Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 14, 1993

News item: Dallas Mavericks fire Coach Richie Adubato. Reaction: With their talent, the Mavericks ought to have three victories instead of two. . . .

I am having trouble getting my game face on for the Clipper-Laker matchup tonight at the Sports Arena. . . .

A sign that the Clippers are not concentrating was their 46% free-throw shooting in a 113-103 loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday that brought back memories of the bad old, pre-Larry Brown days. . . .

Brown has five players on the final year of their contracts, but Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda once told me he would love to have an entire team that was playing out its option and seeking to impress potential employers. . . .

The Lakers, coming off a 101-89 loss to Miami last Sunday at the Forum, are 0-2 against the Heat, 1-2 against Sacramento and 1-1 against Dallas, but 2-0 against Chicago and 2-0 against Portland. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal is a cinch to become the first rookie to start in the NBA All-Star game since Michael Jordan in 1985. . . .

The much-hyped Indiana-Michigan game Tuesday on ESPN was a rarity that lived up to its billing. . . .

If you think the Cal State Long Beach men are tough in their campus gym this season, consider that the 49er women were unbeaten there against USC teams led by Cheryl Miller. . . .

Those who like the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday should be aware that visiting teams never have won both Super Bowl tournament semifinal games the same year. . . .

Let’s hope the San Francisco-Dallas game bears more resemblance to the 49er-Cowboy NFC title game 11 years ago than the Miami-San Diego rout last weekend did to the Dolphin-Charger playoff game 11 years ago. . . .

Just how well the 49ers and Cowboys perform could be up to George Toma, the groundskeeper from Kansas City who has been hired to shape up the Candlestick Park turf. . . .

Some Dallas defensive players might be unhappy about being ignored by Pro Bowl selectors, but Jimmy Johnson would be delighted not to be working on Feb. 7 in Honolulu. That honor goes to the losing coaches in the NFC and AFC championship games. . . .

Francois Bota ought to compare notes with George Foreman before they fight on the same card Saturday night in Reno. . . .

Bota knocked out Art Hooks, Russell Rierson and Mike Jones, all in the first round, on Nov. 29 in Oklahoma City. . . .

On April 26, 1975, Foreman knocked out Terry Daniels, Jerry Judge, and Alonzo Johnson, each in the second round, and went three rounds with Charley Polite and Boone Kirkman during an exhibition in Toronto. . . .

Bota, who is 24-0 with 11 knockouts, will face Cowboy Bill Wright in a scheduled 10-rounder before Foreman, who won the heavyweight title from Joe Frazier 20 years ago this month, opposes Bota’s fellow South African, Pierre Coetzer. . . .

Buddy McGirt, World Boxing Council welterweight champion, who scored a lopsided decision over Genaro Leon on Tuesday but was battered during the 12th round--figures to get outboxed by the quicker Pernell Whitaker on March 6 at Madison Square Garden. . . .

Whitaker will be stepping up in weight class, but at 5 feet 6, McGirt is no giant. . . .

Senior golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez is co-manager of Richard Duran, who will challenge the International Boxing Federation’s super-bantamweight champion Kennedy McKinney on April 17 in Sacramento. . . .

Rafael Ruelas will keep busy next Tuesday on the USA network show in Boise that will feature Reggie Johnson’s defense of the World Boxing Assn.’s middleweight title against Kiyun Song of Korea. . . .

The best-balanced team in the NHL could be the Vancouver Canucks, who are tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the most goals scored and are second to the Chicago Blackhawks for the fewest goals against. . . .

Track and field stars threatening to boycott the World Championships this summer in Stuttgart, Germany, unless $10 million is put up in prize money say they are being realistic because European TV rights to the meet were sold for $45 million. . . .

Randy Barnes, world indoor and outdoor shotput record-holder, who was suspended because of alleged steroid use, will return to competition on Feb. 20 in the Sunkist meet at the Sports Arena. . . .

I hope Mario Lemieux was watching Tuesday when Dennis Byrd was shown shaking and waving his hands and tapping his foot.