Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 23, 1992

Anyone who believes the Raider propaganda that Todd Marinovich isn’t being disciplined for off-the-field activities is asked to come up with one good reason why Vince Evans, 37, should start over Marinovich, 23, Saturday at Washington if Jay Schroeder can’t play. . . .

This sure has been a lousy NFL season around here, but just think about all the hours you’ve been saving by not having to figure out the playoff possibilities of the Rams and Raiders. . . .

For only the second time since the Raiders moved from Oakland in 1982, both Los Angeles teams will finish with losing records. During the strike-shortened season of 1987, the Raiders were 5-10 and the Rams 6-9. . . .

At least, the Rams will have a good chance to end their losing streak against NFC West opposition Sunday at Anaheim Stadium when they play the Atlanta Falcons, who have given up more than 40 points five times this season. . . .

His teammates showed new respect for Steve Young by voting him as the San Francisco 49ers’ most inspirational player. . . .

Anthony Munoz’s retirement from the Cincinnati Bengals reminds us that an all-time USC football team might not even include the school’s only Outland Trophy winner. I mean, do you put Ron Yary at one of the tackle positions over Munoz or Hall of Famer Ron Mix? . . .

Give the San Diego Chargers’ Bobby Ross a slight edge over the Indianapolis Colts’ Ted Marchibroda and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Bill Cowher among the three new hires who are contending for AFC coach of the year. . . .

Ross’ team has shown the most improvement during the season. . . .

Four Notre Dame seniors are expected to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft--running back Reggie Brooks, tight end Irv Smith, quarterback Rick Mirer and linebacker Demetrius DuBose. . . .

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A certain athletic director covered all bases by signing his Christmas cards “Mike McGee, USC.” . . .

Volvo Tennis/Los Angeles director Bob Kramer already has lined up Michael Stich and Michael Chang, the finalists in the recent Grand Slam Cup, for the tournament Aug. 2-8 at UCLA. . . .

If the NHL shuts down for two weeks during the next Winter Olympics, it will be to send not one, but two so-called dream teams to Norway--Canadian and American. And the Swedes, Finns and Russians in the NHL will probably play for their national teams. . . .

The league actually might be trying to prevent fights when referee Andy VanHellemond sends all 10 New York Ranger and New Jersey Devil skaters to the penalty box for two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct infractions after several pushing and shoving matches. . . .

Bob Berry must be regretting his decision to return to coaching with the St. Louis Blues. . . .

USC should ask the NCAA for permission to shoot its free throws from beyond the three-point line. . . .

A coach headed for bigger things is Mike Jarvis, whose George Washington Colonials play Pepperdine tonight at Firestone Fieldhouse. . . .

Nevada Las Vegas, not Duke, has the longest winning streak in the nation. . . .

Lucious Allen’s son Bakir, a 6-foot-4 guard from Crossroads, has signed a letter of intent with UC Santa Barbara. . . .

Rod Strickland might have been the point guard former San Antonio coach Jerry Tarkanian wanted, but Sherman Douglas might be the one that Tarkanian’s successor, John Lucas, gets. . . .

Remember this name, if you can: Predrag Danolivic. He is a 6-6 1/2 guard who was drafted in the second round by the Golden State Warriors and is burning up the Italian league. . . .

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It will never be confused with Wrigley Field in any other way, but 54 day games will be played at Candlestick Park next season. . . .

He had to assume a low profile as a coach, but Dusty Baker has become a public relations hit as San Francisco Giant manager. . . .

The Cubs might not have gone wrong by signing Randy Myers, Jose Guzman and Greg Hibbard with that money that would have been spent on Greg Maddux. . . .

If the Oakland Athletics hadn’t signed Ruben Sierra, they would have been forced to admit defeat to the Texas Rangers in the Jose Canseco deal. . . .

With a new trainer, Bobby Frankel, and a new jockey, Chris McCarron, Bertrando will launch his comeback in the $100,000 Malibu Stakes on opening day Saturday at Santa Anita. . . .

“I thought Bertrando was a better horse than A.P. Indy going into the Santa Anita Derby,” Frankel said. “But A.P. Indy got better and Bertrando got sick.” . . .

The weekend date and a calendar giveaway could mean a crowd of more than 50,000. . . .

I get the feeling that track announcer Trevor Denman will never sound better to regular racegoers than Saturday when he returns from a three-week vacation.