Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 20, 1992

Stanford Coach Bill Walsh, who keeps chiding USC about academics, attended the Harvard of the West, San Jose State. . . .

UCLA--which struggled with Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton at Pauley Pavilion, dispatched Indiana on a neutral court and won at Arizona--has developed a habit of playing to the level of its competition. . . .

He has the right name for it, but freshman forward Damon Runyon will not re-write the Oregon record book. . . .

Although USC has one of the most exciting players in the nation in Harold Miner, the Trojans still can’t draw their breath most of the time at the Sports Arena. A total of less than 7,000 saw the victories over Oregon State and Oregon. . . .

Brent Barry of Oregon State shoots free throws underhanded and nearly as well as his father Rick did. . . .

USC tailback Mazio Royster has told Coach Larry Smith he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. . . .

Former Trojan, Ram and California assistant coach Artie Gigantino will return to Berkeley as defensive coordinator for Keith Gilbertson. . . .

Nevada Las Vegas reportedly would like to have Tom Penders of Texas succeed Jerry Tarkanian. Another possibility is Perry Clark of Tulane. . . .

George Raveling’s son Mark, a guard, has left the Drake team and will transfer to UC Riverside at the end of the school term. . . .

If NBC is going to televise hockey only once a year, it should be a Stanley Cup final game, not the NHL All-Star game. . . .

And, please, get rid of those hideous uniforms the Campbell Soups and Wales Princes wore Saturday in Philadelphia. . . .

Bruce McNall should sell a couple of coins and a baseball card and try to buy Paul Coffey from the Pittsburgh Penguins, who need the money. Coffey may not be a defensive wizard, but he would be the point man the Kings’ power play needs so badly. . . .

Former King winger Bill (Cowboy) Flett, playing for the Philadelphia Flyers alumni, showed off the latest in hockey headgear during the old-timers game Friday--a cowboy hat. . . .

Raider defensive end Anthony Smith is taking boxing lessons from former heavyweight George (Scrap Iron) Johnson at the Hoover Street Gym. Smith is smart enough not to want to fight professionally, but likes to vary his training routine in the offseason and has taken instruction in judo and karate. . . .

Norm Lockwood, 86, is still one of the best cutmen in the business. . . .

Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, who always has been concerned about boxers’ safety, believes the California State Athletic Commission neurological examination that kept Yory Boy Campas off the card Saturday night at the Country Club in Reseda is “absurd, discriminatory and unlawful.” . . .

The Meldrick Taylor- Glenwood Brown fight on HBO was a good one, but there was no excuse for both boxers wearing black trunks. . . .

Whatever happened to Buster Douglas? . . .

Jimmy Grippo, the resident magician and hypnotist at Caesars Palace who died last week at 93, managed Melio Bettina, who won a share of the light-heavyweight championship in 1939. . . .

Chicago White Sox fan George Wendt wonders if there is a better infield anywhere than Frank Thomas at first base, Steve Sax at second, Ozzie Guillen at shortstop and Robin Ventura at third. . . .

Those who never heard Ernie Harwell do Detroit Tiger games will be able to enjoy his work when he announces 26 Saturday games for CBS Radio each of the next two seasons. . . .

KMPC is expected to become an all-sports radio station soon. . . .

At attorney Paul Caruso’s annual get together, former champion wrestler Verne Gagne appeared fit enough to make a comeback. Gagne says he will stay out of the ring, but may resume his career as a promoter. . . .

Saturday was one of those days when Best Pal, an easy winner of the $200,000 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita, looked like a great horse. . . .

It is hard to believe that the members of the U.S. Olympic Alpine team won’t be announced until Feb. 2, only six days before the opening ceremonies in Albertville, France. . . .

Watching the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons Sunday, you got the idea that these two teams aren’t real fond of each other. . . .

Clipper jinx: Doc Rivers has missed nine games already this season after missing only three with the Atlanta Hawks last season. . . .

It’s no coincidence that the Clippers are 5-0 in overtime. Mike Schuler’s biggest strength is game management. Few coaches in the league are better at substituting and calling timeouts. . . .

I’m already tired of all the hype . . . for Bud Bowl IV.