Notes on a Scorecard - July 7, 1993

Call him the Vow Boy, 1993 version. . . .

At the annual Orange County Trojan Club summer banquet, John Robinson told the capacity audience of 500, “We will beat Notre Dame.” . . .

He meant Oct. 23 at South Bend, Ind., where the Trojans haven’t beaten the Irish since 1981. In fact, they haven’t beaten the Irish anywhere since a 17-13 decision at the Coliseum in 1982. That happened to be Robinson’s last game during his first term as Trojan coach. . . . “We will play with dignity,” Robinson said, drawing one of four standing ovations at the Irvine Hyatt. “We will wear the uniform the way it is supposed to be worn.” . . .

He urged the alumni to help fill Anaheim Stadium when the Trojans return to the scene of the crime--a whipping by Fresno State in the Freedom Bowl last December--to play North Carolina in the Disneyland Pigskin Classic Aug. 29. . . .

Clearly, the love affair between Robinson and USC is on again. Well, at least until he loses a game or two. . . .

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The Angels finally are living down to their preseason notices. . . .

I once heard a newscaster say, “Rickey Henderson led off the game with a solo homer for the Oakland A’s.” . . .

Dodger shortstop Jose Offerman is making better plays, but is committing as many errors as ever. . . .

Those who say baseball interest is on the decline aren’t paying attention to major or minor league attendance figures. . . .

Few general managers ever have rebuilt a team almost in its entirety as well as Lee Thomas of the Philadelphia Phillies. . . . The Detroit Tigers are going to make Sparky Anderson’s hair turn black. . . .

Every time you think Fernando Valenzuela is through, he pitches a good game for the Baltimore Orioles. . . .

Encouraging news from Oakland is that A’s executive Bill Rigney, 75, will not need a pacemaker as had been planned, will be back on the golf course in a couple of weeks, and probably will accompany the team July 26 to Anaheim, where he used to manage the Angels. . . .

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Look-alikes: Steffi Graf and actress Laura Dern. . . .

The outside of the freshly-painted Olympic Auditorium looks nice, but it still isn’t quite the same without the marquee above the Grand Avenue entrance. . . .

It appears that Lennox Lewis will defend his World Boxing Council title against Tommy Morrison in early November, a Mirage promotion at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, with each fighter being paid $8 million. . . .

Former World Boxing Assn. heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee, 37, will embark on a comeback Aug. 6 against Danny Stonewalker at Arco Arena in Sacramento. The bout will be shown on live television in the morning in Coetzee’s native South Africa where, according to promoter Don Chargin, he remains a national hero. . . .

When Julio Cesar Chavez fights Pernell Whitaker on Sept. 10 at the new Alamodome in San Antonio, Whitaker’s welterweight title will be at stake. . . .

Whitaker refuses to watch tapes of opponents, a shame because he could learn something from seeing former stablemate Meldrick Taylor come within a few seconds of winning a decision from Chavez. . . .

Apprentice jockey Sal Gonzalez Jr., who is on a tear at Hollywood Park, has enough talent to compete on the world’s toughest circuit even after he loses his bug. . . .

You know stock car racing purses have ballooned when Richard Petty ranks only fifth among the all-time money earners and might not be in the top 10 much longer. . . .

The proposed trade sending Danny Manning from the Clippers to Charlotte for Kendall Gill would give the Hornets the most skilled front line in the NBA--Alonzo Mourning at center and Manning and Larry Johnson at the forwards. . . .

John McEnroe is much more pleasant to the ear as a TV commentator than he was as a tennis player. . . .

In a rematch of their five-set Wimbledon quarterfinal, Pete Sampras will play an exhibition against Andre Agassi on Sept. 17 at the Forum. . . .

Pro beach volleyball isn’t a bad spectator sport. . . .

You know it’s summer when the newsstands are filled with football magazines. . . .

If Jim Fregosi managed in the Anchorage Winter League, he probably would wear a tank top in the dugout.