Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 16, 1991

When the Raiders play the Rams Sunday at the Coliseum, it will be only the fourth all-Los Angeles matchup in the 10 years this area has had two NFL teams. . . .

That’s bad. The Raiders should play the Rams every year. The other such interconference rivalries--the New York Giants vs. the New York Jets, the Miami Dolphins vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Houston Oilers--also should be renewed annually. . . .

The next Ram-Raider meeting will be in 1994 at Anaheim Stadium--unless the Raiders finish last in the AFC West in 1993 and, under the scheduling format, the game is scrubbed. . . .

The Los Angeles vs. Los Angeles series: 1982--Raiders 37, Rams 31, before 65,776 at the Coliseum; 1985--Raiders 16, Rams 6, before 68,904 on a Monday night at Anaheim Stadium; 1988--Rams 22, Raiders 17, before 86,027 at the Coliseum. . . .

Most memorable moment: Marcus Allen diving the final three yards to beat the Rams with his third touchdown, on an 11-yard run with 29 seconds remaining, in the ’82 game. . . .

At least the NFL is a step ahead of baseball, where regular-season games are never scheduled between the Dodgers and Angels, the New York Yankees and Mets, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers or the Chicago Cubs and White Sox. . . .

How good a runner was Bo Jackson? His average of 5.4 yards per rush is the best by a Raider with more than 50 carries. . . .

Former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Danny White is the new coach and general manager of Phoenix’s expansion franchise in Arena Football. . . .

New Orleans Saint linebacker Pat Swilling was quoted as saying, “People say we’re 6-0. I keep telling them we could be 6-10 real quick.” . . .

After watching the emotionless New York Giants all but collapse in the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night, I can better understand why Coach Ray Handley is taking a lot of heat in New York. . . .

Neil O’Donnell, the quarterback who played so well in relief of Bubby Brister, was drafted by the Steelers out of Maryland in the third round in 1990. However, he didn’t play last season and suited up for only three games. He ranks second on the all-time Maryland passing list behind Boomer Esiason. . . .

Cal State Long Beach will get only $125,000 for serving as a punching bag for Miami Saturday at the Orange Bowl. . . .

Basketball Weekly ranked UCLA No. 1 in its preseason basketball rankings, but that was based on Ed O’Bannon playing a full schedule. . . .

Former heavyweight contender Frank Bruno, who hasn’t fought since he was knocked out by Mike Tyson in February of 1989, has signed to box John Emman of the Netherlands on Nov. 20 in London. . . .

Bud Furillo, longtime sports editor of the old Herald Examiner and a Los Angeles radio personality, has moved to Las Vegas, where he will be the host of a sports-talk show. . . .

CBS might not be thrilled with the prospect, but if the Minnesota Twins play the Pittsburgh Pirates, it will be a World Series between teams with the two best records in baseball. . . .

The length of the National League series should help the Twins, whose pitching staff will be fresher than that of Pittsburgh or Atlanta. Manager Tom Kelly also has the luxury of being able to use his starters in the order he wants. . . .

Minnesota will have the home-field advantage if the World Series goes the distance, and the last time that happened, the Twins beat the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987. . . .

Roger Mason, the Pirate reliever who got the save Monday, had pitched only 1 1/3 innings in the major leagues from 1987 until midseason this year because of a sore arm. . . .

The more you watch Andy Van Slyke play center field, the more you appreciate him. . . .

Bobby Bonds, the father of slumping Barry Bonds, played in only one postseason series during his 14-year career. He went two for eight, without an RBI or an extra-base hit, for the San Francisco Giants in the 1971 National League playoffs that the Pirates won in four games under the old best-of-five format. . . .

I prefer lamb chops to tomahawk chops. . . .

The Montreal Expos’ minor league organization was considered the best in baseball, but several key scouting people left for the expansion Florida Marlins along with General Manager Dave Dombrowski. . . .

Don’t be surprised if the Texas Rangers trade Ruben Sierra, who will become a free agent after the 1992 season and is looking for a huge contract. . . .

The Indians finished in their customary spot, but this has been a successful year for the Braves, Seminoles, Redskins and Chiefs.