Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 11, 1993

Don’t expect the Lakers to move to Orange County, but look for the NHL expansion team to make its debut there next season, and jot down June 23 as opening night for the Anaheim Arena. . . .

“I’ve heard the rumors that we’re trying to get the Lakers to come here,” Arena spokesman John Nicoletti said Wednesday. “There’s no truth to it. It doesn’t make sense. We (the Ogden Corp.) also operate the Forum for Jerry Buss. Would it be smart to take the Lakers out of that building?” . . .

An attractive offer was made to owner Donald Sterling to move the Clippers to Anaheim from the Sports Arena, but Sterling, who would prefer to have an arena built in downtown Los Angeles or Burbank, declined. . . .

Negotiations are continuing on a lease with Walt Disney Co., which has been awarded an NHL franchise, and the league must be informed by March 1 whether operations will begin next season or in 1994-95. . . .

“The league wants the team to start next season and so do we,” Nicoletti said. . . .

For certain, tickets will go on sale Monday for the first event scheduled at the Anaheim Arena, an ice-skating exhibition featuring Nancy Kerrigan, Jill Trenary, Brian Boitano and Victor Petrenko on June 23. . . .

Lennox Lewis on Riddick Bowe: “For the first time in history, an American is running away from an Englishman.” . . .

The International Boxing Federation super-middleweight bout between champion Iran Barkley and James Toney on HBO from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Saturday might wash the bad taste of the Riddick Bowe-Michael Dokes farce out of fight fans’ mouths. . . .

Toney has a habit of fighting only one minute per round but will have to be busier to survive against Barkley, who might be as aggressive as Charles. . . .

Three-time former national amateur lightweight champion Shane Mosley of Pomona will make his professional debut tonight at the Hollywood Palladium. . . .

Former major league outfielder Lee Mazzilli has turned to acting and received favorable notices for his performance in an off-Broadway play, “Tony and Tina’s Wedding.” . . .

After signing free-agent pitchers Doug Drabek and Greg Swindell, the Houston Astros further showed their commitment to excellence by awarding Ken Caminiti, Craig Biggio and Steve Finley three-year contracts. . . .

Shortstop Ozzie Guillen is expected to be 100% sound, meaning 1993 could be what 1992 was supposed to be for the Chicago White Sox. . . .

It hardly came as a surprise that a brawl broke out during a recent East Coast Hockey League game between Nashville and Toledo. Nashville is coached by former NHL tough guy Nick Fotiu and Toledo by Chris McSorley, brother of the Kings’ Marty. . . .

Chris McSorley was assessed 546 penalty minutes for Toledo during the 1985-86 season and then was signed by the Kings’ organization. However, he never made it to the Forum. . . .

For the record: Sydney Maree was a U.S. citizen in 1981 when he ran the mile in 3:48.83. Other Americans who have bettered the 3:50 mark are Steve Scott, Joe Falcon and Jim Spivey. . . .

Kent Desormeaux and Gary Stevens have been chosen to represent the United States in the World Jockeys Competition at Nad Al Sheba Race Course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 26. . . .

Stud fee for horse of the year and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner A.P. Indy is $50,000, five times more than that for Classic runner-up Pleasant Tap. . . .

The three Santa Anita stakes races during President’s Day weekend have a vice presidential bearing. They are final stepping stones to the Santa Anita Oaks, Big ‘Cap and San Juan Capistrano. . . .

The demise of Sports Channel meant that the Clippers’ games at San Antonio and Phoenix the last two nights weren’t televised. . . .

UCLA and USC each signed only two out-of-state football players this year. . . .

Granted, Indiana was the benefactor of a key, bad call against Penn State on Tuesday night, but the top-ranked Hoosiers showed a lot of grit by pulling out a double-overtime game on the road that they had no business winning. . . .

The Oregon men’s and women’s basketball teams enter games against USC tonight at the Sports Arena and MacArthur Court, respectively, with 0-9 records in Pacific 10 Conference play. . . .

The roster for the Indianapolis scouting combine workouts for NFL prospects, which began Wednesday, has been cut from 450 to 300 after the reduction of the draft from 12 to seven rounds. . . .

Among those under the most scrutiny is Louisiana Tech tackle Willie Roaf, who might be selected ahead of Lincoln Kennedy of Washington as the first offensive lineman. . . .

Mary Tyler Moore on the Westminster Dog Show: “It’s the world’s greatest, non-sexist beauty pageant.”