Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 16, 1992

Future Hall of Fame defenseman Larry Robinson had just worked a regular shift at wing for the Kings Tuesday night at the Forum and someone wondered if it ever happened before. . . .

“Oh, sure,” Coach Tom Webster said. “When?” a reporter asked. “Before we were born,” Webster replied. . . .

It is not true that Robinson will participate in both the Heroes of Hockey old-timers’ game and the NHL All-Star game this weekend in Philadelphia. . . .

But Robinson, 40, and Bryan Trottier, 35, of the Pittsburgh Penguins will be special guest participants Saturday in the All-Star game, the only NHL game to be telecast by a major network (NBC) this season. . . .

It will be Robinson’s 10th appearance as an All-Star and will put some joy into what has been a frustrating 20th and final NHL season. . . .

“We’re pressing,” he said after the Kings’ 3-3 tie with the San Jose Sharks, a moral defeat if ever there was one. “The more you press, the worse off you are. This game has to be played under control.” . . .

Few defensemen have shown as much control as the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Robinson. Oh, if you only could have seen him then. Exactly how good was he? A few years ago, an all-time Montreal Canadien team was selected. Maurice (Rocket) Richard, Jean Beliveau and Dickie Moore were the forwards. Jacques Plante was the goaltender. Doug Harvey and Robinson were the defensemen. . . .

Robinson played for six Stanley Cup champions at Montreal before signing with the Kings as a free agent before the 1989-90 season. . . .

“Everyone would like to start and end their career in the same place, but it wasn’t meant to be, and I have no regrets,” he said. “It’s been fun playing for a different organization and living in a different area.” . . .

Robinson expects to remain in hockey next season. The question is in what capacity. He probably will seek a coaching or player personnel job. For certain, though, he will not play left wing. . . .

General Manager Rogie Vachon has not made any major moves for the Kings lately, but his son, Nicholas, quit the Boston University hockey team to join the Portland Winterhawks of the junior Western League. . . .

Look-alikes: San Jose Shark Coach George Kingston and Dennis Weaver. . . .

There is a hilarious golf cart chase at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in author Joseph Wambaugh’s latest nugget, “Fugitive Nights.” . . .

The 12-1 college basketball team getting the least respect is Nebraska. . . .

Circle March 1 on your calender. It is the date of the UCLA-Duke basketball game at Pauley Pavilion, the Los Angeles marathon and the final day of the L.A. Open golf tournament. . . .

Look for UCLA to employ a pressing defense more often now that Gerald Madkins is back. . . .

It should not be long before USC Coach George Raveling contacts DeVry Institute about a game next season. . . .

A lot of NBA scouts think Duke freshman Cherokee Parks has better pro potential than teammate Christian Laettner. . . .

Bob Knight says the NBA championship team, instead of an all-star team, should represent the United States in the Olympic Games. . . .

Bill Walsh of Stanford should sell more tickets than Keith Gilbertson of California--and win more games, too. . . .

USC Coach Larry Smith will be inducted into the athletic Hall of Fame Friday at Bowling Green, where he played end in 1959-61. . . .

Miami’s football team may score more points in the Big East than its basketball team. . . .

Charles Oakley isn’t exactly the go-to person in Pat Riley’s New York Knick offense. In his last 147 minutes, the forward has taken 10 shots. . . .

The surprise leader of the NBA’s Pacific Division, the Golden State Warriors, have the same record, 11-5, at home and on the road. . . .

Darryl Strawberry no longer is among the top 10 highest-paid players in baseball. . . .

Nine pro football franchises never have appeared in the Super Bowl--Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and Tampa Bay. . . .

A trade involving San Francisco 49er linebacker-defensive end Charles Haley and Miami Dolphin running back Sammie Smith is a possibility. . . .

How many yards do you think Barry Sanders would gain if he had the Hogs blocking for him? . . .

A mock draft in Pro Football Weekly has Pittsburgh defensive tackle Sean Gilbert going to the Rams and Tennessee defensive back Dale Carter to the Raiders in the first round. . . .

It is time for jockey Angel Cordero, 49, to consider safer work. . . .

Without fanfare, Mark Spitz continues to train and plans to swim in the masters’ championship meet this summer in Indianapolis. . . .

The San Jose Giants just doesn’t sound right.