Notes on a Scorecard - April 17, 1995

I hereby begin the “Let’s Keep Ed O’Bannon in L.A.” campaign. . . .

It’s all very simple. . . .

O’Bannon figures to be anywhere from the fifth to the eighth draft choice, depending on how many of the highly regarded sophomores leave school this year. . . .

The Clippers can get the 1995 Wooden Award winner by trading down in the draft, or the Lakers by trading up. . . .

The Clippers are nearly certain to finish with the worst record in the NBA, have the best shot at No. 1 in the lottery, and draft no lower than fourth. . . .

By trading that pick, they could obtain the draft rights to O’Bannon plus a veteran. . . .

The Lakers will draft considerably lower, but could put together a package of picks and/or players in exchange for a spot that would be high enough to land O’Bannon. . . .

Clearly, both local teams need a gate attraction. . . .

The Clippers are 27th and last in the league in home attendance. The Lakers are 23rd. The popular forward who led UCLA to its NCAA championship-game victory over Arkansas would bring fans to the Sports Arena or Forum. . . .

I realize that the Clippers thought Bo Kimble from Loyola Marymount would do the same for them a few years ago, but there’s really no comparison. O’Bannon is much more talented than Kimble. . . .

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It’s hard to believe that two wide receivers, Michael Westbrook of Colorado and Joey Galloway of Ohio State, might be selected before J.J. Stokes of UCLA in the NFL draft on Saturday. . . .

Rod Dedeaux, whose USC Trojans won 11 NCAA baseball titles, writes to say, “I have always been a strong booster of UCLA basketball teams in their championship games. John Wooden and I sort of had a ‘mutual admiration society’ and I cherish the personal letters that he has sent me along the way.” . . .

Dr. Jules Rasinski, who is retiring after 29 years as Angel physician, was honored at a luncheon last Thursday. The most appropriate gift bestowed upon Rasinski, who will live on a ranch in Colorado, was a saddle from Gene Autry. . . .

Festivities before the Angels’ Anaheim Stadium opener against the Detroit Tigers on April 26 will include a parade with Doug DeCinces, Bobby Grich and Bert Blyleven riding in the lead car. . . .

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I guess the Larry The Legend saga was simply too good to last. . . .

The injury to Craig Lewis’ pride and joy is just another reminder of the fragility of thoroughbreds and how many of the good ones don’t make it to the Kentucky Derby. . . .

The favorite in the Derby, probably Eastern hope Talkin Man, might go off as high as 7-2. . . .

Magic Johnson will present the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. Lifetime Achievement Award to Steve Young on May 18 at the Universal City Hilton and Towers Hotel. . . .

Milwaukee Buck president Herb Kohl has donated $25 million to the University of Wisconsin for construction of an 18,000-seat arena. . . .

Listen to Don King and Bob Arum, and, naturally, you will get two different stories about the comeback of Mike Tyson. . . .

While in Las Vegas to promote the Oliver McCall-Larry Holmes card, King said he saw Tyson work out in the gym and that he looked tremendous. . . .

“Tyson hasn’t been near a gym,” Arum said Sunday. . . .

Arum says he thinks the chances are 10-1 against a Tyson-George Foreman bout being signed. . . .

Foreman, who will defend his International Boxing Federation title Saturday against Axel Schulz, claims that Tyson is afraid to fight him and asks why else would he turn his back on a $50-million payday? . . .

“Let Don King step away from the promotion and I’ll do the same,” Arum said. “The fact is that Tyson can’t fight anymore. He had tremendous reflexes, but they’re gone. Herbie Hide or Jeremy Williams would beat him. Foreman would destroy him.” . . .

As for a fight that will come off, the tale of the tape shows that Oscar De La Hoya and Rafael Ruelas are even in the three most important categories at 5 feet 11, 135 pounds, and a 73-inch reach. . . .

“The difference is that Oscar won’t be able to withstand Rafael’s pressure,” Ruelas’ trainer, Joe Goossen, said. “Oscar is lost on the inside. He didn’t deal well with John John Molina’s pressure, and Rafael is so much bigger and hits so much harder than Molina.” . . .

Arum predicts crowds of 12,000 for Foreman-Schulz at the MGM Grand and a capacity 15,300 for De La Hoya-Ruelas on May 6 at Caesars Palace. . . .

Athlete of the weekend: UCLA first baseman-pitcher Pete Zamora, who hit a grand slam in the ninth inning with two out and the count 0-2 to beat Arizona, 8-6, on Friday and hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth and pitched the final 2 1/3 innings in the Bruins’ 11-10 victory on Saturday.