Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 14, 1992

Can’t blame Jay Schroeder for this one. . . .

It should be apparent that a team that has lost its last six meaningful games has problems other places besides quarterback. . . .

The play that set up the Cincinnati Bengals’ winning field goal during overtime--Dan Land fumbling after teammate Sam Graddy crashed into him--was just one of numerous Raider breakdowns. . . .

Maybe the running attack will improve now that the promising youngster from USC, Marcus Allen, has been given a shot at tailback. . . .

Coach Sam Wyche’s move from Cincinnati to Tampa Bay has improved both the Bengals and Buccaneers. . . .

Bill Parcells is better in the broadcasting booth than he was in the studio. . . . However, the NBC graphics crew and play-by-play announcer Marv Albert gave Jim Healy some fodder by identifying Al Davis as “President of the General Partner.” . . .

Too bad the Buffalo-San Francisco game wasn’t televised here. . . .

Even listening to it on radio must have been more exciting than watching the Ram-New England Patriot game in person. . . .

Of course, a shutout for the home team at Anaheim Stadium is rare, no matter what the sport. . . .

Just think what Deion Sanders would have done to the Washington Redskins if he had been practicing kickoffs for the Atlanta Falcons all summer. . . .

At the home of the Runnin’ Rebels of Nevada Las Vegas, Julio Cesar Chavez slowed Hector (Macho) Camacho to a walk Saturday night. . . .

Chavez was nearly perfect for 12 rounds. I gave him every round except the fourth. The unbeaten World Boxing Council super-lightweight champion wasted few moves, shut Camacho’s left eye with sneaky right-hand leads, and gave another impressive display of the seldom-practiced art of body punching. . . .

Clearly, Chavez is still at the top of his game at age 30 and after 82 fights. He loves to party but stays in superb condition by fighting often. . . .

Camacho showed unexpected grit by going the distance, despite taking a fierce beating, and trying to mix it up in the late rounds after his legs had gone dead. . . .

The highly charged atmosphere at the Thomas & Mack Center reminded me of the glory days of boxing at the Forum and the Olympic Auditorium. . . .

Camacho lost a $100,000 bet with Chavez on the outcome of the fight. Macho was a sucker. He made the wager at even odds although Chavez was a 5-1 favorite at most Las Vegas sporting parlors. . . .

Chavez vs. Pernell Whitaker would be a classic matchup, but don’t hold your breath waiting for it to materialize. . . .

Whitaker’s promoter, Dan Duva, says he will guarantee

$5 million to the winner and $250,000 to the loser. I can’t remember the last time that kind of proposition has been accepted. More likely is that Chavez will defend his 140-pound title next against Greg Haugen and Whitaker will step up to 147 pounds to challenge WBC welterweight champion Buddy McGirt. . . .

Also expected to move up in weight is Humberto Gonzalez after his defense of the WBC light-flyweight title tonight against Napa Kiatwanchai of Thailand at the Forum. Gonzalez’ adviser, Rafael Mendoza, claims that International Boxing Federation champion Michael Carbajal refuses to fight Gonzalez in what would be a lucrative unification bout. . . .

Here’s a proposed match that, fortunately, didn’t get past the talking stage: Roberto Duran vs. Mark Gastineau. . . .

It wasn’t much of a week in sports for Hollywood. You know what happened to Fay Vincent, former head of Columbia Pictures. And Frank Rothman, former head of MGM/UA, was the lawyer for the NFL owners in the players’ antitrust suit. . . .

A.P. Indy’s disappointing fifth-place finish in the Molson Million means the Breeders’ Cup Classic Oct. 31 at Gulfstream Park will be without a star attraction. . . .

UCLA quarterback Wayne Cook should have joined those who boycotted the Cal State Fullerton game. . . .

With Cook out for the season after being injured Saturday night, it might not be a bad idea to hand the ball to Kevin Williams 30 times a game. . . .

No, football hasn’t made it all the way back yet at SMU. Attendance for the Mustangs’ game against North Texas Saturday in Dallas was 10,200. . . .

In the first half, Nebraska was caught looking ahead to Washington. In the second half, Middle Tennessee State was caught looking ahead to Murray State. . . .

Have you heard the new Notre Dame fight song? It’s called the “Tie March.”