Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 11, 1995

Del Harris’ explosion at halftime Monday night in Portland revived memories of Gene Mauch tipping over a table full of food in the Philadelphia Phillies’ clubhouse after a defeat. . . .

The difference is that food is not available in NBA locker rooms and Harris, instead, threw cups of the beverage of his choice, water, at a couple of Lakers. . . .

Down by 11 points at the time, Harris’ antics so inspired his team that it returned to the court and lost to the Trail Blazers by a franchise-record 46. . . .

The steadiest Laker in the second half was Nick Van Exel, whose stats’ line for the final 24 minutes was 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0. . . .

Management is now calling it a misunderstanding, but the cause of Van Exel’s benching was identified Monday as VED (Van Exel’s decision) rather than CD (Coach’s decision). . . .

Harris’ halftime antics--remember, this was a team carrying a five-game winning streak into Oregon--might be labeled the overreaction of the season. . . .

*

George Raveling has applied for the job as commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, now known as the Big Eight. . . .

“I was asked to apply and I did,” the former USC basketball coach said. The expanded conference will begin competition in 1996, after the Southwest Conference folds. . . .

“I’ve got 10 or 12 other things on my plate for consideration,” Raveling said. . . .

The election of Mike Schmidt to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility was a no brainer. . . .

I’ve had the privilege of seeing the best third baseman ever (Schmidt), catcher (Johnny Bench), center fielder (Willie Mays) and left-handed pitcher (Sandy Koufax) perform in their primes. . . .

Schmidt was the 35th pick in the 1971 draft. The 34th was George Brett. . . .

The rainstorms could force Wayne Lukas’ juvenile champion, Timber Country, out of the Camino Real Derby Saturday at Bay Meadows. . . .

“If the track is sealed or it’s not good, we’ll stay home,” Lukas said at his Santa Anita barn. “We’ll still be in great shape, though, because Timber Country is seasoned and has two-turn experience. There will be plenty of options open. We could even go into March without him racing and feel confident.” . . .

Lukas was the clearest of winners in the trainers’ money earnings for 1994--collecting $9,247,457, which was $2.2 million more than anyone else. . . .

Every community in Southern California would be fortunate to have a support group such as the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. . . .

In the last 30 years, the Round Table has raised more than $1.5 million to help local high school and junior college teams meet expenses. . . .

Weekly luncheons saluting coaches and athletes, an annual Hall of Fame banquet, and special events such as the screening of “Cobb” on Monday night have provided the funds. . . .

Among Santa Barbara movers and shakers who have devoted countless hours to their favorite cause are Caesar Uyesaka, Paul Menzel, Bill Pintard, Rath Shelton and Bill Bertka. . . .

Lou Duva says it will be “payback time” Feb. 18 when John John Molina gives Oscar De La Hoya what should be the toughest test of his career at the MGM Grand. . . .

Duva helped Robert Alcazar train De La Hoya in Barcelona for the 1992 Olympic Games at a time when it appeared that Shelly Finkel would become De La Hoya’s manager. . . .

De La Hoya signed elsewhere and Finkel, a partner of Duva, still has a suit pending, alleging that the Golden Boy hasn’t paid back a $100,000 loan. . . .

A belated happy birthday to George Foreman, who turned 46 Tuesday. . . .

UCLA’s basketball games against Duke, Arizona and California at Pauley Pavilion are sold out and a limited number of tickets are available for seven other home games. . . .

It won’t stay that way long, but it sure seems strange to see Arizona eighth in the Pacific 10 Conference standings. . . .

Former Sen. Thomas Eagleton says that the legal agreement about to be reached between FANS, Inc., of St. Louis and the Rams “will be a lot longer than the Declaration of Independence.”. . . .

It develops that the Cleveland Browns’ defense might not be as good as the Cleveland Cavaliers’. . . .

If the owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned down a $163-million offer for the franchise, how much do you think the Dallas Cowboys are worth? . . .

Bring back instant replay, but put a one-minute limit on decision making. . . .

Joe Bugel would be a sound replacement for Chuck Knox as Ram coach--or Art Shell as Raider coach if Al Davis decides to make a change.