Notes on a Scorecard - May 21, 1992

It would be naive to think that USC and UCLA are not the targets of negative recruiting after the Los Angeles riots. . . .

The riots in nearby Watts in 1965 had little effect on USC recruiting, but other factors, including stiffer entrance requirements and increased neighborhood crime, have slowed the enrollment of blue-chip athletes in recent years. . . .

While balloting continues for the AL and NL all-star teams, here are my DL all-stars: 1B--Andres Galarraga; 2B--Julio Franco; SS--Ozzie Guillen; 3B--Mike Pagliarulo; C--Carlton Fisk; OF--Darryl Strawberry, Dale Murphy, Dan Gladden; DH--Bo Jackson; P--Bret Saberhagen. . . .

The deepest position is shortstop, where Shawon Dunston and Alan Trammell also are on the disabled list. . . .

Contrary to popular opinion, Jim Lefebvre says American League managers have to make the toughest decisions about whether to remove pitchers. The Seattle Mariner-turned-Chicago Cub manager points out that the designated hitter takes away obvious pinch-hitting situations. . . .

No Dodger has a better attitude than Eric Davis. . . .

The Dodgers’ best relief prospect is Todd Williams, a 6-3 submariner. The 21-year-old right-hander recently was elevated to San Antonio from Bakersfield, where he was leading the California League with nine saves. . . .

The Oakland Athletics might live to regret trading 10 years of Felix Jose for a month of Willie McGee. . . .

If George Steinbrenner is reinstated, he probably will fire New York Yankee General Manager Gene Michael before he fires Manager Buck Showalter. . . .

Jeff King of the Pittsburgh Pirates has played every infield position this season. . . .

Surprising statistic: It took Frank Tanana about 1,400 fewer innings to strike out more batters than Warren Spahn. . . .

One of the best features of the new Baltimore ballpark is the board devoted strictly to scores of other games. Fans at Dodger Stadium and Anaheim Stadium should be so lucky. . . .

An anagram of the first name of Mario Lemieux’s high-scoring Pittsburgh Penguin teammate Jaromir Jagr is Mario Jr. . . .

Look-alikes: Angel pitcher Julio Valera and Sinbad. . . .

Eleven of the 27 NBA teams do not have the same coach who started the 1991-92 season. . . .

The Denver Nuggets made another questionable move when they hired Dan Issel, instead of Mack Calvin, to replace Paul Westhead. . . .

New Laker Coach Randy Pfund never played in the NBA, but he ranks sixth on the all-time scoring list and first in assists at Wheaton (Ill.) College, where he was a two-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin all-star selection. . . .

Delivering the eulogy at funeral services Wednesday in Las Vegas for Charles Minker, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, was Baptist minister and boxing referee Richard Steele. . . .

For the record: The state of New York no longer uses the rounds system of scoring in boxing. . . .

The $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap Monday will be the richest race of the Memorial Day weekend at Hollywood Park, but the best might be the $100,000 Inglewood Handicap on Sunday that will match the last two winners of the Arlington Million, Tight Spot and Golden Pheasant. . . .

Entry forms are still available for the 10th annual Vince Ferragamo Special Olympics Celebrity Golf Classic June 2 at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park. The event has raised $380,000 for the Special Olympics. . . .

UCLA, Washington State and Oregon are expected to contend for the men’s title and Oregon and Arizona State for the women’s championship in the Pacific 10 Conference track meet this weekend at Eugene, Ore. . . .

The financial crisis in intercollegiate athletics was demonstrated again by San Diego State’s decision to eliminate men’s and women’s golf, wrestling, and men’s track and field. . . .

Unless you are a Cleveland Cavalier or Utah Jazz fan, you have to be rooting for a Chicago Bull-Portland Trail Blazer final. . . .

The NFL and major league baseball are making a mistake by not expanding to Sacramento. . . .

A college football team that wins at least six games against Division I-A teams has a good chance of playing in a bowl--36 of the 48 did last season. . . .

I see where Penn State, which chose the Blockbuster, has made its bowl decision even earlier than usual this year. . . .

Basketball referees have the toughest officiating jobs in sports and baseball umpires the easiest. . . .

ABC does a good job televising the Indianapolis 500, but I yearn for the days of the late Sid Collins’ radio broadcasts of the “greatest spectacle in racing.”