Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 28, 1993

It wasn’t long ago that Laker teams were being ranked with the best in franchise history. Now the only comparisons are with the worst. . . .

At their current .333 clip (9-18), the 1993-94 juggernaut will finish with the poorest record since the club moved from Minneapolis in 1960. . . .

The all-time Los Angeles Laker low was set in 1974-75 by the team that went 30-52 and produced such future Chick Hearn sidekicks as Pat Riley and Stu Lantz. . . .

The next season, the Lakers improved considerably. It had a little something to do with a trade that brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley from the Milwaukee Bucks for Elmore Smith, Brian Winters and first-round draft choices David Meyers and Junior Bridgeman. . . .

Is another quick fix possible? . . .

The Lakers are headed for their first lottery selection. However, the draft figures to be shallow, and the new rules work against the chances of anyone except the very lowest finishers getting the first two or three picks. . . .

General Manager Jerry West can hope that the Clippers don’t trade Danny Manning, who might decide to sign with the Lakers as a free agent if he doesn’t agree to terms with a new team. . . .

Randy Pfund’s wish for the new year should be that owner Jerry Buss shows enough patience to stick with him until he gets a chance to coach a team that is stocked with the talent to be competitive most nights. . . .

Incidentally, the coach with the lowest winning percentage in Laker history was George Mikan, who played on five NBA championship teams in Minneapolis, but went 9-30 in 1957-58 before John Kundla was brought back. . . .

Among the point guards being mentioned in the New York Knicks’ trade talks is Isiah Thomas. . . .

Shawn Bradley might have a future in this league, but Don Nelson should be delighted that he wound up with Chris Webber, who already has made it big. . . .

I never hear much talk about college basketball rankings because the national championship is decided on the court. . . .

The instant-replay rule is probably gone for good despite all the lousy officiating this season, but I will be surprised if the NFL doesn’t reinstate the 45-second clock. . . .

At 34, Jim McMahon still finds ways to win. . . .

The late actor Don Ameche once served as president of the Los Angeles Dons of the old All-America Football Conference. . . .

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When Morten Andersen kicks a 56-yard field goal on a cold day in Philadelphia, you know he has got more going for him than the New Orleans Superdome. . . .

Recommended reading: “Black College Football, One Hundred Years of History, Education and Pride,” by Michael Hurd. . . .

Give horseplayers a five-day break and they will bet a record amount on Santa Anita’s opening-day card. . . .

Four 1993 Breeders’ Cup winners will be among the featured performers during the Arcadia meeting--Arcangues (Classic), Brocco (Juvenile), Hollywood Wildcat (Mile) and Cardmania (Sprint). . . .

Laffit Pincay, 47, might have his most lucrative meeting in years. He rode Strub Series contender Diazo to victory Sunday and has the call on Valient Nature, who upset Brocco in the Hollywood Futurity. . . .

Wilt Chamberlain co-owns Maisonsaire, a 3-year-old colt trained by Dick Mandella who will try to make it two for two in the fifth race today. . . .

If the Mighty Ducks had more firepower, they might have been able to take advantage of the Kings’ leaky defense and tie the season series Sunday at the Anaheim Arena. . . .

Look-alikes: Sean Astin of “Rudy” and Lenny Dykstra. . . .

The Forum Boxing Club was voted promoter of the year by the World Boxing Council at its annual convention. . . .

Unbeaten junior-welterweight David Kamau will try to extend his winning streak to 22 against Cesar Valdez in the Forum’s first 1994 card on Jan. 10. . . .

Maybe Julio Cesar Chavez should have fought Terry Norris instead of Pernell Whitaker after all. . . .

George Foreman, who will turn 45 next month and wants to go out a winner, is talking about “one last fight” in April. . . .

Among prominent baseball free agents still available are Robin Yount, Lee Smith, Bo Jackson, Chris Sabo, Jody Reed, Bip Roberts, Tony Fernandez and Tim Belcher. . . .

If a certain free-agent relief pitcher signs with the New York Mets, they will have a Gregg Olson-Greg Olson battery.