Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 22, 1992

Perhaps nothing typifies this bummer of a sports year in L.A. more than the odyssey of Eric Dickerson. . . .

Dickerson agreed to take a pay cut from $2.2 million to $1.1 million this season when he was traded by the Indianapolis Colts to the Raiders, explaining that “winning is what it’s about. I get more of a thrill from winning than I do the money. I hate losing, that’s the main thing.” . . .

Without Dickerson, the Colts are 8-7. With him, the Raiders are 6-9. . . .

In fairness to the second-leading rusher in NFL history, offense hasn’t had much to do with the Colts’ recent surge. In their four consecutive victories, they have scored a total of 48 points. . . .

If you were playing word association Sunday at the Coliseum, the mention of Raiders would not have brought a response of pride or poise. . . .

Attention, Al Davis: In a Miami news release last week, the Dolphins were described as “the winningest team in professional sports over the past two decades.” . . .

Running back Cleveland Gary has reached the 1,000-yard plateau, but Ram Coach Chuck Knox should figure out a way to better utilize the speed of David Lang. . . .

Linebacker is the position where the Rams need the most help in the draft, but they would be wise also to select a receiver or two in the higher rounds. Jim Everett threw two passes Sunday in Green Bay that were dropped in the end zone. . . .

Most improbable daily double over the weekend was that of the Cleveland Browns’ James Jones, who had a sack and a touchdown pass reception against the Houston Oilers. Jones is a defensive tackle who often lines up as a blocking back when the Browns have the ball within the opponents’ five-yard line. . . .

Thumbs down on New York Jet defensive coordinator Pete Carroll for giving the choke sign to Pete Stoyanovich after the Dolphin kicker had missed an extra point Sunday night and thumbs up to Carroll for making a public apology Monday. . . .

The Minnesota Vikings have proved that you can win a division championship without consistent play from the quarterback position. . . .

The next NHL draft is supposed to be exceptional and will include seven players who might have been picked first this year. . . .

If Anaheim and Miami are able to begin play next season, they probably will draft third and fourth in the first round, behind Ottawa and San Jose. The other recent NHL expansion team, Tampa Bay, may make the playoffs. . . .

The likely No. 1 pick, Viktor Kozlov of Russia, is reported to be in the Mario Lemieux mold. . . .

New NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to install an NBA-type draft lottery eventually. . . .

Bob Kudelski will get plenty of playing time with the Ottawa Senators--but none during the playoffs--after being traded by the Kings. . . .

Two of the best coaching jobs in the league are being done in the same division, the Smythe, by Barry Melrose of the Kings and Dave King of Calgary. . . .

The Riddick Bowe-Michael Dokes fight Feb. 6 will be the first heavyweight title bout at Madison Square Garden since 1986, when Bonecrusher Smith knocked out World Boxing Assn. champion Tim Witherspoon during the first round. It might go about the same distance, too. . . .

Al Joyner, the 1984 Olympic triple-jump champion, plans to begin training as a decathlete. He will compete in the mini-decathlon--50-meter hurdles, long jump and shotput--at the Sunkist meet Feb. 20 at the Sports Arena against Barcelona decathlon gold medalist Robert Zmelik of Czechoslovakia and Dan O’Brien. . . .

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion Gilded Time and Hollywood Futurity winner River Special could give the Southland a potent 1-2 punch in the Kentucky Derby. . . .

John Lucas’ appointment as San Antonio Spurs coach adds depth to our NBA coaches-as-players all-star team. . . .

The first team: Wes Unseld, Dan Issel, Lenny Wilkens, Paul Westphal and Jerry Sloan. . . .

The second team: Don Nelson, Rudy Tomjanovich, Phil Jackson, Kevin Loughery and Lucas. . . .

Every lottery pick except for Adam Keefe of the Atlanta Hawks and the unsigned Jimmy Jackson is averaging double figures in scoring. . . .

Freshman point guard Rodrick Rhodes, who is from the same Jersey City, N.J., high school as Bobby and Danny Hurley, is helping to make Kentucky a strong contender for the NCAA title. . . .

I’m surprised Georgetown Coach John Thompson didn’t schedule the Dallas Mavericks this season.