Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 3, 1991

And on the third day of October, the Dodgers and Braves are resting. . . .

Time to focus attention on the most attractive UCLA-California matchup in years, the opening of the NHL season and the steady diet of the low-calorie San Diego Chargers that Los Angeles pro football fans are about to be fed. . . .

Now that Chicago has lost, Cal and Baylor are the only two major unbeaten teams in the nation nicknamed Bears. . . .

“Football is important again on our campus,” Cal Coach Bruce Snyder said even before the victories over Pacific, Purdue and Arizona. Five thousand seats have been sold by the Berkeley ticket office for the game Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl. . . .

Snyder, the former USC and Ram assistant who has worked with Eric Dickerson, Charles White, Ricky Bell and Anthony Davis, says Russell White is as good as any back he has coached. . . .

“Russell is not only fast, he’s extremely physical,” Snyder said. “He makes a tremendous amount of people miss him. His hands are so good that he could be a wide receiver.” . . .

White will be tested by the 12th-ranked rush defense in the nation. Led by inside linebacker James Malone, the Bruins are limiting opponents to 94.7 yards rushing a game. Last season, they allowed an average of 197.6. . . .

The Santa Barbara and Davis branches of the University of California used to play football as a preliminary to the main event between their bigger brothers. There will be a doubleheader of another kind Saturday. The top-ranked Cal water polo team plays third-ranked UCLA at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center at 10:30 a.m., two hours before kickoff. . . .

Washington isn’t exactly in dire need of help, but last year’s starting quarterback, Mark Brunell, played briefly Saturday against Kansas State. Brunell underwent knee surgery during spring practice and hadn’t been expected back this soon. . . .

NBC commentator Bill Walsh believes that Rick Mirer of Notre Dame is as good as any quarterback in the nation. . . .

The New Orleans Saints, not the Washington Redskins, may be the best team in the NFC. . . .

I didn’t think a person named Ryan would be so important to the Philadelphia Eagles this season. . . .

Strange that Randall Cunningham got hurt in the pocket and Jim McMahon while scrambling. . . .

The Stanley Cup runner-up Minnesota North Stars actually may be the surprise team of the NHL. Many think they were a fluke last season. But the fact is, they began to play good hockey long before the playoffs. . . .

The Forum’s new scoreboard, which is 22-by-25 feet and includes four video screens, will be fully operational when the Kings open their home schedule Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. . . .

The winless Chargers, who play the Raiders Sunday at the Coliseum and the Rams the following Sunday at Anaheim Stadium, need to rally to finish with a 6-10 record for the fourth consecutive season. . . .

If you think the importance of the quarterback is overrated, you haven’t been paying much attention to the Chargers lately. With a capable veteran passer, they would probably be 2-3 instead of 0-5. . . .

Pete Rose, the actor, is believable as Ty Cobb in “Babe Ruth,” which airs Sunday night on NBC. . . .

It’s no shock that Jerry West has made another deal--the acquisition of Sedale Threatt--that will strengthen the Lakers. . . .

Curt Flood Jr. has joined the Forum boxing sales department. . . .

Former USC quarterback Shane Foley is selling luxury suites and club seats for the 1994 football season at the Coliseum. . . .

When the Atlanta Braves cut Cincinnati’s advantage to three runs Tuesday night after the Reds had taken a 6-0 lead, TBS announcer Skip Caray wondered aloud what would happen to the Dodgers’ psyche if the Braves came all the way back. Then the Dodgers went out and beat San Diego, 3-1, as though nothing had happened. . . .

What a contrast between Caray and Vin Scully, who has been at the top of his game during the great race. . . .

Dodger reliever Roger McDowell called it only appropriate that it was Mickey Hatcher Night when he threw to home plate, instead of first base, on a two-out ground ball in the eighth inning. . . .

But McDowell may not have been aware that Hatcher did virtually the same thing one night when he was playing third base for the Dodgers. . . .

Asked by Manager Tom Lasorda why he was in position to take the throw from Hatcher, catcher Joe Ferguson cracked, “When you play with dummies, you think like a dummy.”