Notes on a Scorecard - June 28, 1990

Mike Schuler already is the most popular coach in the history of the Los Angeles Clippers. . . .

His announcement that Bo Kimble would be the Clippers’ No. 1 choice was met with thunderous approval at the team’s annual draft party Wednesday at the Sports Arena. . . .

This wasn’t only a crowd-pleasing choice, it was a logical one for a franchise in need of a shooting and running guard. . . .

The Clippers went conservative with their second first-round pick by taking solid citizen forward Loy Vaught rather than gambling on centers Dwayne Schintzius or Duane Causwell...

The book on Laker No. 1 Elden Campbell: NBA talent, questionable intensity. . . .

Early rookie of the year pick: Gary Payton of Seattle. . . .

If Schintzius proves he can play center in the NBA, the San Antonio Robinsons can always trade him for draft choices. . . .

How soon will Jose Canseco ask to renegotiate his contract? . . .

Wayne Gretzky says his injured back feels fine some days and not-so-fine other days. He has been doing a lot of traveling, but soon will begin rehabilitation under the guidance of a therapist. Wife Janet Jones is expecting their second child in the next couple of weeks. . . . As the Dodgers and Angels are discovering, never underestimate the importance of middle relief pitching. . . .

The Yankees should give Tim Leary one more chance to pitch for a contender. . . .

All that ink hasn’t done Lenny Dykstra too much good in the National League All-Star voting, where he is running fourth among the outfielders. . . .

Dennis Eckersley takes even less time between pitches than Steffi Graf does between serves. . . .

The Juan Samuel for Mike Marshall and Alejandro Pena trade between the Dodgers and Mets is helping neither team. . . .

It doesn’t look as if Dave Stewart is going to win the Cy Young Award this year, either. . . .

I proudly welcome Atlanta Brave broadcaster Don Sutton into the Ban the Wave Club. . . .

Devon White is following in Gary Pettis’ footsteps. . . .

The Maddux brothers, Greg and Mike, would like to forget the 1990 season. . . .

Maury Wills and Phil Rizzuto can’t get voted in, but any time a player puts together a couple of good seasons he’s called a “future Hall of Famer” by his team’s announcer. . . .

George Allen’s Washington Redskin old-timers lost to Tom Landry’s Dallas Cowboy old-timers, 42-22, in a flag football game Saturday at RFK Stadium. Too much Roger Staubach in the second half. It doesn’t get any easier for Allen, whose next coaching assignment is Cal State Long Beach at Clemson Sept. 1. . . .

Among those cheering hardest for the Raiders to stay in town is USC. Without an NFL franchise, chances of Coliseum improvements would be slim. . . .

The USC football season, which opens Aug. 31 in the Kickoff Classic at East Rutherford, N.J., against Syracuse, could reach six months if the Trojans reach a New Year’s Day bowl game. . . .

Manager Mike Jones, who died Tuesday, was partially responsible for Gerry Cooney being the fighter who made the most money for doing the least. . . .

Even if Aaron Pryor had two good eyes, he would be washed up. . . .

Promoting the Mike Tyson-Alex Stewart, George Foreman-Francesco Damiani or Michael Dokes doubleheader in Atlantic City, N.J., won’t solve Donald Trump’s financial troubles. . . .

Are there going to be enough NBA and/or NHL franchises to occupy those two huge arenas planned for Anaheim and Santa Ana? . . .

The fewer callers and the more guests, the better the radio sports talk show. . . .

Appropriately enough, Fernando Toro’s last ride Friday night at Hollywood Park will be on turf. The 49-year-old native of Chile will ride Exclusive Partner in the $75,000 Fiesta Handicap. The hottest bet in horse racing once upon a time was Toro on turf. In 1976 alone, he won 40 races on the Hollywood Park lawn. . . .

Irina Rodnina, a three-time figure skating gold medalist from the Soviet Union, has agreed to coach Olympic prospects at the Ice Castle International Training Center in Lake Arrowhead. Ice Castle? Would love to have been there this week. . .

How are we going to survive this three-day break in the World Cup?. . . .

If you want to start an argument, try picking an all-time NBA team. Here’s mine: Wilt Chamberlain at center, Larry Bird and Elgin Baylor at forwards, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan at guards. . . .

News item: New York Rangers acquire goaltender Sam St. Laurent from Detroit Red Wings for $1. Reaction: What a steal. He’s worth at least twice that much.