Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 1, 1990

If the Dodgers make a big run at the National League West championship, mark down July 8 as the date they began to turn it around. . . .

That was the day Kirk Gibson and Fred Claire had their shouting match in Tom Lasorda’s office. Gibson tosses bats and helmets regularly, but that was the day he got it all out. So did Claire. The air was cleared. And then Gibson started hitting and the Dodgers started winning. . . .

Gibson is more valuable to the Dodgers than any fifth starter he would have brought in a trade. . . .

One theory about the Reds’ slump is that they are an emotional bunch--from Manager Lou Piniella on down--that is subject to extreme highs and lows. . . .

Among those happiest about the George Steinbrenner decision is Yogi Berra, the Hall of Fame catcher and former Yankee manager who promised he would never return to Yankee Stadium as long as Steinbrenner was running the franchise. . . .

Among those saddest is legendary Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson, whose football team’s appearances in Yankee Stadium were underwritten by Steinbrenner, without fanfare. . . .

Instead of asking the Yankees for a $2-million contract, Deion (.158) Sanders should have been learning his trade in the minor leagues. . . .

Nobody in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Monday night came through their farm system. . . .

Stat of the week: Marty Noble of Newsday says it’s more unusual to hit for the cycle, as George Brett did recently, than to pitch a no-hitter in the major leagues. There have been 208 nine-inning no-hitters and only 204 single-double-triple-homer performances. . . .

Jim Palmer’s old sparring partner, Earl Weaver, plans to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for Palmer in Cooperstown Sunday. . . .

The St. Louis Cardinals might not break Roger Maris’ home run record this season. . . .

Remember when umpires hardly ever argued back? . . .

Goose Gossage, 38, is pitching in Japan for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. . . .

I would like the Cuban baseball team’s chances against the next two National League expansion teams. . . .

NBC broadcaster Pat Riley will be honored by the City of Hope at the first Winners’ Circle luncheon Aug. 23 at the Irvine Marriott Hotel. . . .

Look for Steve Beuerlein to sign with the Raiders next week after they return from London. . . .

The Goodwill Games are doing for Seattle what the Olympic Games did for Los Angeles in 1984--clearing the freeways of traffic. . . .

Never throw deep against the Pittsburgh Gladiators. . . .

Pat O’Hara, the first-string quarterback at USC before suffering a broken leg in preseason practice last year, says he is 100% and ready to begin workouts Aug. 10 with the rest of the Trojan veterans. . . .

Trojan media guide cover boys are Coach Larry Smith, quarterback Todd Marinovich, tailback Ricky Ervins, guard Mark Tucker, and linebacker Scott Ross. . . .

Sonny Vaccaro’s Hoops That Help charity, in conjunction with Comic Relief, will sponsor two nationally televised college basketball games next season: Nevada Las Vegas-Michigan State Dec. 16 at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich., on ABC, and Arizona-Georgia Tech Feb. 24 at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., on CBS. . . .

News item: The Soviet hockey team beats the United States, 10-1, at the Goodwill Games. Reaction: Another reason why the Americans’ victory in Lake Placid in 1980 always will be known as “The Miracle on Ice.” . . .

Long ago, people should have listened when John Wooden said the dunk was bad for basketball. Now, American amateur teams are getting beaten in international competition because they can’t shoot from more than five feet out. . . .

George Steinbrenner said, “I won’t be active in the day-to-day operations of the club at all”--in January of 1973, after buying the Yankees from CBS.