Notes on a Scorecard - March 12, 1992

A friend of mine says Bo Jackson was greedy and stubborn and got exactly what he deserved. . . .

I say, “Hogwash.” . . .

Jackson is to be admired. He was the ultimate competitor. His ability to combine two sports at the highest level made him a Madison Avenue success story and enabled him to live the American dream, rising from poverty to enormous wealth. He thrilled us with his long home runs and touchdown runs. His unusual injury in a football game had nothing to do with the fact that he also played baseball. . . .

Three teams that will play in Los Angeles tonight--Arizona, UCLA and USC--give the Pacific 10 Conference more representation in the top 10 of the Associated Press basketball poll than any other conference. No. 10 Oklahoma State joins fellow Big Eight members Kansas and Missouri in the USA Today/CNN top 10, which does not recognize Nevada Las Vegas. . . .

George Raveling is as tired as you are of watching college coaches call timeouts and tell their players to commit fouls in the closing moments of games they have no chance of winning. . . .

“It’s all a show,” the USC coach said. “Why keep fouling? Just go home. That’s what I told (Trojan guard) Phil Glenn with 30 seconds left at Washington State Sunday. No more fouls.” . . .

If Notre Dame doesn’t make the NCAA tournament field, it can blame the rest of the state of Indiana. The Irish have lost to Butler, Indiana and Evansville and beaten only Valparaiso. . . .

Dennis Rodman of the Detroit Pistons had an off-night Tuesday in Seattle. He got only 15 rebounds. . . .

Former Miami Heat guard Sherman Douglas is having trouble fitting in with the Boston Celtics. . . .

Are the Dodgers serious about making Kal Daniels their opening-day first baseman or merely showcasing him for a trade? The two best hitters in spring training at Vero Beach, Fla., have been first basemen Eric Karros and Todd Benzinger. . . .

Tom Lasorda’s godson, Mike Piazza, a catcher who was picked in the 62nd round of the draft in June 1988, could jump two levels from Class A to the Dodgers’ triple-A Albuquerque farm club this season. . . .

I’m still waiting for the Angels to trade for a hitter. Power hitter. Singles hitter. Any kind of hitter. . . .

One team that won’t have to do much platooning is the New York Mets, who have five switch-hitters in their lineup. . . .

Bobby Bragan, the colorful former Hollywood Star and major league manager, has written a book, “You Can’t Hit the Ball With the Bat on Your Shoulder,” that will be published this summer. . . .

Jose Canseco’s twin brother, Ozzie, who had a cup of instant coffee with the Oakland Athletics, has signed with the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league organization. . . .

Memphis native Tim McCarver has become part-owner of the Memphis Chicks of the Southern League. . . .

One of the best high school prospects in the nation is center fielder Jose Cruz Jr., son of the former major leaguer. . . .

Three of the top 18 high school teams ranked by Baseball America are in Southern California--No. 2 El Dorado of Placentia, No. 3 Diamond Bar and No. 18 Millikan of Long Beach. . . .

Talk about specialization: The Kansas City Royals hired Stan Williams for six weeks to scout teams training in Arizona. . . .

Assistant athletic director Ron Orr, guiding force behind the “Swim with Mike” event that has raised more than $750,000 for charity since 1981, has received the USC president’s award for staff achievement. . . .

USC spring football practice will begin Saturday. UCLA won’t start until April 13. . . .

Randall Cunningham is lobbying for the Philadelphia Eagles to trade for Eric Dickerson. . . .

Strong safety Leonard Smith, who was not protected by the Buffalo Bills, could be the Ronnie Lott of next season’s Plan B free agents. . . .

The Denver Broncos, who lost Gary Kubiak to retirement, are trying to make a trade for Washington Redskin backup quarterback Stan Humphries. . . .

The Kings probably will have to be within three points of the Vancouver Canucks before their season-ending consecutive meetings April 4-5 to have a chance to repeat as Smythe Division champions. If there is a tie in the standings for first place, the championship is awarded to the team with the most victories. . . .

What do you give the man who has just about everything for his birthday? Jenny Craig chose one of the best 3-year-old thoroughbreds in Europe, Dr. Devious, for husband Sid’s 60th. Cost of gift: $2.5 million.