Port’s Past Looks OK at Present

R eading between the datelines. . . .

BOSTON--Red Sox General Manager Lou Gorman says he hopes to hire Mike Port as the team’s assistant general manager.

Reportedly, Gorman was immensely impressed with Port’s resume, which read, in part:

“1. Decided to replace Rod Carew with Wally Joyner after the 1985 season.

“2. Did not decide to replace Wally Joyner with Lee Stevens after the 1991 season.

“3. Oversaw the development of Bryan Harvey.

“4. Did not oversee the developments that turned Bryan Harvey into a Florida Marlin.

“5. Signed Jim Abbott and recognized him to be too valuable a property to keep in the minor leagues for even three days.

“6. Did not recognize that Jim Abbott could be had for three minor league properties.

“7. Acquired Dave Winfield, Luis Polonia, Mark Langston, Bert Blyleven and Lance Parrish.

“8. Did not acquire Von Hayes, Hubie Brooks, Alvin Davis, Chuck Crim and Fernando Valenzuela.

“9. Never traded anyone for a Fresno State quarterback.”

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ANAHEIM--The Angels announced they will play Notre Dame March 10 in a benefit game at Tempe, Ariz.

Football or baseball?

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Julius Erving, Bill Walton, Dan Issel, Calvin Murphy, Walt Bellamy, Dick McGuire, Ann Meyers and Ulyona Semyonova have been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame. I think they missed Mel Counts, but that’s about it.

Meanwhile, Orlando Cepeda has 379 home runs and can’t get into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Tony Perez has 1,625 RBIs and can’t get in, either. Nor can Phil Niekro, winner of 318 major league games.

Now, at least, we know why.

Not enough free-throw practice as kids.

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DALLAS--Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman has finally turned up after leaving the Pro Bowl early to catch a flight back to the mainland without first notifying NFC Coach George Seifert or any other NFL official.

No sighting yet of the Buffalo Bills’ defense.

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CINCINNATI--According to the agreement she signed in accepting her one-year suspension from baseball, Reds owner Marge Schott “may not associate or communicate with any major league club (including the Cincinnati Reds) or its personnel or any person having business or financial dealings with the Cincinnati Reds, in connection with any matter involving the Cincinnati Reds.”

The agreement goes on to say, “This does not bar Mrs. Schott from engaging in normal social relationships.”

No, her enlightened views on race relations accomplished that a good while ago.

All in all, this was Justice Lite, as handed down by baseball’s headless, lawsuit-shy governing body, with Schott’s high-salaried legal team working the rewrite desk.

Schott is not required to vacate her position as Reds general partner and does not need approval from baseball’s other owners in order to regain control after her suspension, allowances never granted George Steinbrenner.

Schott can apply for reinstatement in less than 10 months, an option the Dodgers never afforded Al Campanis.

Basically, Schott was told, “Sign no players, make no trades and switch your Riverfront Stadium seat from the owners box to that other luxury suite over there. Please.”

Baseball maintains that the punishment fits the crime. Schott simply can’t tell the difference between the Nazi swastika in her dresser drawer and the “C” on her team’s red caps--just another team logo, you see--and holds a major power position while harboring deep-seated beliefs that one shade of skin is inferior to another.

It’s not like she bet on a baseball game or anything.

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ANAHEIM--USC agrees to play in 1993 Pigskin Classic.

How could John Robinson pass on the chance to follow in his own footsteps and Larry Smith’s skid marks at the same time?

Robinson beat Dallas, Buffalo, Minnesota and the Giants here.

Smith lost to Fresno State here.

What better way to usher in Robinson II--The Long-Awaited Sequel?

How about against Fresno State, you say?

Dennis Erickson and Tom Osborne already have said no. You know Jim Sweeney wouldn’t.

Don Andersen, ever curious to see how Anaheim Stadium might look sold-out in August, would love to see a rematch.

You know John Robinson wouldn’t.

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BERKELEY--Lou Campanelli, just months into a new five-year contract, is fired as head men’s basketball coach at the University of California.

Jim Harrick, one year left on his current UCLA contract, lost to Campanelli by 22 points when their teams met on Jan. 24 at Pauley Pavilion.

Harrick’s Bruins, at 4-5, are currently tied for sixth place in the Pac-10 with . . . Cal.

Harrick has a game against Oregon State Thursday night, and we have a word for it.

Big.

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DALLAS--Jim Eddy, fired as Houston defensive coordinator after his Oilers blew a 32-point lead against Buffalo in the playoffs, has been hired as an assistant coach by the Dallas Cowboys.

Obviously, “So, what have you done lately?” never came up in the interview process.

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ST. LOUIS--The Cardinals have named former Angel right fielder George Hendrick their minor league hitting and outfield instructor.

Hendrick was unavailable for comment.