Notes on a Scorecard - June 29, 1992

Welcome to L.A.. . . .

“I guess you could call it really scary and a rush at the same time,” said outfielder Steve Finley about the early wake-up call the Houston Astros got Sunday morning at their downtown hotel. . . .

A couple of hours after the first earthquake, Astro second baseman Craig Biggio and coaches Matt Galante and Rudy Jaramillo walked across the street to attend church services. . . .

“You better start praying if you haven’t already,” said the priest as the second earthquake struck. . . .

The paid attendance of 26,260 at Dodger Stadium did not include the approximately 8,000 ticket-holders who stayed home. . . .

During a live TV interview an hour before game time, Tom Lasorda urged fans to come out to the ballpark and forget about the earthquakes, saying, “What better place to be than blue heaven on earth?” . . .

Mike Sharperson, who is batting .349, is the one Dodger who deserves a spot on the National League roster for the All-Star game July 14 at San Diego. . . .

Dodger outfielders ought to wear shoulder pads. . . .

You will never see another game like Friday night’s at Dodger Stadium--if you are lucky. . . .

Eric Karros has a chance to become the first rookie to lead the Dodgers in home runs since Billy Grabarkewitz hit 17 in 1970. However, Grabarkewitz hit only 11 more the rest of his major league career. . . .

Before the 22-game home stand began, American League managers Bobby Valentine and Sparky Anderson called Lasorda to wish him luck. . . .

Surprising statistic: Their opponents have scored only three more unearned runs than the Dodgers this season. . . .

Give a clear edge to the Dodgers in the deal that sent Kal Daniels to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. . . .

Whitey Herzog isn’t crazy, so he won’t trade Jim Abbott, Mark Langston or Chuck Finley. . . .

Local players who would have been drafted by NBA teams in other years include UCLA guard Gerald Madkins, UC Santa Barbara forward Lucius Davis and Loyola Marymount guard Terrell Lowery. . . .

Clipper rookie Don MacLean figures to improve his won-loss record at the Sports Arena, where UCLA was 1-3 during his four years. . . .

I don’t know why the San Antonio Spurs would want to trade Tracy Murray to the Milwaukee Bucks for Dale Ellis. . . .

Is Tom Gugliotta, who was taken sixth by the Washington Bullets, twice as good as Harold Miner, who was taken 12th by the Miami Heat? . . .

The Heat loves Miner despite not having scouted him at the Sports Arena last season. . . .

Wimbledon needs a dead ball. . . .

If you are Sergei Bubka, you can pass at 19-5 1/4. If you are Dan O’Brien, you should not pass at 14-5 1/4. . . .

A clever rewrite person could improve upon the Dan vs. Dave shoe commercial. . . .

I was surprised that the Kings got a coach before Eric Lindros got a team. . . .

Jockeys Kent Desormeaux, Eddie Delahoussaye, Chris McCarron and Gary Stevens are among those who will compete in the first Shoemaker Foundation celebrity golf tournament Tuesday at San Dimas Canyon. . . .

Never underestimate a fresh horse as Sultry Song demonstrated Saturday while winning the $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup. . . .

Tonight’s main event, Carlos Gonzalez vs. Jimmy Paul, should be one of the most competitive of the year at the Forum. . . .

Razor Ruddock would punch too hard for Evander Holyfield. . . .

British heavyweight Frank Bruno said no thank you to a possible fight against George Foreman. . . .

How can a guy like Tommy Morrison, who looks as though he is in good shape, tire so early in his fights? . . .

HBO’s tape-delayed showing of the Holyfield-Larry Holmes fight might have bored you, but consider yourself lucky if you didn’t pay $39.95 for the live telecast. . . .

Fancy boxing trunks are a turn off. Let’s go back to the old days when one fighter wore black trunks with a white stripe and his opponent white trunks with a black stripe. . . .

The U.S. Olympic boxing team excites me. . . .

It can’t be long before the Indianapolis Motor Speedway stages a NASCAR race. There is too much money involved. . . .

International and NBA rules have this in common: Players are allowed to take an extra step with the ball. . . .

You can’t accuse U.S. Coach Chuck Daly of pouring it on against Cuba Sunday. After all, Daly cleared his bench early, giving plenty of playing time to scrubs such as Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler, John Stockton, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner.