Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 16, 1991

One of the reasons John Robinson soon will be out of a job is that Jim Everett has developed a knack for making the big mistake. . . .

Seven days after their loss to Jerry Burns and the Vikings at Minnesota, the Rams will be involved in what figures to be another Lame Duck Bowl at Seattle against Chuck Knox and the Seahawks. . . .

Not even Tom Landry’s most loyal fans have a right to complain about Jimmy Johnson now. . . .

The Philadelphia Eagles are more dangerous when they don’t have the ball. . . .

Deion Sanders would have made a great wide receiver. . . .

If the Raiders hadn’t blown the Kansas City game and sat on the lead against Buffalo, they would be in a position to claim the home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. . . .

The Raider-Saint game tonight at New Orleans should be one of the hardest-hitting of the year. . . .

How fortunate we were to have the opportunity to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play a week ago Sunday night on ESPN and Saturday morning on CBS. . . .

Linebacker Tim Harris has begun to make a difference in the San Francisco 49ers’ defense. . . .

Look-alikes: Jerry Burns and Buster Keaton. . . .

CBS hyped its telecast of the Youngstown State-Marshall game next Saturday by saying, “In NCAA Division I-AA, championships are decided on the field.” Too bad the same can’t be said about Division I-A. . . .

One of the most bizarre unsportsmanlike conduct penalties of the year was assessed Bowling Green Saturday when former Raider linebacker Phil Villapiano, grand marshal of the California Bowl, ran onto the field to celebrate a fumble recovery by his alma mater against Fresno State. . . .

In blue and gold lettering, the cover of the Christmas card sent by John and Linda Gunn and Allen and Kevin Jerkens says, “UCLA 24, USC 21.” . . .

Most improved after the winter meetings--NL West: Cincinnati; NL East: New York; AL West: Kansas City; AL East: None. . . .

The New York Yankees, a fifth-place team that stood pat, probably will enter into the free-agent market big next season. . . .

Surprise of the Dodger acquisitions could be Rudy Seanez, the reliever who came from Cleveland. Once upon a time, the Indians handed Pedro Guerrero to the Dodgers. . . .

The day Orel Hershiser signed his new contract, he pitched to a couple of dozen kids at the Five Acres treatment center for abused, neglected and abandoned children in Altadena. . . .

I guess the Reds were disappointed in John Wetteland. . . .

The only two former St. Mary’s players active in the major leagues were obtained by Southland teams--Von Hayes of the Angels and Tom Candiotti of the Dodgers. . . .

The San Francisco Giants’ trade that sent Kevin Mitchell to the Seattle Mariners for three undistinguished pitchers reminds of the 1966 deal that sent Orlando Cepeda to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher Ray Sadecki. . . .

Duke’s struggle to beat Michigan showed that the top-ranked Blue Devils are beatable. . . . A few more Atlantic Coast Conference victories such as that over North Carolina at Chapel Hill Sunday and Florida State will be known as a basketball factory. . . .

Teams having trouble inbounding the ball shouldn’t be allowed to call a timeout. . . .

Think the Detroit Pistons could use James Edwards and Vinnie Johnson? . . .

Any day now, the Chicago Bulls will clinch a playoff spot. . . .

Wayne Lukas might be the best interview in sports. . . .

I can do without the Pick Nine, but thumbs up to Santa Anita for offering its patrons a wider selection of exotic wagers. . . .

The $6-million Grand Slam Cup tennis tournament in Germany is proof that tradition is more important than prize money. . . .

Draws, such as the one that marred the terrific fight between middleweight champions Mike McCallum and James Toney Friday night at Atlantic City, N.J., are unsatisfying and unnecessary. Judges should not be allowed to score rounds even. If the scoring still ends in a draw, there should be a tiebreaking system. . . .

Mickey Cohen, whose portrayal by Harvey Keitel in “Bugsy” is worthy of an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor, was a regular at the Olympic Auditorium and Hollywood Legion Stadium fights. . . .

Among those cashing in on the riches of the senior golf tour is Mike Hill, who earned $1,065,657 this year. In 16 years on the PGA Tour, he made $573,000. . . .

Don’t expect to see Sherman Douglas or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in a Laker uniform this season. . . .

I have trouble believing that King owner Bruce McNall is going to fire King president Bruce McNall.