Notes on a Scorecard - June 12, 1995

Not-so-trivial question to L.A. sports fans: Who were the last two teams to be swept in the NBA finals? . . .

Answer: The 1982-83 Lakers by Philadelphia and the 1988-89 Lakers by Detroit. . . .

It will be interesting to see if the Orlando Magic, trailing, 3-0, and seemingly disheartened, can even make it close Wednesday at Houston. . . .

Watching all those TV commercials featuring Anfernee (Penny) Hardaway and Shaquille O’Neal on Sunday night, you had to wonder how their team could possibly be losing to the one led by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. . . .

The Rockets and Magic have scored at least 100 points in each of the three games, something the Rockets and New York Knicks couldn’t do even once during their seven-game championship series last year. . . .

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If I’m Tom Lasorda, I don’t remove Mike Piazza for a pinch-runner in the eighth inning of a game the Dodgers are losing, 2-1, to Philadelphia. . . .

Piazza is too valuable not to have around for possible at-bats in the ninth or extra innings. . . .

Three-quarters of an old Dodger infield was reunited Saturday night during the old-timers game, and first baseman Steve Garvey, 46, shortstop Bill Russell, 46, and third baseman Ron Cey, 47, all looked fit enough to play for the varsity. . . .

Second baseman Davey Lopes, 50, was in San Diego coaching first base for the Padres. . . .

Apparently, active players aren’t the only people who don’t appreciate baseball history. . . .

Old-timers festivities used to sell out Dodger Stadium regularly, but only 37,220 tickets were sold this year. . . .

At least, those on hand recognized Sandy Koufax and gave the Hall of Fame pitcher a huge ovation after his introduction by Vin Scully. . . .

Thumbs down on rivals who object to Montreal pitcher Carlos Perez’s antics. . . .

If football and basketball players can show emotion, why not baseball players? . . .

The game needs more colorful characters, not fewer. . . .

Hugo Pivaral, a 6-foot-5, 18-year-old right-hander from Guatemala, has 51 strikeouts in 51 innings for the Dodgers’ San Bernardino farm club in the California League. . . .

That was some rebuilding year NCAA champion Cal State Fullerton had. . . .

The transition from aluminum to wooden bats shouldn’t keep Titan slugger Mark Kotsay or his USC counterpart, Geoff Jenkins, from becoming productive major league players. . . .

Kotsay, who also helped pitch the Titans to the NCAA title over the Trojans on Saturday in Omaha, is a sophomore and will be eligible for the draft next June. . . .

Jenkins, an excellent right fielder, was a first-round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers. . . .

On the day Fullerton won its third title, Phil Nevin, the star of the 1992 team that finished second to Pepperdine, was called up from the minors by the Houston Astros. . . .

The Trojans’ four consecutive victories on their way to the championship game after a loss to Miami in the opener was a remarkable achievement, especially considering the weakness of their pitching and defense at Rosenblatt Stadium. . . .

News item: UCLA softball player Jennifer Brundage is named 1995 GTE Academic All-American of the year. Reaction: Wonder where teammate Tanya Harding finished in the balloting. . . .

On June 10, 1921, Babe Ruth hit home run No. 120 to become the all-time leader. . . .

On June 10, 1972, Henry Aaron hit home run No. 649 to move ahead of Willie Mays and into second place on the all-time list. . . .

Lindsey Nelson, the famed sportscaster who died Saturday at 76, remained a friend to writers who visited him in the press box at University of Tennessee football games years after his retirement. . . .

It’s a long way to the 1996 Kentucky Derby, but Wayne Lukas might be able to stretch his Triple Crown win streak to six with Dr. Caton. . . .

The Belmont Stakes was a stroll in the park for Thunder Gulch. I just wish he had gotten a chance to race against stablemate Timber Country, who would have been the heavy favorite. . . .

It was great to see and hear Jeff Lukas during the winner’s circle presentation. . . .

Who needs Mario Lemieux when these NHL playoffs have Claude Lemieux? . . .

Former King assistant coach Cap Raeder is wrong when he says Forum fans don’t appreciate good defense. How can you appreciate something you never see?