13 games during his short-lived career. Stats? Jeter went 2-for-18 that year (striking out seven times)–thus going into the record books with a lifetime batting average of .111. Hey–they all can’t be like the OTHER Jeter, right? Best wishes, Shawn……….Finally, condolences go out to the family of former University of Montana football player Tim Bush–who died last week in a mining accident in Idaho; he was 29 and due to be married in September. An undersized walk-on who played defensive end from 2000-2003, Bush was a starter on Montana’s 2001 team that went 15-1 and won the Division I-AA national football championship; he was first-team All-Big Sky Conference in 2002 and still holds the Montana career record for sacks (with 34.5) and tackles for a loss (with 50). Bush is survived by his parents, Ken and Sharon, his fiance, Jennifer and their son, Davon, two sisters, and a brother. May Tim Bush rest in peace.

About the Author

Bob Lazzari

Bob Lazzari is an award-winning sports columnist for both Connecticut's Valley Times and NY Sports Day--where his "Sports Roundup" column is featured weekly. He is a member of the Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance and host of "Monday Night Sports Talk" www.mondaynightsports.net --a cable television show on CTV/Channel14 in Connecticut. A Fordham grad, Bob is a regular contributor to ESPN Radio's "Inside Yankee Baseball"; he can also be heard weekly every Tuesday morning on WXLM/104.7 FM in New London, CT. He has a popular blog www.boblazzari.blogspot.com where many of his past columns have been archived.

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