Notes on a Scorecard - March 29, 1994

Sunday, the Milwaukee Bucks. Tonight, the Minnesota Timberwolves. . . .

It is almost as though Don King had lined up the tomato cans for Magic Johnson’s first two coaching assignments at the Forum. . . .

More will be known about the impact of Coach Johnson on the Lakers Thursday when they play the SuperSonics in Seattle. . . .

But, already, count the dean of NBA assistant coaches, Bill Bertka, among the impressed. . .

“Magic is such a dominating presence,” Bertka said after the Lakers’ 110-101 victory over the Bucks. “Remember the way he used to dribble the ball with one hand and give directions with the other? Well, it was the same thing most of the night except that he didn’t have a ball. He was animated. He was really into the game.” . . .

The game lasted 2 1/2 hours, which was 45 minutes less than the first practice session conducted by Johnson on Saturday. . . .

“He was great working on the basics, one on one with the players,” said Bertka, in his 22nd season as an NBA assistant. “What a wonderful opportunity it is for them to have someone who is able to demonstrate the intricacies that make the big picture.” . . .

The theme of Johnson’s pregame talk with reporters was that the emphasis would be on defense. Then the Lakers went out and held Milwaukee to an opponent season low of 14 points in the first quarter. . . .

However, the Bucks’ 41 points were the most scored by a Laker opponent in a fourth quarter this season. . . .

The questions: Will Johnson-coached teams have to pace themselves better? Did the marathon Saturday practice take too much out of them? Did fatigue set in Sunday because the Lakers aren’t in the kind of shape they should be this time of the year? . . .

Magic is younger than three of his players--James Edwards, Kurt Rambis and Dan Schayes. . . .

Best-conditioned Laker might be assistant coach Michael Cooper, who looks as though he hasn’t put on an ounce since his playing days. . . .

Count Cooper among the possible successors, if, as conventional wisdom suggests, Magic doesn’t return as coach next season. . . .

Look-alikes: Detroit Piston forward Terry Mills and George Foreman. . . .

Roy Tarpley, who is playing in Greece, has applied for reinstatement to the NBA. . . .

*

Further evidence that the number of thoroughbred racing dates should be cut down in the Southland: only 61 horses, an average of fewer than seven a race, ran Sunday at Santa Anita. . . .

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Bobby Frankel might run Eagle Eye in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9 if the colt, who in his last race defeated Soul Of The Matter, performs well in the Baldwin Stakes on Wednesday. . . .

It was unusual enough that a full brother and sister, Pirate’s Revenge and Echo Of Yesterday, won races on the same card Saturday at Santa Anita. But the next day, Royal Issue and his full sister, Miss Inn Zone, each ran second. . . .

Eugene Swift beat Rod Jett in the 110-meter hurdles at the Stanford Invitational. . . .

J.T. Snow must really feel wanted by the Angels. . . .

Ricky Jordan, who probably was going to be traded by the Philadelphia Phillies, is starting at first base in place of John Kruk and tearing up the Grapefruit League. . . .

Luis Tiant will be a pitching coach for the Dodgers’ Great Falls, Mont., franchise in the Pioneer League. . . .

Maybe El Tiante can teach Chan Ho Park some tricks with his delivery before the Dodgers break camp at Vero Beach. . . .

Tim McCarver is getting more exposure on CBS in commercials than when the network televised an occasional baseball game. . . .

Don’t be surprised if Jim McMahon rejoins his old Brigham Young quarterback coach, Mike Holmgren, at Green Bay. . . .

Never has a quarterback who has done less in the National Football League brought more on the trade market over the years than Jeff George. . . .

Name Game: They have been the Racine, Chicago, St. Louis, Phoenix and now Arizona Cardinals. . . .

I’m sure Troy Aikman would be absolutely delighted to have Barry Switzer, his coach at Oklahoma before he transferred to UCLA, replace Jimmy Johnson. . . .

Few have contributed as much to high school sports in Southern California as former athlete, coach and administrator Kenny Fagans, who died Saturday at 84.