Notes on a Scorecard - April 10, 1990

Maybe the managers, like the San Diego Padres’ Jack McKeon--not the hitters or the pitchers--missed spring training the most. . . .

After watching Juan Samuel play center field on opening day, I still think the Dodgers need a center fielder. . . .

Tom Lasorda to leadoff hitter Samuel: “I want you to be our Magic Johnson on offense. You don’t have to drive in the runs, but you can set up everybody else with all the other things you do.”. . .

Fred Claire is one of the few former sportswriters in the nation who picked the Dodgers to win the National League pennant. . . .

Dodger Stadium, more beautiful than the day its doors were opened in 1962, could pass a white-glove inspection. . . .

It isn’t often that Bo Schembechler loses an opening game. . . .

And Dwight Gooden is below .500 for the first time ever. . . . The Kings’ 2-1 overtime victory over Calgary Sunday at the Forum was playoff hockey the way it is supposed to be played and rarely is these days. . . .

Before the game, defenseman Petr Prajsler received the biggest ovation of his King career. He was announced as the last scratch. That meant Wayne Gretzky would play. . . .

Tomas Sandstrom on Gretzky: “When you get the best player in the world back, it’s going to help your team.”. . .

Sandstrom and the other forward who came here from the New York Rangers in the Bernie Nicholls trade, Tony Granato, were the two most effective players on the ice. . . .

Leave it to old pro Larry Robinson, who lost his confidence during the regular season, to come alive in the playoffs. . . .

Dressing room visitor John Candy said he nearly broke the plexiglass in his excitement after Granato’s game-winning goal. And what movie is Candy now shooting? “Delirious.”. . .

Nothing in sports is more nerve-wracking to the spectators than sudden--oh, so sudden--death overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs. . . .

King General Manager Rogie Vachon particularly appreciated the goaltending of Kelly Hrudey. Rogie delivered one of Los Angeles’ only two shutouts in playoff history. He beat Atlanta, 1-0, exactly 14 years ago Sunday. In 1968, Terry Sawchuk blanked Minnesota, 2-0. . . .

You wouldn’t be exaggerating if you called Game 4 of the King-Calgary series tonight pivotal. . . .

Look-alikes: Craig Stadler and actor Ned Beatty. . . .

If the low amateur at the Masters, 300-pound Chris Patton, ever becomes the low pro, the green jacket will have to be custom made. . . .

Laz Barrera has done a great job with Mister Frisky, but he’s got to fix the spelling on that blanket that said “Mister Friskey” at the Santa Anita Derby. . . .

The heavyweight division is more lively than it has been in years, now that Razor Ruddock has joined the list of legitimate contenders. Ruddock, who has quick hands and a well-chiseled body, was impressive in knocking out Michael Dokes at Madison Square Garden last week. . . . Rich Marotta will call the Michael Nunn-Marlon Starling International Boxing Federation middleweight title fight on KNX radio Saturday night at 7. . . .

Ross Porter is the only broadcaster ever to work games of an NCAA basketball champion, Nevada Las Vegas in 1990, and World Series winner, the Dodgers in 1988. . . .

Too bad Iceland isn’t in the World Cup. . . .

Mark Carrier, the USC undergraduate who has opted for the NFL draft, ran the 40 in a swift 4.5 twice in front of scouts from 17 pro teams. . . .

Among the reasons Paul Westhead most likely will stay at Loyola Marymount and turn down some tempting offers is that his contract with a shoe company reportedly has been doubled. . . .

Ed O’Bannon, the 6-foot-8 forward from Artesia High, was voted most valuable player of the Dapper Dan Classic in Pittsburgh. His U.S. West team lost to the East, 101-93, but he scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in 24 minutes. . . .

Dapper Dan promoter Sonny Vaccaro on O’Bannon: “He also had three good days of practice and solidified his position as the No. 1 prep player in the nation.”. . .

How long will it take for Jennifer Capriati to learn that professional tennis players aren’t supposed to call their opponents’ shots good?