Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 23, 1995

At the moment, I would take UCLA over any college basketball team in the nation on a neutral court. . . .

The Bruins, who have beaten Kentucky, would be too quick for Massachusetts, too explosive for Connecticut or Kansas, too deep for North Carolina or Syracuse, and too focused for Arkansas. . . .

And they might be too tough defensively for any of them. . . .

It was defense that brought the Bruins convincing victories at Arizona and Arizona State last week. . . .

This was Desert Swarm, hoops version. . . .

Arizona had averaged 91.8 points against UCLA in their last six meetings at Tucson. The Wildcats got 61 on Thursday. Two days later, Arizona State was held to 72 at Tempe. . . .

Coach Jim Harrick pushed every button correctly and got significant contributions from eight players--Tyus Edney, Ed and Charles O’Bannon, George Zidek, J.R. Henderson, Toby Bailey, Cameron Dollar and Ike Nwankwo. . . .

The biggest surprise is Bailey, who has emerged as a complete player in his freshman season. . . .

This appears to be Harrick’s best, deepest and most versatile team. . . .

However, a few words of caution are necessary before you make your travel plans for the Final Four in Seattle. . . .

Fast starts are nothing new for the Bruins this decade. . . .

Their record after 12 games (11-1) is only their third-best in the last four years. . . .

They won their first 14 games both last season and in 1991-92. . . .

USC, which was whipped twice in Arizona, will be competitive at the Sports Arena, but hard-pressed to win a Pacific-10 Conference game on the road. . . .

*

It was worth the wait for the start of the 1995 NHL season, not to be confused with the nonexistent 1994-95 season. . . .

On opening night Friday, the sellout crowd at the Forum was treated to a splendid 3-3 tie between the Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs. . . .

I guess the players felt the loyal fans deserved an extra five minutes of action . . .

“We were ecstatic about playing,” said Wayne Gretzky, who, along with linemate Jari Kurri, appeared to be in midseason form. “It had the feeling of a playoff game.” . . .

Something the fans could do without, though, was the constant bombardment of advertisements and corny cheers on the message board. . . .

The Forum has a new look for hockey--the team benches have been moved to the east side and the penalty boxes to the west side. . . .

It was also strange to see Dave Taylor, the new assistant general manager, sitting in the press box after spending 17 seasons as a King winger. . . .

Look-alikes: Newt Gingrich and Iowa basketball Coach Dr. Tom Davis. . . .

Here’s hope for Charger fans: The highest-scoring NFL team ever was the 1983 Washington Redskins, who lost to the Raiders, 38-9, in Super Bowl XVIII. . . .

Of course, that was the last time an AFC team won the Super Bowl. . . .

During their 10-game winning streak, NFC quarterbacks have thrown only three interceptions compared to 20 for the AFC. . . .

No compilation of the important people in L.A. Ram history would be complete without mention of Don Klosterman, who was general manager from 1972-81. He made one of the franchise’s best trades in 1974, sending quarterback John Hadl to the Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks, two second-rounders, and a third-rounder. . . .

*

It was sad to watch the once-great Alexis Arguello, 43, lose a unanimous decision to journeyman Scott Walker, 25, on TV Saturday. . . .

Eleven years later, Southern California still is benefiting from the 1984 Olympic Games. The Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles, which is endowed with a surplus from the Games, has awarded $1,023,955 in grants to 23 youth sports organizations this month. . . .

Boston Celtic fans must have cashed some tickets on Larry the Legend, winner of the sixth race at Santa Anita Sunday. . . .

Any time Hakeem Olajuwon is two for 18 from the floor, the Houston Rockets are bound to lose by 19 points. . . ..

The rematch of the Phoenix Suns’ overtime victory over the Magic is March 21 in Orlando and I will be surprised if they don’t meet another six or seven times in June.