Notes on a Scorecard - June 23, 1992

Now that Bruce McNall is chairman of the Board of Governors of the NHL, can it be long before Wayne Gretzky becomes commissioner? . . .

Only Butch Reynolds knows for sure. If Reynolds used anabolic steroids, he is doing everyone a disservice by competing in the U.S. Olympic trials and screwing up the 400-meter schedule. If he was clean, he is standing up and running for his principles. . . .

The trouble with track and field organizations is that they hang out their dirty laundry in public and hide the positive aspects of their sport. . . .

Los Angeles is not the only team in the Dodger organization having problems. San Antonio finished in last place in the first-half Texas League West Division standings, and Albuquerque is last in the Pacific Coast League Southern Division. . . .

The last time the Dodgers and Angels both finished with losing records was 1987. . . .

How refreshing to hear Lance Parrish, after learning that he will be put on waivers by the Angels, thank Gene and Jackie Autry for giving him the opportunity to play in Southern California. . . .

The Angels’ home stand could not have ended much better than it did Sunday--Buck Rodgers watching Jim Abbott beat the Oakland Athletics. . . .

Cal State Los Angeles Coach John Herbold believes the sacrifice fly rule should be dumped. “In what way does a batter who hits a long fly out sacrifice himself?” Herbold asks. . . .

As the 12th week of the season began, it didn’t take even a .300 batting average to crack the top 10 in the American League. . . .

Tonight’s most attractive matchup of losers: Dave Stieb (3-6) of Toronto vs. Nolan Ryan (0-3) of Texas at Arlington Stadium. . . .

Ryan’s teammate, 10-game winner Kevin Brown, has allowed only one home run in 113 1/3 innings. . . .

Post-Father’s Day note: Montreal outfielder Moises Alou’s game has picked up considerably since his dad Felipe was named manager of the Expos. . . .

Hardly anyone is noticing, but the Milwaukee Brewers are making a big move in the American League East race. . . .

Give the edge to Phoenix over Philadelphia in the Charles Barkley deal, and watch the Suns make a strong bid for the Western Conference championship next season. . . .

How good was the 1972 University of Texas golf team? Teammates Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw tied for the NCAA championship. . . .

If they had awarded lap money during the U.S. Open, Gil Morgan would have enriched the $22,532 purse he got for tying for 13th place. . . .

Terry Ruskowski, the former King who has been coaching in the minor leagues, is interested in the Los Angeles job and wouldn’t be a bad choice. . . .

Unless you are a charter member of the Kevin Miller Fan Club, you must agree that the Detroit Red Wings stole Dino Ciccarelli from the Washington Capitals. . . .

Jockeys Across America Day IV, a fund-raiser for the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, has been set for July 4. Since the fund was established in 1987, nearly $1 million has been donated to disabled riders. . . .

Scariest sight of the weekend: The view from the platform diving board, as shown by NBC during the U.S. Olympic trials. . . .

Al Davis made the best possible choice, John Madden, to speak on his behalf during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at Canton, Ohio. . . .

First-time UCLA football season ticket-holders are being offered a discount that equates to getting the USC game at the Rose Bowl free. . . .

Don MacLean and Tracy Murray are expected to give UCLA more than one first-round NBA draft choice for the first time since 1979, when David Greenwood, Roy Hamilton and Brad Holland were selected. . . .

Clipper fans are invited to watch a big-screen showing of the draft--free admission, parking and refreshments-- Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at the Sports Arena. . . .

If Larry Holmes was paid $7 million for fighting Evander Holyfield, what is so outlandish about Ryne Sandberg making that amount for a season’s work? . . .

The Holyfield-Holmes hype was bad enough, but now we have to hear on ABC that Tommy (the Duke) Morrison is hungry for a heavyweight title shot. . . .

The motto of 100-meter dash winner Gwen Torrence at the U.S. Olympic trials: “No pain, no Spain.”