Notes on a Scorecard - June 28, 1994

It might not rank with some of the startling developments in sports lately, but the Dodgers’ demotion of Jose Offerman was unexpected. . . .

I mean, how often does a first-place team send its starting shortstop to the minors in midseason? . . . .

These days, few major league regulars ever worry about job security because the talent pool is so thin. . . .

Maybe this will send a much-needed message to Offerman. . . .

At 25, he still has a future with the Dodgers, but only if he starts hitting ground balls and line drives instead of fly balls, further improves his fielding, and gets a new attitude.

*

Figuring out first-round survivors in the World Cup makes figuring out NFL playoff possibilities look like child’s play. . . .

It’s a lot more fun to root for an underdog, such as the U.S. World Cup team, than a heavy favorite, such as the U.S. Olympic basketball team. . . .

No, World Cup visitors, it usually isn’t so hot this time of year in our little slice of paradise. The high Sunday in Pasadena was 106. The normal high on that date in L.A. is 80. . . .

The Mighty Ducks, who have the second choice, and the Kings, who have the seventh, should be able to select productive players today. But the NHL draft is much more of a crapshoot than when the minimum age of draftees was higher. . . .

It won’t bother me if both local NBA teams tap the Pacific 10 Conference for their first picks in the draft Wednesday--California forward Lamond Murray to the Clippers and Arizona guard Khalid Reeves to the Lakers. . . .

The most popular horse in Hollywood Park history is Native Diver because of what he accomplished in the track’s biggest race, the Gold Cup. . . .

The kind of front-runner who usually can’t handle the 1 1/4-mile distance, Native Diver won the Cup three consecutive times from 1965-67. . . .

On June 1, his jockey, Jerry Lambert, returned to Hollywood Park to ride there for the first time since 1986. His mount, Dorothy Fontaine, finished fifth in the fifth race, but it was a wonderful day for Lambert. . . .

“I thought about Native Diver and it brought back a lot of fond memories,” said Lambert, 53, who is riding regularly at Los Alamitos. “I only wish I had a black horse like that to ride nowadays. At least, I was fortunate that I got to ride one like him. Other guys never have and never will.” . . .

Lambert took his daughter Lacey, 9, to the paddock garden to see the monument that marks the site where Native Diver was buried in 1967. . . .

“Lacey had seen pictures of him and heard a lot about him,” Lambert said. “But now she’s getting old enough to realize that he was something very special.” . . .

Native Diver remains the only horse to have won the Gold Cup more than once. . . .

There will be no repeat winner, either, Saturday when favorite The Wicked North takes on a small, but, of course, select field that includes Arcangues, Del Mar Dennis and Slew Of Damascus. Best Pal, who has raced recently but is being prepared for a return to the track, won a year ago. . . .

The Virginia Slims tennis tournament at Manhattan Beach Aug. 8-14 will have the hit, Lori McNeil, and miss, Mary Pierce, of Wimbledon. . . .

Where would Tonya Harding be today without Nancy Kerrigan? . . .

A heavyweight boxing prospect to watch is Joel Scott of Albany, N.Y. He is 23, 6 feet 2, 235 pounds, and the winner of all five of his professional bouts by first-round knockouts. . . .

The Angels’ Pacific Coast League affiliate, Vancouver, won the first-half Northern Division title and the Dodgers’ club, Albuquerque, tied for the Southern Division title. . . .

Thumbs up to the Angels’ Rex Hudler, who likes to chat with the fans in the stands during lulls in the action when he is playing the outfield. . . .

Manager Dallas Green was quoted in Newsday on the lackadaisical play of his New York Mets: “If they want to strike, let them strike now, walk right out of the clubhouse, that’s all right with me. But don’t bring it out on the field and don’t bring it to the fans until that time.” . . .

Most of the attention is going to Ken Griffey Jr., but Frank Thomas is enjoying one of the all-time great first halves. . . . There is no truth to the rumor that the winner of the American League West title will refuse an invitation to the playoffs.