Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 31, 1990

Bill Shoemaker may be the greatest jockey of all time, but he will have to be something even more Saturday for his last ride to rival that of Johnny Longden 24 years ago at Santa Anita. . . .

“The Legend’s Last Ride” is a manufactured event. The fifth race on the day’s card. A guaranteed $100,000 for Shoe. Put him on the best horse and hope that he rides into the sunset a winner after a barnstorming farewell tour. . . .

But Johnny Longden’s last ride was in the most important turf event of the Santa Anita season, the 1 3/4-mile San Juan Capistrano Handicap. The 59-year-old grandfather known as “the Pumper” was on a 6-1 shot named George Royal. He got his 6,032nd and final victory by a nostril. . . .

Bion Abbott of The Times described the stretch run: “During those dramatic 25 seconds of the final quarter, George Royal headed Plaque at the top of the stretch, lost his lead halfway home and then came on again for Grandpa John in the final few steps to win with only a whisker to spare.”. . . .

Bob Hebert wrote: “For sheer drama, it beat anything in Santa Anita’s history--even the day when Seabiscuit came back from oblivion in 1940 to win the Big ‘Cap.” . . .

Good luck, Shoe.. . . .

It’s no coincidence that teams owned by Eddie DeBartolo and Jerry Buss win world championships. DeBartolo’s lavish treatment of the 49ers is famous, and Buss’ Lakers are traveling by private plane this season. . . .

Now that Georgia Frontiere has signed Jim Everett, you have to wonder if she will put out the other necessary big bucks to close the gap between her Rams and the 49ers. . . .

Next year’s Super Bowl will be played in Tampa, Fla., the following year’s in Minneapolis. . . .

How could anybody blame Junior Seau, who is projected as the second pick in the NFL draft, for leaving USC a year early?. . . .

The way Jimmy Johnson is talking, backup quarterback Steve Walsh is a cinch to be traded by the Dallas Cowboys. . . .

Why is it that heavy favorites, such as the 49ers, always insist that nobody gave them a chance to repeat as champions early in the season? . . .

Look-alikes: John Elway and actor Val Kilmer. . . .

Construction of a new Sports Arena in Exposition Park is dependent upon Clippers owner Donald Sterling signing a long-term lease. . . .

Too bad UCLA and Loyola Marymount, which last met in basketball in 1985, weren’t matched this season. . . .

The more I see of the rest of the country, the more I’m convinced the Bruins have a shot to reach the Final Four. . . .

Syracuse’s Billy Owens is playing like the phenom he was supposed to be out of high school. . . .

The Orangemen may be the best team in the nation. . . .

Can you believe that Purdue is leading the Big Ten and Connecticut is tied for the lead in the Big East? . . .

I’m still not used to seeing a player get his fifth foul in a Big East game and not be ejected. . . .

Those corny, overacted Sports Illustrated commercials with Michael Jordan on ESPN every two minutes are driving me crazy. . . .

There actually is a major league baseball player who may be underpaid this season. Texas Ranger center fielder Cecil Espy, who stole 45 bases last year, signed for a mere $165,000. . . .

Atlanta Hawk Coach Mike Fratello is on the hot seat. . . .

Charles Barkley no longer can say he’s playing for a bad team. . . .

The NBA would have lost one of its best coaches if Don Nelson had carried out his original plan to become a referee. . . .

Rony Seikaly is averaging more rebounds than Patrick Ewing. . . .

So much for Randy White, the Dallas Mavericks’ disappointing first-round draft choice, following in the footsteps of Karl Malone out of Louisiana Tech. . . .

The annual Tip-A-King photo and autograph session will be held Feb. 25 at MGM Filmland with proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. . . .

Defense still prevails in the NHL, where the Boston Bruins are allowing the fewest goals and winning the most games. . . .

Reader Murray Neidorf, a CPA, called to say that anybody betting on Pete Axthelm’s NFL selections actually would have made a small amount of money. Pete was correct on 53%. Anything over 52.38% covers the vigorish.. . .

State Athletic Commission chairman Jerry Nathanson’s campaign to eliminate draws from boxing matches is a good one. . . .

I can’t wait to see Mark Rypien flinging ‘em for the NFC in the Pro Bowl.