Notes on a Scorecard - June 7, 1990

Quick, somebody put a 24-second clock on Pat Riley and force him to make a decision. . . .

Maybe Riley should go into politics. He once again delivered some deft double-talk when asked about his future as Laker coach by CBS’ Pat O’Brien at halftime of the Detroit-Portland game Tuesday night. About the only thing he tried to make perfectly clear was that the decision was his and not Jerry Buss’ or Jerry West’s. . . .

One question is whether Riley can afford to give up coaching. He has two years left on his Laker contract, which pays him $650,000 a year. He reportedly earns another $1.5 million a year in endorsements and speaking appearances. No way he makes that much if he moves into the NBC broadcasting booth. . . .

In Game 1 of the finals, Isiah Thomas gave us a timely reminder of what a remarkable one-on-one performer he still can be. He has fit into the Pistons’ team concept nicely. But when everything else fails, Chuck Daly need only go to Isiah. He does things that not even Joe Dumars can. . . .

Understatement of the night from CBS announcer Dick Stockton after the Trail Blazers had blown a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and had been outscored, 19-4: “It looks like they’re starting to unravel ever so slightly.” . . .

More critical of his old team was guest analyst Bill Walton, who also had suggested that Detroit start going to Isiah. . . .

Walton’s candid comments didn’t surprise those who remembered his work on UCLA games for Channel 5. . . .

Another former UCLA center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, showed promise in his Channel 2 debut on the postgame show. The questions he asked players and coaches were good. Kareem still has to learn to relax. Of course, he doesn’t have any playoff experience--as a commentator. . . .

Abdul-Jabbar will do double duty Sunday--the postgame show and then over to UCLA to receive the Edward A. Dickson Award as alumnus of the year. . . .

Look-alikes: Pat Riley and Portland assistant coach Jack Schalow. . . .

What took George Steinbrenner so long?. . . Boxer Paul Gonzales, who split with Al Stankie, is now managing himself. But he will have former bantamweight champion Albert Davila in his corner Sunday when he challenges Orlando Canizales, the International Boxing Federation 118-pound champion, in El Paso. . . .

Boston Red Sox Manager Joe Morgan got what he deserved--a three-game suspension--for gloating about Roger Clemens’ retaliation pitch that hit Cleveland’s Stanley Jefferson. . . .

You haven’t heard much about him because the Cubs are lousy and Andre Dawson is doing so well, but Ryne Sandberg is having another terrific year. . . .

Cal Ripken should pass Everett Scott for second place on the major leagues’ consecutive games list by the end of the week, but won’t be eligible to break Lou Gehrig’s record until June of 1995. And that’s barring any strikes. . . .

Funny thing about the Triple Crown distances is that most horses will never run two of them again--the 1 3/16 miles of the Preakness or the 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont Stakes. . . .

One of Hollywood Park’s four Friday night cards will feature the last ride of 48-year-old Fernando Toro. . . .

A British Columbia-Saskatchewan game in the Canadian Football League this year could be a rematch of the Fiesta Bowl quarterbacks from two seasons ago--Major Harris of the Lions against Tony Rice of the Roughriders. . . .

Happy to see that Ed (Too Tall) Jones is becoming a fight manager instead of a fighter this time. . . .

It was no surprise that USC infielder-outfielder Damon Buford was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. Dad Don is a roving hitting instructor for the Orioles and brother Don Jr. is an infielder in their minor league chain. . . .

Mike Schuler began work as Clipper coach Wednesday night when he and General Manager Elgin Baylor scouted the opening session of the NBA predraft camp in Chicago. . . .

Although he has attended the Phoenix Cardinals’ mini-camp and says football is his first choice, USC wide receiver-outfielder John Jackson was picked in the sixth round by the Giants in baseball’s amateur draft. He was taken in the 46th round by the Angels last year. . . .

The best the NBA finalists could do on the all-league team were third-team guards--Joe Dumars of Detroit and Clyde Drexler of Portland. . . .

WTBS announcer Pete Van Wieren, as he watched 260-pound Charley Kerfeld and 170-pound Joe Hesketh warm up in the Atlanta Braves’ bullpen at Dodger Stadium: “It looks like the before and after in a weight-loss advertisement.”