Notes on a Scorecard - March 8, 1993

Larry Smith, last seen fighting back tears during his farewell address at USC nine weeks earlier, was smiling on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita. . . .

He was in the walking ring before the Big ‘Cap, wishing good luck to a friend who owns 60-1 longshot El Trenzador and then talking about his plans. . . .

“I’m looking at this year as a sabbatical,” said Smith, who has been coaching football since 1962. “I talked to Bill Walsh and some others who had been out of coaching for a while and asked for their advice. I plan to visit spring practice at 10 or 12 schools, go to an NFL camp this summer and then see a lot of college games in the Midwest and East next season. I’ll be learning while observing.” . . .

After the year off, Smith, 53, believes he will be refreshed and eager to resume work as a college coach. . . .

His home, near the Rose Bowl, is on the market, and he is planning to return to Tucson, where he has maintained a townhouse from his days as Arizona coach and where his wife Cheryl’s parents reside. . . .

Son Corby, who was the holder for kicks last year as a redshirt freshman, will remain at USC. . . .

And what happened to El Trenzador in the Big ‘Cap? He finished half a length ahead of second-choice Bertrando, but that was good only for eighth place in the field of 11. . . .

After Sir Beaufort’s upset victory Saturday, Best Pal’s failure to fire and Bertrando’s early collapse, you have to wonder how dominant A.P. Indy would have been this year if he hadn’t been retired to stud. . . .

Dave Johnson has taped race calls that will be heard during the play, “Three Men on a Horse,” when it opens in April on Broadway with thoroughbred owner Jack Klugman in a lead role. . . .

Every time I see North Carolina on television, I have the feeling that this could be Dean Smith’s year to win a second NCAA title. . . .

The sweep over the Arizona schools should mean that California interim Coach Todd Bozeman will be the permanent replacement for Lou Campanelli. . . .

Jim Valvano’s speech from the heart turned an ordinary television show--the ESPY awards--into something special. . . .

During the Phoenix Suns’ 125-115 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, Charles Barkley had 36 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists. The three players the 76ers got in return for Barkley--Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang--combined for 29 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. . . .

Laker assistant general manager Mitch Kupchak scouted Washington center Rich Manning when the Huskies were in town last week. A lack of quality big men could help to make Manning a low first-round NBA draft choice. . . .

A referendum was held in the San Joaquin Valley town of Kingsburg last week to name a new junior high school in honor of local hero Rafer Johnson. . . .

The Cleveland Indians are showing a commitment to excellence--and assuring big crowds at their new stadium that opens next year--by signing 18 players to multiyear contracts. . . .

Eric Karros is the cover boy on the Dodger media guide. . . .

If Buddy McGirt can give Pernell Whitaker problems, despite a bad left shoulder, I have to pick the best fighter in the world pound for pound, Julio Cesar Chavez, over Whitaker. . . .

Chavez probably will be able to wear down Whitaker with body punches, take the legs from him and slow him to a walk in the late rounds. . . .

Besides, Whitaker won’t boast the size advantage over Chavez that Terry Norris would have. . . .

There are so many mismatches on TV that when Whitaker and McGirt put on a good, but not great, 12-rounder, some people mistakenly call it a classic. . . .

Only on the senior tours--golf, bowling, etc.--do rookies have an advantage. . . .

Southern California will be without an Arena Football League team again this year. The only expansion franchise was awarded to Miami. . . .

The most remarkable thing about Joe Gibbs’ three Super Bowl victories with the Washington Redskins is that he accomplished the feat with three quarterbacks--Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien. . . .

Gibbs’ retirement leaves Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins, Marv Levy of the Buffalo Bills and Jim Mora of the New Orleans Saints as the only NFL coaches who have been on their current job as long as five full seasons. . . .

I am exhausted from watching the L.A. Marathon on TV. . . .

Larry Merchant on reports that Ray Mercer offered Jesse Ferguson $100,000 to take a dive during their recent fight: “My scenario is that Ferguson went back to his corner and they told him to ask for $200,000.”