Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 31, 1990

If the Rams are serious about rebuilding their defense, they should follow the guidelines set by the NFL team in the next county. . . .

The acquisition of free agents, Plan B or otherwise, and some shrewd drafting the past three years have returned the Raiders to their old station among the elite defensive units in the league. . . .

They wouldn’t be 6-1 without contributions from free agents Riki Ellison, Bob Golic, Tom Benson, Mike Charles, Elvis Patterson, Eddie Anderson and Mike Harden, or draft choices Scott Davis, Terry McDaniel, Aaron Wallace, Garry Lewis and Torin Dorn. . . .

For certain, the Rams will draft high in 1991. That’s the easy part. Getting Georgia Frontiere to dip into her purse for free agents will be more difficult. But maybe Frontiere will change her tightwad policies when she sees how many Anaheim Stadium customers don’t renew their season tickets. . . .

It was nice to hear ABC commentator Dan Dierdorf stick up for Ram defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur on the Monday night telecast. The problem in Anaheim is playing personnel, not coaching personnel. . . .

Among the rookie flops is former Alabama linebacker Keith McCants, who isn’t even starting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . .

If you’re Minnesota, do you forget about the rest of this season and trade a veteran or two--Anthony Carter, Joey Browner, Chris Doleman--to recoup some of those draft choices you lost in the Herschel Walker trade? . . .

That off-season retreat in New Mexico sure must have helped the Vikings. . . .

The Chicago Bears think Mark Carrier will be the next great defensive back in the NFL. . . .

Look-alikes: Chuck Noll and Douglas MacArthur. . . .

It’s no coincidence that teams drop a lot of passes against the intimidating Pittsburgh secondary. . . .

If the Rams had been competitive, the officials would have had to explain another bum call. The Steelers got away with being offsides on a field-goal attempt missed by Mike Lansford. . . .

Most consistent inconsistent team in the NFL is San Diego, which plays well every other Sunday. . . .

Ed (Too Tall) Jones, former Dallas Cowboy defensive end and boxer, is putting together a stable of fighters in Dallas under the banner of Too Tall Inc. Boxing Team. . . .

NFL coaching possibilities next season include the University of Miami’s Dennis Erickson, Louisville’s Howard Schnellenberger, Notre Dame’s Lou Holtz, Illinois’ John Mackovic and NBC’s Bill Walsh. . . .

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers are still among the best-dressed teams in football. . . .

Giles Pellerin, 83, will watch his 699th consecutive USC game Saturday when the Trojans play California at the Coliseum. The streak began in 1926 when Pellerin saw USC edge Whittier College, 74-0. . . .

I wonder how Lou Holtz is going to build up Navy, which was sunk by James Madison last week. . . .

News item: TeamTennis signs Martina Navratilova and Jimmy Connors. Reaction: TeamTennis is an exciting concept that needs only to sign some more big names to succeed. . . .

Only NBA first-round draft choice still unsigned is Terry Mills from Michigan, who was drafted by Milwaukee, traded to Denver, signed by a team in Greece, and now is back in the United States after becoming homesick. . . .

Philadelphia made a good deal with Phoenix for Jayson Williams. The 76ers aren’t going to miss that 1993 draft pick for quite a while. . . .

When Paul Banke defends his World Boxing Council super bantamweight championship against No. 1-ranked contender Pedro Decima Monday, it will be the 14th title fight at the Forum in 21 months. Next up is WBC light flyweight champion Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez against Orlando Pascua in December. . . .

Jose Santos, who rode 2-year-old winners Meadow Star and Fly So Free in the Breeders’ Cup, will begin his Southern California campaign next Wednesday at Hollywood Park. . . .

“Jose could win the money-winning title if he stayed in New York and rode day and night,” agent Frank Sanabria said, “but we made a promise to Marje Everett and we’re going to keep it.”. . . .

One reason Flying Continental was no factor in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was that, running without Lasix in a state where the drug is illegal, he bled. . . .

Some sweet scientists believe Bruce Seldon, who fights washed-up David Bey on ESPN tonight, is the best of the young heavyweight prospects. . . .

Good news for local college basketball fans: Loyola Marymount will play host to a four-team holiday tournament in December of 1991. Announcement of the teams is expected soon. . . .

I was actually starting to like Marge Schott until she mistreated Eric Davis.