Notes on a Scorecard - July 17, 1991

The first time that co-owner Al Michaels watched Barraq run, he was as washy as his horse. . . .

Michaels sweated profusely. So did Barraq. The highly regarded 4-year-old, who was bred in Kentucky and had raced in France, finished second that day on the Santa Anita turf. He might have won if he hadn’t been so nervous. Trainer Gary Jones advised Michaels to have Barraq gelded. . . .

Despite the ultimate equipment change, the next time at Hollywood Park was worse. ABC broadcaster Michaels remembers the four calls of track announcer Trevor Denman: “Barraq is rank. . . . Barraq is pulling very hard. . . . Barraq is very rank. . . . Chris McCarron has his hands full with Barraq.” Barraq finished fifth. . . .

Today at Hollywood Park, Barraq will run in the featured eighth race, a 1 1/16-mile event on the turf. . . .

“If Barraq doesn’t run any better,” Michaels says, “he will be sent to the pony rides and the owners will be gelded.” . . .

Joe Garcia, who succeeded the late Laz Barrera as trainer of Mister Frisky, is looking for a spot this week for the 1990 Santa Anita Derby winner to begin his comeback at Hollywood Park. . . .

Heading into the final six days of the meeting, attendance at the Inglewood track, under the new leadership of R.D. Hubbard, is up 10.5%. . . .

The $200 and $400 tickets for the Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson fight Nov. 8 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas are already sold out. The rest of the price scale: $600, $800, $1,000 and $1,200. Hate to say it, but the promoters could have gotten away with charging even more. . . .

Tommy Morrison vs. Ray Mercer on Aug. 9 at Atlantic City, N.J., won’t be pretty, but it should be exciting. . . .

The Dodgers are going to have to live with Orel Hershiser’s inconsistency until he regains full strength in his shoulder. . . .

The Angels, the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles are the only teams in the American League with better records on the road than at home. . . .

The New York Mets didn’t get enough--Montreal reliever Tim Burke--for Ron Darling and minor league left-handed pitching prospect Mike Thomas. . . .

Reader Kathy Cohen says that the Philadelphia Phillies might be in last place, but they are Ruffin (Bruce) and Ready (Randy). . . .

Buffalo, whose bid for a National League franchise was rejected, is averaging 15,900 fans a game in the American Assn. The Cleveland Indians are averaging 15,400, the Houston Astros 14,600 and the Montreal Expos 14,200. . . .

At last glance, all four leaders were leading their divisions in staff earned-run average. . . .

Look for Chris Chambliss, who won the Southern League’s first-half pennant with the Atlanta Braves’ farm club at Greenville, S.C., to be managing in the major leagues within a couple of years. . . .

Greenville has a pitcher named Napoleon Robinson. Too bad he isn’t in the San Diego Padres’ chain, where he could pitch for Waterloo. . . .

You’re not the only one who shed tears while watching Dave Dravecky conduct his first news conference since the amputation of his left arm. . . .

Look-alikes: Ray Perkins and actor Ed O’Neill. . . .

A USC athletic department special assistant, Charles White, won the $10,000 first prize in an “American Gladiators” competition among former football players that will be aired this fall. . . .

The Pathmark Tennis Classic, an exhibition tournament in Mahwah, N.J., never had it so good. Because of the appearance of Monica Seles, an advisory on how to apply for media credentials was sent out across the nation by the Associated Press. . . .

Don’t be surprised if Michael Cooper plays a season with the New York Knicks for his old Laker coach, Pat Riley. . . .

Next Chicago-Los Angeles basketball matchup will be Oct. 11 in Chicago Stadium--the Bulls against the Clippers in the exhibition opener. . . .

NFL management, which doesn’t want free agency similar to that in baseball, should read Marvin Miller’s book, “A Whole Different Ball Game.” . . .

Raider wide receiver Mervyn Fernandez, who volunteered for punting duty at Oxnard the other day, claimed to have once held the Canadian Football League record for longest punt. Sorry, Swervin’ Mervyn, but that record was set in 1977 by former UCLA punter Zenon Andrusyshyn and probably will stand forever. Andrusyshyn booted one 108 yards for the Toronto Argonauts. . . .

Members of the Rams’ 1951 NFL championship team will be honored before the Ram-Seattle Seahawk exhibition Aug. 17 at Anaheim Stadium. Seven from that team went on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame--quarterbacks Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin, receivers Elroy (Crazy Legs) Hirsch and Tom Fears, defensive end Andy Robustelli, owner Dan Reeves and public relations director Tex Schramm. . . .

It was 25 years ago today at Berkeley that Jim Ryun set a world mile record of 3:51.3.