Notes on a Scorecard - April 13, 1994

The Kings will miss Dave Taylor, one of the finest sportsmen ever to represent Los Angeles. . . .

Taylor’s determination on the ice was matched by what he showed in overcoming a speech problem. . . .

How rich is the athletic tradition at USC? Left out of the first class of inductees into the school Hall of Fame were two Heisman Trophy winners, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, Wimbledon and U.S. Open champions, numerous Olympic gold medalists in track and swimming, and Masters, U.S. Open and PGA winners. . . .

The voters--including sportswriters, sportscasters and officials and supporters of the athletic department--were asked to choose two football players each from the pre- and post-1960 eras. . . .

They voted for the Trojans’ first Heisman winner, Mike Garrett, and the most famous, O.J. Simpson, in the post-1960 section. . . .

Maybe next time for Charles White and Marcus Allen. . . .

A couple of other tailbacks, Frank Gifford and Jon Arnett, were chosen from the pre-1960 candidates. . . .

Among those to be inducted at a black-tie dinner May 21 at the Forum will be Bill Sharman for basketball; Fred Lynn, baseball; Parry O’Brien, track and field; Stan Smith, tennis; Buster Crabbe, swimming, and Al Geiberger, golf. . . .

This will be a busy Saturday on the USC campus. . . .

The annual “Swim with Mike” session that has raised more than $1 million for physically challenged athletes begins at 8 a.m. at the swim stadium and lasts all day. A public scrimmage concludes spring football practice at Howard Jones Field at 11 a.m. The baseball team plays Arizona in an important Pacific 10 game at Dedeaux Field at 1 p.m. . . .

As few as 85 victories could be enough to win the title in the good-hit, no pitch, four-team American League West. . . .

“Those who say that you go as far as your pitching takes you are wrong,” Angel president Richard Brown said. “You go as far as your health takes you.” . . .

Fifty-three players already are on the major league disabled list. . . .

Fewer than 11 runs were scored in only one of the nine games Tuesday. . . .

That script on the Chicago Cubs’ road uniforms looks like “Cuba.” . . .

Cub outfielder Karl Rhodes hit four home runs in five at-bats--one against San Diego in his next-to-last plate appearance of the 1993 season and three against the New York Mets in the 1994 opener. . . .

I would love to see John Kruk lead the league in batting. . . .

A lot of attention will be focused on New York Met shortstop prospect Reinaldo Ordonez, who defected from Cuba, in the Florida State League. . . .

Long Beach State baseball Coach Dave Snow and softball Coach Pete Manarino each recorded his 400th coaching victory Saturday. Snow’s team defeated Cal State Fullerton before a school-record crowd of 1,826 at Blair Field, 10-2, and Manarino’s team defeated New Mexico State in the first game of a doubleheader, 1-0. . . .

George Foster is a voluntary hitting instructor for St. John’s. . . .

Memorial services were held Tuesday for Pinky Vestermark, 81, who was a Pacific Coast Conference basketball official and a longtime supporter of youth sports in Long Beach. . . .

In the year that the United States has the World Cup, the American Youth Soccer Organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary. What began with two teams in Torrance now includes 32,000 teams, 450,000 players and 200,000 volunteers in 45 states. . . .

So many horses are racing on Lasix these days that the designation in the program should be for those who aren’t. . . .

Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson died on April 12--Louis in 1981 and Robinson in 1989. . . . Stuntmen from the Wild, Wild, Wild West Show will teach Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer how to take a punch during a news conference Thursday at Universal Studios. . . .

NFL draft sleepers include Tennessee running back Charlie Garner and Mississippi defensive tackle Tim Bowens. . . .

Buddy Ryan has two sons, Rex and Rob, on his Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff. . . .

At last count, the San Francisco 49ers were $465 under the salary cap. . . .

Irv Cross and Tom Matte are among the owners of the new Baltimore franchise in the Canadian Football League. . . .

Rob Fried, who produced “Rudy” and roots for the New York Jets, will marry actress Nancy Travis on April 30 in Santa Barbara. . . .

Wayne Gretzky on hitting a baseball being the toughest thing in sports: “Yeah, except when I’m hitting a golf ball.”