Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 6, 1990

That new look is becoming to the Lakers. . . .

In their 14th game this season, they beat Detroit, 114-90, at the Forum. In their 14th game last season, they lost to Detroit, 108-97, in overtime at the Forum. . . .

“At the beginning, we were thinking basketball,” Magic Johnson said about life with Mike Dunleavy. “Now, we’re playing basketball.” . . .

Nothing against Orlando Woolridge, who recently was given a watch by General Manager Jerry West in appreciation of Woolridge’s play with the Lakers the last two seasons, but Sam Perkins does so many more things. . . .

Perkins challenges shooters, blocks shots, roams out beyond the three-point line and takes defenders with him a la the Pistons’ Bill Laimbeer, posts up, hits the jump shot and rebounds. . . .

“A key is that we’re the No. 1 rebounding team in the NBA,” Magic said. “People don’t realize that.” . . .

On Sundays, Magic watches Willie Gault catch passes for the Raiders at the Coliseum. On Tuesday, Gault watched Magic throw passes at the Forum. . . .

That was some job Byron Scott did on Joe Dumars, holding him scoreless in the first half and to only seven points for the game. . . .

Smallest margin of victory for the Lakers during their seven-game winning streak has been 10 points. . . .

Piston Coach Chuck Daly says the Lakers will win 60 games. . . .

Dick Enberg, who never has broadcast an NBA game, rehearsed the last two nights at the Forum and Sports Arena with Mike Fratello. Enberg’s first assignment for NBC will be on Feb. 3 when the Lakers play host to the Chicago Bulls. . . .

Enberg’s NFL sidekick, Bill Walsh, has received several tempting offers to return to coaching, but his wife has been adamant about remaining in Northern California. . . .

There is something distasteful about those HBO commercials for the Mike Tyson-Alex Stewart fight Saturday night, which conclude with: “Pray for Alex Stewart.” . . .

This will be Tyson’s last fight on his HBO contract. At the recent cable-TV convention in Anaheim, Don King tried to drum up future business for Tyson. . . .

Howie Long, the old Villanova slugger, is co-manager of Jimmy Ellis, who will appear on an all-heavyweight card Tuesday night at the Country Club in Reseda. . . .

Sugar Ray Leonard will be fighting a young, lively opponent for the first time in a while when he faces Terry Norris on Feb. 9 at Madison Square Garden. . . .

Unbeaten Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez, the World Boxing Council light-flyweight champion, will return to the Forum on Dec. 19 to defend his title against fifth-ranked contender Rolando Pascua. Michael Carbajal, the International Boxing Federation 108-pound champion, will defend his title Saturday against Leon Salazar on NBC. Maybe next year, it will be Gonzalez vs. Carbajal in what would be the biggest little fight in the world. . . .

John Walker, 38, wants to become the first 40-year-old to run a mile under four minutes. . . .

The Boston Red Sox replaced a 17-game winner with an 18-game loser. . . .

San Francisco made its Strawberry statement by signing left-hander Dave Righetti, who will help to combat all that Dodger left-handed power. . . .

It took Giant General Manager Al Rosen all of an hour to sign Willie McGee after he realized that he wasn’t going to re-sign Brett Butler. . . .

The Sacramento Kings would like to trade for a veteran guard. So, what was the matter with Danny Ainge? . . .

I’ve never heard people so split about the entertainment value of a football game as they are about the San Francisco-New York struggle. . . .

Two ABC programs got their highest ratings of the year Monday--the defensive (49ers-Giants) and the offensive (“Nightline” on Madonna). . . .

The coaching change at Tampa Bay could prolong Vinny Testaverde’s career with the Buccaneers. No favorite of Ray Perkins, there were reports that the former Heisman Trophy winner was headed to the New York Jets. . . .

During the Seton Hall-Clemson basketball telecast on ESPN the other night, Dick Vitale said he was talking too much. . . .

A Ball State graduate called to say that Notre Dame might be the fifth-best, not fourth-best, college basketball team in Indiana. . . .

Roman Gabriel is the general manager of Carolina in the World League of American Football. . . .

Remember when Army-Navy was a big deal? It’s pretty much of a secret, but they’re playing football again Saturday.