Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 15, 1994

Now that the Clippers aren’t going to finish 0-82, can we please focus on our other NBA team? . . .

The best-kept secret in town is that the Lakers are off to a successful start. . . .

They have the most road victories in the league: eight. . . .

Last season, they didn’t win their eighth on the road until Feb. 9. . . .

Del Harris has them running, gunning, hustling and playing Del-ball, not to be confused with dull-ball. . . .

Cedric Ceballos, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel have brought respectability back to a proud franchise that is perhaps only one strong inside player away from becoming a contender again. . . .

Surprise, surprise, surprise: On the same Tuesday night, Willie Burton scored 53 points, the Golden State Warriors lost their seventh in a row and the Sacramento Kings won their fifth of the last six. . . .

The Kings also are better dressed this season. . . .

In contrast, the Cleveland Cavaliers belong on Mr. Blackwell’s worst-dressed list. . . .

It’s funny how the Warriors and the two teams involved with them in major trades, Washington and Miami, all have gone sour. . . .

What were the chances that Robert Pack would become a more important NBA player than his former USC teammate, Harold Miner? . . .

If the Knicks are tired of John Starks, I’m sure a lot of teams would trade for him in a New York minute. . . .

The shorter three-point shot is far from being a gimme, as illustrated by the Indiana Pacers’ one-for-14 performance against Cleveland on Tuesday. Reggie Miller was one for seven. . . .

From “You Heard It Here First!” a compilation of ideas for basketball coaches and players by USC assistant Jack Fertig: “Shooting is just like eating. It’s all muscle memory.” . . .

*

My only complaint about the first John R. Wooden Classic was the lack of the four schools’ pep bands at The Pond of Anaheim. The recorded music didn’t quite do it. . . .

Roy Williams might have the talent to match his coaching ability this season at Kansas. . . .

Tom Fears, the Pro Football Hall of Famer, doesn’t have Alzheimer’s disease, as had been believed. His illness has been diagnosed as a form of Parkinson’s disease that can be controlled by medication. . . .

Aren’t those picking the Raiders to reach the Super Bowl forgetting that they were manhandled by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 23-3, Nov. 27 at the Coliseum? . . .

Cincinnati General Manager Mike Brown is half right when he says the Bengals need more playing talent, not better coaching. . . .

It’s good to see that Nebraska placed three players and Penn State two on the Academic All-American first team. . . .

Afternoon Deelites’ reputation already is such that probably only four or five rivals will face him in the $500,000 Hollywood Futurity on Sunday. . . .

Top Rank probably will stage programs at the Grand Olympic only once every two months this year, instead of once every two weeks, as had been planned. . . .

Where They Are Now: Michael Nunn will challenge World Boxing Council super-middleweight champion Frankie Liles on Saturday at Quito, Ecuador. . . .

George Latka celebrated his 80th birthday by sparring three rounds with a partner half his age at a party in Huntington Beach. . . .

Latka, the former referee and boxer, will be inducted into the Orange County Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Anaheim Stadium along with Nolan Ryan, Brian Downing, Rich Saul, Mary Decker Slaney, Steve Scott and Josephine Cruickshank. . . .

*

What was surprising about the Angels’ signing of free agent Lee Smith is that they outbid the Baltimore Orioles. . . .

Kevin Gross gave the Dodgers a lot of innings, but his record never was what it should have been. . . .

All this wheeling and dealing by major league clubs couldn’t be coming under crazier circumstances. . . .

It sure beats the 1994 World Series highlight film: The California League champion Rancho Cucamonga Quakes have put together a 25-minute highlight video that is on sale for $14.95.