Notes on a Scorecard - April 24, 1991

This is the damnedest hockey series, but how much more of it can we take? . . .

The Kings and Edmonton Oilers are showing absolutely no respect for newspaper deadlines, Prime Ticket television schedules or fans’ nerves. . . .

Just as a wild guess, I would say that tonight’s game will end 4-3 in overtime. . . .

The Kings didn’t have Wayne Gretzky after the first period Monday. They didn’t have Tomas Sandstrom, Bob Kudelski or Steve Kasper at all. What they did have were the biggest hearts in all of Canada. . . .

Thumbs up to TV analyst Jim Fox, one of Craig Muni’s biggest critics, for interviewing him between periods. Thumbs down on Fox for taking it easy on Muni by asking him only one question about the injuries he inflicted upon Sandstrom and Kudelski. . . .

Coach Tom Webster had to play our favorite speed skater, Brad Jones, in the overtime and he almost scored the winning goal. . . .

Kasper’s absence is killing the Kings on faceoffs. . . .

The problem of the movable goal posts gets only worse. Play has been stopped numerous times during this series--often during scoring opportunities--because of unhinged posts. The old, immovable posts were replaced when NHL officials decided they caused too many injuries. . . .

If the league really cared about the players’ safety, it would make all checks below the waist illegal. . . .

One reason King goaltender Kelly Hrudey has been able to perform well nearly every night is that he got plenty of rest during the regular season when Webster alternated him with Daniel Berthiaume. . . .

The Minnesota North Stars are discovering that if you stop Brett Hull, you stop the St. Louis Blues. . . .

There is a strong possibility that George Foreman will box Alex Garcia of San Fernando in August. . . .

New Jersey boxing commission doctors examined Foreman in the locker room after the fight Friday. “Does anyone here have an aspirin?” asked one of them. Nobody did. So an errand boy was sent into the Atlantic City night to buy some. . . .

Good news for track and field fans is the decision by the International Amateur Athletic Foundation to hold the World Championships every two years, instead of every four. This is one sport that isn’t suffering from over-saturation. . . .

When Harry Henson was an apprentice jockey in the early 1930s, his agent was Joe Hernandez. Both later became track announcers in Southern California. On opening day of the new Hollywood Park today, the feature will be the $75,000 Harry Henson Stakes. . . .

A sign of the new cooperation between the two local tracks was the impromptu press conference Hollywood Park president R.D. Hubbard held in the Santa Anita press box on closing day. . . .

The winner’s circle at Hollywood Park will be dedicated to Bill Shoemaker in ceremonies Sunday. Among those participating will be Shoe’s wife Cindy. . . .

The most overrated draft could be the Dallas Cowboys’. . . .

Andrew Glover, the tight end taken by the Raiders in the 10th round, was also a pretty fair center for the Grambling basketball team. . . .

Honesty award of the week goes to New England’s general manager, Sam Jankovich, who said he wanted to take San Diego State quarterback Dan McGwire with one of the Patriots’ first two first-round picks but deferred to his advisers. . . .

I’m not sure that a single star will emerge from this draft. . . .

Three of the last four starting free safeties at UCLA--Eric Turner, the late Don Rogers and Kenny Easley--were drafted in the first round. The other, James Washington, was drafted in the fifth. Most likely to succeed Turner at the position next season is sophomore Othello Henderson. . . .

Among the most impressive Bruins in spring practice have been sophomore offensive tackles Craig Novitsky and Vaughn Parker. . . .

Today’s Orange County matinee: Top-ranked USC vs. sixth-ranked UCLA at UC Irvine’s Bren Center at noon, the winner advancing to the NCAA men’s volleyball final four. . . .

The way they’re fielding, the Dodgers belong at the Comedy Store. . . .

What took the Philadelphia Phillies so long to fire Nick Levya? . . .

This looks like another good year for Yankee haters. . . .

Watching Cecil Fielder run is painful. . . .

Three of the top four hitters in the National League before Tuesday’s games were catcher Craig Biggio, catcher Mike Scioscia and former catcher Todd Zeile. . . .

Konrad Dobler of Germany finished 11th in the London marathon. I wonder if he threw any forearm shivers at his rivals.