Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 21, 1990

Wayne Gretzky recently complained that the trouble with the Los Angeles press is that it treats the Kings too kindly. He said there were always nasty things written in Edmonton about the Oilers when they were going badly and that it psyched them up. OK, Wayne, you asked for it:

The way you’re playing this season, Great One, your nickname should be downgraded to Good One. . . .

Bruce McNall has the highest payroll in the NHL, is buying a private plane for team trips and invites players to be co-owners of his race horses. So how do his grateful employees thank him? By compiling the fourth-worst record in the Campbell Conference. . . .

The hardest checks of the season were thrown by Todd Elik and Mike Allison Monday afternoon--at each other in the pregame warmup. . . .

The Queens--oops, I mean Kings--win two in a row so rarely that The Times’ sports highlights Tuesday said they were “on a roll” after victories over mighty Quebec and Washington. . . .

Larry Robinson belonged in the Legends game in Pittsburgh. . . .

The goaltenders see more rubber most nights than an assembly line worker at Goodyear. . . .

Hey, Gretz, you’re making your old pal Robbie Ftorek look good. . . .

Last, but not least, Marty McSorley’s recipe for manicotti in the book “Recipes Fit for a King” needs more Parmesan cheese. . . .

Look-alikes: Bill Cosby and forward Harold Pressley of the Sacramento Kings. . . .

The TV movie, “The Laker Girls,” was filmed at the Sports Arena, home of the Clippers. . . .

On President’s Day at the Sports Arena, the Clippers and USC both lost by two points on shots in the final seconds. . . .

The lettering on the back of the blue Sacramento jersey that Antoine Carr wore Monday spelled out, “CA,” leading one wag to say he’s only half the player he used to be. . . .

Which fight would do more business, Buster Douglas-Evander Holyfield or Mike Tyson-George Foreman? . . .

Wonder if Douglas, the new referee for the Hulk Hogan-Macho Man Savage wrestling match Friday night on NBC, will give either participant a long count. . . .

Coach Jim Harrick, whose UCLA basketball team needs outside shooting badly, could do worse than to give Kevin Walker another chance. . . .

In the second half of the USC-Maryland game, play was stopped by the referee so Trojan forward Calvin Banks could tie his shoelaces. . . .

George Raveling and USC freshman sensation Harold Miner talk basketball for an hour twice a week in the coach’s office. . . .

Now that Jim Brown has brought it up, why isn’t Tank Younger, the last player to be voted All-NFL on both offense and defense, in the Hall of Fame? . . .

Kiki Jones, the young right-hander who is rated the best prospect in the Dodger organization, learned how to throw the changeup in the Instructional League and could make the big club within a couple of years. . . .

The Dodgers got the opportunity to draft Jones as part of the compensation for the loss of free agent Steve Sax to the Yankees. . . .

General Manager Tom Grieve of the Texas Rangers says American League West rivals Oakland, California and Kansas City are the three best teams in baseball. . . .

It’s hard to imagine Keith Hernandez wearing a Cleveland Indian uniform. . . .

Look for St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Joe Magrane to have a terrific season. . . .

Nothing against Edmonton goaltender Reddick, but how can a grown man allow himself to be called Pokey? . . .

Nothing against Reddick’s mom and dad, but how can any parents name their child Eldon? . . .

Which is the greatest father-son duo in the history of hockey, Bobby and Brett Hull or Gordie and Mark Howe? . . .

North Carolina enjoyed a successful football recruiting year despite two consecutive 1-10 seasons. . . .

The Lakers have won their last 55 games that have failed to sell out the Forum. Of course, that means 55 games against the have-nots of the league. . . .

Sources in Charlotte insist that owner George Shinn of the Hornets won’t try to hire Doug Moe away from Denver because Moe doesn’t wear a tie. . . .

Kent Desormeaux quickly is winning a following at Santa Anita, where he has ridden five winners in his first 33 races. . . .

Willie Totten, who threw passes to Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State, has signed to play quarterback for Jack Elway’s London team in the Worldwide League of American Football that will begin operations in June. . . .

From Tom Plate, editor of the editorial pages of The Times: “When Vlade Divac rejects a shot, it should be known as an Eastern Bloc.”