Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 27, 1994

My choice for sportsman of the year competed only once in 1994. . . .

But George Foreman’s 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer on Nov. 5 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas was one for the ages. . . .

Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion ever at 45, and, even more remarkably, regained the title 20 years after he lost it. . . .

He is also believed to be the first world-class athlete to return to his sport successfully after a 10-year retirement. . . .

What makes Foreman the sportsman of the year in the fullest sense are his charitable endeavors. . . .

Not too long ago, a financial crunch hit the Houston food bank that helps people afflicted with AIDS. Officials approached Foreman. He responded by writing a check for $400,000. . . .

After the riots in 1992, Foreman wrote a check for $1 million to help build a pharmacy in South-Central L.A. . . .

He also has endowed scholarships at the universities of Texas and Nebraska. . . .

It is estimated that he has donated more than $4 million to charity throughout his career. . . .

If this comes as a surprise, it is because he makes his contributions without calling attention to them. . . .

Clearly, nobody else carried the wallop of the champion in 1994. . . .

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Barry Sanders’ most impressive number might be his 726 consecutive carries without losing a fumble. . . .

The last time he lost the ball was on Dec. 6, 1992, against the Green Bay Packers at Milwaukee County Stadium. I’ll bet it never happens to him again there. . . .

The Miami Dolphins would be a bigger threat in the playoffs if Reggie Roby was still their punter. . . .

My idea of a football nut is someone who planned his or her Christmas Day schedule around telecasts of the Blue-Gray game, the Aloha Bowl and the Miami-Detroit game. . . .

If you enjoyed soccer’s World Cup, you must have loved the Boston College-Kansas State game in Honolulu that included 19 punts. . . .

ESPN sideline reporter Mark Malone, the former quarterback, deserves a spot in some broadcasting booth next season. . . .

I guess some Miami assistants wear those “Dolphins Football” sweatshirts on the sidelines so they won’t be confused with “Dolphins Basketball” coaches. . . .

Will Pacific 10 Conference preseason favorite Arizona be up for the Freedom Bowl against Utah tonight at Anaheim Stadium? The Wildcats need only remember their 21-16 loss to Western Athletic Conference member Colorado State at Tucson in October. . . .

Penn State graduate Brian Golden conducted a talk show on KABC with Doug Krikorian last week while wearing a Nittany Lion helmet and jersey. . . .

Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne would be smart to start quarterback Brook Berringer against Miami in the Orange Bowl and use Tommie Frazier, coming off his injury, as a change-up artist. . . .

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Bill Walton, who is Ralph Lawler’s partner on Channel 13 telecasts, says life with the Clippers is more fun than a year ago. . . .

“That team lost a lot of games that it should have won and there was a lot of bickering,” Walton said. “These guys put out much more.” . . .

Walton, who also does commentary on UCLA games for Prime Ticket, is bullish on his alma mater. . . .

“It won’t surprise me if they win the national championship,” he said. “They’re deep and have incredible team quickness. Ed O’Bannon has matured. He’s bigger across the shoulders and can do more things.” . . .

UCLA should get off to a fast start in the conference race. The Bruins’ first four games are on the road at Oregon and Oregon State on Jan. 5 and 7 and at home against Washington and Washington State on Jan. 12 and 14. . . .

Arizona must open at Arizona State on Jan. 5. . . .

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Among the NBA’s most underrated players is Houston forward Otis Thorpe, who recently passed the 13,000-point mark. . . .

Elliot Perry, a guard who is contributing heavily to the Phoenix Suns, was cut by the Clippers in 1991 after being drafted in the second round from Memphis State. . . .

Among the highlights on closing day at Hollywood Park were the calls of Frank Mirahmadi, who did a fantastic job imitating Trevor Denman in one race, the late Harry Henson in another and several announcers in a couple of others. . . .

It looks as though Foreman’s opponent on April 22 at the Superdome in New Orleans will be the famed Axel Schultz of Germany.