Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 14, 1989

Dear Santa: Please leave a new contract signed by a center fielder, preferably one who can hit leadoff, in Tom Lasorda’s stocking. The poor guy has been acting like Scrooge ever since the Dodgers came up empty at the winter meetings. . . .

Michigan will be able to “win one for Bo” in the Rose Bowl, but lame duck coaches don’t always fare so well. . . .

Pat Riley, who looks like something out of GQ, handled himself more like something out of Ring magazine during the Laker-Hornet scuffle the other night in Charlotte. . . .

The reason the Phoenix Suns traded for Kurt Rambis is that the former Laker forward still plays every game as though the world championship were at stake. . . .

Brent Musburger no longer may be the highest-paid former journalism major in sports now that Blair Rasmussen, the former Oregon center, has signed a seven-year, $17.5-million contract with the Denver Nuggets. . . .

On Dec. 7, Larry Bird’s age matched his uniform number, 33. . . .

Asked what he would do differently if he were NBA commissioner, Clipper forward Ken Norman said he would fine players a percentage of their salaries instead of a flat fee. . . .

Judy McCarron framed the personalized California vanity license plate of “546 Wins” that belonged to her husband Chris and presented it to Kent Desormeaux, who recently broke the record for most victories by a jockey in a year. . . .

The owners of Dominant Dancer, who will be supplemented into the Hollywood Futurity for $50,000, will turn a profit if the filly finishes as high as fourth Sunday. First money will be at least $500,000, second $200,000, third $150,000, fourth $75,000 and fifth $25,000. . . .

Under the new leadership of Lloyd Arnold, handle was up 20.7% and attendance 18.6% through the first 13 days of the Los Alamitos harness racing meeting. . . .

Forward Ed O’Bannon, a prep All-American, isn’t the only attraction on the Artesia High basketball team. His brother Charles is a ninth-grader who already has made a strong contribution and the bench includes Avondre Jones, a 6-10 center who is 14 years old. . . .

The Pac-10 postseason basketball tournament won’t be missed. . . .

Despite a change in the interpretation of the rules, collegiate officials still aren’t calling enough deliberate fouls. . . .

Jim Valvano shouldn’t complain about the modest penalties handed North Carolina State by the NCAA. . . .

The addition of Mark Davis gives the Kansas City Royal pitching staff a slight edge over those of the Oakland Athletics and the Angels in the American League West. . . .

The Dodgers, virtually assured packed houses for their entire spring training schedule in Vero Beach, are selling standing-room tickets in advance at Holman Stadium. . . .

Tim Leary, who was great in 1988 with the Dodgers and disappointing in 1989 with them and Cincinnati, is being counted upon for at least 15 victories by the New York Yankees next year. . . .

Add Doug Flutie to the list of former Heisman Trophy winners who were drafted by Los Angeles teams. The Rams took him on the 11th round in 1985. . . If you call the Kings’ office at the Forum and are put on hold, you will hear a recording of Bob Miller describing Wayne Gretzky’s record-tying and setting points on Oct. 15. . . .

The Sporting News didn’t even put Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware of Houston on its All-American team. Instead, it chose Colorado quarterback Darian Hagan and also made him player of the year. . . .

If UCLA beats Notre Dame Sunday in South Bend, Ind., the Bruins will be 5-0 for the first time since the 1982-83 basketball season. . . .

The Bruins may have a tougher time getting off to such a successful start next season, though. They will open in the Great Alaska Shootout and play nonconference games against Louisville, Pittsburgh, Iowa, DePaul and Notre Dame. . . .

Members of the UCLA women’s volleyball team, truly student-athletes, traveled to Honolulu for the NCAA championships on five different flights because of final exams. . . .

Associate Athletic Director Mike Reinfeldt of USC, the former Oiler and Raider safety, will be interviewed for the athletic director’s job at the University of Wisconsin. . . .

If the money is put up to build a new Coliseum, Al Davis should pin on an “I Love L.A.” button and stay.