Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 14, 1989

I wonder how Fernando Valenzuela would look in Yankee pinstripes. . . .

The Seattle Mariners are talking about a trade with the Cincinnati Reds that would unite Ken Griffey with his son. The Mariners’ new owners are also preparing to make free agent Mark Langston an offer to return and exploring ways to convert the Kingdome into more of a pitcher’s park. . . .

The Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz should exchange nicknames. . . .

At 3-3, the Detroit Pistons already are discovering how difficult it is to repeat in the NBA. . . .

Alex English, who portrayed the mayor of San Francisco in a recent episode of “Midnight Caller,” is making only cameo appearances with the Denver Nuggets this season. He’s averaging 22 minutes of playing time going into tonight’s game against the Clippers at the Sports Arena. . . .

The Australian national basketball team that upset Arizona in Tucson and plays UCLA next Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion is even tougher at home, where it has the kangaroo court advantage. . . .

Bill Frieder’s Arizona State Sun Devils open the season with Pacific 10 Conference games at Oregon State and Oregon. Maybe Steve Fisher can give him some advice on how to start a new career in a pressure situation. . . .

Fisher’s defending national champion Michigan Wolverines will play Seton Hall in a rematch of the NCAA final Dec. 23 at Las Vegas. But the game of the day should be the other half of the doubleheader, UNLV vs. Iowa. . . .

In the third quarter Sunday at Anaheim, Ram quarterback Jim Everett motioned for the fans to quiet down. Naturally, they were doing the wave. . . .

The Rams not only gave Everett needed protection against the Giants, they did it legally. Only two holding penalties were called and the New York pass rushers couldn’t even gripe about the officiating. . . .

Throw out Jimmy Johnson of Dallas and it has been a good year for new coaches in the NFL. San Francisco’s George Seifert is 9-1, Cleveland’s Bud Carson 7-3, and the Raiders’ Art Shell 4-2. San Diego’s Dan Henning and Kansas City’s Marty Schottenheimer are 4-6, but their teams’ records are improved from a year ago. . . . The Sports Illustrated cover jinx has struck again. In his first game since appearing on the cover, Atlanta Falcon rookie Deion Sanders suffered through a long afternoon against the San Francisco 49ers. Actually, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice had more to do with it than the magazine. . . . Getting the least out of the most: New England fullback Mosi Tatupu caught eight passes for 34 yards against New Orleans Sunday. . . .

Half-the-distance-to-the-goal-line penalties called outside the 15-yard line make no sense. If, say, unsports-manlike conduct is called at the 20, why not move the ball to the five instead of the 10? . . .

HBO has a great boxing matchup in the works, Pernell Whitaker vs. Azumah Nelson, most likely in April. . . .

The State Athletic Commission shouldn’t crack down too hard on the antics of Jorge Paez, the fighting clown from Mexicali. He’s the funniest athlete to appear in Southern California since Chesty Chet Johnson pitched for the old Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League. . . .

I’ll miss Bob Starr on Angel telecasts. . . .

If Todd Marinovich isn’t the most valuable player in the Pac-10, then USC teammate Junior Seau is. . . .

In rolling to a 7-0 victory over Whittier Saturday, Occidental scored in every quarter except the third. The Tigers got a safety in the first, a field goal in the second and another safety in the fourth. . . .

Cal State Fullerton officials should go back over the New Mexico State game films once again and see if they can come up with an extra 20 yards for Mike Pringle. . . .

Dept. of Corrections: Mychal Thompson was born in the Bahamas, not Jamaica. . . .

How good were the old Dallas Cowboys? Ralph Neely, Mel Renfro, Preston Pearson, Lee Roy Jordan, Tom Landry and Tex Schramm are on the current National Football League Hall of Fame ballot. If Landry and Schramm make it, don’t expect Jerry Jones to be their presenter. . . .

Best seats at any hockey rink are between the goal and the blue line, not at center ice. . . .

Even the sideboards at the Forum reflect the Wayne Gretzky trade. They used to be virtually bare. Now they are filled with advertise-ments. . . .

Here’s one 900 number you shouldn’t hesitate to call. Bubba Paris, the San Francisco tackle, is donating all proceeds to the earthquake recovery fund. He’ll tell you about the 49ers’ upcoming game and his latest pizza recipes if you dial 1-900-505-TEAM. . . .

Asked what it means to play on the same team as Rick Mahorn, 76er forward Charles Barkley said, “It means people will be able to see I don’t have the biggest butt in the league anymore.”