Notes on a Scorecard - April 19, 1995

Why is George Foreman still fighting at 46? . . . Wouldn’t you if you were being paid $10 million to fight Axel Schulz? . . .

Thanks mostly to HBO, which is televising the bout Saturday from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Foreman will receive one of the most formidable purses in history for defending his International Boxing Federation title against the lightly regarded German contender. . . .

If George is the people’s heavyweight champion, he is also the banks’ heavyweight champion. . . .

For risking his World Boxing Council title against Larry Holmes on April 8 at Caesars Palace, Oliver McCall was paid $1.5 million. . . .

Bruce Seldon and Tony Tucker each got $250,000 on the same card for their bout, which brought Seldon the World Boxing Assn. title that had been stripped from Foreman. . . .

Foreman’s biggest purse was $12 million for challenging Evander Holyfield at Atlantic City in 1991. Holyfield got $20 million, believed to be the most ever for a fighter. . . .

Buster Douglas’ paycheck after he fell to Holyfield in the third round at Las Vegas in 1990 was $19.5 million. . . .

Muhammad Ali’s biggest purse was $17 million for his third match against Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium in 1978. . . .

Mike Tyson got $16 million for his first-round knockout of Michael Spinks at Atlantic City in 1988. . . .

Of course, all this is chicken feed compared to what Foreman and Tyson could make for an evening together. The estimate is $50 million apiece. . . .

If Foreman wins as expected Saturday--he says he is taking Schulz seriously and training as hard as before his 10th-round knockout of Michael Moorer--he probably will fight Joe Hipp or Corrie Sanders next. . . .

No matter the quality of opponent, offers are flowing in from Australia, Germany, Brazil, Korea, and the Philippines. . . .

And don’t expect Foreman to work for as little as $10 million again. . . .

*

Sorry, but I’m having trouble getting worked up over the all-California battle for a playoff spot in the NHL Western Conference. . . .

The San Jose Sharks (16-22-2), Kings (13-20-7) or Mighty Ducks (14-22-4) don’t deserve to be rewarded. . . .

That is, if a likely first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings is considered a reward. . . .

The Sharks upset the Red Wings in the opening round last season, but Scotty Bowman won’t let that happen again. . . .

The Kings’ injury excuses are growing stale. They simply aren’t playing very well, any way you want to look at it. . . .

At least, the Mighty Ducks can claim the state regular- season championship, having posted a 6-0-1 record so far against the Kings and Sharks. . . .

*

For the record: The Lakers are 1-3 against the San Antonio Spurs. . . .

That was a lively debate between Clipper announcers Ralph Lawler and Bill Walton the other night on Channel 13, Lawler saying the reigning NBA champion Houston Rockets would survive one playoff round at the most and Walton countering that he won’t be surprised if they defend their title successfully. . . .

I’ll side with Lawler on this one. . . .

The Raiders probably will select an offensive lineman in the first round of Saturday’s NFL draft, but wouldn’t Rashaan Salaam, the Heisman Trophy-winning running back from Colorado, be tempting if still available? . . .

Gary Stevens believes Red Bishop will romp in the San Juan Capistrano Sunday at Santa Anita. Stevens rode against Red Bishop in Hong Kong when the 7-year-old Kentucky-bred won the $517,000 Queen Elizabeth II stakes. . . .

Promoter Bob Arum estimates that 95% of paying customers at major Las Vegas fights are from out of town, including 70% from Southern California. . . .

A Gabriel Ruelas-Genaro Hernandez bout, originally planned for July 27, has been set back because Ruelas wants to take some time off after facing Jimmy Garcia on the Rafael Ruelas-Oscar De La Hoya card May 6. . . .

The unassisted triple play executed by Yankee shortstop Randy Velarde against the Dodgers in Monday’s exhibition game brought to mind the fact that the Dodgers haven’t had a triple play since moving to Los Angeles from Brooklyn in 1958. . . .

The Northridge Little League team will be honored in pregame ceremonies on opening night, April 28, at Dodger Stadium. Among the players is Peter Tuber, grandson of former Dodger Pete Reiser. . . .

Considering the distance of the average play in the NFL, shouldn’t 10-yard clockings of college prospects be more important than 40 yards?