Notes on a Scorecard - July 22, 1993

Two questions about the Clippers’ hiring of Bob Weiss: Why would they want him, and why would he want them? . . .

A fond farewell to Byron Scott, who turned the boos to cheers after the most unpopular trade in Laker history brought his draft rights and Swen Nater here from San Diego in 1983 for Norm Nixon, Eddie Jordan and two future second-round picks. . . .

Are the Angels choking--as Luis Polonia says--or simply playing down to their level? . . .

Welcome to L.A. to the New York Mets, who have accomplished the seemingly impossible by compiling the worst record in the National League during the Colorado Rockies’ and Florida Marlins’ inaugural year and the San Diego Padres’ fire sale. . . .

Darryl Strawberry’s next game might be in the Arizona Instructional League. . . .

The Dodgers’ fielding average before their game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night was .980, eight points above what it was last season and only one below the Los Angeles club record. . . .

Runner-up to Mike Piazza in the National League rookie-of-the-year balloting could be Pittsburgh Pirate second baseman Carlos Garcia. . . .

Imagine if the Philadelphia Phillies, who came close, had signed Kirby Puckett. . . .

Too many umpires are nonchalant about their calls. I mean, how much effort does it take to make a clear-cut “out” sign at first base? . . .

The American League East title might not be decided until Toronto and Baltimore close out the season with a four-game series Sept. 30-Oct. 3 at Camden Yards. . . .

Maury Wills deserves some of the blame for the length of the modern major league baseball game. Ever since he revolutionized base stealing, pitchers have spent an enormous amount of time worrying about baserunners and throwing to first base. . . .

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I had a nightmare recently. I was Jim Riggleman. . . .

David Cone, who was 80-48 in the National League, is 10-12 in the American. . . .

Pepe Reilly, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team, will make his Forum debut Monday in a six-round junior-welterweight bout against Gilberto Plata. . . .

UCLA forward Ed O’Bannon hurt his right wrist during the World University Games last Friday night against China, but the left-handed shooter was well enough to shoot six for seven from the field and three for three from the free-throw line Sunday in the United States’ 95-90 victory over Canada for the gold medal. . . .

Two X-rays of O’Bannon’s wrist were negative and another will be taken next week. . . .

Magic Johnson weighs 242 pounds, 10 more than during his Laker playing days, and doesn’t wear knee pads during exhibition games. . . .

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Three of UCLA’s six games at the Rose Bowl this season will be against teams who won at least a share of a conference championship last season--Nebraska of the Big Eight on Sept. 8, Brigham Young of the Western Athletic Conference on Oct. 9, and Washington of the Pacific 10 on Oct. 16. . . .

This will be the Bruins’ first game against Washington since they upset the Huskies, 25-22, in Seattle in 1990. . . .

Don Andersen is trying to line up an O.J. Simpson Day next month during USC training camp at UC Irvine to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Simpson’s Heisman Trophy season. Andersen comes at this from two directions--he was sports information director at USC in 1968 and he is director of the Disneyland Pigskin Classic that matches the Trojans and North Carolina Aug. 29 at Anaheim Stadium. . . .

Tackle Jackie Slater and former Rams Deacon Jones and Tank Younger have been selected to the black college football 100th anniversary All-American team. . . .

The Kings and Mighty Ducks will play six times next season, but the first meeting isn’t until Dec. 2 at the Forum. . . .

L.A. did play Anaheim on Tuesday night at the Anaheim Arena--the Blades losing, 10-8, to the Bullfrogs in a Roller Hockey International game before 6,453 fans. . . .

Winnipeg, Hartford, Dallas and Philadelphia have formed the NHL’s first scouting combine. . . .

Wayne Lukas, whose budget has been slashed, said before the start of the Keeneland yearling sale: “I’ve got to sign some star players under my salary cap.” . . .

John Hall called to say that weight assignments used to make a difference more often in thoroughbred racing. “The first race I ever saw was the 1938 Santa Anita Handicap,” Hall said. “Stagehand, who was carrying 100 pounds, beat the great Seabiscuit, who was carrying 130, in a photo finish.” . . .

I wonder what Miguel Indurain’s magic number is. . . .

Best wishes to Melvin Durslag, the award-winning former sports columnist, who is convalescing at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica after heart surgery.