Notes on a Scorecard - April 6, 1993

I wish Chris Webber would be remembered for keeping the Michigan Wolverines in the NCAA championship game Monday night instead of taking them out of it. . . .

Take no credit away from North Carolina, which played smart, physical basketball and was leading by two points when Webber made his call for the timeout that Michigan didn’t have left. . . .

Dean Smith often is criticized for his frequent substitutions, but maybe they paid off this time because North Carolina was the fresher team at crunch time. . . .

Even the Tar Heels’ cutting of the net was well disciplined. . . .

Break up the Marlins! . . .

Bryan Harvey is fortunate to have gone from the Angels to Florida, where he should get more save opportunities. . . .

It must be something about the Dodger uniform that causes usually reliable infielders such as Jody Reed and Tim Wallach to commit throwing errors on opening day. . . .

But did you see Jose Offerman’s tape-measure fly out to center field? . . .

Too bad more ballplayers don’t enjoy their work as much as Charlie Hough. . . .

The Dodgers are 18-18 in season openers since moving to L.A. from Brooklyn in 1958. . . .

I refuse to get on Doc Gooden’s bandwagon until he shuts out someone besides the Colorado Rockies. . . .

If Juan Gonzalez keeps hitting home runs like this--he led the majors with 43 last year and had two for the Texas Rangers against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday--he no longer will be among the best-kept secrets in baseball. . . .

The most surprising cut Sunday was that of Jose Canseco’s twin brother, Ozzie, who led the St. Louis Cardinals in home runs and RBIs during spring training. . . .

Watch for Rickey Henderson, who is in great physical condition and in the last year of his contract with the Oakland Athletics, to have a big season. . . .

Best hitting prospect in the New York Mets’ organization is Butch Huskey, a 244-pound third baseman. . . .

Some scouts say Cliff Floyd, an outfielder in the Montreal Expos’ farm system, reminds them of Willie McCovey at the plate. . . .

Phil Nevin, who was the top pick in the draft as a third baseman from Cal State Fullerton, will start the season in left field for the Houston Astros’ Tucson farm club in the Pacific Coast League. . . .

Nolan Ryan has struck out more batters since he was 35 than Sandy Koufax did during his career. . . .

After missing what would have been an NBA record-tying 78th consecutive free throw, Cleveland Cavalier guard Mark Price began a new streak by going 11 for 11 from the line in his next game. . . .

Thumbs up to Texas Tech Coach Marsha Sharp for playing Sheryl Swoopes all 40 minutes of the NCAA women’s championship game, enabling her to score 47 points and the Red Raiders to defeat Ohio State, 84-82. . . .

Laffit Pincay, 46, remains the people’s choice at Santa Anita. . . .

Eighteen years after he was inducted into thoroughbred racing’s Hall of Fame, a bust of Pincay was unveiled Sunday between races. It will stand beside those of Bill Shoemaker and Johnny Longden. . . .

Pincay was greeted warmly by a large crowd that gathered for the ceremonies next to the walking ring and then cheered wildly when he rode Exchange to victory in a stirring duel with Trishyde in the $210,000 Santa Barbara Handicap. . . .

What makes Pincay so popular with the $2 bettor is that he works as hard aboard a $10,000 claimer trying to get up for the show money as he does with a champion attempting to win a $1-million race. . . .

It is mind-boggling that Pincay, who is riding as well as ever, has not been able to get a mount in any of the last four Santa Anita Derbies. . . .

TeamTennis rosters will include five players who have won Grand Slam singles titles--Bjorn Borg of the Strings, and Jimmy Connors, Mats Wilander, Martina Navratilova and Tracy Austin. . . .

Athletic Director Rudy Carbajal deserves much of the credit for Cal State Bakersfield’s numerous NCAA Division II championships in various sports. . . .

The Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles has awarded $107,911 in grants to five youth-sports organizations in areas that were affected by the rioting last year, raising the total to $431,517. . . .

Losing Kevin Greene and adding Henry Rolling isn’t my idea of improving the Ram defense. . . .

However, drafting fullback Jerome Bettis of Notre Dame would sure improve the Ram running game. . . .

Vin Scully sounds as good on Channel 5 as he did on Channel 11.