Notes on a Scorecard - July 3, 1995

It is no longer blowing smoke to say that Cigar is a superstar. . . .

He took on the best field of older horses in the nation this year and won the Hollywood Gold Cup easier than the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup. . . .

“The winner was awesome,” said Eddie Delahoussaye, who finished 3 1/2 lengths behind on runner-up Tinners Way. “I knew he was good, but he proved that he is a lot better than that.”. . .

“He’s something else,” said Gary Stevens, who was aboard eighth-place finisher Urgent Request. “Maybe the only ones who can challenge him are my colt [Thunder Gulch] or Timber Country in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”. . .

“He’s awfully good although I didn’t get much of a chance to see him from where I was,” said Chris McCarron, whose Best Pal finished seven lengths behind in fifth. . . .

Cigar’s No. 1 post position was supposed to have been a disadvantage. . . .

He could have started from Prairie Avenue and still made it nine victories in a row. . . .

“I’ve never ridden a horse this good or this consistent,” said Jerry Bailey, who has ridden Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic winners. . . .

It would have been interesting to have seen whether Cigar could have maintained his half-length lead over Holy Bull on the backstretch in the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream last February if Holy Bull hadn’t broken down. . . .

That was the end of Holy Bull’s reign as the best horse in America, but a heck of a successor came out of the same race. . . .

*

Do you find yourself counting the days between Hideo Nomo’s turns?. . .

His next start will be Wednesday at Atlanta in a game that will be televised by ESPN. . . .

Tom Lasorda doubts that many Japanese players will follow Nomo to the United States in the near future. . . .

“Two reasons,” the Dodger manager said. “One, the language barrier. Two, the top players in Japan are being paid very well.”. . .

A beef with his manager in Japan had a lot to do with Nomo’s joining the Dodgers. He felt the manager was exercising too much control over him. . . .

Nomo is making $109,000 this season, the major league minimum, but received a $2-million signing bonus. He will not be eligible for arbitration under the current rules until after the 1997 season. . . .

“Nomo doesn’t know there’s a bullpen,” Lasorda said. “He gets out of jams the way Doc Gooden used to.” . . .

The speed gun of Mike Brito caught Nomo’s fastball at a high of 91 m.p.h. Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. . . .

Nomo’s forkball, which was clocked at a high of 81 m.p.h., might be the most difficult pitch to hit since Bruce Sutter’s. . . .

Masanori Murakami of Otsuki, Japan, was 5-1 with a 3.43 earned run average with the San Francisco Giants in 1964-65. All but one of his 54 appearances were in relief. . . .

It is a shame that Eric Karros, who has improved all phases of his game including fielding, won’t be part of the Dodger contingent in the All-Star game. . . .

*

The most unhappy NFL fans in Los Angeles are probably Dallas Cowboy, Pittsburgh Steeler and Philadelphia Eagle fans. Their favorite teams were scheduled to play the Raiders at the Coliseum this season. . . .

UCLA tailback Sharmon Shah has had his name changed to Karim Abdul-Jabbar. . . .

There is no connection to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Shah recently reaffirmed his Muslim faith and was given the name by a teacher. . . .

Jerry West made the trade for the 37th pick in the NBA draft specifically to select Western Carolina guard Frankie King. The Lakers executive vice-president of basketball operations had been bullish on King for months. . . .

All un-drafted team: Joe McNaull, Long Beach State, center; James Forrest, Georgia Tech, and Ray Owes, Arizona, forwards; Scotty Thurman, Arkansas, and Donald Williams, North Carolina, guards. The sixth man is USC forward Lorenzo Orr. . . .

Unbeaten lightweight Shane Mosley will headline the next Pond of Anaheim boxing card on July 21. . . .

Brad Sherfy, the newly named UCLA golf coach, was a Bruin teammate of Corey Pavin, has played in four U.S. Opens, and finished 16th in the Bob Hope Desert Classic this year. . . .

Anyone for mixed doubles with Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Tarango?