Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 26, 1991

The most impressive performance of Christmas Day at the Sports Arena was turned in by Magic Johnson, who made 85 consecutive shots from the free-throw line before the Laker-Clipper game. . . .

Then he missed and called it a day. The rest of the show was anticlimactic. Johnson was a lot sharper than his former teammates and the Clippers, who showed the nation why they had not been invited to appear on commercial network television since 1979. . . .

It’s a good thing the Lakers didn’t trade A.C. Green. . . .

The Clippers still have a long way to go before catching the Lakers in popularity. Crowds at the Sports Arena for the cross-town games are split in their partisanship. At the Forum, 98% favor the Lakers. . . .

Clearly, the Lakers are doing it with defense. If they continue at this pace, their scoring average will be their lowest since 1954-55, the first season of the 24-second clock. . . .

Clipper center James Edwards should get more playing time. . . .

Negotiations are under way for an Evander Holyfield-George Foreman rematch in March at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. . . .

The winner of the $100,000 Malibu Stakes that opens the Santa Anita meeting and the Strub series today will join some elite company that includes Spectacular Bid, Ferdinand, Damascus, Buckpasser, Round Table, Olden Times, J.O. Tobin and Ancient Title. . . .

According to president R.D. Hubbard, net receipts at Hollywood Park are up because of inter-track wagering. . . .

However, Hubbard admits there is too much racing in Southern California. “The trouble is that nobody wants to give up dates,” he said. . . .

Bill Robinson, the former New York Met hitting coach and ESPN broadcaster, has been signed by the San Francisco Giants to manage their Shreveport, La., farm club in the double-A Texas League. That means he should have the proper major league managing qualifications in a couple of years. . . .

Bill Dineen, whose Philadelphia Flyers are 4-1-1 since he replaced Paul Holmgren, is coaching son Kevin. Others in the NHL who did the same were Boom Boom Geoffrion, who had Danny with Montreal; Punch Imlach, who had Brent with Toronto; and Lester Patrick, who had Lynn and Muzz with the New York Rangers. . . .

Don’t invite-’ems: Tampa Bay Lightning executives Phil Esposito and George Steinbrenner. . . .

Olympic Games 1,500-meter favorite Noureddine Morceli of Algeria is spending the holidays with Riverside City College Coach Ted Banks, who trained him for two years and still is a consultant. . . .

Indiana Pacer guard Micheal Williams isn’t exactly a household name, but he leads the NBA in steals and is fourth in assists. . . .

The Seattle SuperSonics’ Ricky Pierce, who made 75 consecutive free throws, doesn’t lead the league in free-throw percentage. The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Mark Price does. . . .

Some of the obituaries on Howie Dallmar failed to mention that the Stanford basketball star also coached his alma mater from 1954-55 to 1974-75. . . .

Lyle Alzado will be honored at a black-tie dinner Jan. 11 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, proceeds going to Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. . . .

The two highest-scoring bowl games may take place the same day, an hour apart, and a short freeway trip away from each other--San Diego State vs. Tulsa in the Freedom Bowl at Anaheim Stadium and Iowa vs. Brigham Young in the Holiday Bowl at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium Dec. 30. . . .

A probable first-round draft pick is Baylor defensive tackle Santana Dotson, who will play against Indiana in the Copper Bowl Dec. 31. . . .

Best little-known college quarterback in the nation could be Jeff Blake, who will lead East Carolina against North Carolina State Jan. 1 in the Peach Bowl. . . .

An outstanding duel in the Fiesta Bowl Jan. 1 will be Tennessee wide receiver Carl Pickens against cornerback Leonard Humphries, who Joe Paterno says is the best coverage man he has coached at Penn State. . . .

I trust that the UCLA football team won’t take Cal State Fullerton as lightly next Sept. 12 at the Rose Bowl as the basketball team did Monday night at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

USC men’s and women’s basketball teams both are ranked 25th in the USA Today poll. . . .

Trojan Coach George Raveling says Dec. 23-26 should be a “closed competition” period for college basketball teams--no games, no practices, and trips home for everyone. . . .

The four teams with the highest salaries in the NFL--San Francisco, Cleveland, Minnesota and the New York Giants--and the four teams with the lowest salaries--New England, Phoenix, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh--missed the playoffs. . . .

I can just see it. Behind those closed doors at El Segundo, Vince Evans is playing quarterback for the Raiders.