Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 2, 1992

This coin-tossing business is no laughing matter. . . .

The Rams blew the toss for the 12th consecutive time Sunday, the Falcons scored a touchdown on their first possession and the Rams wound up losing another close one. . . .

If captain Jackie Slater had better coin-tossing technique, the Rams might be unbeaten against NFC West opponents this season instead of winless. They have been outscored by only eight points in three games by New Orleans, San Francisco and Atlanta, all of whom have scored first. . . .

The trouble with Slater is that he is too predictable. He always calls heads. Call tails once in a while, Jackie, and you might catch the opposition off balance. . . .

Officials, with their flags, have a better chance than USC opponents of stopping Curtis Conway on kick returns. . . .

Even Larry Smith said Conway should be getting his hands on the ball more than 5.3 times per game from scrimmage. So, during the Trojans’ 23-13 victory over Arizona State on Saturday at Tempe, Conway got it only four times. Actually, more plays were designed to go to him, but the Sun Devils’ pass rush and coverage disrupted those plans. . . .

The slim chance of blocking a punt isn’t worth the risk of a roughing-the-kicker penalty. Such a penalty helped to kill Arizona State’s chances during the fourth quarter. . . .

In the last two years at Berkeley, California has outscored UCLA and USC, 100-42. . . .

Is it too late for the Blockbuster Bowl to take back that invitation to Penn State? . . .

Lennox Lewis’ knockout of Razor Ruddock during the second round Saturday night in London was the most devastating in a heavyweight elimination fight since Ingemar Johansson flattened Eddie Machen during the first round 34 years ago in Gothenburg, Sweden. . . .

Machen, who later went 12 rounds with Sonny Liston despite a tendon injury that prevented from using his right hand, said in the dressing room that he didn’t remember anything about the knockout punch delivered by Johansson. . . .

However, Johansson got little respect. He was a prohibitive underdog to champion Floyd Patterson in 1959, only to knock Patterson down seven times and finally out with toonderbolts during the third round at the Polo Grounds. . . .

In contrast, Lewis probably will be favored over the winner of the Nov. 13 Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe bout. . . .

Lewis handled Ruddock much easier than Mike Tyson did either time. . . .

At 6 feet 5, Lewis towered over Ruddock, who usually has all the physical advantages. Lewis, the 1988 Olympic Games champion, also showed uncommon poise, especially for someone engaging in his first big pro fight. . . .

Lewis reminds some boxing people of the three-time former Olympic champion from Cuba, Teofilo Stevenson. . . .

Promoter Don Chargin wants to match his welterweight contender, Yory Boy Campas, against Cristano Espana, who won the World Boxing Assn. championship during the eighth round over Meldrick Taylor. . . .

Taylor is a classic example of a guy who was never the same after a tough fight--his controversial defeat to Julio Cesar Chavez in 1990. . . .

There is something screwy about the regulations of the NHL when Marty McSorley gets to serve his six-day suspension on days when the Kings aren’t playing. . . .

Any doubts about the local jockey colony being the best in the world, not merely the nation, were dispelled Saturday when six of the seven Breeders’ Cup races were won by Southern California-based riders. . . .

Sometimes it all depends on where you make your bet. Thirty Slews, who has campaigned here, paid $12.60 to win the Sprint in the wagering at Santa Anita. At Gulfstream Park, he paid $39.40. In New York, he paid $76. . . .

A.P. Indy should be voted horse of the year, and Paseana should finish second in the balloting. . . .

Juvenile winner Gilded Time demonstrated that he has the courage, but the question remains whether he has the stamina for the Kentucky Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles. . . .

Like mentor Charlie Whittingham, A.P. Indy’s trainer, Neil Drysdale, is adept at bringing a horse up to a big race. . . .

Arazi turned out to be another Devil’s Bag, outstanding at age 2 and then something far less. . . .

Biggest benefactors of the failure of the Europeans were the British bookmakers. . . .

This Breeders’ Cup was originally scheduled for Santa Anita, where the track was muddy Saturday. However, it is odds-on the track will be fast next year when the Cup is held in Arcadia. . . .

How heartwarming it was to see Jim Valvano on ESPN and to hear that he hopes to work a full schedule of college basketball games this season.