Notes on a Scorecard - April 14, 1992

Confessions of a hockey junkie who was able to get a fix again Sunday:

I couldn’t wait for the Kings and Vancouver Canucks to face off, so I was one of the dozens who tuned into the telecast of the Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils on SportsChannel. . . .

It was apparent that the players were rusty after the strike because a fight didn’t break out until the third period. . . .

Over on Prime Ticket, King Coach Tom Webster was as upbeat as ever during a pregame interview when he said the two weeks off had given his team’s “brain cells” some much-needed rest. . . .

No wonder goaltender Kelly Hrudey was so brilliant in the Kings’ 6-1 victory over the Smythe Division champion Vancouver Canucks. . . .

Actually, the Kings should benefit from their time off more than most because Hrudey, who must have been seeing pucks in his sleep, now looks as though he will be fresh for the playoffs. . . .

Wayne Gretzky keeps assisting hockey players. He helped settle the strike and then recorded four assists at Vancouver. In the last 21 games, he has scored 43 points and been upgraded again from the Good One to the Great One. . . .

Ballclubs that have gotten out of the gate slowly take heart: The World Series champion Minnesota Twins opened last season 2-9. . . .

Last spring, Angel President Richard Brown said one of the club’s biggest decisions might be whether to re-sign Wally Joyner or Dick Schofield in 1992. Then the shortstop had a bad season, Joyner signed with the Royals, and Schofield was traded to the New York Mets for Julio Valera Sunday. . . .

Marquis Grissom, the Montreal Expo outfielder who led the National League in stolen bases last season, should develop into a top player this season. . . .

The Atlanta Falcon secondary--Brian Jordan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Deion Sanders of the Atlanta Braves--went five for 17 during the weekend. . . .

When Dwight Gooden faces nephew Gary Sheffield, will he pitch him inside? . . .

So far, Barry Bonds hasn’t missed Bobby Bonilla. . . .

Gene Mauch, Jim Bolger, Casey Wise and Dave Hillman are among those members of the 1956 champion Los Angeles Angels who are expected to attend the Pacific Coast League Historical Society’s sixth annual reunion May 16 at the Clarion Hotel in Carson. . . .

I wish that guy who kept yelling “You the man,” after tee shots on the 17th hole during the Masters telecast had gotten laryngitis. . . .

Bertrando is merely another in the long list of contenders who never made it to the Kentucky Derby because of injury or illness. . . .

No 3-year-old who raced in Kentucky, Florida or California during the weekend should cause Arazi or A.P. Indy to lose any sleep. . . .

Best Pal must be some animal if he can win the Oaklawn Handicap going away on a day when trainer Gary Jones says he wasn’t nearly at his best. Best Pal’s victory increased his earnings to $3,388,395 and lifted him past Snow Chief as the all-time California-bred leader. . . .

The Cleveland Browns signed the most Plan B free agents, 11. . . .

The San Diego Chargers lost the most Plan B free agents, 11. . . .

Pro Bowl special teamer Bennie Thompson of the New Orleans Saints was a good pickup by the Kansas City Chiefs. . . .

Former Oklahoma quarterback Jamelle Holieway is trying out for the Los Angeles Wings of Arena Football. . . .

It is estimated that pro football trading card sales will exceed $250 million this year. . . .

College basketball will miss Lou Carnesecca, but not his sweaters. . . .

Thumbs up to the often-criticized Nevada judges for their intelligent scoring of the George Foreman-Alex Stewart fight. . . .

In February of 1989, UCLA signed three highly regarded high school quarterbacks--Tommy Maddox, Bert Emanuel and Wayne Cook. . . .

Cook is the only one left. Maddox has volunteered for the NFL draft and Emanuel transferred to Rice after the 1990 season. Cook, a sophomore who took only eight snaps in two games last season, opened spring practice Monday as the leading candidate to succeed Maddox. . . .

Bruin center fielder Michael Moore is batting .351 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs and has stolen 14 bases in 33 games. . . .

UCLA assistant coach John Smith says Quincy Watts of USC is the best 400-meter prospect he has ever seen. This is high praise from someone who helped coach Steve Lewis, the gold medalist in the 1988 Olympic Games. . . .

Coach Phil Jackson is still trying to give Chicago Bull fans their money’s worth. Scottie Pippen played 42 minutes and Michael Jordan 37 against Indiana Saturday night. . . .

A year after his auto accident, trainer Bill Shoemaker retains his instructional capabilities and sense of humor. Around his barn at Santa Anita, he wears a cap that says “SHOE U.”