Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 9, 1991

Is this the 1983 season all over again for the Raiders? So far, so good. . . .

Both the ’83 and ’90 teams went 12-4 in the regular season. Both won their first four games. Both won six of their last seven games. Both were 6-2 at home and 6-2 on the road. Both won the AFC West championship. . . .

What remains to be seen is whether the ’90 team can emulate the ’83 team by winning two playoff games and the Super Bowl. . . .

When tickets went on sale Monday morning for the Cincinnati game Sunday, lines stretched all the way to the street in front of the Raiders’ offices in El Segundo. However, 30,000 seats remain unsold and there is virtually no chance of the TV blackout being lifted Thursday. . . .

Ex-Fremont High School star David Fulcher, on why Cincinnati didn’t come west early to practice in warmer weather in his hometown this week: “This is the Bengals, and things like that don’t happen.” . . .

Former Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan panicked in Philadelphia Saturday when he lifted Randall Cunningham. But that one series in the third quarter isn’t why the Eagles lost. Washington’s Joe Gibbs outcoached Ryan in all phases of the game. . . .

If Tampa Bay can’t sign Bill Walsh, the Buccaneers might opt for Raider quarterback coach Mike White. . . .

Raider Hall of Famer Willie Brown, who did an outstanding job coaching the Cal State Long Beach secondary this season, rates strong consideration as the successor to George Allen. . . .

Among pressing issues at the NCAA convention is legislation that would standardize the stationery of all athletic departments. Only one color other than black would be allowed and nothing would be permitted on the letterhead except the name, address and phone number of the school. Honest. . . .

Early opinion on the Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock fight seems split. Some think Ruddock will fall early; others believe it will be life and death for the former heavyweight champion. So much depends on whether Ruddock will enter the ring confident or intimidated. . . .

Thank ABC for small blessings. The network has signed Riddick Bowe for his next two fights, meaning he’s one heavyweight we won’t have to pay to see. . . .

George Foreman will tune up for Evander Holyfield by arm wrestling Ryan O’Neal on an episode of the very funny CBS series, “Good Sports.” . . .

Others who will appear on the show starring O’Neal and Farrah Fawcett as co-hosts on sports cable network ASCN include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lyle Alzado in the opener Thursday night, then Doug Williams, Jim Brown and George Steinbrenner. But don’t be surprised if Steinbrenner gets fired. . . .

Best news of the new year for Dan Goossen is that Gabriel Ruelas has been given the OK to return to the gym Friday for noncontact workouts and could be back in the ring by April, after two operations on his left elbow. Ruelas’ brother, Rafael, will box at the Forum Monday and, if all goes well, on a later CBS card. . . .

The New York Knicks are making inconsistent Charles Oakley available. . . .

Nevada Las Vegas is a great college basketball team, but don’t try telling me that the Rebels are better than some NBA teams. . . .

One of his earrings must have cost Andre Agassi more than that $25,000 fine. . . .

He had a terrific year with Philadelphia, but Jerome Brown and fellow former Miami Hurricane Cortez Kennedy of Seattle will see a nutritionist in Orlando, Fla., in an attempt to lose weight. . . .

Art Rense, who covered the Rams’ NFL championship team in 1951 for the old L.A. Daily News and published several pro football magazines, died recently at 74. . . .

Promoter Al Franken has received media requests from 12 foreign correspondents for the Jan. 18 meet at the Sports Arena. Might have something to do with Ben Johnson. . . .

UCLA softball pitcher Lisa Longaker and gymnast Jill Andrews are finalists for the Honda Award, which will be presented tonight at the NCAA convention to the outstanding female collegiate athlete of 1990. . . .

Cincinnati is counting on rookie Chris Hammond to replace Danny Jackson as a left-handed starter. . . .

Leave it to an aggressive organization like the Oakland Athletics to do something--sign Vance Law out of Japan--only days after Carney Lansford’s snowmobile accident. . . . I felt older when I read that Mark Howe, son of Gordie, is 35. . . .

Pete Rose was such a model prisoner at Marion, Ill., that they’re thinking about retiring his number.