Notes on a Scorecard - April 19, 1990

Sorry, Al Davis, but your charm has worn off. . . .

The nerve of the man to expect the city of Oakland--recovering from an earthquake, beset by unemployment, unable to educate its children properly--to pay a ransom to get his football team back. . . .

This is about ego. Al really isn’t money-crazy. He lives well below his means. But now he may be trying to score victories off the field to compensate for the lack of them on the field. . . .

For the first time, it felt like baseball season Tuesday night. The Dodgers and Giants were tied, 5-5, on Channel 11. The Angels and Athletics were tied, 5-5, on Channel 5. The remote control got a workout. . . .

Vin Scully is in midseason form, but Reggie Jackson talks too much and doesn’t let Joe Torre say enough. . . .

This should always be remembered as the season when Mike Scioscia once was tied for the home run lead in the National League. . . .

Of course, catchers often start fast before the workload behind the plate slows them down. Among those who have been listed in the Top Ten batters are San Francisco’s Terry Kennedy, San Diego’s Benito Santiago and the Chicago White Sox’ Carlton Fisk. . . .

Success at the bargaining table hasn’t spoiled Don Mattingly or Will Clark. . . .

Rickey Henderson is the filet mignon of hotdogs. . . .

Glad I missed all 13 innings Tuesday of the Cub-Met game, which took 4 hours 38 minutes and included 22 walks and six errors. . . .

Center fielder Keith Miller should have played for the 1962 Mets. . . .

If his own general manager hadn’t been given the name first, Magic Johnson would be known as Mr. Clutch. . . .

The NBA most valuable player award may go to Charles Barkley, but you could give it to Magic every year and not be embarrassed. . . .

Although the regular season ends Sunday, no NBA playoff series will begin before Thursday. . . .

Reports continue to circulate that this will be Chuck Daly’s last season as Detroit Piston coach even if he completes the Daly Double. He will turn 60 in July and may prefer to leave the bench for the broadcasting booth (NBC) or general manager’s office (New Jersey Nets). . . .

Thoroughbred handicapper Gordon Jones was honored at a surprise birthday party the other night and then provided his own surprise--

Champagneforashley to win the Kentucky Derby. . . .

Bill Shoemaker, the new trainer, will have a stable of 21 horses at Hollywood Park. His silks will be devil’s red and blue, and on the back will be a diamond with the initials “BS.” So much for those who claim that he prefers to be called Willie. . . .

Look for Kent Desormeaux to move into the top five of the local jockey standings once he gets better mounts during the Hollywood Park meeting. His aggressive style fits this circuit perfectly. . . .

For the record: Referee Denis Morel worked only Game 6 of the King-Calgary series, not the entire series. . . .

All the Boston Bruins needed to eliminate Hartford was the reappearance of Ray Bourque. . . .

Teams sharing an arena--such as the Lakers and the Kings--never have won NBA and NHL championships in the same year. . . .

Former UCLA basketball star Jamaal Wilkes and ex-Bruin football star John Sciarra are among 25 finalists for the GTE Academic Hall of Fame. Four will be inducted on May 15. . . .

USC could have as many as 10 players drafted by the NFL. Linebacker Junior Seau and safety Mark Carrier will go high, and there has been considerable interest in offensive tackle Bill Schultz and defensive lineman Dan Owens. . . .

Women will throw the hammer in an exhibition at the USA/Mobil National Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College in June. . . .

According to a poll of college basketball coaches conducted by the Denver Post, Chicago is the best recruiting area in the nation. . . .

The Nevada State Athletic Commission didn’t do itself proud by allowing George Foreman to fight Mike Jameson Tuesday night. Jameson is a never-was who hadn’t fought since losing six in a row three years ago and took the match on a week’s notice. Foreman, a 38-1 favorite in Lake Tahoe, collected $200,000 for disposing of Jameson in the fourth round. . . .

A year ago, a 27-year-old beer truck driver named Ernie Chavez told Jackie McCoy, who has managed five world boxing champions, that he wanted to turn pro after a lengthy amateur career. McCoy liked what he saw in the gym, signed him, and Chavez will be favored to win his 10th consecutive fight Monday night against welterweight Juan Alonzo Villa at the Irvine Marriott. . . .

Kevin Mitchell should consult Tom Lasorda about dieting.