Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 5, 1989

Throw no benefits for the baseball owners, who merely are cutting substantial profits with their wild spending sprees on free agents. . . .

All 26 teams reportedly made money last year when each was paid approximately $7 million in national television fees. This year, the new CBS and ESPN contracts have increased the take to about $14 million each. That’s an extra $7 million, far more than most teams will pay for free agents and salary increases. . . .

So let ‘em spend in excess of $3 million a year on Mark Langston after a 16-14 season and wonder what the next 25-game winner will be paid. . . .

My vote for NFL comeback player of the year goes to Howie Long, who has regained his all-pro form in the Raider defensive line. . . .

The Rams will have to overcome the home-field disadvantage Monday night in Anaheim Stadium, where they have lost seven of their last eight games to the 49ers. . . .

Dallas was blamed for not using Herschel Walker properly. Now Minnesota is getting the same rap. Is it just possible that the guy is overrated? . . .

Maybe Los Angeles sports fans are maturing. There was only one wave all Sunday afternoon from the 87,560 at the Coliseum. . . .

The name of Matt Millen still appears in the Raider program. It’s an advertisement for a lawyer, who is no relation to the 49er linebacker. . . .

Hulk Hogan, the pro wrestler, may be the most impressive physical specimen in sports. . . .

What do Florida International, Maryland Baltimore County, McNeese State, Tennessee Martin, Central Florida, Towson State, Canisius, U.S. International, Northeast Illinois, Wright State and Appalachian State have in common? All lost to basketball teams ranked in the top 25 last week. . . .

Nine college basketball games were shown on television in Southern California Saturday, but none involved UCLA or USC. . . .

Here’s why USC needs an on-campus gym: At this late date, there is still a question whether the Trojans’ games against Central Connecticut State Dec. 28, Notre Dame Jan. 6 and Arizona State Jan. 13 will be played at the Sports Arena because of scheduling conflicts. . . .

Oregon State may or may not be the best team in the Pac-10, but its point guard, Gary Payton, is the best player. . . .

I hope the officials will allow Magic and Kevin Johnson to stay around awhile Thursday at the Forum when the Lakers play Phoenix. . . .

Gary Grant, the Clippers’ talented but often out-of-control guard, should learn something from Magic tonight at the Forum. . . .

Patrick Ewing needs some scoring help if the New York Knicks are to contend for the NBA championship. Would Alex English be the answer? . . .

The Lakers and Boston Celtics began the season with identical 531-207 regular-season records this decade. . . .

When somebody fouls out, as Byron Scott Friday against Detroit, I’m reminded that Wilt Chamberlain never was disqualified during his 1,205-game NBA career. . . .

The value of the 1990 first-round draft choice the Clippers received from Cleveland in the Ron Harper-Danny Ferry-Reggie Williams deal increased Saturday when the Cavaliers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 101-74. . . .

Only 10 of the 27 NBA coaches played in the league. . . .

USC quarterback Todd Marinovich has been selected college football freshman of the year by the Sporting News. . . .

Look-alikes: Joe Montana and Bernhard Langer. . . .

Roberto Duran should be far more shopworn than Sugar Ray Leonard. Not only is Duran five years older at 38, he’s had 92 fights to only 37 for Leonard. . . .

Leonard remains a 2-1 favorite and it is even money whether the fight will last the 12-round distance. . . .

The Hollywood Prevue Wednesday, matching promising 2-year-olds Stylish King and Tarascon, is the most intriguing midweek feature of the Hollywood Park meeting. . . .

Caltech students and graduates have been invited, free of charge, to the clubhouse Sunday to watch Caltech, the horse, compete in the $500,000 Hollywood Turf Cup. . . .

Sudden death might have been just that for the athletes if Santa Clara and Virginia had played any longer than an hour of overtime in the NCAA soccer championship that ended in a 1-1 tie. The wind-chill factor at Rutgers Stadium was minus-10 degrees. . . .

Baseball needs inter-league play more than it does expansion. . . .

Rusty Nail is director of video operations for the Denver Broncos. . . .