Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 16, 1992

Listening to the last couple of minutes of the Rams’ 27-23 victory at Dallas on the car radio was more exciting than watching the first 55 minutes of the Raiders’ 20-3 victory over Seattle at the Coliseum Sunday. . . .

The only problem was that all-sports station KMPC was all-commercial during Tony Zendejas’ field goal that boosted the Rams’ lead to four points and another play while the Cowboys were trying to drive to a winning touchdown. . . .

It was a tough weekend for KMPC, which also missed the game-tying field goal by Michigan against Illinois Saturday. . . .

Unlike the Rams, the Raiders are winning and losing big. Seven of the Raiders’ last eight games have been decided by at least 12 points. . . .

At its current pace, Seattle will be remembered in NFL lore as the “touchdown-every- two-games” Seahawks. . . .

Raider quarterback Jay Schroeder, whose receivers dropped several passes, was not nearly as bad as his numbers indicated. . . .

This is a recording: I still can’t fathom the way the Raiders substitute their tailbacks. . . .

The wave was performed in the stands during the third quarter, but several empty sections abstained. . . .

The Seahawks, who are tied with the New England Patriots for the worst record, would be wise to draft Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe if they get the opportunity. . . .

Coaches claim most games are decided by turnovers, but neither the Rams nor Cowboys committed one all day. . . .

Jim Everett is in such good form that he can match Troy Aikman completion-for- completion on the road--22 for 37. . . .

This was the first weekend this season that all four local teams won. . . .

It is easier to work up enthusiasm for the UCLA-USC game now that the Bruins are in improved physical condition and have completed a sweep over the Oregon schools. . . .

An upset over their cross-town rivals would give the Bruins six victories and make them eligible to play in a bowl game. . . .

The Coliseum is still shaking from the heavy hitting delivered by USC and Arizona Saturday. . . .

“We proved how damn tough the Pac-10 Conference is,” USC Coach Larry Smith said. . . .

Trojan sophomore quarterback Rob Johnson performed with the poise of a senior against the Desert Swarm. His pass-catching technique wasn’t bad, either. . . .

With UCLA and Notre Dame remaining, USC is 3-2 in pay-back games. . . .

My idea of a low-scoring scrimmage would be one between the Arizona offense and defense. . . .

The trouble with Tom Osborne and Nebraska is that they can’t win the little ones. . . .

If it is possible for a Notre Dame running back to be underrated, Reggie Brooks is. . . .

Final score: Florida State 70, Tulane 7. Time of possession: Tulane 31 minutes 22 seconds; Florida State 28:38. . . .

Look for Bo Schembechler to be back coaching college football next season. . . .

Gino Torretta and Miami vs. Marshall Faulk and San Diego State Nov. 28 at Jack Murphy Stadium might be the Heisman Bowl. . . .

The most surprising statistic about the Wayne Gretzy-less Kings is that they are the second highest scoring team in the NHL. . . .

Friday the 13th turned out to be lucky for fight fans. . . .

They saw a fast-paced, emotional heavyweight championship bout between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield that perhaps seemed even better than it was because of all the clinkers in the division over the years. . . .

What made it unusual was that both fighters, the winner and loser, earned respect. . . .

Bowe showed that he could get himself into peak condition, go the distance, and wage an intelligent, spirited fight. . . .

Holyfield left the crowd of 17,500 at the Thomas & Mack Center talking about his bravery. . . .

The 10th round was one of the most exciting ever waged without a knockdown. . . .

It is rare for a champion to make his first defense against the top-ranked contender--

Lennox Lewis, in this case--and the Bowe camp cannot be blamed for wanting to accept a huge offer from the Chinese government to fight George Foreman. . . .

I’m hoping Bowe-Foreman doesn’t come off because I don’t want to see the likable old man take a beating. . . .

The question about Bowe is whether, as a champion and millionaire, he will retain the desire that helped him to lose 45 pounds in eight weeks, enabled him to tolerate the awful taste of Dick Gregory’s maggot juice, and got him into the fighting shape of his life.