Notes on a Scorecard - July 18, 1991

All it took to know that the U.S. Olympic Festival wouldn’t fly in Los Angeles was a little common sense. . . .

Too much competition for the entertainment dollar. Not enough big names. Too many obscure sports. Not enough rooting interest. . . .

I mean, did you cheer for the West, East, South or North during the roller skating hockey competition at the Shrine Auditorium? . . .

But the Festival has had its moments, particularly in the third round of the heavyweight championship boxing match between John Bray and Melvin Foster Tuesday night at the Forum. . . .

Referee Gene Reese was about to administer the third standing-eight count of the round against Bray when a right hand suddenly deposited Foster on the canvas. . . .

Seconds later, Bray stopped Foster, and the crowd erupted. The people who had come to watch Oscar de la Hoya, the lightweight from East Los Angeles, left talking about Bray, the heavyweight from Van Nuys. . . .

The final in the 201-pound division had been spectacular, and it was fitting that David Wolper, the producer of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games, presented the medals. . . .

Our 1992 Olympic Games boxing prospects look good. Among those with an excellent shot at the gold medal in Barcelona is Ivan Robinson, a 20-year-old featherweight from Philadelphia who was the most impressive performer on the program Tuesday. . . .

Carrying flowers into the interview room as he walked behind Raul Marquez, who had just won the light middleweight gold medal, Lou Duva cracked, “This is worth more than $30 million.” . . .

Duva, who still finds time to help train amateurs, was alluding to the purse that heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield will be paid to defend the title against Mike Tyson. . . .

Marcel Marceau would have made a terrific amateur boxing referee. . . .

World title bouts scheduled for the Forum: Troy Dorsey, International Boxing Federation featherweight champion, vs. Manuel Medina, Aug. 12; Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez, World Boxing Council flyweight champion, vs. Diego Sosa, Sept. 16. . . .

Forum matchmaker Antonio Curtis expects James (Bonecrusher) Smith, 38, the former World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion, to be licensed by the State Athletic Commission Friday so he can box Kammuel Odum on Monday. . . .

Look-alikes: Goose Gossage and Danny Cox. . . .

The Dodgers have to be concerned whether Eddie Murray, 35, merely has been suffering through a prolonged slump or his batting skills are deteriorating. . . .

It’s about time for Fred (Trader) Claire to make a deal for a relief pitcher. Actually, the off-season would have been a better time. . . .

Fernando Valenzuela is still a hot ticket in Midland, Tex., where all box seats have been sold for Friday’s Texas League game, when Valenzuela will pitch against Shreveport, La. . . .

The way balls have been flying out of Tiger Stadium lately, you would think they were using 1987 baseballs. . . .

Ted Williams walked 145 times and struck out only 27 times during the 1941 season, when he hit .406. . . .

Former Arizona point guard Kenny Lofton, an outfielder for Tucson of the Pacific Coast League, may be called up by the Houston Astros this season. . . .

Anderson Hunt, the Nevada Las Vegas guard who made himself eligible for the NBA draft after his junior season and wasn’t picked, is participating in the Washington Bullets’ rookie camp and says the Boston Celtics want to look at him next week. . . .

Things didn’t get any better Wednesday at Hollywood Park for Al Michaels’ Barraq, who finished fifth in the eighth race. . . .

Quarterback Tommy Maddox and safety Matt Darby will be featured on the cover of the UCLA football media guide, and tailback Mazio Royster will be on the USC cover. . . .

Jerry Rice, who was body-slammed by Washington Redskin defensive back Darrell Green last season, reported to the San Francisco 49ers camp 12 pounds heavier. . . .

Not even Los Angeles has had many quarterback controversies to match the one in New Jersey, where Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler are competing for the New York Giants’ No. 1 job. . . .

Thumbs up to Eric Turner, who is endowing a football scholarship at UCLA with some of the record $3.15-million bonus he received from the Cleveland Browns. . . .

KORG radio sports talk co-host Mike Lamb, a former USC offensive lineman, wonders what would happen if every player reported to an NFL camp on time and signed. Probably total chaos. . . .

Think the World Wrestling Federation will reverse the result of a match if the winner tests positive for steroids?