Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 5, 1994

For too many years, there has been a mass exodus of Southern California high school basketball stars to universities across the country. . . .

Now take a look at the top three rushers in the weekly NCAA football statistics. . . .

Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam, from Country Day School in La Jolla, is No. 1. . . .

Washington’s Napoleon Kaufman, from Lompoc High, is No. 2. . . .

Nebraska’s Lawrence Phillips, from Baldwin Park High, is No. 3. . . .

Salaam was such a force at Country Day, averaging 13 yards a carry his senior year, that he made most prep All-American teams although the small private school plays eight-man football. . . .

Kaufman scored 86 touchdowns during his career at Lompoc, second on the California all-time list to Russell White’s 94 at Encino Crespi. . . .

Phillips rushed for 1,752 yards his senior year at Baldwin Park and was rated the ninth-best high school player in the West by a national recruiting analyst. . . .

Salaam, a junior, was so unhappy after his freshman year at Colorado that he almost decided to transfer to Cal. . . .

He is averaging 181.7 yards rushing a game, Kaufman 167.5 yards, and Phillips 157 yards. The entire USC team is averaging 118 yards and UCLA 139 yards. . . .

USC hasn’t lost to Oregon State since the Beavers handed O.J. Simpson and company their only defeat of the 1967 season, 3-0, at Corvallis. . . .

Of course, the Trojans will be trying to rebound from their first loss to Oregon at the Coliseum since 1971. . . .

The old, antiquated Coliseum scoreboard at least posted total first downs. The new, antiquated one doesn’t. . . .

ESPN has the best game on the tube Saturday, Florida State at Miami at 4:30 p.m. . . .

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John Madden believes Philadelphia’s week off was a big help to the Eagles before their victory over San Francisco. . . .

Two other teams coming off byes, Arizona and Dallas, also won, but the New York Giants lost. . . .

The Houston Oilers miss Warren Moon more than they do Buddy Ryan. . . .

You have to wonder how long San Francisco 49er quarterback Steve Young, a scrambler working behind a patchwork offensive line, can avoid a serious injury. . . .

One of the greatest accomplishments by a local high school team in years was La Puente Bishop Amat’s 34-3 triumph over Bakersfield on Saturday. The Lancers showed uncommon poise during their runaway victory on the road before 23,701. . . .

Look-alikes: Tommy Maddox and a young Gail Goodrich. . . .

Gary Bettman is the best thing that ever happened to John Ziegler. . . .

Dean Chadwin, a frequent contributor to L.A. Weekly, has written a book, “Rocking the Pond: The First Season of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim,” published by Polestar Press Ltd. of Vancouver. . . .

Nearly the entire Mighty Duck team will participate in the club’s first golf tournament, a benefit for Disney GOALS on Monday at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club. . . .

Has there ever been a less significant six-player trade than the one made Monday by the Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs? . . .

The local NHL season was supposed to open tonight, the Detroit Red Wings playing the Kings at the Forum. . . .

There is no truth to the rumor that Ken Burns’ next epic will be “Hockey.” . . .

Hakeem Olajuwon is featured on the cover of the “Official NBA Guide” and Patrick Ewing on the cover of the “Official NBA Register.” . . .

George Foreman is still big at the box office. One month from his fight against Michael Moorer at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, all $600 ringside seats have been sold and nearly all $50 tickets in the peanut gallery are gone. . . .

The Ruelas brothers don’t like to fight on the same card, but Rafael and Gabriel will defend their titles on a show in January at either the Grand Olympic or MGM Grand. . . .

Why do ring announcers wear tuxedos? . . .

Sam Rubin, owner of John Henry, has donated memorabilia from the legendary race horse’s career to Santa Anita. It will be on display in the John Henry Race & Sports Room, part of the track’s new Baldwin Club that opens today. . . .

When Dal Maxvill was fired by the St. Louis Cardinals, Fred Claire, who replaced Al Campanis in April of 1987, became the general manager with the longest tenure in the National League. . . .

Brian Cooper of Glendora mailed me his tickets to the Dodgers’ “Fan Appreciation Day,” which was scheduled for last Sunday, and wrote, “I do not own a shredder. Can you do the job for me?”