Notes on a Scorecard - June 12, 1991

Michael Jordan’s sore toe didn’t slow him down on the golf course, either, Sunday morning when he played a round before teeing off on the Lakers at the Forum. . . .

The Lakers deserve one more standing ovation when they are introduced tonight. . . .

They should be remembered as overachievers who defeated the team with the best record in the league, the Portland Trail Blazers, to reach the NBA finals. . . .

Among the most telling statistics the first four games is that Jordan leads Magic Johnson in assists, 47-42. . . .

The Lakers have the dominant center in this series, Vlade Divac, and where has it gotten them? . . .

Guard must be the strongest position in the NBA if Clyde Drexler can’t make the first all-league team and John Stockton can’t make the second team. . . .

Jordan and Johnson also made the NBA first all-interview team. . . .

Too bad Juan Samuel is letting his bat do all his talking because his comeback is one of the best stories in baseball. . . .

Ramon Martinez ought to take his hitters out to dinner--and breakfast and lunch, too. . . .

Martinez and Tom Glavine of Atlanta, the first 10-game winners in the National League, have mastered the changeup early in their careers. . . .

New Chicago Cub Manager Jim Essian has the slowest hook in the National League. . . .

When Essian does call upon reliever Heathcliffe Slocumb, announcers get to say one of the great names in sports. . . .

The novelty has worn off night baseball at Wrigley Field, but the crowds keep coming. . . .

Oops. Chuck Finley is actually the Angels’ fourth-most famous left-hander, behind Fernando Valenzuela, Mark Langston and Jim Abbott. . . .

You can question Tony La Russa’s manners but not his managerial ability. . . .

Steve Sax has been an important part of the New York Yankees’ spurt. . . .

I like Houston over Baltimore in the race for the worst record in the major leagues. Too much inexperience. . . .

Steve Lyons and Barry Lyons both were born June 3, 1960. . . .

News item: Middleweight Henry Anaya retires after losing a slow 10-round fight to Mark Breland. Reaction: Breland should, too. . . .

Jackie McCoy thinks Oscar de la Hoya may be the best young boxing prospect in Southern California since former lightweight champion Mando Ramos. . . .

Terry Norris’ next defense of the World Boxing Council super welterweight championship probably will be in San Diego in August. . . .

Dan Goossen was delighted by the turnout for the Norris-Donald Curry, Meldrick Taylor-Luis Garcia doubleheader in Palm Springs and plans to promote there again. . . .

A major stumbling block in negotiations is that Don King wants his pay-per-view network to televise an Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson fight. . . .

Among those watching Fernando Valenzuela and Ted Higuera pitch today at Anaheim Stadium will be boxer Julio Cesar Chavez of Culiacan, Mexico. . . .

Monica Seles’ chances of winning the Grand Slam are better than she thinks. . . .

Promoters of the 100-meter race that is supposed to feature Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson July 1 in France are asking both parties to take a reduction in pay. . . .

The California Peace Officers Assn. torch run begins today in San Diego and Sacramento and concludes June 21 at Drake Stadium in Westwood as part of the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Summer Games. . . .

Bob Lasken of Whittier, Jim Detrixhe of Santa Monica and Louie Garcia of Camarillo form a threesome that will tee off at 7:10 a.m. CDT at the U.S. Open Thursday. . . .

Eddie Delahoussaye is facing a tough decision, whether to ride Festin or Prized in the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 29. . . .

The carryover Wednesday at Hollywood Park is the fourth in seven days since the Pick Six was switched to Races 4 through 9. . . .

UCLA in soccer, women’s volleyball and women’s golf and Louisiana State in baseball and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field were the only schools to win three NCAA championships this year. . . .

Guard Harold Miner has become the first USC basketball player to be selected to the Playboy magazine preseason All-American team. Joining Miner in the photo session last week in Chicago was UCLA forward Don MacLean. . . .

Former UCLA football players Melvin Jackson, James Primus, Marvcus Patton, Mark Walen and Paco Craig and basketball player Rod Foster, who last performed for the Bruins in 1983, returned to school to earn degrees that will be awarded Sunday. . . .

Jerry Tarkanian has signed a deal with Bernhard-Robson Productions for the company to produce a motion picture based on his life. How about Telly Savalas for the lead role? . . .

If I’m part of the ownership at Miami or Denver, I try to get Tom Lasorda to run my National League franchise.