Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 10, 1992

Magic Johnson’s second retirement is proving harmful to the Lakers, both on the court and at the box office. . . .

The crowd of 15,012 that saw them lose their home opener to Sacramento on Sunday night was the smallest for a regular-season Laker game at the Forum since April 6, 1987, when 14,777 turned out for a victory over the Clippers. . . .

The Laker media guide, which was printed before he announced he was retiring for good, has 11 pictures of Magic on the cover. . . .

After watching the Clippers lose to Phoenix on Saturday night, I am convinced that they should have accepted Philadelphia’s offer of Charles Barkley for Charles Smith, Ken Norman, Bo Kimble and a first-round draft choice last season. . . .

When the Clippers’ John Williams and the Suns’ Oliver Miller went into the lane, there wasn’t room for anyone else. . . .

Red Auerbach was 49 when he won his last NBA game. Jerry Tarkanian will be 62 when he wins his first. . . .

The greatest basketball coach ever, John Wooden, has filmed a shoe commercial with some of the greatest centers ever--Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Bill Walton and Willis Reed--and rookie Shaquille O’Neal. . . .

Former USC guard Harold Miner is off to a slow start at Miami. He didn’t get into the game opening night against Orlando and was shut out during eight minutes of play against New Jersey. . . .

Heat Coach Kevin Loughery, who has been critical of the way Miner runs the court, was quoted as saying: “It’s called the Hank Aaron trot and you can’t do that in this league.” . . .

Conversely, Washington Bullet Coach Wes Unseld says he is pleasantly surprised by how hard former UCLA forward Don MacLean is working to get his shot off. . . .

Among the last cuts of the Chicago Bulls was Gerald Madkins, the guard from UCLA. . . .

When an NBA game goes into overtime, the number of fouls for disqualification should be increased from six to seven. . . .

Look for Shawn Kemp of the Seattle Supersonics and Nick Anderson of the Orlando Magic to emerge as stars. . . .

The Kings’ 11-4 victory over the San Jose Sharks at the Cow Palace on Sunday night was a vast improvement over last season, when Los Angeles split two overtime games there and won the other by a goal. . . .

Among the best things the Kings did during the off-season was not listen to trade offers for Rob Blake, 22, who already is one of the finest defensive defensemen in hockey. . . .

What a shame that most of Howie Long’s Raider teammates didn’t share his enthusiasm for the game Sunday in Philadelphia. . . .

Lawrence Taylor and Bruce Armstrong probably will agree with those who believe that there ought to be a law against NFL games being played on artificial turf outdoors. . . .

Barry Sanders hasn’t rushed for a touchdown in five games at the Silverdome this season. . . .

USC, which will need plenty of help against Arizona’s Desert Swarm defense, hopes to have guards Kris Pollack, who has been out the last three games, and Joel Crisman, who has been sat out the last two, back in the lineup Saturday at the Coliseum. . . .

When Stanford upset Notre Dame, Bill Walsh, who coached the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl championships, called it as big as any victory during his career. . . .

When Stanford upset USC, Walsh called it his most satisfying victory of the year. . . .

Quarterback Sean O’Brien of Santa Margarita High in Rancho Santa Margarita is the nephew of former Notre Dame quarterback Coley O’Brien. . . .

Indiana Coach Bob Knight, who doesn’t recruit in Southern California often, has signed 6-foot-10 center Richard Mandeville of La Canada High and 6-3 guard Robert Foster of Fairfax. . . .

The Atlanta Olympic organizing committee, which has sold European rights to the 1996 Games for $250 million, is expected to begin negotiations with networks in the United States in March or April. Projections range from $400 million to $450 million. . . .

The Seattle Mariners, who underachieved last season, are a good team for Lou Piniella. . . . What I will miss most about SportsChannel Los Angeles when it folds next month is the “Sports Writers on TV” show from Chicago. Through all that cigar smoke every Monday comes an hour of wit and wisdom from Bill Gleason, Rick Telander, Bill Jauss and host-moderator Ben Bentley. . . .

Bob Hess, a Stanford graduate, trains a horse named Berkeley Grad. . . .

How about the Detroit Tigers, who need a starting pitcher, sending Southern California native Cecil Fielder to the Angels, who need a power-hitting first baseman, for Michigan native Jim Abbott?