Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 6, 1991

According to a reliable source named John Robinson, the Rams are about to join the 20th Century by entering the Plan B free-agent market in a meaningful way. . . .

“We’re going to be very aggressive,” Robinson said. “We would like to sign five, six or seven players with the emphasis on defense.” . . .

When Georgia Frontiere announced that Robinson would be back as coach, she promised that he would have “greater input in the selection and signing of Plan B free agents.” . . .

The signing of Ronnie Lott, who played for Robinson at USC, would have tremendous impact. . . .

Before last season, the Rams signed three Plan B free agents--running back Curt Warner, offensive guard Joe Milinichik and punter Hank Ilesic. Only Milinichik stayed with the team the entire season. . . .

Three undergraduates who figure to be drafted in the NFL’s first round are Notre Dame flanker Rocket Ismail, North Carolina State safety Jesse Campbell and Virginia wide receiver Herman Moore. . . .

It took Tampa Bay owner Hugh Culverhouse six weeks to come up with Richard Williamson as Ray Perkins’ successor. That’s why the franchise is in such good shape. . . .

After Ronnie Coleman broke the USC career scoring record Monday night at the Sports Arena, he gave the ball to his sister, Sandy. It was a good choice. Sandy works nearly as hard as Ronnie during Trojan games at the Sports Arena, yelling herself hoarse and keeping up with the action by running from one end to the other. . . .

Big Ten officials will work Nevada Las Vegas’ game at Arkansas. . . .

That’s some morning-afternoon double-header on the tube Sunday: UNLV-Arkansas at 9 a.m. on CBS and UCLA-Arizona at 1 p.m. on ABC. . . .

Pete Newell says, “I’ve never seen a team that denies you the ball quite like Vegas. They simply don’t let you run your offense.” . . .

Sonny Vaccaro’s projected Final Four: UNLV, Indiana, North Carolina, Arizona. . . .

“Outside the state of Nevada, parity has come to college basketball,” Vaccaro says. . . .

Every time I listen to Georgetown Coach John Thompson, who is not exactly a media darling, he makes sense. . . .

Thomas Hearns will donate $50,000 from his bout against Kemper Morton Monday at the Forum to the USO. In late October, Hearns visited the troops in Saudi Arabia and was named an honorary general by Gen. H. Norman Schwarz-kopf. . . .

“You could take my five titles and every fight in my career, combine them all and they wouldn’t mean as much to me as that trip visiting the troops,” Hearns said. “I would go back tomorrow if they wanted me to.” . . .

I can’t remember a Sugar Ray Leonard fight that has attracted less interest than the one against Terry Norris Saturday at Madison Square Garden. . . .

The less you hear about Mike Tyson, the harder he must be training for Razor Ruddock March 18 at the Mirage in Las Vegas. . . .

Senior golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez and Forrest Blue, a former San Francisco 49er offensive lineman, are co-managers of Richard Duran, a 22-year-old super bantamweight from Sacramento who is 15-0. . . .

From Ivan Lendl, during the Australian Open tennis tournament: “I just read the sports sections to see if I can find some hockey results. Usually, I can’t, so I give the newspapers to my daughter so she can tear them up instead of me.” . . .

The most underrated jockey at Santa Anita is Julio Garcia. . . .

The recent huge Pick 6 carryover did wonders for that exotic bet at Santa Anita, where the pools have been larger than usual ever since. . . .

Jerry Buss continues to pursue an NHL franchise for San Diego. . . .

Five NHL defensemen are leading their teams in scoring. . . .

John MacLeod sure has turned around the New York Knicks. . . .

NBA scouts like Bobby Phills, a 6-foot-4 guard who is averaging more than 30 points a game for Southern University. . . .

Bernard King has given hope to those who have suffered serious knee injuries. . . .

The San Francisco Giants are asking Kevin Mitchell and Will Clark, both coming off surgery, to report to spring training on Feb. 22 with the pitchers and catchers. . . .

When a team like the Cleveland Indians moves the outfield fences back at Municipal Stadium, you know it doesn’t have much power. . . .

The Chicago Cubs can send up back-to-back-to-back former most valuable players next season--Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson and George Bell. . . .

Deion Sanders making more money from the Atlanta Braves than Dave Justice is an injustice. . . .

Who do those Hall of Fame people think they’re fooling when they say the decision to exclude players on baseball’s permanently ineligible list from the ballot wasn’t aimed at Pete Rose? . . .

Promoter Bob Arum, on the pullout of advertisers from network boxing shows: “I can’t blame them. What other sport is as sleazy as boxing?”