Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 23, 1992

Some Super Bowl viewing tips:

Pay attention to the introduction of the starting lineups. Sometimes, game faces are hints. Before the kickoff in New Orleans in 1981, Oakland appeared loose and Philadelphia tight. Then the Raiders beat the Eagles, 27-10. . . .

Maintain a “silence is golden” policy between plays. It is worth listening to CBS commentator John Madden. . . .

Instead of the pregame show--who needs more hype?--watch the Senior Skins Game on ABC at 12:30 p.m. . . .

If you are a Buffalo fan, start to worry if the Bills’ first scoring drive lasts more than three minutes. . . .

If you are a Washington fan, start to worry if the Redskins clearly are the slower team on the carpet. . . .

Jot down the names of the advertisers. A couple of weeks from now, see if you have used any of their products. Thirty-second spots cost $800,000. . . .

If the game is dull, you can always switch to Marlon Brando’s wonderful performance in “The Freshman” on Showtime at 4:30 p.m. . . .

You will know it is a runaway if there are plenty of shots of the celebrities in Redskin owner Jack Kent Cooke’s box in the fourth quarter. . . .

You will know it is close if there are numerous close-ups of Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood on the sideline in the fourth quarter. . . .

The 63,000-seat Metrodome is the smallest stadium to hold a Super Bowl, but the smallest crowd will remain the 61,946 for the Green Bay Packers’ 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs at the Coliseum in 1967. Actually, that first game was known as the AFL-NFL World Championship. . . .

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ choice of Bill Cowher to succeed Chuck Noll as their coach would have received more attention if it had been announced any other time than during Super Bowl week. . . .

This is the seventh time in the last eight Super Bowls that an AFC quarterback from the draft of 1983 is appearing. Jim Kelly will attempt to become the first to win. Other losers besides Kelly in 1991 were Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins in 1985, Tony Eason of the New England Patriots in 1986 and John Elway of the Denver Broncos in 1987-88-90. . . .

Of the six quarterbacks taken in that famous first round, only Ken O’Brien of the New York Jets and Todd Blackledge, formerly of the Chiefs, have failed to reach the Super Bowl. . . .

Those who criticize Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard for giving up his final year of eligibility at Michigan to make himself available for the NFL draft are way off the mark. Howard is scheduled to graduate with a degree in communications in May and plans to attend graduate school in the off-season. . . .

Among the new drivers who will be at Los Alamitos for the harness racing meeting that opens Friday night are Karen Fekete and Karen Hage. . . .

The PGA of America made a good decision when it selected Julius Mason, formerly of the Centinela Hospital Medical Center, as director of public relations. . . .

In 1972, the Nabisco Dinah Shore became the first LPGA tournament to offer $100,000 in total prize money. This year, the winner will receive $105,000. . . .

Steve Garvey will portray a former major leaguer named Steve Garvey who signs autographs at a collectors’ meet tonight on “Drexell’s Class” on Channel 11. . . .

Anyone conceding the National League East title to the New York Mets is underestimating the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . .

Watching the Australian Open isn’t a high priority now that John McEnroe has been eliminated. . . .

The New York Rangers are talking to the St. Louis Blues about an Adam Oates trade. . . .

Thomas Hearns may fight Iran Barkley at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on March 20, the date that had been reserved for an Evander Holyfield-George Foreman rematch. . . .

Against USC tonight and UCLA Saturday, Stanford center Adam Keefe of Irvine will try to show that he is the best college basketball player from Southern California. . . .

Any resemblance between the Indiana team that was walloped by UCLA in the Hall of Fame game in November at Springfield, Mass., and the one playing now is purely coincidental. . . .

The Big East Conference has seen better days. . . .

Kentucky forward Jamal Mashburn might be the next Karl Malone. . . .

NBA scouts like Cal State Long Beach junior guard Lucious Harris. . . .

Corey (the Terminator) Williams of Oklahoma State is considered to be the best defensive guard in the nation. . . .

You are a veteran NBA fan if you remember the days of the territorial draft. . . .

Without James Worthy, the Lakers played as though they thought they had no chance to beat the Trail Blazers at Portland Tuesday night. At least, they were being realistic. . . .

Prediction: Buffalo 27, Washington 24.