Notes on a Scorecard - July 21, 1994

The Angels’ dwindling attendance should be no mystery. . . .

Anaheim Stadium fans simply have grown weary of a bad product. . . .

The Angels are well on their way to their sixth losing record in eight seasons. . . .

Their only winning season during that span was 1989, when they were 91-71. They were 81-81 in 1991. Not since 1986 has Gene Autry’s team finished higher than third in the AL West. . . . The surprise is that season home attendance has stayed above two million for so long, but that 12-year streak is nearly certain to end even if there is no strike. . . .

The way the Dodgers are playing, they will be fortunate to be in second place when they come home from this trip next week. . . .

When Vin Scully describes Mike Piazza as being “bone weary and soaking wet” on a hot night at Shea Stadium and then Piazza isn’t in the starting lineup the next day, you wonder if such a great young hitter should be moved to a position that is less draining than catcher. . . .

The Dodgers usually do a lot better job substituting at the plate than on the mound. First came record-setting pinch-hitter Manny Mota, then Jose Morales, Mickey Hatcher, Mitch Webster, Dave Hansen and now Jeff Treadway. . . .

So much for those who believed Jim Abbott would have to be effective for the New York Yankees to be pennant contenders. . . .

The American and National leagues would be wise to follow the lead of the International League, which suspended and fined 35 players for leaving their positions, the bench and the bullpen during a fight between Richmond and Norfolk. . . .

Someone could make a fortune reviving the old “Home Run Derby” television show. . . .

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Major network boxing shows have been few and far between the last several years, but the Grand Olympic will stage two in three weeks--Zach Padilla-Juan LaPorte on CBS Sunday and Larry Donald-Andrew Golota on ABC Aug. 13. . . .

Padilla, 31, is a hot commodity, but was retired as recently as two years ago. The junior welterweight from Azusa quit the ring for five years and worked as a carpenter because he couldn’t get enough fights. . . .

Donald vs. Golota will be a matchup of two unbeaten heavyweights. . . .

The Riddick Bowe-Buster Mathis Jr. fight, originally scheduled for June in Las Vegas before Bowe was injured in training, has been rescheduled for Aug. 13 in Atlantic City. . . .

Ron Allice, the new USC track and field coach, promised a group of boosters--including Olympic medalists Lennox Miller, Rex Cawley and Ron Morris--that the Trojans would finish in the top three in the NCAA men’s and women’s championship meets within the next few years. . . .

If Avondre Jones signs with Iowa as expected, he won’t be the first USC basketball player to transfer there. Gerry Wright did after the 1983 season. His coach at Iowa? George Raveling. . . .

Kickoff for the USC-Notre Dame game, to be televised by ABC, will be 5 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the Coliseum. . . .

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Next time I see a prevent defense in an NFL game, I’ll remember Sweden against Brazil. . . .

All in the Family: Bobby and Brett Hull, father and brother, respectively, will serve as guest assistant coaches for Bobby Hull Jr. on Sunday when his Los Angeles Blades of Roller Hockey International play Edmonton at the Forum at 5 p.m. . . .

Maybe Mike Keenan just wanted to get away from the New York media. Only one writer travels regularly with the St. Louis Blues. . . .

Wayne Lukas will try to beat the boys with a filly in the $100,000 Hollywood Juvenile for the third time on Monday. Serena’s Song will be trying to repeat for Lukas what Terlingua did in 1978 and Althea in 1983. . . .

Laffit Pincay’s polished, winning ride on longshot Highland Crystal in a stakes race at River Downs in Cincinnati on Sunday showed what the 47-year-old youngster can still do when given the opportunity. . . .

Nolan Richardson of Arkansas might eventually become a pro basketball coach, but he was recently quoted as saying: “The NBA used to be up and down. Now it’s nothing but a one-on-one show where all you do is try to back your man down the lane. The only time I watch a pro game is when one of my former players is playing.” . . .

Jim Harrick’s foursome won the Jackie Robinson Invitational Monday at Riviera. . . .

Trade suggestion: Sean Elliott from San Antonio to Detroit for a future first-round draft choice.