Notes on a Scorecard - April 30, 1992

May I offer my sympathy, once again, to all Los Angeles hockey fans. . . . You packed the Forum for every game this season, but your team showed up only about half the time. . . .

L.A. had twice the talent of Edmonton, which was depleted by injuries, but the Oilers won twice as many games as the Kings in the opening-round playoff series primarily because they worked harder. . . .

Clearly, Bruce McNall needs someone to motivate his highly paid players. Robbie Ftorek never could and Tom Webster, who missed 12 games because of a suspension, didn’t this season. . . .

Chances are that the Kings will have a new coach, their 16th, when they open their 26th NHL season in October. . . .

Larry Robinson, who has ended a distinguished 20-year NHL career, might be ready to take over without any coaching experience. He knows the game well enough and is a people person. . . .

Another possibility would be Jacques Demers, the best hockey coach in North America without a coaching job. . . .

What a contrast between the performances of the Kings and the Clippers on Tuesday night. . . .

The spirit of ’92 was Doc Rivers stripping the ball from John Stockton in the fourth quarter, taking an elbow in the right eye, dashing downcourt with blood streaming down his cheek, and making a slam dunk. . . .

The less-than-capacity, but more-than-enthusiastic crowd at the Sports Arena helped to give the Clippers the home-court advantage they needed to beat the Utah Jazz. . . .

“The fans were awesome,” Rivers said. . . .

Olden Polynice wore a T-shirt that read: “No Excuses, Just Results,” on the front and “Part II. . . . Playoffs,” on the back. . . .

Did you notice Ron Harper outrebounded Karl Malone, 12-10?. . . .

Harper, best known as a scorer, also was greatly responsible for Jeff Malone going five for 15 from the floor. . . .

From James Edwards: “Utah is very physical. We had to learn to quit being passive. If you are passive against these guys, you get your butt kicked.” . . .

This may sound like a recording, but Loy Vaught deserves more playing time. The reserve forward extended the Clippers’ lead to double figures late in the first half and helped keep it that way until halftime with two jump shots and a tip-in. . . .

If the Chicago Bulls join Duke as NBA and NCAA repeaters this year, it will be the first time since the Boston Celtics and UCLA Bruins doubled their pleasure in 1969. . . .

Favorites have not done well in the Kentucky Derby lately, but Arazi’s connections should be encouraged by the record of odds-on favorites. Of the 29 in the history of the race, 17 have won, nine have placed, and only three have finished out of the money. . . .

Co-national football champion Washington had 11 players drafted compared to six for co-champion Miami. Of course, the Hurricanes were the younger team. . . .

The reason UCLA wide receiver-outfielder Michael Moore wasn’t drafted by the NFL is that most football people say his future is in baseball, where he will be a high pick. . . .

UCLA should dominate the men’s track and field meet against USC on Saturday at Drake Stadium, but the women’s meet will be closer. . . .

As demonstrated Tuesday night at Minnesota, instant-replay review works in the NHL. . . .

For the record: Dodger farmhand Billy Ashley is playing for San Antonio of the Texas League, not Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League. . . .

The leading hitter in the San Francisco Giant farm system is San Jose outfielder Rikkert Faneyte, a former member of the Dutch national team. . . . Among the most difficult tasks in sports is trying to hit a baseball against Roger Clemens on a cold night. . . .

Bob (Hurricane) Hazle, who died this week, influenced the 1957 National League pennant race when he hit .403 for the champion Milwaukee Braves in 41 games after being called up in July. . . .

How confident were the Clippers that there would be a Game 4 in the Utah series? The baby shower for Doc Rivers’ wife Kris was scheduled for tonight at 6:30, an hour before tipoff, in the Sports Arena lounge.