Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 28, 1993

The Sports Arena has become the least likely pit in college basketball. . . .

The USC Trojans never practice there. . . .

Their highest average attendance was 7,403 in 1970-71 in a building that seats more than twice that. . . .

The USC-Stanford women’s game at Palo Alto Saturday night outdrew the men’s game at the Sports Arena that afternoon by a 2-1 ratio. . . .

Yet, the Trojans will be trying to stretch a 16-game Sports Arena winning streak tonight against UCLA. . . .

The streak, which started after a loss to Notre Dame last season, is the third-longest in the nation on a regular home court--the defeat by Arizona three weeks ago was at the Forum--and includes upsets of nationally ranked teams from UCLA, Arizona and Nebraska. . . .

Only Nevada Las Vegas and Indiana have been tougher on their home floor over a longer period. . . .

“It’s remarkable because we’re never at the Sports Arena except the day of the game, and we don’t have big crowds,” Coach George Raveling said. “But the fans who do come out are getting into the spirit and giving us a lift. Five thousand people sound like 10,000.” . . .

When Raveling senses his team is on the verge of a roll, he becomes a cheerleader. He works the room with gusto, raising his hands, waving his arms and jumping as he urges on the students across the way. . . .

“I started doing that one night at Pullman when we were making a run at Oregon State and the crowd was just sitting there,” the former Washington State coach said. “I yelled at our cheerleaders, ‘Get off your butt!’ I waved at the students and yelled, ‘Get up, get up!’ Before I knew it, everyone in the place was standing. We won the game.” . . .

The largest crowd of the USC home season, about 11,000, is expected tonight for a cross-town game that is different because it probably is more important to the Bruins’ survival than to the Trojans’. . . .

The Trojans are happy to be 4-2 in the Pacific 10, the Bruins are unhappy to be 3-3, and Coach Jim Harrick’s seat will become even hotter if his team loses at the pit for the fourth consecutive time. . . .

Pro Football Hall of Fame member Deacon Jones is in town for the Super Bowl, but to him, the biggest game of the season was the Calgary Stampeders’ victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup. . . .

“That brought me a lot of joy,” said Jones, a former Ram defensive end who is a marketing and community relations executive for the Stampeders. “I worked the sidelines and saw what I missed not being in championship games. It’s always tormented me that the Rams never went all the way when I was with them.” . . .

Jones, who went to work in Calgary for his longtime friend, Larry Ryckman, two years ago, said the only thing he doesn’t enjoy about the city or the Canadian Football League is the weather. . . .

“Doug Flutie has been fantastic (at quarterback),” Jones said. “He gives us everything we need.” . . .

It is a pity that Texas Ranger first baseman Rafael Palmeiro will have to settle for a $700,000 raise to $4.55 million next season after his batting average dropped only 54 points to .268. . . .

Two of the nation’s outstanding players, UCLA forward Natalie Williams and USC center Lisa Leslie, will be featured when the women continue the cross-town rivalry Friday night at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

The Tommy Lasorda Jr. Memorial Fund will benefit from a dinner and celebrity auction Feb. 10 at the Beverly Hilton. . . .

Among the reasons for the Kings’ lack of depth and talent in the farm system are all those first-round draft choices they gave to Edmonton in the Wayne Gretzky trade. . . .

After Best Pal ended his layoff by crossing the finish line second in the San Pasqual Handicap, jockey Kent Desormeaux said: “If Best Pal were Muhammad Ali, he’d be talking trash right now. That was just a sparring match for him.”. . . .

Trainer Richard Mandella hasn’t ruled out the possibility that his exceptional 3-year-old filly, Likeable Style, might face colts this year. . . .

Figure skating is one sport where the ladies’ competition gets more attention and higher television ratings than the men’s. . . .

Michael Moorer, who George Foreman believes is the hardest hitter in the heavyweight division, might begin to live up to his potential now that George Benton is training him. . . . A difficult choice awaits NBA fans, who must decide Tuesday between Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns against the Clippers at the Sports Arena or Shaquille O’Neal and the Orlando Magic against the Lakers at the Forum. . . .

New Houston Astro owner Drayton McLane Jr. told Manager Art Howe at a banquet: “I trust you, but just don’t blow any 32-run leads.”