Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 26, 1991

The Rams performed as though they were in a must-lose situation Monday night. . . . Sonny Bono would have had a good night against the Ram defense. . . .

How big is Michael Jordan at the box office? The Clippers, who are averaging 9,717 in home attendance, have sold out the 15,800-seat Sports Arena for the annual visit of Jordan and his supporting cast tonight. . . .

The Bulls have played before 196 consecutive capacity crowds at 17,339-seat Chicago Stadium. In 1983-84, the season before Jordan arrived from North Carolina, the Bulls drew an average of 6,365. . . .

Golden State Warrior marketing director Nate Thurmond has recommended that every team in the NBA eventually retire No. 32 as a tribute to Magic Johnson. . . .

Marques Johnson, former UCLA and NBA star, has embarked on an acting career. He was seen in an “L.A. Law” episode last week and will appear in the motion picture “White Men Can’t Jump” next March. . . .

I can’t understand why pro and college football teams don’t manage the clock better. The Atlanta Falcons won in overtime Sunday night at New Orleans even though they wasted 14 seconds before calling a timeout late in regulation play. . . .

Coach-alikes: Jim Mora and Chuck Knox. . . .

The snow and cold didn’t seem to bother the Raiders in Cincinnati or the Miami Dolphins in Chicago. . . .

A key to the Dallas Cowboys’ upset of the Washington Redskins was the job rookie offensive tackle Eric Williams did on Charles Mann. . . .

No wonder the Detroit Lions block so well for Barry Sanders. He has a clause in his contract that awards each Lion offensive lineman a $10,000 bonus if Sanders exceeds 1,000 yards rushing. . . .

Much-maligned defensive coordinator Joel Collier is doing an excellent job with the New England Patriots. . . .

Most underrated linebacker in the NFL may be Seth Joyner of the Philadelphia Eagles. . . .

UCLA tailback Kevin Williams started only twice, but won the Pacific-10 Conference rushing title with an average of 108.9 yards a game. . . .

Bruin defensive tackle Brian Kelly is one of 14 recipients of an $18,000 National Football Foundation postgraduate scholarship. Kelly will be honored and former UCLA Coach Tommy Prothro and safety Kenny Easley will be inducted into the Foundation’s Hall of Fame Dec. 10 in New York. . . .

It’s a bowl game, but UCLA might have trouble working up enthusiasm for 6-5 Illinois in the John Hancock Bowl New Year’s Eve. . . .

The announcement of Stanford’s victory over California was cheered at the Coliseum Saturday. . . .

Among the most versatile and busiest young athletes in the nation is Amanda White, the 16-year-old daughter of former Baltimore Colt linebacker Stan White. She will be favored to win the Kinney Eastern Regional cross-country championship Saturday in New York City and then will hop a plane to Minneapolis to compete in the 200-meter breaststroke in the U.S. swimming meet Sunday. . . .

If Evander Holyfield overtrained for Bert Cooper, it was a problem that few of his contemporaries ever have faced. . . .

Another famous heavyweight, Mark Gastineau, will box Dec. 17 at the Country Club in Reseda, where Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas headline tonight’s card in 10-rounders. . . .

Former middleweight champion Michael Nunn moves up to the 168-pound, super-middleweight division Friday on Showtime when he fights Randall Yonker on the Simon Brown-Buddy McGirt undercard at the Mirage in Las Vegas. . . .

As many as 30 foreign horses might compete during what Hollywood Park is billing as the autumn turf festival Friday through Sunday. . . .

Trainer John Gosden is bringing jockey Willie Carson from England, where Carson is the leading rider with $4.4 million in purse earnings. . . .

Pete Rose told XTRA-radio talk-show hosts Steve Hartman and Chet Forte that Eric Davis has more ability than anyone Rose has seen play baseball. . . .

Some teams have become less willing to sign free agents because they don’t want to give away first-round draft choices as compensation. Many top selections--such as Frank Thomas, Ben McDonald, and Jack McDowell--are making it to the majors quickly out of college. . . .

Seen chatting at agent Tom Reich’s party in Malibu Sunday: Jack Clark and Tom Niedenfuer.