Notes on a Scorecard - April 26, 1993

The biggest surprise of the formful first round of the NFL draft was that the Raiders actually took the player they were expected to, Texas A&M; safety Patrick Bates. . . .

Former USC coach Larry Smith said Jerome Bettis, the Rams’ No. 1 selection from Notre Dame, was the best college fullback he has ever seen. In two games against the Trojans, Bettis rushed 42 times for 267 yards and three touchdowns. . . .

Most improved team in the league might be the Phoenix Cardinals, with Garrison Hearst running the ball, Steve Beuerlein throwing it and Gary Clark catching it. . . .

The draft would be a better spectator event if there weren’t so much time between picks. The intermissions are nearly as long as those between races at Santa Anita. . . .

ESPN’s fleet of announcers, commentators and correspondents filled some of the dead time with such nuggets as the fact that the “draft room cam” was born in Irving, Tex. . . .

It won’t be shocking if Rick Mirer follows in the footsteps of the Seattle Seahawks’ No. 1 pick in 1991, Dan McGwire. Some scouts’ knock against the quarterback from Notre Dame is rather severe--he doesn’t throw the ball well. . . .

In contrast, Mirer’s tailback, Reggie Brooks, was a bargain when he was taken with the 16th pick of the second round by the Washington Redskins. . . .

During the four-plus hours of the first round, the New York Jets strengthened themselves more than any other team, landing running back Johnny Johnson in a trade with the Cardinals and then drafting linebacker Marvin Jones. . . .

Curtis Conway was the first USC wide receiver taken on the first round since Lynn Swann in 1974. . . .

The Detroit Lions might have given the New Orleans Saints too much for Pat Swilling--first- and fourth-round draft choices--and gotten too little--a third-round pick--from the Cleveland Browns for Jerry Ball.

If the Kings had been told that Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Tomas Sandstrom and Tony Granato would not score in the first four games and that their series with the Calgary Flames would be tied, they wouldn’t have believed it. . . .

For the first time in the series, both teams played a playoff brand of hockey Sunday at the Forum. . . .

Unlike Games 2 and 3, the Kings didn’t seem to mind sacrificing their bodies. . . .

How much does momentum mean coming into the playoffs? The Buffalo Sabres, who lost their last seven regular-season games, swept the Boston Bruins, who won 18 of their last 21, in the first round. . . .

Former King center Butch Goring, who is coaching the New York Islanders’ Capital District farm club in the AHL, reportedly is a candidate to coach the Mighty Ducks. . . .

Another former King, Dave (Tiger) Williams, has been selected player-coach of the Vancouver VooDoos of Roller Hockey International. . . .

I wonder if Dick Vitale would keep shouting, “Better get a TO, baby! Better get a TO, baby!” if he were doing a hockey game. . . .

Julio Cesar Chavez was presented a yearling, Pride Of Culiacan, by Hollywood Park management Saturday, and his friend, Patrick Valenzuela, said he would love to ride the horse some day. . . .

Raul Perez can join Chavez as the only Mexican fighters to win world titles in three weight divisions if Perez upsets unbeaten World Boxing Assn. junior-lightweight champion Genaro Hernandez tonight at the Forum. . . .

Tommy Morrison, who has the reputation of a playboy, will begin drills at the ultra-conservative Virginia Military Institute today for his June 7 bout against George Foreman. . . .

Oscar De La Hoya’s endorsement deals are fine as long as training remains his top priority. . . .

I have a hunch Michael Jordan would have scored more than 21 points Sunday if the Chicago Bulls-New York Knicks game had been meaningful. . . .

Pat Riley deserves to be voted coach of the year for getting a club-record 60 victories out of the Knicks. . . .

The Indiana Pacers reached the playoffs because they scored five more points than the Orlando Magic in their head-to-head series. There must be a better way to decide such things. . . .

Never have so many people, 71,192, seen so few major league stars as those who watched the Florida Marlins rip the Colorado Rockies, 11-1, Sunday in Denver. . . .

Even these Detroit Tigers might not have been able to win with Al Travers on the mound. He gave up 24 runs and 26 hits in his Tiger debut May 18, 1912, and never pitched again in the major leagues. . . .

It’s a shame the Dodgers aren’t off to as good a start as last year.