Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 3, 1991

Alot of us still can’t decide whether the Raiders are legitimate contenders to reach the Super Bowl, but the Buffalo Bills will help us make up our minds Sunday at the Coliseum. . . . Which is the real Jay Schroeder--the improving version, who completed 16 of 19 passes against Seattle, or the regressing one, who had three passes intercepted against San Diego? . . .

He is probably a little of each, an inconsistent sort whose play often varies from one half to the next. . . .

Unfortunately for Schroeder, he will have Bruce Smith in his face Sunday. . . .

The Raider defense, which has allowed only 43 points during the four-game winning streak, will be tested for class by Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. . . .

I’m tired of all those TV shots of Al Davis, who rarely shows emotion, sitting in the press box. . . .

It used to be that the dropping of a flag was followed by the announcement of a penalty. Now it is followed by a meeting of the officials, a review of the TV replay by officials in the press box, another meeting of the officials on the field, and the announcement of a decision. . . .

Look-alikes: Sam Wyche and Super Dave Osborne. . . .

The New Orleans Saints, who have gone from 9-1 to 9-4, are mimicking the 1986 New York Jets, who went from 10-1 to 10-6. . . .

Bobby Humphrey’s holdout may have been a blessing to the Denver Broncos. It gave opportunities to running backs Gaston Green and Greg Lewis--and the Broncos probably will be able to trade Humphrey for a high draft choice after the season. . . .

The recent death of Sonny Werblin was under-reported outside New York. Werblin was among the most influential figures in American sports this century. He was a force in establishing the American Football League as a major league, gave Joe Namath the first megabucks pro football contract and built the Meadowlands. . . .

Only players to win both Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards--given to the best hitting and fielding players at their positions--were Cal Ripken Jr. and Ken Griffey Jr. in the American League, and Will Clark, Ryne Sandberg and Barry Bonds in the National. . . .

The Angels, who had considered new uniforms and colors, have decided to stick with the old ones. . . .

The San Francisco Giants, who were seeking to trade outfielder Kevin Mitchell, waited too long. . . .

Jack Nicklaus, who didn’t win a dollar in the Skins Game, should do better when he defends his Senior Skins Game championship against Arnold Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino Jan. 25-26 at Mauna Lani on the big island of Hawaii. . . .

John Walker will try to become the first person of his age to run the mile in four minutes or less on his 40th birthday Jan. 12 in New Zealand. . . .

Coach on a hot seat: Paul Holmgren of the Philadelphia Flyers. . . .

UCLA’s winning streak against nonconference opponents at Pauley Pavilion figures to stand at 21 by the time the Bruins play Duke March 1. . . .

The best two games of the third and final ACC-Big East challenge should be North Carolina-Seton Hall on Wednesday and Duke-St. John’s on Thursday. . . .

Part-owner Allen Paulson reports that Arazi, who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in sensational style, is recovering well from arthroscopic surgery and will be under saddle and rider this week in Kentucky. . . .

R.D. Hubbard had such success attracting foreign horses to the autumn turf festival at Hollywood Park that he plans to include the Hollywood Derby in the package next year. . . .

Michael Dokes, who once held a portion of the heavyweight championship, weighed 277 pounds and was paid $500 Friday night when he won an eight-round decision over John Wesley Morton, who lost for the 19th time in 29 fights, on the Buddy McGirt-Simon Brown undercard in Las Vegas. . . .

Best freshman defensive lineman in the nation may be Texas A&M;’s Sam Adams, the son of former New England Patriot defensive lineman Julius Adams. . . .

Don Heinrich, the television announcer and former college and pro quarterback, is battling cancer. . . .

Sean LaChapelle is the first UCLA pass receiver to win a conference title since Burr Baldwin in 1946. . . .

Look for a Pacific 10 sweep of its bowl games-- Washington over Michigan in the Rose, UCLA over Illinois in the John Hancock, Stanford over Georgia Tech in the Aloha, and California over Clemson in the Citrus. . . .

The scoreboard operator at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium ought to thank the Raiders and Chargers for giving him a rest before the Holiday Bowl.