Notes on a Scorecard - May 23, 1991

Quick, somebody, hypnotize Vlade Divac into believing that he is still playing against Hakeem Olajuwon. . . .

The Laker center got 31 rebounds in the three playoff games against Houston. He has 28 in the seven games since. . . .

Not that Divac should take all the blame. James Worthy is another guilty party. Only Sam Perkins and Magic Johnson are hitting the boards against Portland. . . .

Maybe A.C. Green should be given more playing time. . . .

Portland must have learned something from Detroit in the NBA finals last season. The Trail Blazers now hold with the best of them. They practically strangled Byron Scott in the fourth quarter Tuesday, and the officials let them get away with it. . . .

If headband-wearer Cliff Robinson shaved his head, he would resemble a tall Slick Watts. . . .

Angel pitching coach Marcel Lachemann’s unwavering confidence in Jim Abbott has been rewarded. . . .

Darryl Strawberry always did say that his home runs would come in bunches. . . .

The season also started for Barry Bonds Tuesday. . . .

However, the Philadelphia Phillies are still waiting for Von Hayes to emerge from his snooze. . . .

Those check-swing appeal plays that are ruled in favor of the pitcher never seem right until the replay is shown. . . .

Faded phrase: He’s wearing the tools of ignorance. . . .

Mark Whiten, the Toronto Blue Jay outfielder who slugged Chicago White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell, usually puts his right arm to more constructive use. It might be the strongest in the American League. . . .

CBS schedules Cleveland vs. Milwaukee for one of its Saturday baseball telecasts this week and then wonders why nobody watches. . . .

Most embarrassing TV shot of the season was the one showing Texas Ranger Manager Bobby Valentine, normally Mr. Enthusiasm, dozing in the dugout. . . .

San Francisco is bullish on John Jackson, the former Trojan outfielder. The Giants would love to have him forget about his pro football career and concentrate on baseball. . . .

Heading the local chapter of the Pittsburgh Penguins fan club are actor Michael Keaton and “Fabulous Baker Boys” writer-director Steve Kloves. . . .

Look-alikes: Sid Bream and Corey Pavin. . . .

If everything goes well, the field for the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 29 could include Farma Way, Prized, Summer Squall, Unbridled, Jolie’s Halo and Itsallgreektome. . . .

The trouble with the Belmont Stakes is that interest is diminished when the possibility of a Triple Crown winner vanishes. . . .

The Pick Six at Hollywood Park was switched from Races 3 through 8 to 2 through 7 in an attempt to create more carryovers. The second race is usually less formful than the featured eighth. . . .

Roger Stein is a hot trainer. . . .

UCLA women will contend for two national titles this weekend--the third-ranked golf team at Columbus, Ohio, and the top-ranked softball team at Oklahoma City. . . .

USC raised its record number of NCAA championships to 66 with a victory in the men’s tennis tournament at Athens, Ga. There was a lot of celebrating at Heritage Hall because popular Coach Dick Leach finally won after bringing his teams into the semifinals seven of the past 11 years.

Capacity of USC’s Dedeaux Field has been expanded from 1,800 to 3,000 for the NCAA regional baseball tournament that begins Friday. A season ticket for the 10 or 11 games, depending on whether a doubleheader is required Monday in the double-elimination format, is a bargain at $40. . . .

Best wishes for a quick recovery to the Pacific 10 Conference’s able publicity director, Jim Muldoon, who suffered a heart attack last week. . . .

Virgil Hill, the World Boxing Assn. light-heavyweight champion who defends his title against Thomas Hearns on June 3 at Caesars Palace, is so popular in his home state of North Dakota that an 84-page biography called, “Champ,” has been published by the Bismarck Tribune. . . .

Terry Norris will defend his World Boxing Council super welterweight title against Donald Curry in Palm Springs on June 1 and then travel to Las Vegas to watch his older brother, heavyweight Orlin, box Tony Tucker on the Hearns-Hill card. . . .

If Greg Richardson had been awarded that gift decision over Victor Rabanales at the Olympic Auditorium, instead of at the Forum, they would have torn down the balcony. . . .

Look for an Andretti or two to finish in the top five at Indy Sunday. . . .

Agent Leigh Steinberg has signed another quarterback, this one a basketball “quarterback,”--UNLV guard Greg Anthony. . . .

Did the Chicago Cubs fire Zim on a whim?