Notes on a Scorecard - May 5, 1992

George Foreman is ready to write a check for $1 million to help speed the recovery effort in Los Angeles. . . .

“When we saw the rioting on TV, my wife and I cried,” Foreman said from his home in Houston. “I’m in a position financially where I can do something. I want to help build a store in South-Central L.A., right away, where the senior citizens can get their prescriptions filled. They aren’t able to travel. They have to have a place in their neighborhood where they can get their medicine.” . . .

Foreman, who will appear on “The Tonight Show” Friday, said he hoped to meet with Magic Johnson and other prominent athletes about fund raising during his stay here this week. . . .

The Clippers may have wound up losers Monday night, but they gave another strong indication that they are going to be winners in the years ahead. . . .

I got goose bumps when “I Love L.A.” was blasted over the public-address system and the fans sang, clapped and danced during the closing moments of the Clippers’ victory over the Utah Jazz at the Anaheim Convention Center Sunday. . . .

If Bruce McNall wants the best person available, he will hire Jaques Demers to coach the Kings. . . .

I wonder if Mikhail Gorbachev, who used to work for a old hockey power named the Soviet Union, gave McNall any tips at lunch Monday. . . .

The Lakers won’t pick until 15th in the first round of the NBA draft, barring trades, but that doesn’t mean they can’t improve themselves. Players who were selected 15th or lower are John Stockton, Joe Dumars, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, Jeff Hornacek, Mark Price, Ricky Pierce, Larry Nance, A.C. Green, Bill Laimbeer and Dennis Rodman. . . .

Karl Malone was taken 13th in 1985 and Tim Hardaway 14th in 1989. . . .

Portland-Phoenix should be a fine basketball series and an outstanding track meet. . . .

I will take that any day over the wrestling matches between the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons. . . .

It will be an upset if Harold Miner of USC, Tracy Murray of UCLA or Jim Jackson of Ohio State returns for his senior season instead of filing for the NBA draft. . . .

Thumbs down on trainer Francois Boutin for second-guessing Pat Valenzuela’s ride aboard Arazi in the Kentucky Derby. It was not much different from the ride Valenzuela gave Arazi in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the same race track, only this time the colt didn’t respond. . . .

Any criticism should be directed toward Boutin for not giving Arazi a legitimate prep race or two in this country, instead of that one romp in the park outside Paris. . . .

Boutin should have been aware that the Derby is the toughest race in America to win. . . .

Trainer Shelley Riley has done an outstanding job with Casual Lies, a $7,500 purchase who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Santa Anita Derby. . . .

How slow was the 118th Derby, which was run in 2:04? In 1914, Old Rosebud won the 40th Derby in 2:03 2/5. . . .

If someone has to juggle my lineup, I want it to be Buck Rodgers. . . .

Cal Ripken Jr. is the 152nd-highest-paid major league baseball player. . . .

The Boston Red Sox hit seven home runs in their first 22 games, 15 of which were played at Fenway Park. . . .

Ready for more draft speculation? The Houston Astros are expected to make Johnny Damon, a high school outfielder from Orlando, Fla., the first choice in baseball’s June amateur draft. . . .

Probable first-round picks are Preston Wilson, an outfielder who is the adopted son of Mookie Wilson, and Ryan Luzinski, a catcher who is the son of Greg Luzinski. . . .

Mark McGwire had an .872 slugging mark after the first four weeks of the season. The major league record is .847 by Babe Ruth in 1920. . . .

Any Senate investigation into boxing should include the alphabet groups. . . .

Terry Norris, who is a slight favorite to defeat Meldrick Taylor Saturday night at the Mirage in Las Vegas, says: “Taylor’s strength has always been his hand speed, but I’m just as quick.” . . .

USA Boxing is unhappy that the Barcelona competition will be held in the smallest arena ever for a modern Olympic Games tournament. . . .

Track and field made a comeback in Southern California when the recent Mazda-Mt. San Antonio College Relays drew its biggest gate. . . .

Ron Allice is trying to interest sponsors in staging a world-class meet at the new, state-of-the-art track at Long Beach Veterans Memorial Stadium. . . .

The road-ice advantage is proving to be important in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.