Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 20, 1993

During his reign as USC’s football coach, Ted Tollner was frequently criticized for his failure to assemble a good staff of assistants. . . .

Tollner’s defensive line coach in 1983-85 was Dave Wannstedt, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator who was named coach of the Chicago Bears on Tuesday. . . .

Tollner’s quarterbacks coach in 1983 and offensive coordinator in ’84 was Norv Turner, offensive coordinator of the NFC champion Cowboys. . . .

The Buffalo Bills have allowed a total of 20 points while winning three consecutive AFC championships--and 57 points while losing two consecutive Super Bowl games. . . .

USC has had at least one player in every Super Bowl except the third. This time, the Trojans will be represented by Buffalo cornerback Chris Hale. . . .

An overnight stakes race Monday at Santa Anita was named the Pineapple Express in recognition of the storms that blew in from Hawaii. . . .

Minor shin ailments have delayed the projected racing debut of Mr. Dipper, but the 2-year-old colt has an understanding co-owner in namesake Wilt Chamberlain. . . .

Best Pal hasn’t raced since June, but trainer Gary Jones is confident that the 1992 Santa Anita Handicap winner will be fit for Sunday’s $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap after having his 12th recorded workout today. . . .

Winning the national money title for a record 10th consecutive year wasn’t good enough to make trainer Wayne Lukas a finalist for the Eclipse Award. . . .

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Remember when Magic Johnson made the triple-double commonplace? The Lakers haven’t had one since Magic’s last on April 2, 1991. The last player to achieve double figures in points, rebounds and assists in one game against the Lakers was Larry Bird on Feb. 15, 1991. . . .

Coach Randy Pfund, on the Lakers’ success against the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers: “We’re not in awe of them. A younger team might be, but guys like James (Worthy), A.C. (Green), Sam (Perkins) and Byron (Scott) have been around and don’t get intimidated.” . . .

Guard Vernon Maxwell of the Houston Rockets made more three-point baskets in the first half Monday at the Forum, six, than the Lakers have made in any game this season. . . .

Doesn’t Charles Barkley know that NBA officials protect superstars? . . .

In answer to a question posed here Tuesday, the NBA might have the best group of centers since Wilt Chamberlain’s last season of 1972-73. Among other centers who played then were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nate Thurmond, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, Wes Unseld, Bob Lanier and Walt Bellamy. . . .

Last season, Harold Miner was USC’s leading scorer in 28 of 30 games. This season, the Trojans have had six different leading scorers in 13 games. . . .

The Thunderdome at UC Santa Barbara is no place for a team, such as Cal State Long Beach, to be playing just after being voted into the Associated Press top 25. . . .

Every time I watch Kansas on TV, I see an extremely well-coached team. Others in the top six have more talent than Roy Williams’ Jayhawks, who, for the moment, are ranked No. 1. . . .

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The March 13 pay-per-view card at the Las Vegas Hilton featuring Michael Carbajal-Humberto Gonzalez, Oscar De La Hoya-Jeff Mayweather and Jorge Paez-Juan Nazario will be officially announced by the co-sponsoring Forum today. . . .

Scouts polled by the Hockey News gave perfect scores to five players--forwards Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Pat LaFontaine, Mark Messier and Steve Yzerman. . . .

It doesn’t seem fair that the United States should have to open defense of its Davis Cup championship on the road against Australia. . . .

One of the biggest wastes of talent in America every summer is having George Toma work on the artificial turf of Royals Stadium in Kansas City.