Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 1, 1994

Try to imagine what it would be like if the NFL championship were decided by polls instead of playoffs. . . .

My midseason top-10 rankings: 1. Dallas, 2. San Diego, 3. San Francisco, 4. Miami, 5. Minnesota, 6. Philadelphia, 7. Buffalo, 8. Kansas City, 9. Cleveland, 10. Pittsburgh. . . .

A big day for voters would be Nov. 13, when the Cowboys play the 49ers at Candlestick Park. . . .

The Browns, 6-2, are ranked no higher than ninth because of a soft schedule. . . .

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Jimmy Johnson believes quarterback is the most important and neglected position in pro football. . . .

He says a lot of passers don’t receive enough instruction. . . .

Hockey people will tell you the same thing about goaltenders. . . .

The AFC West has the best record in the NFL, 22-18, and the AFC Central the worst, 12-20. . . .

At this early date, San Diego can boast strong candidates for most valuable player, Stan Humphries; best defensive player, Junior Seau; coach of the year, Bobby Ross; and executive of the year, Bobby Beathard. . . .

It will be interesting to see how the Chargers do at Atlanta and Kansas City the next couple of weeks if Humphries can’t play because of a dislocation of the elbow on his non-throwing arm and Gale Gilbert is the quarterback. . . .

With the emergence of Rob Frederickson and the improved play of “Hundred-Yard” Harvey Williams, the Raiders’ decision to select a linebacker instead of a running back in the first round of the draft is looking better. . . .

Only the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts have byes remaining, those on Nov. 13. . . . The Miami Dolphins’ defense has become sound enough that they can beat New England on a day when Dan Marino throws for only 198 yards. . . .

Bert Emanuel, the rookie wide receiver who is catching a lot of passes for the Atlanta Falcons, was a seldom-used quarterback for UCLA in 1990 behind Tommy Maddox. Emanuel then transferred to Rice, where he became an all-Southwest Conference quarterback. . . .

Both New York teams lost by the uncommon score of 28-25 Sunday, the Jets to Indianapolis and the Giants to Detroit in overtime. . . .

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Washington State, which defeated UCLA and plays USC Saturday, has never swept the Bruins and Trojans. . . .

For the game in Pullman, Wa., the Trojans will fly into Lewistown, Ida., and bunk in Moscow, Ida. . . .

USC is the only team to have beaten Utah in the last 11 games. . . .

Nebraska and Penn State, Nos. 1 and 1A in the polls, won’t meet this year. But they did play every year from 1979-83, the Huskers having a 3-2 edge. . . .

Why did ESPN conduct its college football pregame program from outside Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., last Saturday before televising the Michigan-Wisconsin game? Nebraska-Colorado was shown on ABC, and Cap Cities owns both networks. . . .

My idea of a balanced attack is Baylor rushing for 328 yards and passing for 328 in a 52-13 victory over Houston. . . .

Miami Coach Dennis Erickson is bullish on freshman quarterback Scott Covington from Dana Hills. He’s sitting out this year, but watch for him in 1995 against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. . . .

James Toney, who apparently is having weight problems, has closed his West Hollywood workouts to everyone, including the media. I presume that his bout against Roy Jones Jr. in Las Vegas on Nov. 18 will be open to the public. . . .

Trainer Richard Mandella hopes his 44th birthday will be the least of his reasons to celebrate Saturday. Mandella will send out two horses, Best Pal and Soul Of The Matter, in the $3-million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs that day. . . .

If Soviet Problem isn’t favored in the Sprint, it will be the first time in her 18-race career. Among horses who were favored in every start were Native Dancer and Seattle Slew. . . . The highest percentage rider among regulars in Cup history, Patrick Valenzuela, will be absent this year because of personal problems. He has won six times in 32 races. . . .

Oak Tree has scheduled seven live races surrounding the telecast of the Cup races, the first post at 9:15 a.m. and the nightcap at 4:30 p.m. . . .

Recommended reading: “The Lives of Riley,” the unauthorized biography of Pat Riley by Times staff writer Mark Heisler. . . .

Greg Norman, who got a bar bill of $18,413.60 after buying drinks in celebration of a hole in one, can afford to pay it. For finishing in a tie for 13th in the Tour Championship, his purse was $71,400. . . .

News item: Baseball expansion committee talks about adding teams in 1997 or 1998. Reaction: Wonderful, but are there any plans for the current teams in 1995?