Notes on a Scorecard - July 20, 1995

Raul Mondesi, a 17-year-old outfield prospect who stood 5 feet 9 and weighed 154 pounds, hit a few long balls at a Dodger tryout camp in the Dominican Republic seven years ago. . . .

But it was his arm that impressed scout Ralph Avila the most. . . .

Mondesi threw three strikes to home plate from center field and Avila said, “We’re signing him.” . . .

That same arm--well, it is a little bigger and stronger now that Mondesi has grown to 5-11 and 211--brought a smile and a comparison from Dodger Manager Tom Lasorda on Wednesday. . . .

“Of the right fielders I’ve seen, his arm ranks right up there with Rocky Colavito’s, Roberto Clemente’s and Carl Furillo’s,” Lasorda said after Mondesi doubled Houston pinch-runner Andy Stankiewicz off first base. . . .

It was Mondesi’s 12th assist of the year and the final out of the final game of a “Think Blue” home stand that had left the Dodgers mostly blue in the face. . . .

“The plane trip to Miami is going to seem an awful lot shorter now,” Lasorda said after the Dodgers’ first comeback victory since June 26. . . .

And it didn’t figure to be nearly as quiet as the car trip Lasorda took the other day with his wife, Jo. . . .

“After a while, she asked me if I was going to say anything at all to her,” Lasorda said. “I said, ‘Do I have to?’ All I was thinking about was the team and how we could start winning again. That’s what this game does to you.” . . .

NFL or no, there will be some big-time football played in the Southland this season. . . .

The UCLA schedule at the Rose Bowl: Sept. 2--Miami. Sept. 16--Oregon. Sept. 30--Fresno State. Oct. 14--Arizona. Oct. 28--California. Nov. 11--Washington. . . .

The USC schedule at the Coliseum: Sept. 9--San Jose State. Sept. 16--Houston. Sept. 30--Arizona State. Oct. 14--Washington State. Nov. 4--Stanford. Nov. 18--UCLA. . . .

UCLA opens practice on Aug. 12 at Spaulding Field and USC on Aug. 18 at Howard Jones Field. . . .

The Bruins are touting linebacker Donnie Edwards, wide receiver Kevin Jordan and tackle Jonathan Ogden as All-American candidates. . . .

Heisman Trophy candidate wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, All-American candidate punter John Stonehouse, Academic All-American candidate center Jeremy Hogue, and Coach John Robinson will be pictured on the cover of the Trojan media guide. . . .

Two-thirds of the Angels’ series against Cleveland at Anaheim Stadium next week will be televised--Monday night by ABC and Tuesday night by Prime Sports. Wednesday’s game will be a matinee. . . .

Hoping to capitalize on the team’s surprising performance, the Angels are offering 14- and nine-game ticket packages the second half of the season. . . .

I don’t even want to think how good the Atlanta Braves will be if they acquire second baseman Roberto Alomar from the Toronto Blue Jays. . . .

It is easy to see why the Florida Marlins’ 12-10, 14-inning victory over the San Francisco Giants took 4 hours 16 minutes on Tuesday. Not so easy to understand is why the Milwaukee Brewers’ 4-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics took 3 hours five minutes. . . .

The death of Fabio Casartelli ought to convince Tour de France riders to wear helmets even on the hottest days of the competition. . . .

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore has begun a study on headgear for boxers. . . .

Unbeaten Pomona lightweight Shane Mosley, who has won 16 of 17 fights by knockout, will get some much-needed exposure Friday when he faces Mauricio Aceves at The Pond of Anaheim. Believe it or not, no title will be at stake. . . .

After 15 years on ESPN, Top Rank Inc. probably will switch its weekly boxing shows to ESPN2 next year. . . .

James Toney will appear on the Oscar De La Hoya-Genaro Hernandez undercard Sept. 9 at Caesars Palace. . . .

A Toney-Roy Jones Jr. rematch at the light-heavyweight limit of 175 pounds is a possibility for early next year. . . .

Bob Arum on Sugar Ray Leonard’s rumored comeback: “He should be involved in boxing, but not as a boxer.” . . .

Jockey Chris McCarron’s vacation last week was the first he had taken, except during recuperation from injuries and suspensions, in 21 years. . . .

News item: Norm Duke becomes the 16th bowler in PBA history to reach $1 million in career earnings. Reaction: Bowlers are among the few professional athletes who are underpaid.