Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 24, 1991

As a subscriber to the theory that a regular should not lose his job because of an injury, I believe Jay Schroeder ought to be given the opportunity to start for the Raiders against the Chiefs at Kansas City Saturday. . . .

However, Todd Marinovich should be summoned at a moment’s notice, or quicker, if Schroeder is unable to get the offense moving. . . .

Of course, all this will be academic unless the Raider defense emerges from its late-season slumber. Sometimes, time of possession statistics are meaningful. In the Raiders’ last two games, Kansas City hogged the ball for 39 minutes and New Orleans for 40. . . .

Marinovich’s former USC teammate, Gary Wellman of the Houston Oilers, would make a good off-season acquisition for the Raiders, who need a possession-type receiver. . . .

It might not have made any difference Sunday, but the Chiefs had two days’ more rest before the game than the Raiders. . . .

I assume the Rams’ only untouchable is Tony Zendejas. . . .

Remember when the NBA fined Pat Riley for resting his stars during the Lakers’ final game of the 1989-90 regular season at Portland? Don’t expect the NFL to do the same to the Buffalo Bills, who gave Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and James Lofton the day off against Detroit. . . .

Since the 1970 merger of the NFL and AFL, the Dallas Cowboys have reached the playoffs the most, going 15 times, and the Green Bay Packers the fewest, two. The Raiders and Rams are tied for second at 14. . . .

In 1955, the Baltimore Colts had the first and third picks in the draft. They took Oregon quarterback George Shaw first and Wisconsin fullback Alan Ameche third. The next year, they signed an obscure free agent named Johnny Unitas. . . .

A sleeper for the Indianapolis job is George Perles of Michigan State. . . . Among Dick MacPherson’s accomplishments in his first season as coach of the New England Patriots was getting 68 catches and good behavior from Irving Fryar. . . .

You know it has been a lousy season for the Seattle Seahawks when the no-shows for their final game of the year number 13,477. . . .

The Eric Ramsey-Auburn tapes hardly shock me. . . .

In ordinary times, Breeders’ Cup runner-up Bertrando and Hollywood Futurity winner A.P. Indy would be getting a lot of support in the Kentucky Derby future book. But these aren’t ordinary times. These are the times of Arazi. . . .

Kent Desmoreaux, 21, has become the youngest jockey to win 2,000 races. . . .

Nike, under new athletic director Steve Miller, plans to become more active in track and field during the Olympic Games year of 1992. The shoe company is footing the bill for pole vault record-holder Sergei Bubka’s appearance in the Sunkist meet Feb. 15 at the Sports Arena. Air fare alone for Bubka and his entourage from Russia is $17,000. . . .

John Wooden, 81, recently gave a 30-minute speech in San Diego without referring to notes. . . .

USC has beaten the last four top 20 teams it has played in the Sports Arena--Ohio State last Saturday, Arizona and UCLA last season and the Bruins in 1990. . . .

The Skins Game is a major event in television ratings. It drew the biggest audience for any golf event this year except the Masters. . . .

I wish Charles Barkley would give up No. 32 before he further embarrasses it. . . .

Rod Strickland’s holdout didn’t end soon enough for the San Antonio Spurs. . . .

The NBA is making a holiday contribution to the United States Olympic Committee in the name of the sportswriters and sportscasters who cover the league. . . .

San Jose Sharks’ merchandise is third in sales in pro sports behind only the Raiders and Chicago White Sox. . . .

An Associated Press advisory tells media representatives how to apply for credentials to Mike Tyson’s next big event--his trial in Indianapolis. . . .

George Foreman is planning to retire by May, 1992. But there’s no guarantee he won’t try another comeback in May, 2002. . . .

Times boxing writer Earl Gustkey is a fellow hater of draws. He suggests that title fights be either 11 or 13 rounds. No rounds should be scored even. If the scoring winds up even on the point system, the winner of the most rounds is declared the winner of the fight. . . .

I will be rooting for Dan Jansen during the Winter Olympics. . . .

The Big Eight probably is the best basketball conference in the country. . . .

No basketball commentator is more candid than Bill Walton. . . .

It sure is delightful to see Billy Tubbs and Oklahoma beating teams by 63 points again.