Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 15, 1990

Larry Smith wants to split up the USC-UCLA and USC-Notre Dame games every year instead of having to play the Bruins and Irish on consecutive Saturdays every other year. You can hardly blame him. I mean, what coach would ever want to play traditional rivals two weeks in a row? . . .

However, the records show the schedule makes little difference. It’s a tough go either way. In years when several weeks have separated the games, USC is 17-18-5 against UCLA and Notre Dame. In years such as this, when the games have been played in succession, USC is 30-31-5. . . .

The Trojans normally closed the season against Notre Dame, home or road, until 1961, when they convinced Irish officials that late November in frigid South Bend, Ind., was no time to be playing the nation’s greatest intersectional series. . . .

The atmosphere will be wonderful Saturday at the Rose Bowl, but I yearn for the good old days when both teams wore their home uniforms and allegiances were split 50-50 at the Coliseum. . . .

USC has been allocated 30,000 end zone seats at the Rose Bowl, and visiting UCLA gets the same kind of treatment at the Coliseum. . . .

Bonfire of the Bruins: For the first time in 20 years, a bonfire, complete with band and cheerleaders, will be held at Janss Steps on the Westwood campus tonight at 9. . . .

Terry Donahue, who was the underdog, called last year’s 10-10 tie a “win” the other day. Smith, who was the favorite, looked upon it as a loss. . . .

The only other Division I-A football rivalry still being waged in the same city is Houston-Rice. . . .

“The Ricky Bell Story,” a CBS television movie produced by Lindy DeKoven of the Landsburg Company, will be filmed soon and aired next spring.

Former Raider tackle Art Shell, guard Gene Upshaw, tight end Dave Casper and punter Ray Guy lead the balloting at their positions in the silver anniversary all-Super Bowl balloting. Eight former Pittsburgh Steelers also are front-runners. . . .

Now that Mike Ditka has been added, is there any coach left in the NFL who isn’t on Jerry Glanville’s hate list? . . .

Versatile Steve Young, who played running back for the Los Angeles Express in a United States Football League game in 1985, is being used by the San Francisco 49ers as a fourth wide receiver. . . .

It surprised me that the best Dennis Eckersley did in the American League Cy Young Award balloting was two third-place votes. . . .

Darryl Strawberry will be paid $4 million a year, but the Dodgers can make up for it by dropping the salaries of free agents Fernando Valenzuela, $2 million; Juan Samuel, $1.35 million, and Kirk Gibson, $1.33 million. . . .

In the clip that Keith Olbermann showed the other night on Channel 2, Buster Douglas looked as though he hasn’t put away the knife and fork since the Evander Holyfield fiasco. . . .

One day, I’d love to see trainer Bill Shoemaker give a leg up to 54-year-old jockey Lester Piggott. . . .

Kent Desormeaux proved that he’s here to stay when he recently bought a home in the San Gabriel Valley. . . .

When in Trinidad or Barbados, be advised that you can catch the Hollywood Park races live at local sporting establishments. . . .

College basketball preseason All-American team: Shaquille O’Neal of Louisiana State at center, Larry Johnson of Nevada Las Vegas and Billy Owens of Syracuse at forwards and Kenny Anderson of Georgia Tech and Steve Smith of Michigan State at guards. . . .

What about Georgetown’s Alonzo Mourning? I’m not so sure he’s the best big man on his team. That might be Dikembe Mutombo. . . .

Clearly, this season’s Runnin’ Reb-less NCAA tournament will decide which team is second-best in the nation.

Before panic sets in, be advised that the Lakers have 77 games remaining on their regular-season schedule. . . .

It made sense for Phoenix to play consecutive games against the Lakers and the Clippers in Los Angeles, but a more economy-minded league than the NBA would have had the New York Knicks do the same. . . .

What a shame that Roy Tarpley, trying to make a comeback from drug abuse, is out for the rest of the season after tearing up his knee. . . .

I can’t believe Larry Bird scored five points Tuesday night, but I can believe he had 45 Wednesday night. . . .

The Denver Nuggets, a team without a victory, have four players averaging more than 20 points a game. . . .

My interest in the rest of the NHL has lagged since the league dropped ESPN and awarded its national telecasts to some cable network I can’t get on my set. . . .

Who’s a bigger jerk, Mike Tyson or Charles Barkley?