Notes on a Scorecard - April 11, 1991

What’s wrong with those promotional minds at Dodger Stadium? Here it is the 29th anniversary of the stadium and nothing is being given away Friday. No 29th-anniversary commemorative coins, no pins, no rings. I can’t believe it. . . .

The important thing, though, is that Dodger Stadium looks even better than it did on April 10, 1962, when the Dodgers lost to the Cincinnati Reds, 6-3. . . .

Shucks, it even has drinking fountains. . . .

The Dodgers do nothing better than maintain their home, which could pass a white-glove inspection by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf. . . .

Candlestick Park grew old fast. So did Shea Stadium. The domes never were any good. But Dodger Stadium probably still will be the best ballpark on earth in 2091. . . .

Ronald Reagan is going to throw out the first ball Friday. . . .

Roger Owens, who has been allowed back into the starting rotation, will throw out the first peanut. . . .

Scouts for the Atlanta Braves are being asked to clock the hang time of prospects’ pop-ups. The longer the hang time, supposedly the better the power potential. Honest. . . .

The first two picks in the June baseball draft could be Southern Californians--

outfielder Mike Kelly of Los Alamitos, who is playing for Arizona State, and third baseman Dmitri Young of Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard. . . .

I’d like to see Greg Norman win the Masters. . . .

USC’s “Swim With Mike” program begins its second decade Saturday at the campus swim stadium. More than $700,000 has been raised for USC’s physically challenged athletes scholarship fund. . . .

Among the 400 preregistered participants are Greg Louganis, Steve Lundquist, Mickey Mouse and Miss Universe. Don Winston, rotund USC senior associate athletic director, will attempt to swim 10 laps in the “Dive with Don” segment. And celebrating his 70th birthday will be Trojan swim Coach Peter Daland. . . .

Azusa Pacific University will induct 12 charter members into its sports hall of fame Saturday on campus. Heading the list is Dr. Cliff Hamlow, who is in his 34th year as athletic director. However, Christian Okoye, class of ‘87, will have to wait. Athletes aren’t eligible until 10 years after graduation. . . .

UCLA softball pitcher Lisa Fernandez has an 0.09 earned-run average. That puts her second in the nation behind teammate Heather Compton’s 0.00. Compton hasn’t allowed an earned run in 98 innings. Fernandez has allowed one in 89 innings. . . .

These are among the best of times for Chicago sports fans. The Blackhawks had the best regular-season record in the NHL, the Bulls are in contention for the best record in the NBA, and the Cubs and the White Sox are optimistic. . . .

Not a single participant in the recent McDonald’s All-American basketball game has committed to a Pacific 10 school. And Damon Stoudimire, the best prospect in Oregon, has rejected bids from Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona in favor of Louisville. . . .

Benoit Benjamin should have apologized to L.A. Sports Arena fans for his attitude the last six years, not just last Friday. . . .

In an ideal world, the New York Knicks would be able to put together a trade package for the draft rights to hometown hero Kenny Anderson. . . .

Unbeaten filly Withallprobability could be Wayne Lukas’ best Kentucky Derby hope. . . .

Brett Favre of Southern Mississippi probably will be the first quarterback taken in the NFL draft April 21. . . .

UCLA safety Eric Turner or USC tackle Pat Harlow should be the first L.A. player selected. . . .

For the first time in his career, George Foreman, while in Texas, closed his workouts to the public and the media. That will change when he arrives today in Atlantic City, N.J., for his April 19 fight against Evander Holyfield. . . .

Foreman was down to 238 pounds last week but wants to come in between 245 and 250. He’ll regain those extra pounds mostly with water, not cheeseburgers. . . .

Gabe Kaplan calls their failure to sign big-name Plan B free agents, “The Silence of the Rams.”