Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 19, 1989

It’s time to think about the playoffs--the NBA playoffs, that is. . . .

How about Los Angeles vs. Los Angeles in the first round? The Western Conference-leading Lakers and the rapidly improving Clippers are on a collision course. . . .

Former Laker General Manager Bill Sharman writes: “Vlade Divac and Larry Drew both should make big contributions. Divac will continue to improve, and Drew should be a tremendous help to Magic Johnson later in the season when he needs more rest.” . . .

Assistant coach Bill Bertka insists that Divac, at 7-foot-1 and 248 pounds, is the Lakers’ best outside shooter. . . .

Clipper Coach Don Casey on Ron Harper: “He’s going to get even better as his teammates learn to play with him. They’ll be able to handle some of those passes that they’re not expecting now.” . . .

Harper seems happier in this environment than in Cleveland, where another guard, Mark Price, got much of the attention. . . .

Casey on his team’s attitude: “Offense is skill and defense is commitment. Our guys are committed.” . . .

The question most asked by callers to the sports department is the date and time of the Super Bowl. The answer is Jan. 28 at 2 p.m., PST. . . .

The Raiders, who need to win Sunday in the Meadowlands to have any chance of reaching the playoffs, are 1-0 against the Giants on the road. They beat them, 33-17, in 1980. . . .

The Canadian Football League may never be forgiven for sending us Dieter Brock but should be thanked for giving us Mervyn Fernandez. . . .

That was a limited, but interesting, duel of former UCLA wide receivers Sunday in Anaheim. The Jets’ JoJo Townsell caught one pass for 63 yards and one touchdown. The Rams’ Flipper Anderson caught one pass for 43 yards and one touchdown. . . .

I kept thinking that George Bethune would force Tony Eason to fumble and Brett Faryniarz would recover the ball for the Rams--and, sure enough, it happened in the second quarter. . . . If they’re serious about challenging Mike Tyson, Herschel Walker and Tony Mandarich first should fight an elimination match. . . .

The Ram-Jet and San Francisco-Buffalo games were the only ones contested in less than three hours Sunday. The Cleveland-Minnesota overtime telethon lasted 4 hours 3 minutes. . . .

Dan Marino, who plays football in sunny Miami, does commercials for cold-weather gloves. . . .

Would you believe that the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions have identical records with one week left in the season? . . .

Buffalo is 5-7 with Jim Kelly as the starting quarterback and 3-0 with Frank Reich. . . . Look-alikes: Mike Schmidt and Chuck Norris. . . .

Students, teachers, and administrators from Dorsey High School broke into tears after the Dons upset Carson for the Los Angeles City 4-A football championship last week. The season had been dedicated to the memory of Kevin Copeland, the prep All-American wide receiver who died after suffering a heart attack during a game. . . .

Former Herald Examiner sportswriter Bob Keisser has been named sports editor at Channel 11. . . .

Here’s the flip side to losing free agents: The World Series champion Oakland Athletics will have seven picks in the first two rounds of the draft next year. . . .

Inger Miller--daughter of Dr. Lennox Miller, silver medalist in the 100 meters at the 1968 Olympic Games--will be a Tournament of Roses princess and then resume her track career in the 60-yard dash in the Sunkist meet Jan. 19 at the Sports Arena. . . .

UCLA basketball Coach Jim Harrick will tell you it’s just as hard to play the Fighting Irish in the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center as it is in Notre Dame Stadium. . . .

Nevada Las Vegas should be a legitimate national contender now that center David Butler and forward Moses Scurry have regained their eligibility. . . .

It’s scary to think that Boris Becker is improving his tennis game. . . .

Then there’s Mats Wilander, who keeps getting worse. . . .

Nothing like Wayne Lukas having a 2-year-old sensation--this time Grand Canyon--to pump some early interest into the Kentucky Derby. . . .

When Notre Dame was ranked first in the national football polls, it was an underdog to Miami in the Orange Bowl. Now the Irish are favored over top-ranked Colorado in the Orange Bowl game. . . .

I wonder what Sam Wyche really thinks of Jerry Glanville.