Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 11, 1994
The most eye-catching--
and deceiving--
billboards in Southern California say, “The Rams Are Moving.” . . .
Pictured are a football, a Ram helmet and a Ram traveling bag. . . .
Does this mean the team already has made a decision to move to, say, St. Louis or Baltimore? . . .
Not really. . . .
It is supposed to be an advertisement for the move of the Rams--and the rest of the NFC--from CBS to Fox-TV this season. . . .
As of now, though, there is no mention of the network. . . .
“We have no comment, but watch those boards,” said Tony Seiniger, president of the advertising agency retained by Fox Sports. . . .
A Ram spokesperson said team executives are “confused” by the billboards. . . .
Among Ram rookie candidates who are making a good impression is DeMarco Farr, a defensive tackle from Washington. . . .
Farr wasn’t drafted primarily because he is a mere 6-feet-1, 270 pounds. He was signed by the Rams as a free agent after being voted Pacific 10 defensive player of the year by the conference’s offensive players. He made four tackles during limited playing time against Green Bay in Saturday’s exhibition game. . . .
Why would Jamir Miller, the linebacker from UCLA who is still unsigned after being drafted 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals, ever want to get on the bad side of Buddy Ryan?. . . .
*
With the long season finally about to grind to a halt, it is time to predict the winners of the major league baseball awards. . . .
American League most valuable player--Frank Thomas, Chicago; Cy Young Award--Jimmy Key, New York; manager of the year--Buck Showalter, New York; rookie of the year--Bob Hamelin, Kansas City; comeback player of the year--David Cone, Kansas City. . . .
National League most valuable player--Jeff Bagwell, Houston; Cy Young Award--Greg Maddux, Atlanta; manager of the year--Felipe Alou, Montreal; rookie of the year--Raul Mondesi, Dodgers; comeback player of the year--Tim Wallach, Dodgers. . . .
Eddie Murray has driven in at least 75 runs for the 18th consecutive year, one short of Hank Aaron’s record. . . .
Tom Lasorda should be grateful that he isn’t managing in Brazil, where Carlos Alberto Parreira quit as coach of Brazil’s World Cup championship team a couple of weeks after constantly being second-guessed. . . .
Fox-TV couldn’t have asked for better timing for its first NFL exhibition telecast--Denver at San Francisco Friday, what looms as the first day of the baseball strike. . . .
Mark Malone is a better ESPN correspondent than he was an NFL quarterback. . . .
Kent Desormeaux has signed to play a featured role in an episode of the TV series, “Baywatch,” this season. He will play, of all things, a jockey recovering from an injury. . . .
Wayne Lukas isn’t in the National Racing Hall of Fame because he won’t be eligible until he completes his 25th year as a thoroughbred trainer in 2000. . . .
*
Maybe Fred Couples, who has recovered completely from his back injury and won the Buick Open last week, can give the United States a major title in the year’s last chance, the PGA Championship starting today at Tulsa, Okla. . . .
Among the golfers to watch in the Inner-City Junior Championships today and Friday at the Chester Washington course is Randall Hunt, 15, of Paramount. He’s an improving two-handicapper who had a B+ academic average in his freshman year at Valley Christian High. . . .
Rafael Ruelas of Sylmar and Zack Padilla of Azusa will fight in separate 12-round bouts on Top Rank’s pay-per-view TV card from Hong Kong on Oct. 22. The main event will be the heavyweight match everyone has been clamoring for, Herbie Hide vs. Tommy Morrison. . . .
A UCLA pass-catch combination of the future could be Steve Buck to Jim McElroy. Buck, a quarterback from Alta Loma High, and McElroy, a wide receiver from Washington High, began workouts with the rest of the Bruins’ incoming freshmen Wednesday. . . .
Center Avondre Jones’ transfer from USC to Chaffey College means he will be playing basketball next season for a Tarkanian--George Tarkanian, youngest son of Jerry and coach of the two-year school in Rancho Cucamonga. . . .
Pittsburgh Penguin wing Luc Robitaille hasn’t cut all his Southern California ties yet. He will be the host of a celebrity hockey game on Aug. 27 at the Forum that will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation and Neil Bogart Memorial Fund at Children’s Hospital. . . .
Speculation is growing about a strike--an NHL strike this season.