Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 9, 1994

It’s nice that the baseball season has lasted long enough for Fred McGriff to reach the 30-home run mark for the seventh consecutive season and demonstrate that he is one of the most consistent sluggers ever. . . .

Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson never hit as many as 30 in two consecutive seasons. . . .

One thing I won’t miss Friday is rotisserie league chatter. . . .

The Dodgers probably will be deprived of the kind of home stand that usually fattens won-lost records--Chicago, Pittsburgh and Florida. . . .

ESPN plans to televise the Southern League game between Birmingham and Memphis on Sunday. The attraction is a light-hitting Birmingham outfielder who wears No. 23. . . .

The New York Yankees, Montreal and Atlanta are more successful on the road than at home. . . .

News item: The University of Alabama athletic department denies that it has offered a job to Boston Red Sox Manager Butch Hobson. Reaction: Too bad because he probably will need work next season. . . .

This has been a great year for hitters in Ohio--Cleveland and Cincinnati--but a lousy year for those in Pennsylvania--Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. . . .

The first round of the playoffs is supposed to start on Oct. 4, the league championship series on Oct. 11, and the World Series on Oct. 22. . . .

*

The Raiders have what is potentially the greatest kickoff-and-punt-return combination ever, Rocket Ismail and Tim Brown. . . .

The Raider defense was impressive against the Dallas Cowboys in their exhibition game, but the task is a lot easier when Troy Aikman plays only one series and Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin don’t play at all. . . .

New Cowboy Coach Barry Switzer can’t complain that owner Jerry Jones is looking over his shoulder and talking behind his back. Instead, during the last few minutes Sunday, Jones stood next to Switzer on the sidelines and spoke to him. . . .

Rob Johnson might become USC’s first conference total offense leader since Pat Haden in 1973. . . .

Among those pictured on the cover of the Notre Dame media guide is offensive tackle Ryan Leahy, grandson of former Irish Coach Frank Leahy. . . .

Standout at the one-day camp for high school seniors conducted by Terry Donahue at UCLA Saturday was Locke High running back-wide receiver Sirr Parker. . . .

*

Wayne Lukas is long overdue for induction into the National Racing Hall of Fame, which welcomed Steve Cauthen and Jimmy Croll on Monday. . . .

Former jockeys Johnny Longden, Bill Harmatz, Ken Church, Alex Maese and Danny Velasquez will be the honored guests today at the Orange County Sports Assn.’s monthly newsmakers’ luncheon at Anaheim Stadium. Some of them will be riding Sept. 10 when the Rocking Chair Derby is renewed at Del Mar. . . .

Flawlessly and Hollywood Wildcat on grass are nearly as well matched as Affirmed and Alydar were on dirt. . . .

Dr. Les Horvath, who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his Heisman Trophy, will receive the Heritage Award Aug. 29 at halftime of the Disneyland Pigskin Classic at Anaheim Stadium that matches Horvath’s alma mater, Ohio State, against Fresno State. . . .

It shouldn’t matter during the World Championships, but what Dream Team II lacks is a team leader. No Magic. No Bird. No Jordan. . . .

NBC didn’t give the score after every basket of the United States-Brazil game Sunday, but I guess it wasn’t really necessary. . . .

Buddy McGirt did nothing against Patrick Coleman that should cause Pernell Whitaker to worry about his rematch with McGirt on Oct. 1. . . .

Larry Holmes, who used to be heavyweight boxing champion, and Tim Witherspoon, who once had a share of the title, will be seen on cable television this week. It’s Holmes-Jesse Ferguson on USA Network tonight and Witherspoon-

Sherman Griffin on ESPN Friday. . . .

Liveliest family reunion in America this weekend could be the Bodines’ at Watkins Glen, N.Y. The family hails from nearby Chemung, N.Y., and the event was planned long before brothers Geoff and Brett got into their not-so-friendly game of bumper cars during Saturday’s Brickyard 400. . . .

Track and field promoter Al Franken informs us that Noureddine Morceli’s record-breaking 7:25 in the 3,000 meters equates to under 8 minutes for two miles. . . .

Don’t tell me the Goodwill Games are over already.