Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 6, 1990

Veteran Al Davis watchers have the feeling that he wants to keep the Raiders in Los Angeles. . . .

Of course, he will stay only if a deal can be struck to give the team a home that is more hospitable than the 92,000-seat Coliseum. . . .

Spectacor wants to reconstruct the stadium. And now an alternative plan is being formulated to keep the historical landmark in place, but give it a make-over. That would include building luxury boxes and a press box, lowering the field, adding some seats and eliminating others. In other words, all the things that Davis says were promised him by the Coliseum Commission long ago. . . .

Nobody remembers who won the Pro Bowl, but at least it was close. . . .

Two reasons I prefer college sports to pro: No strikes, no lockouts. . . .

Some out-of-shape heavyweight ought to hire Loyola Marymount basketball Coach Paul Westhead as a trainer. The Lions can run the court and shoot baskets night after night without getting winded. . . .

Laker-Bull tickets have become among the hottest in Los Angeles. They play their annual Forum game Wednesday. . . .

The Lakers are so much better when Byron Scott is on his game. . . .

If George Foreman is such a patriot, how come all his title fights were held outside the United States? . . .

John Schulian, who used to write boxing better than anyone in the newspaper business, scripted the “Kid Salinas” episode of “Midnight Caller” tonight on NBC. . . .

One of the best coaching jobs in the NHL is being done at Winnipeg by former Los Angeles defenseman Bob Murdoch. Compare his talent to the Kings’ and then look at the Smythe Division standings. . . .

Just once, I’d like to hear a coach say that one of his players is the type who makes everyone else on the team play worse. . . .

Larry Brown now says he left UCLA after the 1980-81 season because of the death of J.D. Morgan, the athletic director who had hired him. . . .

UCLA won 98 consecutive games at Pauley Pavilion from 1970-76, but Kentucky won 129 in a row at home from 1943-55, and St. Bonaventure won 99 in a row from 1948-61. . . .

USC freshman guard Harold Miner is one of the few shooters in the nation who can sink a three-pointer with somebody in his face. . . .

Harmon Arena at Cal reminds me a lot of Harmon Gym. . . .

Best sports event of the year involving females could be Gorgeous vs. Bayakoa in the $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita Feb. 18. . . .

Think Sunday Silence would have added a little spice to the Strub Series? . . .

Now that he’s assistant coach of the Quebec Nordiques, Robbie Ftorek won’t have to worry about dealing with superstars. . . .

Charles Barkley told Larry Burnett of ESPN that Andrew Toney, not Julius Erving or Moses Malone or Maurice Cheeks, is the best Philadelphia 76er he has ever played with. . . .

Danny Ainge got a standing ovation upon his return to Boston Garden with the Sacramento Kings Sunday and then scored two points in 29 minutes. . . .

When center Randy Breuer of the Minnesota Timberwolves scored 40 points against Golden State, people in the office started wondering about his previous career high. Surprisingly, it was 34. . . .

Ram linebacker Kevin Greene will be among the celebrity bachelors auctioned off at the Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles’ fourth annual fund-raiser Thursday at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. . . .

Defensive backs must be delighted to hear 49er wide receiver Jerry Rice say that he will drop five pounds next season in order to gain some speed. . . .

Bonnie Blair keeps winning speed-skating titles, but only the Olympic Games would put her name into the headlines again. . . .

Steve Wynn wants to put on big fights at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. The only problem is that there aren’t enough big fighters around. . . .

Doyle Alexander claims the Detroit Tigers didn’t re-sign him because Sparky Anderson resented his influence in the clubhouse. I guess Doyle’s 6-18 record and 4.44 earned-run average didn’t have anything to do with it. . . .

Bobby Tolan’s St. Petersburg Pelicans beat Dick Williams’ West Palm Beach Tropics, 12-4, for the first Senior Professional Baseball Assn. championship in Florida. . . .

Has anybody ever said anything important to a TV sideline reporter? . . .

Here it is February already and Steffi Graf has won only $248,621 for the year in prize money on the women’s tennis circuit. . . .

Apologists for Darryl Strawberry talk about the pressure he has been under. Sure. But how about the pressure faced daily by someone whose main concern is putting food on the table for his family?