Notes on a Scorecard - June 7, 1995

Al Davis shouldn’t be giving Oakland a second thought--let alone a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth. . . .

He talks about Oakland giving the Raiders a better home-field advantage than Los Angeles, but attendance at the Coliseum would increase significantly if he decided to remain there until a stadium is built in Inglewood. . . .

Season-ticket sales would improve if buyers were promised priority seating in the new stadium. . . .

The Raiders would become the only NFL team in L.A. or Orange County this season and would attract former Ram fans. . . .

Southern California is famous for supporting winners--and the Raiders have a legitimate chance to reach the Super Bowl now that Mike White has replaced Art Shell as head coach and assembled what seems to be an excellent staff. . . .

It’s not that the Raiders never have drawn well at the Coliseum. . . .

They averaged 70,000 for the 1984, ’85 and ’86 seasons, and 65,000 in 1991. . . .

That’s far more than the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum seats. . . .

Davis isn’t certain that a new stadium would ensure sellouts for the Raiders in Inglewood. . . .

Well, if the Mighty Ducks can sell out a state-of-the-art facility every game, I’m sure the Raiders could too. . . .

*

One of the best moments of the Orlando-Indiana series occurred after Game 7. . . .

In victory, Shaquille O’Neal embraced Coach Brian Hill and then lifted him onto his shoulder for all to see. . . .

How refreshing that an NBA coach named Hill would be saluted by one of his star players during the playoffs. . . .

Underdog Houston probably will be the sentimental favorite outside Florida during the championship series, but O’Neal, only 23, is becoming more likable as he matures. . . .

Two of the NBA’s finest coaches, Rudy Tomjanovich of the Rockets and Del Harris of the Lakers, have this in common--they ask their players for feedback. . . .

A lot of pro scouts believe Tim Duncan of Wake Forest, who has decided to stay in school, is the best of last season’s sophomore centers. . . .

Oscar De La Hoya update: The only U.S. gold medalist in boxing at Barcelona will speak about his Olympic Games experience at the Associated Press Sports Editors’ convention June 24 at Atlanta and make his debut as a TV commentator on a pay-per-view show featuring Danny Romero on July 29. . . .

De La Hoya will train at his new gym in Big Bear for his bout Sept. 16 against Genaro Hernandez at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. . . .

The winner of the Sammy Fuentes-Hector Lopez match that will be televised Saturday on Channel 9 from Caesars Palace might eventually fight De La Hoya at 140 pounds. . . .

Boxing historian Dick Mastro, 82, died Monday. . . .

George Foreman, on tour promoting his autobiography, will visit President Clinton today at the White House. . . .

Congratulations to Top Rank, Inc.’s executive vice president, Dan Goossen, and wife Debbie upon the birth of son Max Elliott Goossen in Las Vegas. . . .

*

The $250,000 Californian Sunday at Hollywood Park has attracted three winners of races with purses of at least

$1 million--Concern, who won the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Classic; Best Pal, 1992 Santa Anita Handicap winner, and Tinners Way, winner of the 1994 Pacific Classic. . . .

It’s particularly disheartening for track and field that Sunkist would withdraw its sponsorship of the annual indoor meet in L.A. starting with an Olympic Games year, 1996. . . . The Steve Mason-John Ireland sports debates every morning on XTRA are lively, but couldn’t they come up with a more original title than “Crossfire?” . . .

With all their hairy faces and vicious hits, the New Jersey Devils are a pretty scary bunch. . . .

The Devils lead the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-0, in their NHL Eastern Conference championship series and assistant coach Larry Robinson’s stock continues to rise. He would be a splendid choice to fill the Kings’ coaching vacancy. . . .

The Seattle Mariners must be delighted they never accepted one of the dozens of trade offers for Randy Johnson. . . .

You deserve an award if you can name the manager of the Chicago White Sox. . . .

That Barry Bonds is some public relations genius. . . .

ESPN announcer Mike Patrick, during USC’s 16-11 victory over Florida State at the College World Series on Tuesday: “If we had eight or 10 hours, I’d like to see these guys and Cal State Fullerton play.”