Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 4, 1991

Poor Bobby Bonilla. If the New York Mets get that far and win, he will have to take a pay cut during the World Series. . . .

His five-year, $29-million contract with the Mets guarantees him $35,802 per regular-season game. . . .

The record World Series payout to the champion Minnesota Twins was $119,579 per full share, or $17,083 for each of the seven games. Even if the Twins had swept Atlanta, their per-game pay wouldn’t have equaled what Bonilla will receive during the 162-game schedule. . . .

The Mets will be powerful, but their season still could hinge on the physical condition of pitcher Dwight Gooden. . . .

Bonilla and Darryl Strawberry have shown that you can go home again if you are a free agent, but the Dodgers are glad that Philadelphia native Orel Hershiser didn’t get the message. . . .

It was painful just watching all those vicious hits in the Philadelphia Eagle-Houston Oiler game Monday night. . . .

Now America knows about Seth Joyner. . . .

In Todd Marinovich’s biography, it should be noted that he redshirted in 1988 and 1991. . . .

Desmond Howard, the Michigan star, gave Washington some bulletin-board fodder Tuesday when he said Miami deserved to be ranked No. 1. . . .

In a telephone interview promoting Saturday’s CBS award show that will reveal the winners of virtually every important college football trophy except the Heisman, Howard cited the Hurricanes because of their victory over Florida State. . . .

It may not have been a diplomatic answer by a Wolverine who will have to face Washington in the Rose Bowl, but it was honest. Florida State beat Michigan, 51-31, this season. . . .

Bubba Paris, the former San Francisco 49er starting tackle, has slipped so badly that he was cut by the Indianapolis Colts this week. . . .

With Pat Riley, the New York Knicks are 10-5. Last year, they started 7-8. . . .

Riley will return to the Forum on Feb. 26. The Laker-Knick rematch at Madison Square Garden will be on March 10. . . .

At the very least, Coach Mike Schuler should be given a chance to see what the Clippers can do with Charles Smith in the lineup. The forward who led the team in scoring last season returns to action at the Sports Arena tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. . . .

The Philadelphia 76ers can’t score 100 points--or even beat the New Jersey Nets--without Charles Barkley. . . .

David Robinson of the Spurs will be married this month. . . .

George Gervin, the former Spur scoring machine, is a community relations specialist for the team. He makes four speeches a week and shows a 45-minute motivational film based on his career. . . .

Jerry Tarkanian has his last NBA lottery pick at Nevada Las Vegas in center Elmore Spencer. . . .

Terry Slater, who suffered a stroke recently, played for the Los Angeles Blades in the Western Hockey League. He was the NCAA’s hockey coach of the year last season at Colgate. . . .

The silver numbers on the Kings’ home uniforms are difficult to read. . . .

The first Roy Campanella 5-K, 10-K run-and-walk, a benefit for the Northridge Heart Institute, will be held Sunday at 9 a.m. Participants can register as late as the morning of the event. . . .

Jeff Lukas says Twilight Agenda, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, is being pointed toward the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap at Hollywood Park Sunday. . . .

The most informative thoroughbred racing show on TV is “The Backstretch,” with Mandy McKaughan and Jeff Siegel as co-hosts, Monday and Tuesday nights at 8:30 on Channel 56. McKaughan, an exercise rider, did a terrific feature this week on her early-morning job. . . .

Southpaw matchups are rare, but World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion Daniel Zaragoza and challenger Paul Banke won’t have to be introduced to each other Monday night at the Forum. They have split two title fights. . . .

Hector Lopez, the silver medalist at 119 pounds in the 1984 Olympic Games, will return to boxing on Dec. 17 at the Country Club in Reseda after a two-year prison stay. Lopez, who was world-ranked as a featherweight, will move up to the lightweight division. . . .

The identity of Mark Gastineau’s opponent in a six-rounder on the same card has been revealed. It’s none other than Jimmy (Schoolboy) Baker of Indianapolis. . . .

What is the purpose of football’s two-minute warning?