Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 4, 1989

If only it could have been like this more often the past eight years in the Coliseum--87,560 people yelling themselves hoarse, stomping their feet, chanting “Raiders, Raiders,” and nearly having to be told to shut up as the Silver and Black claws its way back to an overtime triumph over a bitter rival. . . .

The overlooked hero was Vance Mueller, the special-teamer who ran down Ricky Nattiel late in the fourth quarter to prevent what would have been a game-winning touchdown punt return for Denver. . . .

How fitting and proper that a tight end, Mike Dyal, made the big catches against the Broncos. Under the Mike Shanahan regime, that position virtually disappeared from the Raider playbook. . . .

The crowd was the largest in the NFL this season because no other stadium can accommodate 87,560. . . .

Several Figueroa Street parking lot operators charged $20 a car. For that price, they should have included an oil and lube job. . . .

Wonder what the Rams will do for a second encore after their finishes in New Orleans and Dallas. . . .

That was a lousy roughing-the-passer call against Bill Hawkins of the Rams on what should have been the last play of the first half, but what was he doing even touching Troy Aikman after the Cowboy quarterback threw the ball? . . .

The Mark Langston signing put the Angels in the same class with Oakland in starting pitching, but they will have to make good deals for hitting and relief pitching to become competitive with the well-balanced world champions. . . .

If there had been a Mr. Congenialty Contest, Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware would have won that, too. . . .

Those who had stereotyped Ware as a running quarterback out of high school may be interested to learn that his NCAA single-season passing record is 4,699 yards and his total offense record only 4,661. . . .

Bonehead Risk of the Year: Leading by seven points and with 37 seconds remaining, Auburn attempted a pass against Alabama although the Crimson Tide had no timeouts left. . . .

The promoters of the recent Olga Korbut-Mary Lou Retton gymnastics tour already have contacted Nadia Comaneci. . . .

Batman (Michael Keaton) and the Joker (Jack Nicholson) put aside their differences long enough to sit together courtside at the Laker-Piston game Friday at the Forum. . . .

News item: Millionaire Akeem Olajuwon is fined $5,000 by NBA for fighting. Reaction: Only a suspension without pay would be meaningful. . . .

Norm Schachter, who officiated the first Super Bowl game, says, “I would have loved instant replay. I never would have made a mistake.” . . .

Schachter, who still works for the league as an adviser, believes the networks will have a field day with their own instant replays if the NFL drops the rule next season. . . .

Nine of Chicago’s 10 first-round picks since 1983 are starting in the NFL, including seven for the Bears. But I’m sure Mike Ditka will tell you that the scouts didn’t do such a great job. . . .

Duke Snider on the old Brooklyn Dodger-New York Giant rivalry: “We didn’t like Halloween because its colors were black and orange.” . . .

If the Kings are to contend for the Stanley Cup, they will need more goaltending performances like the one Kelly Hrudey delivered Saturday against the Rangers. Ken Dryden used to say there were shutouts and “working” shutouts. Hrudey’s 35-save shutout fit in the latter category. . . .

The novelty has gone out of the Soviet hockey teams’ visits to this country and, besides, many of their top players now are working in the NHL. So the Kings’ string of nine consecutive sellouts at the Forum will end tonight when they play the Khimik club. . . .

Vancouver Canuck Coach Bob McCammon on Sergei Starikov of the New Jersey Devils: “I don’t think they can get him in shape. His contract’s not that long.” . . .

Lee Trevino turned 50 Friday, making him eligible for the Senior PGA Tour. . . .

Best matchups of the first ACC-Big East challenge series this week on ESPN are Duke-Syracuse Wednesday and North Carolina-Georgetown Thursday. . . .

Danny Manning’s performance against Milwaukee after an 11-month absence must rank as one of the most remarkable in the history of the Sports Arena. . . .

Diplomatic Detroit Coach Chuck Daly on the Lakers and Pistons: “They’re a great club and we’re a good team.”