Notes on a Scorecard - June 20, 1994

Most sportswriters have personal favorites. . . .

Usually it is the second-string offensive tackle, the third-base coach or the journeyman fighter who has a gift of gab and loves to see his name in the newspaper. . . .

Mine was the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL single-season rushing record holder. . . .

I was at Shea Stadium on a snowy December afternoon in 1973 when O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills ran for 200 yards against the New York Jets to finish the season with 2,003. . . .

After answering questions from dozens of reporters in the dressing room for the better part of an hour, he called me over and asked if there was anything more that I needed. . . .

He hadn’t changed since the USC days. He was patient, insightful and humorous, and he made my job easier. . . .

That is the O.J. I knew from work, and it is what makes the mind-boggling events of the past few days even more difficult to fathom. . . .

The former No. 32 is now prisoner No. 4013970 in L.A. County Jail, expected to be arraigned today on charges that he fatally stabbed his ex-wife and her male friend. . . .

In a note that was read Friday before the low-speed freeway chase that riveted television watchers throughout the nation, Simpson said that people shouldn’t feel sorry for him. . . .

Indeed, they should feel sorry, instead, for the families of the late Nicole Brown Simpson and the late Ronald Goldman. . . .

*

This might not be the most scintillating NBA championship series, but it will be the longest since the Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons, 108-105, in Game 7 at the Forum on June 21, 1988. . . .

Houston Rocket Coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who has done an excellent job this year, was treated shabbily during the pregame buildup on NBC on Friday when New York Knick Coach Pat Riley got all the praise. . . .

John Starks will cure you or kill you. . . .

Colin Montgomerie, Ernie Els and Loren Roberts? Not exactly your dream threesome, but their 18-hole playoff for the U.S. Open championship should make for good television today. . . .

This is the best way to decide a major championship, much fairer than sudden death. . . .

It isn’t so much the lack of scoring, but the dearth of scoring opportunities that often makes World Cup soccer appear dull to the unsophisticated viewer. . . .

Nobody could blame the announcer when, before South Korea rallied in the last few minutes at the Cotton Bowl, he described Spain’s 2-0 lead as “commanding.” . . .

ESPN is saying proudly that its World Cup telecasts are commercial-free, but that box in the upper left corner that shows the sponsors’ names along with the time elapsed is irritating. . . .

And when updates on other sports events are shown in the lower half of the screen every half hour, the space devoted to the action is much too small. . . .

Soccer cliche: “Good result.” . . .

Best-dressed team: Cameroon. . . .

Best rule: No timeouts except for injuries. . . .

*

Oscar De La Hoya-Jorge Paez, James Toney-Prince Charles Williams is set as an HBO doubleheader July 29 from the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. . . .

Jackie McCoy, who has managed or trained six world champions, is back working in the gym after suffering a blackout recently. . . .

How can the New York Giants, who released Phil Simms, expect to contend for a championship without a quality veteran quarterback?. . . .

The New York Rangers might be aging, but, according to a Hockey News survey, they and the Quebec Nordiques have more good NHL prospects in their systems than any other team. . . .

Mike Piazza is tearing up the National League in his sophomore year--11 of his 15 home runs have come with men on base--but there is little need to project his numbers over a full season because of the impending strike. . . .

Pity, too, that Ken Griffey Jr., who makes his first local appearance of the year tonight with the Seattle Mariners at Anaheim Stadium, probably will be deprived of an opportunity to hit at least 62 home runs. . . .

Maybe Griffey’s total should be put in the record book, anyway, with an asterisk and an explanation: “Would have broken Roger Maris’ record if not for strike.” . . .

I can’t understand why some people are saying Ryne Sandberg hurt his chances for induction into the Hall of Fame when he retired early. By any reckoning, the former Chicago Cub second baseman should be a cinch. . . .

The Cincinnati Reds might need some convincing about the greatness of the Atlanta Braves’ pitching staff. . . .

Darryl Strawberry’s signing with the San Francisco Giants is a boost to the Dodgers’ pennant chances.