SUPER BOWL XXIII : CINCINNATI BENGALS vs. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS : Notebook : A Different Game, but Same Old Lasorda

Tom Lasorda, manager of the World Series champion Dodgers, took over as the celebrity-in-residence at the Super Bowl Saturday and contrived a two-way endorsement of Bill Walsh, coach of the San Francisco 49ers:

--Lasorda picked the 49ers over the Cincinnati Bengals in today’s game.

--And he agreed with Walsh that it’s getting harder all the time to win championships in successive seasons.

“To win it once, you need two things,” the Dodger manager said. “You need a peak year from all your players, and you need them injury-free.

“To win it back-to-back, you need the same two things--and that’s tough to get 2 years in a row, let alone 1 year.”

Walsh has made similar points last week when discussing his retirement plans, which may be announced after the game.

Walsh reasons that it will be several years before the 49ers are fortunate enough to make it back to the Super Bowl--no matter how well they are coached.

“There’s no way that Orel Hershiser can repeat his last 100 innings,” Lasorda said, noting the Dodger ace’s pitching performance from August to October.

Nonetheless, Lasorda doesn’t rule out another Dodger title this year.

When a reporter asked for a comment after reminding him that neither baseball nor football champions repeat any more, Lasorda asked:

“Has it been done before? If it’s been done before-- the Green Bay Packers did it in the ‘60s, the Pittsburgh Steelers did it in the ‘70s--you can do it again.”

The arrival of free agency is the one thing that makes it more difficult now in baseball, he conceded.

“If you have the same players, if they have peak years, if they don’t get injured, you can keep winning,” he said.

“That’s how the old New York Yankees won. How many successive World Series did Joe DiMaggio play in for the Yankees? Ten?

“With free agency, you don’t have the same players any more.”

Former Raider tackle Art Shell and linebacker Ted Hendricks made the finals along with 5 other former National Football League players in Hall of Fame voting here Saturday.

Raider owner Al Davis once again gained the final 10, but not the last 7.

Former Ram guard Tom Mack and former Minnesota Vikings Coach Bud Grant also reached the last 10 before they were eliminated.

Former Ram Coach George Allen missed this year’s final Hall of Fame consideration by 1 vote.

Results of the voting on the final 7 will be announced Wednesday, Hall of Fame Vice President Don Smith said. Enshrinement isn’t automatic, but at least 4 and possibly all 7 will be elected, he said.

Other finalists are quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw of Pittsburgh and Bob Griese of Miami, and two defensive backs, Mel Blount of Pittsburgh and Willie Wood of Green Bay.

The seventh finalist is the old-timers committee candidate, tackle Henry Jordan of Green Bay.

One reason why 49er receiver Jerry Rice’s speed is questioned, he said, is because he makes few moves.

“I try not to make too many (moves) because I think it gives guys a chance to catch up on you,” he said.

“I feel I know exactly where the pressure’s coming from, so I can make one move and get into the end zone.”

The 49ers plan to start him on a bad ankle.

“It’s not as bad as when I hurt it against the Rams (in October),” he said.

Wide receiver Michael Young of the Rams was selected Saturday as one of the five NFL players who will perform in the Diet Pepsi Talent Challenge on NBC’s 2-hour pregame show, which begins at noon, PST.

Young, a 4-year player from UCLA, will sing his own rendition of an AC/DC song, “A Whole Lot of Rosie.”

Those who watched a dress rehearsal Saturday at the Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne say the favorite is Mike Martin, Cincinnati wide receiver and kick returner who is on injured reserve and ineligible to play.

But Young is expected to give Martin, also a singer, a battle for the $25,000 first prize, which will go to the winner’s favorite charity. Second place is worth $15,000, third place $10,000.

The other contestants will be defensive end Reggie White of the Philadelphia Eagles, who does impersonations, running back Karl Bernard of the Detroit Lions, who sings, and guard John Scully of the Atlanta Falcons, who plays the keyboard and sings.

The contestants will perform live before an audience in an outdoor arena at the Seaquarium, unless rain forces them inside. If that’s the case, the segments will be taped, an NBC spokesman said.

Quote Dept.:

--John Robinson, Ram coach, on the key to the game: “The thing I’m most curious to see is the 49er defense against the Cincinnati run. If they stop the run, they’ll control the game because the Bengals run so well, and their pass comes off their run.”

--Robinson on what has to be worrying Cincinnati: “The 49ers can start so fast. You kick it off, and first thing you know, they’ve got 17 points. The question is, can Cincinnati settle down fast enough to control the San Francisco fast break?”

--Jim McNally, Cincinnati line coach: “Everybody’s been writing about the offensive line, but (tight end) Rodney Holman is as good a run blocker as there is in the NFL.”