Notes on a Scorecard - April 19, 1993

Consummate pro Al Michaels did a fine job on ABC, but what did Bob Miller, the voice of hockey in Los Angeles who was silenced Sunday because of the network telecast, have to say about the Kings’ 6-3 victory over Calgary? . . .

“I thought it was one of the Kings’ best performances of the season, especially the first two periods,” Miller said after watching the game on television at his Woodland Hills home. “They were very disciplined, the entire team played aggressively on the defensive end and the penalty killing was excellent.” . . .

“The turning point was coming back with two quick goals after Calgary had scored shorthanded to make it 1-1,” Miller said. “I got a little worried when the lead was cut to 5-3 in the third period, but the Kings took control again. It’s a positive sign when you win without Rob Blake, when Wayne Gretzky is out the last two periods and when Luc Robitaille and Tomas Sandstrom are quiet.” . . .

Gretzky is on a day-to-day basis, and the same can be said about Miller. The announcer will fly to Calgary to telecast Game 2 Wednesday on Prime Ticket, return for Game 3 at the Forum Friday but sit out Game 4 when ABC resumes its playoff telecasts Sunday afternoon. . . .

I was surprised that the New Jersey Devils held Mario Lemieux to two goals during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 6-3 victory. . . .

Red Kelly, the Hall of Famer who was the Kings’ first coach and served during the 1967-68 and 1968-69 seasons, is recuperating from a heart attack. . . .

Reggie Smith, who is listed as the Dodgers’ minor league field coordinator, gave batting tips to Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis before Friday’s game against Pittsburgh and then watched them snap out of their slumps. . . .

Management should admit its mistake and open the gates to Dodger Stadium earlier than an hour before game time. I’ve heard a lot of complaints from people who want to see the home team take batting practice. Another gripe is that the stadium gates aren’t opened until 30 minutes after cars are allowed into the parking lot. Long lines have been formed by those waiting to get inside. . . .

The Atlanta Braves’ four shutouts equal the Detroit Tigers’ total last season. . . .

The Tigers have scored 20 runs twice this season. The Detroit Lions scored as many as 20 points in only six of their 16 games last season. . . .

There are still too many three-hour baseball games. . . .

Thumbs up to the college basketball rules makers for reducing the shot clock from 45 to 35 seconds. . . .

Next time, they should pass legislation giving the team that is fouled in the last two minutes of a game the option of shooting free throws or taking the ball out of bounds. . . .

Traveling violation calls are inconsistent in the NBA. Some officials allow a player to take six steps, others seven steps. . . .

It appears that Shaquille O’Neal is going to do just about everything his rookie season except secure a playoff berth for the Orlando Magic. . . .

Among the Clippers’ many draft mistakes was taking the wrong Reggie--Williams instead of Miller--in 1987. Miller has replaced Chuck Person as the Indiana Pacers’ all-time leading scorer. . . .

Sacramento King rookie swingman Walt Williams, who celebrated his 23rd birthday Friday, recently became the youngest Maryland alumnus to establish a scholarship fund when he contributed $125,000 to the university. . . .

Look-alikes: San Antonio Spur Coach John Lucas and actor Sherman Hemsley. . . .

I can’t remember a less appealing Kentucky Derby. . . .

Rockamundo, who won the Arkansas Derby on Saturday, would have been a longshot in a $40,000 claiming race at Santa Anita. . . .

Several former USC football stars, including Rodney Peete, Dennis Smith and Tim McDonald, were among the 2,500 people who watched the Trojans’ final spring scrimmage Saturday at Howard Jones Field. . . .

“We’re going to have a wide-open offense,” Coach John Robinson said. “To me, wide open means well-balanced. If you just concentrate on throwing the ball, you leave yourself wide open to defeat.” . . .

Sophomore Kyle Wachholtz is expected to give incumbent Rob Johnson stiff competition for the starting quarterback job. . . .

Defensive coordinator Don Lindsey on Reggie Perry, who has been converted from quarterback to safety: “He’s really exciting. He hits you. Sometimes, quarterbacks aren’t prone to do that.” . . .

Each of the offensive tackles ranked in the top five for the NFL draft weighs more than 300 pounds. . . .

Maybe San Francisco 49er Coach George Seifert should make Joe Montana his right-handed starter and Steve Young his left-handed starter.