Notes on a Scorecard - March 4, 1991

This may have been the Lakers’ most damaging defeat to Houston since 1986 when Ralph Sampson threw in a crazy shot at the buzzer to eliminate them from the Western Conference championship series. . . .

If the Lakers don’t 10-peat in the Pacific Division, they will rue the Sunday afternoon they were upset by the Rockets at the Forum after Portland beat the Celtics at Boston Garden. . . .

Neither the Lakers nor the crowd ever really got into the game. Maybe it was the 12:30 p.m. start. Even Jack Nicholson arrived late. And a story in the Forum program was headlined, “Tonight’s Game.”. . . .

All five NBA matinees were won by visiting teams. . . .

“We got the one we wanted!” yelled Rocket bench-warmer Adrian Caldwell on his way into the dressing room. The Rockets lost their other game in Los Angeles to the Clippers Thursday, proving that Don Chaney still can’t win at the Sports Arena. . . .

Houston has no regrets about the September trade that sent Tim McCormick and John Lucas to Atlanta for Roy Marble and Kenny Smith, the point guard who scored 34 points Sunday. . . .

When you schedule four games between two National Hockey League teams in nine days, you get what you ask for--52 penalties for 244 minutes in the King-Winnipeg finale Saturday night at the Forum. . . .

Neither of these teams will ever be confused with the old Broad Street Bullies from Philadelphia. They simply got tired of looking at each other. . . .

There was a wonderful picture on Prime Ticket of the puck sitting on the ice, lonesome and neglected, during a fight. Bob Miller’s caption: “Nobody wants the puck.”. . . .

The Kings not only are, excuse the expression, fighting for the Smythe Division championship, they are in contention for the best record in the league and the home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs that goes along with it. . . .

Rob Blake is quickly developing into one of the best defensive players in the NHL. . . .

Bruce McNall ought to hire Don Klosterman, who played in the Canadian Football League, as general manager of the Toronto Argonauts. . . .

That pay-for-view idea for some regular-season NFL games sure is going over big. . . .

Of all the celebrities who have sat in Jerry Buss’ box at Laker games, which has caused the biggest stir? Hulk Hogan. . . .

I’ve given up trying to figure out what UCLA or USC is going to do on a given day or night. . . .

College coaches should teach their players how to defend the three-point shot as well as how to shoot it. . . .

If there is a facet of Nevada Las Vegas’ game that is overlooked, it’s the Rebels’ remarkable passing. . . .

Gary Williams probably did his best coaching job this season, guiding Maryland to a 16-12 record, including victories over six teams that are expected to make the NCAA tournament. . . .

A disappointment on the tube Saturday night was 7-6 BYU freshman Shawn Bradley, who scored only six points against Utah and was benched for the overtime. . . .

My All-American team: Shaquille O’Neal of LSU at center, Larry Johnson of Nevada Las Vegas and Stacey Augmon of Nevada Las Vegas at forwards, Eric Murdock of Providence and Jim Jackson of Ohio State at guards. . . .

Some of the finest athletes in the Los Angeles Marathon were those who competed in wheelchairs. . . .

Tyrell Biggs stayed with Riddick Bowe a lot longer than I thought he would. . . .

Upsets (Cont.): Alberto Alcarez nearly wasn’t approved by the State Athletic Commission as an opponent for Ernie Chavez and the fight was reduced from a scheduled 12 rounds to 10. So what happened last week at the Irvine Marriott? Alcarez knocked out Chavez in 24 seconds. . . .

Volleyball is an underrated spectator sport. . . .

I don’t know which was the more encouraging sign of things to come for the Dodgers--Brett Butler’s 15-foot bunt during his first batting practice at Vero Beach or Darryl Strawberry’s 500-foot blast. . . .

Mike and Ginger McGee received the best phone message of their lives last week. It was from their son Mike, an Air Force pilot. “I’ve just flown my last mission here,” Mike Jr. said from the Middle East. “My wife played that message over and over and over,” said Mike Sr., the USC athletic director.