Notes on a Scorecard - March 1, 1993

Times have changed when UCLA loses a basketball game by 11 points and people are surprised by the Bruins’ competitiveness. . . .

Technical foul shots courtesy of Jim Harrick in the final minute made the margin of victory deceiving, but Duke answered every flurry and never appeared to be in serious trouble. . . .

Bobby Hurley’s passing reminds me of another No. 11--Norm Van Brocklin. . . .

The second-best point guard on the court Sunday, Tyus Edney, continues to be UCLA’s heart and soul and most valuable player. . . .

Leave it to ABC commentator Dick Vitale to be talking about Bo Jackson as the Bruins are making a run late in the first half. . . .

North Carolina is the latest No. 1, but maybe the Tar Heels should hope they don’t finish the season that way. . . .

Only two regular-season poll champions, Duke last year and North Carolina in 1982, have won the NCAA tournament in the past 14 years. . . .

During that time, six numero unos-- Oklahoma in 1990, Arizona in ‘89, Temple in ‘88, North Carolina in ’84 and DePaul in ’80 and ‘81--didn’t even reach the Final Four. . . .

It is merely another reason the NCAA Division I-A football championship should be decided by a tournament instead of a poll. . . .

I saw part of the future of USC basketball Friday night and was impressed. . . .

Stais Boseman, who has signed a letter of intent to become a Trojan, showed good scoring ability, even better defense, and an unselfish attitude during Morningside High’s easy victory over Estancia in the CIF Division III-AA quarterfinal playoffs. . . .

He also threw a pass nearly the length of the court, not surprising considering that he was an all-star quarterback who was recruited for football by Miami. . . .

Boseman, 6 feet 3, might improve more than most athletes in college because he will be concentrating solely on basketball for the first time. He probably will start at big guard for the Trojans as a freshman. . . .

Thumbs down on the Breeders’ Cup organizers for choosing not to bring the event back to Santa Anita, where it will be held this November, or Hollywood Park any time from 1994 to 1996. . . .

The weather should be delightful at Woodbine Park near Toronto for the Cup in November of ’96. . . .

Thumbs up to Santa Anita track superintendent Steve Wood for having the track fast for the San Rafael Stakes Saturday despite the recent rain. . . .

Remember all of those Cleveland fans who rooted the Browns to an upset victory over the Raiders at the Coliseum last season? They are officially known as the Southern California Browns Backers and Coach Bill Belichick will speak to them at their annual banquet March 20 at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge. . . .

Many transplanted Canadians living in Southern California have fond memories of listening to Danny Gallivan, 75, who died Friday. He broadcast the games of 16 Montreal Canadien Stanley Cup championship teams. . . .

John Treacy of Ireland, the 1984 Olympic Games marathon silver medalist, has been training at the high altitude of Albuquerque the past five weeks to prepare for his defense of the Los Angeles Marathon championship Sunday. . . .

The PGA tour roster includes Fred Couples, David Peoples, and Peter Persons. . . .

Jack O’Connell of the Hartford Courant says the luckiest player in baseball is Roberto Kelly, who was traded from the New York Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds when George Steinbrenner was about to come off the suspended list and Marge Schott was about to go on it. The unluckiest player is Paul O’Neill, who was traded for Kelly. . . .

The Atlanta Braves are going to have to decide whether to keep their unlikely NL Championship Series hero, Francisco Cabrera, put him on waivers or trade him. Cabrera, who would figure in the Braves’ plans only as a pinch-hitter, is out of minor league options. . . . A young prospect to watch is featherweight Robert Garcia of Oxnard, who will try to stretch his unbeaten streak to four tonight on the undercard at the Forum. . . .

While going 10 rounds with James (Boneclutcher) Smith Saturday, second-ranked heavyweight contender Michael Moorer did nothing to scare Riddick Bowe or Lennox Lewis. . . .

Said George Foreman, who could be paid as much as $8 million for his pay-per-view fight against Tommy Morrison June 5 in Las Vegas: “How can I refuse this offer? They keep bringing me all that cabbage from the cabbage patch.”