Notes on a Scorecard - June 27, 1994

You knew the United States was in big trouble Sunday when Romania took a commanding 1-0 lead in the first half at the Rose Bowl. . . .

The World Cup is no longer Greek to me. . . .

Next time your kid runs off his mouth, give him a yellow card. . . .

It wouldn’t have settled anything in Group A because the United States and Switzerland played to a 1-1 draw, but the No. 1 tiebreaking criterion should be head-to-head results instead of goal differential. . . .

Spanish-speaking Andres (Gooooooaalllll!) Cantor would lose his voice if he announced a high-scoring sport such as hockey. . . .

Nothing could be more important to the Dodgers than to have closer Todd Worrell, who has been pitching much better lately, return to form. . . .

Vin Scully on Raul Mondesi: “He rushes to the plate like a lady goes to dinner.” . . .

If Darren Dreifort is as bright as I think he is, he will benefit from his stay in the Texas League. . . .

Rather than complaining about the fans who cheered Ken Griffey Jr.’s record-setting home run Wednesday night at Anaheim, the Angels should have thanked them for attending. . . .

Tony La Russa’s kind of game is having five pitchers limit Detroit to five hits in Oakland’s 2-1 victory Saturday. . . .

Hakeem Olajuwon isn’t enough for Houston sports fans, who are chanting, “MVP, MVP,” when Astro first baseman Jeff Bagwell comes to the plate. . . .

Perhaps not since 1954 had there been as much interest in Cleveland for a Yankee series as there was over the weekend. In ‘54, the Yankees won 103 games but finished eight games behind the American League champion Indians. . . .

Leave it to Chris McCarron to win No. 6,000 in a stakes race. . . .

Wayne Lukas has ambitious plans for Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Tabasco Cat. . . .

The campaign that could result in horse-of-the-year honors: The Jim Dandy Stakes on July 31 and the Travers on Aug. 20 at Saratoga, perhaps the Woodward on Sept. 17 and the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Oct. 8 at Belmont Park, and the Breeders Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs. . . .

“Tabasco Cat is doing real well at the ranch in Santa Ynez,” Lukas said. “He’s gaining two pounds a day, and that’s a lot.” . . .

Yeah, I know, Wayne, I’ve been doing the same lately. . . .

The Black Coaches Assn. proposal is for freshmen to be barred from playing varsity sports but to be allowed to practice with the teams. . . .

In the old days, the freshmen had their own teams, such as the UCLA Brubabes, USC Trobabes, California Cubs and Stanford Papooses. . . .

Getting tired of watching soccer and baseball? Defending champion Jean-Philippe Gatien of France heads a field of 185 players from nearly 40 countries in the U.S. Open Table Tennis championships Thursday through Monday at the Anaheim Convention Center. . . .

What Roberto Duran needed Saturday night was an eight-round bout, not 12, against Vinny Pazienza. Duran ran out of energy in the last four rounds. For old guys, though, they put on a good show. . . .

With all his gesturing and posturing, Pazienza will be a natural for the World Wrestling Federation once his boxing days are over. . . .

Trainer Joe Goossen is doing an outstanding job with young heavyweight Jeremy Williams, who was well ahead of Bert Cooper on points when Cooper was disqualified in the seventh round for losing his mouthpiece a sixth time. . . .

Goossen’s super-featherweight, Gabriel Ruelas, will challenge James Leija for the World Boxing Council title Sept. 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. . . .

Thumbs up to Wimbledon officials for refusing to buckle under television demands and, instead, giving the players Sunday off in the middle of the tournament. . . .

Members of the Hollywood Stars, who played baseball at Gilmore Field, and the Los Angeles Bulldogs, who played football at Gilmore Stadium, should call Jennifer Marsan at 213-549-2144 about participating in a 60th birthday celebration for Farmers Market. . . .

It would be nice if the Clippers hired a coach before the draft. . . .

Where do all those New York fans who want to trade Patrick Ewing think the Knicks would have finished without him? . . .

I wonder if Magic Johnson will be part owner of the Lakers for more than 16 games.