Notes on a Scorecard - March 28, 1990

Not since the 1954 World Series had I looked forward to watching an Indian-Giant game as much as the one Monday afternoon in Scottsdale, Ariz. . . .

There may not have been anything to match Willie Mays’ over-the-shoulder catch at the Polo Grounds, but the delayed start of ESPN’s major league baseball telecasts was worth the wait. . . .

Rick Reuschel, at about 250 pounds, looked to be in midseason shape. It was strange seeing Dave Anderson bleed Giant orange. In the third inning, somebody yelled, “Bear 0down!” In his second at-bat as a Giant, Gary Carter got the game-winning hit. And analyst Norm Hitzges revealed that Cleveland newcomer Dion James didn’t change underwear during a 15-game hitting streak with Atlanta last year. How great to have the national pastime back. . . .

ESPN’s announcers are the only people I’ve ever seen wearing coats and ties at a spring training game in Arizona. . . .

The new short men in baseball are the starters. . . .

I hope Dodger outfielder John Shelby hasn’t already used up his year’s supply of RBIs. . . .

Did it ever occur to the Coliseum Commission to agree to lease the stadium to MCA/Spectacor before, not after, Oakland made a commitment to bring the Raiders back? . . .

You won’t be able to get a legal bet down on the NCAA semifinal game between Nevada Las Vegas and Georgia Tech because Nevada law prohibits wagering on athletic events involving in-state schools. But the sports books will have saved themselves big money if UNLV wins the tournament. The Runnin’ Rebels would have been prohibitive favorites in their hometown. . . . Best player in the Final Four whom nobody knows is Arkansas forward Lenzie Howell. . . .

Bruce Parkhill of Penn State, Mike Montgomery of Stanford and Pete Gillen of Xavier are the finalists to succeed Terry Holland as basketball coach at Virginia. . . .

What Larry Johnson has accomplished in the tournament thus far will count in the voting for the John Wooden Award. Include the Regionals, and I think you’ve got to rank the Nevada Las Vegas forward over La Salle’s Lionel Simmons and Oregon State’s Gary Payton. . . .

A new basketball power is the Southwest Conference, and it will stay that way if Texas keeps Coach Tom Penders. . . .

New York Knick Coach Stu Jackson is really in trouble now that General Manager Al Bianchi has given him a vote of confidence. . . .

Carl Scheer--formerly Continental Basketball Assn. commissioner and an executive with the Carolina Cougars, Denver Nuggets, Clippers and Charlotte Hornets and now back with the Nuggets--changes jobs as often as his good friend, Larry Brown. . . .

Magic Johnson and actor Michael Douglas will be working for scale after the Laker-Clipper game tonight at the Sports Arena when they tape a segment of “The Earth Day Special,” to be shown on ABC April 22. . . .

Look-alikes: Helmut Kohl and Pete Axthelm. . . .

Bob Arum is promoting a rare doubleheader at Caesars Tahoe Sunday featuring unbeaten junior flyweight Michael Carbajal at 10:30 a.m. on NBC and unbeaten light heavyweight Andrew Maynard at 6 p.m. on ESPN. . . .

Look for Santa Anita and Hollywood Park to stage a bidding war for Trevor Denman’s services when the track announcer’s contract with Santa Anita runs out late next year. Denman is to horse racing in Southern California what Vin Scully is to baseball and Chick Hearn is to basketball. . . .

The Kings will go the John Thompson route for the first round of the NHL playoffs, headquartering in Banff for games that will be played a two-hour drive away in Calgary. . . . Billy Crystal, the laugh riot of the Academy Awards show, is no joke as a shortstop in celebrity games. . . .

The field for the Volvo tennis tournament July 28-Aug. 5 at UCLA already is stacking up better than those in most of L.A.’s tournaments in recent years. Stefan Edberg is the latest entrant. . . .

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Jaime Jarrin, the Dodgers’ Spanish-speaking broadcaster who was injured in an auto accident in Vero Beach, Fla. . . .

Cornerback Calvin Holmes and wide receiver Travis Hannah will participate in the scrimmage that closes spring practice for USC Friday, and then fly to Palo Alto to run on the Trojans’ mile relay team in an invitational Saturday. . . .

Tailback Ricky Ervins will be featured on the Trojans’ 1990 football posters and pocket schedules. . . .

The hiring of George Allen already is paying off for Cal State Long Beach, which expects to raise $100,000 for its football program with a “Long Beach Welcomes George Allen” dinner May 23 at the Spruce Goose. . . .

Is the extra revenue that Jerry Buss will reap from additional Forum senate seats worth all the ill will the move has created?