Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 20, 1993

Lou Holtz, the doomsayer, was in peak form four days before the Notre Dame-USC game Saturday at South Bend. . . .

“I don’t know of anybody who has a better won-lost record in this series than John Robinson,” Holtz said. . . .

Robinson is 6-1 against Notre Dame. Holtz is 7-0 against USC. . . .

Holtz on the Irish (7-0): “We’re not a good football team.” . . .

Holtz on the Trojans (4-3): “I’m scared to death of them.” . . .

Notre Dame has been the more physical team during its 10-game winning streak against the Trojans, outrushing USC by an average of 235 yards to 121. . . .

When USC was winning at South Bend, Marcus Allen ran for 147 yards in 1981, Charles White for 261 in 1979, Ricky Bell for 165 in 1975, and O.J. Simpson for 150 in 1967. . . .

Robinson, who last summer promised the Orange County Trojan Club a victory over the Irish, said at his news conference Tuesday: “We’re going back with the expectation of winning. We think we can win.” . . .

The Trojans will attend a movie Friday night, but it probably won’t be “Rudy.” . . .

It looks as though the Raiders, unlike the Dodgers, will win their season series with a Denver team. . . .

Howie Long, 33, rarely has been more effective than he was Monday night at Mile High Stadium. . . .

It’s nice that T.J. Rubley at least will be eligible to play quarterback for the Rams on Sunday against the Detroit Lions. . . .

Tim Worley’s career may be resurrected in Chicago, where he won’t have to sit on the bench and watch Barry Foster or Leroy Thompson carry the ball for the Pittsburgh Steelers. . . .

I’m surprised that so few NFL trades ever are consummated just before the deadline. . . .

The bad news about artificial turf is that it was responsible for the hip injury that ended the season of New York Giant and former UCLA wide receiver Mike Sherrard. The good news is that the turf at Royals Stadium in Kansas City will be replaced by grass in time for the 1995 baseball season. . . .

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Hockey fans I know who couldn’t care less about the World Series are upset that neither the King-Florida Panther nor Mighty Duck-New York Ranger game was televised into Southern California Tuesday. . . .

Paul Anka’s dream is to sing the Canadian national anthem before a Stanley Cup finals game involving the team he co-owns, the Ottawa Senators. In the near future, though, he has a much better chance of singing “O Canada” at the World Series. He will do so at Skydome if there is a seventh game. . . .

Troy Waters, the Australian super-welterweight who knocked down Terry Norris before being stopped, will fight 1988 Olympic gold medalist Wangila Napunyi of Kenya at the Forum Monday. . . .

Heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe sent Evander Holyfield flowers Tuesday for the challenger’s 3lst birthday. . . .

Chris McCarron demonstrated that he is still among the best riders in major races when he won three Grade I events over the weekend. His piece de resistance was bringing Miner’s Mark home by a nose in the $850,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Saturday at Belmont. . . .

McCarron and several other jockeys will autograph horse racing posters by artist Fred Stone during Breeders’ Cup weekend, Nov. 5-7, in the paddock area at Santa Anita. The $50 donation will go to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund. . . .

Dave Stockton, who has earned more than $1 million on the senior tour this year and will play in the Ralphs Classic Friday through Sunday at Rancho Park, says the only thing wrong with being a full-time golfer at 51 is that it cuts into his hunting season. . . .

A $50,000 grant from the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles will be used by the Foundation for the Junior Blind to help construct a swimming pool at its South-Central Los Angeles facility. . . .

Leonard Coleman Jr., director of market development for the major leagues, is the leading candidate to succeed Bobby Brown as American League president. . . .

The Boston Red Sox are seeking a center fielder. Among the possibilities are Shane Mack and Marquis Grissom. . . .

Thanks in no small part to their investment in Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants are going to show a profit this season. . . .

The Detroit Tigers may trade Mickey Tettleton for a pitcher. . . .

Said Charles Barkley, dismissing the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the New York Knicks Monday night: “Exhibition season is just a way to make money off the fans.” . . .

How can you blame Derrick Coleman for turning down that measly, eight-year, $69-million offer from the New Jersey Nets?