Notes on a Scorecard - June 5, 1991

No Bull. Here it is the second game of the NBA finals and Chicago already is facing a must-win situation. . . .

I’ve always thought that the two-three-two format of the championship series lessens the advantage awarded the team with the better regular-season record. . . .

A key to Game 1 was Vlade Divac’s domination of Bill Cartwright in the pivot. . . .

Wouldn’t the Lakers like to have Michael Cooper back to guard Michael Jordan? . . .

You appreciate Forum public address announcer Lawrence Tanter all the more when you listen to the homer at the mike at Chicago Stadium. . . .

More Tony Smith off the Laker bench and less Larry Drew might be in order. . . .

The last two editions of the Information Please Almanac, published in Boston, list the Celtics as the 1981-82 NBA champions. Sorry, but the Lakers won the title that season. . . .

The House of Upsets switched venues from Inglewood to Las Vegas when Thomas Hearns won a close decision over 3-1 favorite Virgil Hill under the promotional banner of the Forum Boxing Club Monday night. . . .

“I want to be associated only with competitive fights,” said Bruce McNall, who had a piece of the action. . . .

However, McNall would also like to be associated with money-making fights. . . .

Attendance was one of the lightest ever for an outdoor show at Caesars Palace because Hill proved to be a tough sell, the week after Memorial Day is traditionally slow in Las Vegas, and the on-again, off-again Mike Tyson-Razor Ruddock fight next door at the Mirage was put on again. . . .

Hearns fought intelligently. Hill didn’t. . . .

The best way to beat Hearns is with the right hand, but Hill kept his in mothballs. . . .

Hearns, tall and still lean, should move up to cruiserweight and try for another world title. Nobody can tell me that he wouldn’t beat Bobby Czyz. . . .

I never thought Hearns would outlast Sugar Ray Leonard. . . .

The more I see light-flyweight Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez fight, the less I like his chances against Michael Carbajal. . . .

Customers who paid to watch the show on TV in the Eastern time zone had a right to beef about the main event not starting until 11:45 on a week night. . . .

Heavyweight contender Tony Tucker, big and talented, has to become more aggressive. . . .

In nearly every major fight recently, action has been stopped at least once to replace loose tape on gloves. It’s often a stalling tactic. The guilty fighter and his corner should be fined. . . .

The judge who had Luis Garcia beating Meldrick Taylor at Palm Springs last week needs glasses. . . .

Tyson claims he took only three days off from training when it seemed as though the Ruddock fight would fall through. . . .

Tyson on Tyson: “I’m totally in love with myself.” . . .

Marv Albert and Mike Fratello did a good job describing Game 1 of the Laker-Chicago series on NBC, but next time I would like to know the score at the end of the first quarter. . . .

The playoffs will end before the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 26. . . .

Former USC wide receiver Erik Affholter, sidelined the past two seasons because of injuries, was a standout during the Green Bay Packers’ mini-camp. Affholter might also get a tryout as a kicker during the exhibition season. . . .

The Atlanta Falcons continue to shop nose guard Tony Casillas. . . .

Del Mar’s first million-dollar race, the Pacific Classic, will be televised by ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” Aug. 10. . . .

With the draft choice they received from the Dodgers when Darryl Strawberry signed, the New York Mets selected outfielder Al Shirley. He is the best linebacker in the draft, having signed a football letter of intent with the University of Virginia. . . .

First of the June draft class of ’91 to reach the majors could be Washington State pitcher Aaron Sele with the Boston Red Sox. . . .

The Dodgers have two players who were picked first in a June draft, Tim Belcher by Minnesota in 1983 and Strawberry by the Mets in 1980. . . .

Wonder how Jack Clark felt about Tony Gwynn ranking third in the National League in runs batted in going into Tuesday’s games. . . .

Aluminum bats are greatly responsible for the scoring outbursts in the College World Series. . . .

Seattle, Texas and Cleveland are the only teams in major league baseball who haven’t won a divisional championship. . . .

The Kings gave up a lot to acquire Jari Kurri, but he is worth it. The line of Tomas Sandstrom, Wayne Gretzky and Kurri could become the most productive ever in the NHL.