Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 18, 1994

The popular vote of callers to this desk Monday went to Art Shell over Jeff Hostetler. . . .

Shell supporters were pleased that he finally demonstrated some assertiveness on the sideline when he benched Hostetler late in the second quarter after their beef during the Raider-Miami game. . . .

The coach showed the quarterback who was boss. . . .

My feeling is that Shell should have told Hostetler to shut up, but shouldn’t have embarrassed the most fiery competitor on the team by removing him from the lineup. . . .

Besides, the switch from Hostetler to Vince Evans didn’t exactly help the Raiders’ chances of increasing their lead before halftime. . . .

*

Penn State is trying to bring the Big Ten, a conference that now has a membership of 11, its first mythical national championship since Ohio State in 1968. . . .

The ’68 Buckeyes featured sophomores Rex Kern, Jack Tatum and Jim Stillwagon, and were voted No. 1 in both the Associated Press and United Press polls after defeating USC in the Rose Bowl, 27-16. . . .

USC is tied for third in the nation in turnover ratio with a plus-1.83 per game. Only two unbeatens from the state of Alabama--Auburn and Alabama--have better numbers. . . .

The trade that sent Sam Perkins to Seattle for Doug Christie and Benoit Benjamin on Feb. 22, 1993, will not rank among the best of Jerry West’s tenure. . . .

The Lakers are left with two second-round picks from the New York Knicks, and how often do players selected late in the second round make it in the NBA? . . .

Bobby Hurley could average one point a game and still be a deserving winner of the NBA comeback player-of-the-year award. . . .

One of the criticisms of Jim Harrick’s UCLA teams over the years is that they haven’t been highly motivated. . . .

“I see a focused, determined, hungry group of guys here,” Harrick said last week when practice opened at Pauley Pavilion. “This is a special group. We have athletes who really, really want to do well.” . . .

The coach said veterans Tyus Edney, Ed O’Bannon and George Zidek will supply the leadership. . . .

Harrick believes his roster is well balanced, but the Bruins still appear to lack the outside shooting to be effective in a half-court game. . . .

Fashion note: The Bruin shorts extend to well below the knee. . . .

Highlight of the nonconference schedule is the first John R. Wooden Classic on Dec. 3 at The Pond of Anaheim. Kansas will play Massachusetts at 10 a.m., followed by UCLA-Kentucky at about 12:30 p.m. . . .

The question isn’t why UNLV fired Rollie Massimino, but why it ever hired him. . . .

The injury that will sideline Doug Collins’ son Chris for a couple of months leaves the door open at Duke for Ricky Price, the freshman guard from Gardena Serra who has been impressive during early practice sessions. . . .

Jockey Kent Desormeaux on his experience acting in a “Baywatch” episode last week: “It’s a lot scarier to hear someone yell, ‘Action!’ than ‘There they go!’ ” . . .

*

If you want to watch professional golfers who truly enjoy their work, catch the Ralphs Senior Classic this week at Rancho Park. . . .

But it’s not as if these guys are playing merely for the fun of it. The prize money is $750,000, with $112,500 going to the winner. Dave Stockton, Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd and Jim Albus have exceeded $1 million in earnings this year. . . .

The last sentence in the introduction to the NHL Official Guide and Record Book says, “Best wishes for an enjoyable 1994-95 NHL season.” Yeah, sure has been great so far. . . .

Only the Detroit Tigers’ Sparky Anderson, 60, is an older manager in the American League than Phil Regan, who is beginning his major league managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles at 57. . . .

Light-flyweight champion Humberto (Chiquita) Gonzalez will stage a workout, free to the public, Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Cesar Chavez Gym in East L.A. . . .

Former fighters Joey Barnum and Tommy Garland, trainer Bill Slayton and referee Larry Rozadilla will be honored at the Golden State Boxers Assn.’s annual dinner Nov. 16 at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Hollywood. . . .

Trainer Joe Goossen on the world champion Ruelas brothers, Gabriel and Rafael: “They have a love affair with their jobs. That’s what separates them from most fighters.” . . .

If the Rams move to Baltimore, will the CFL demand that the team be nicknamed the NFLs?