Notes on a Scorecard - April 16, 1992

It shouldn’t be long before the NCAA places the San Antonio Spurs on probation. . . .

Jerry Tarkanian, the famous worrier, will have to learn to take losses easier over the arduous pro basketball schedule. . . .

Any night this week will do, but it would have been nice if the Clippers had reached the NBA’s Sweet 16 on Tuesday. . . .

That was the 30th anniversary of Laker forward Elgin Baylor’s 61-point game against the Celtics at Boston Garden, which stood as a playoff record until Michael Jordan scored 63 in the same building during a two-overtime game in 1986. . . .

Baylor, the Clipper general manager, needed a victory over Sacramento at the Sports Arena and a Houston defeat by Portland for his franchise to have made the playoffs Tuesday for the first time since 1976, when it was known as the Buffalo Braves. . . .

He got neither. However, six years on the job has taught him to be patient. He gladly will wait until, oh, tonight to cancel his annual trip to New York for the lottery. . . .

It used to be that you couldn’t give away Clipper tickets. Saturday night, before a sold-out game against the lowly Denver Nuggets, a counterfeit ticket was confiscated at the Sports Arena. . . .

Attendance is up 2,000 per home game since the hiring of Larry Brown, and merchandise sales have increased 40%. . . .

Among the best moves made by Brown was the switch of Charles Smith from forward to center. . . .

Incidentally, that seven-game NBA championship series between the Lakers and Celtics in 1962 ended on April 18. This season, the playoffs will not begin until April 23. . . .

UCLA wide receiver Sean LaChapelle and cornerback Carlton Gray and USC offensive tackle Tony Boselli have been selected to the Playboy magazine preseason All-American football team. . . .

Former Miami quarterback Craig Erickson, who was injured before being chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round last year, will be eligible for the NFL draft again if he doesn’t sign with the Eagles before then. . . .

Wayne Gretzky won’t have to enlarge his trophy case this year. Only one of the nine awards presented before the Kings’ final regular-season home game Tuesday--that for leading scorer--went to Gretzky. . . .

The 287 goals scored by the Kings were their second fewest in the last 14 seasons. . . .

The fight card scheduled for Monday at the Forum has been poke-checked to Tuesday by the second game of the King-Edmonton Oiler playoff series. . . .

Mark Messier of the New York Rangers has a lock on the NHL most valuable player award. . . .

Vancouver’s Pavel Bure is expected to receive the western vote for rookie of the year, and the Rangers’ Tony Amonte the eastern vote. . . .

Title fights will be held on consecutive nights in Las Vegas next month--World Boxing Assn. cruiserweight champion Bobby Czyz vs. Donny Lalonde at the Rivera on May 8 and WBA welterweight champion Meldrick Taylor vs. World Boxing Council super-welterweight champion Terry Norris on May 9 at the Mirage. . . .

Norris’ title will be at stake, but the contracted weight is 150 1/4 pounds--squarely between the welterweight and super-welterweight limits. . . .

I would love to see a box-off among heavyweight contenders Riddick Bowe, Razor Ruddock, Lennox Lewis and Michael Moorer. . . .

Michael Dokes, who once owned a share of the heavyweight title, is co-breeder of unbeaten Kentucky Derby prospect D.J. Cat. . . .

California Derby winner Treekster is receiving treatments on his aching back from a chiropractor. . . .

Perhaps the most remarkable statistic about Fred Couples’ PGA Tour season is that 36 of his 40 rounds have been under par. . . .

The Mike Garrett Golf Classic on Tuesday at Brookside Park in Pasadena will benefit the East Los Angeles Youth Activities Foundation. . . .

Bjorn Borg’s comeback attempt has become sad. . . .

How important is it for a pitcher to start on opening day? Sandy Koufax did only once during his 12-year career--a 4-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 at Dodger Stadium. . . .

Vin Scully, who is in his 42nd year with the Dodgers, will receive the L.A. area Governors Grammy award May 30. . . .

Andy Benes of the San Diego Padres may be the best pitcher in the National League. . . .

Dieters Pete Incaviglia, Sid Fernandez and John McSherry aren’t half the people they used to be.