Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 26, 1990

The first reaction to the news that a fan of a visiting football team was beaten and sent to the hospital in critical condition was that it couldn’t happen here. . . .

New York, yeah. Detroit, sure. The old days in Oakland, maybe. But in laid-back Los Angeles? . . .

The sad fact of the matter is that the fight that left a 35-year-old Pittsburgh fan unconscious wasn’t the only one at the Coliseum Sunday afternoon. A couple of other times, more fans were watching the brawls in the stands than the game on the field between the Steelers and the Raiders. . . . And, really, it was nothing new. The Raiders’ all-pro defensive lineman, Howie Long, refuses to take his young sons to games because the crowds are too rowdy. As long ago as 1984, 47 people were ejected from a Raider-Denver Bronco game at the Coliseum for fighting. . . .

Strong action is overdue. Don’t make token security moves, put at least two cops at every tunnel. Limit beer sales even more--now they’re stopped after the third quarter--or do away with them completely. The cost of extra security and the revenue lost from the sale of alcoholic beverages would be offset by increased attendance. They can remodel the Coliseum all they want, but the Raiders aren’t going to sell out regularly until it becomes a safer place to be on Sunday afternoons. . . .

Security will be beefed up this week, but mostly because of the large crowd that is expected for a battle of unbeaten teams, the Raiders and the Chicago Bears. The Raiders sold more tickets two days ago than on any Monday since they arrived here from Oakland in 1982. . . .

A younger replacement for Michael Cooper than 30-year-old Terry Teagle from the Warriors would have been preferable, but the Lakers couldn’t expect to get one for the first-round draft choice they were offering. . . .

What’s the big deal about Jerry Glanville? The Atlanta Falcons were 1-2 last year at this time without him, and now they’re 1-2 with him. . . .

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue won some fans with this comment after being told by Frank Gifford that his interview Monday night on ABC was ending because of the shorter halftime: “We want more action and less talk.” . . . The Buffalo Bills’ Thurman Thomas, who rushed for 214 yards against the New York Jets, is another of those college stars who was underestimated by the scouts. He wasn’t drafted out of Oklahoma State until the second round in 1988, after ESPN showed him sitting at home, anxiously waiting for his name to be called. . . .

USC, working on a one-game scoreless streak, will try to score its first points in its last four games at Columbus, Ohio, Saturday. The Trojans were blanked by Ohio State there, 17-0, in 1964; 20-0 in 1960, and 20-0 in 1948. . . .

Notre Dame outscored Michigan and Michigan State, 27-0, in the fourth quarter. . . .

Been keeping up with the NHL exhibition scores? . . .

British promoter-manager Mickey Duff thinks he has the guy to beat Julio Cesar Chavez in European super-lightweight champion Pat Barrett. . . .

Add Houston socialite Jasephine Abercrombie to the long list of boxing promoters who have thrown in the towel after losing a bundle. . . .

Jose Santos’ agent has sent word to Marje Everett that the leading Eastern jockey will ride the Hollywood Park meeting that begins Nov. 7. . . .

Among those the Clippers haven’t signed for the 1990-91 season is a publicity director. . . .

The Clippers ought to admit they made a mistake when they drafted Joe Wolf with the 13th pick of the first round in 1987 and not match Denver’s offer sheet to him. . . .

I hope the Bay Area Sharks of the NHL are more successful than the old Los Angeles Sharks of the World Hockey Assn. . . .

Can Olympic Games fever last six more years in Atlanta? . . .

Sorry, A.J. Foyt, but a senior auto racing tour isn’t a very good idea. . . .

Whatever happened to Rusty Hilger? . . .

Now the Dodgers must consider trying to re-sign second baseman Juan Samuel, who has regained his hitting form and is eligible to become a free agent. . . .

Among the most unusual Dodger statistics this season: They’ve won six of seven extra-inning games on the road, where the advantage is supposed to belong to the home team.