L.A. Benched / Week 7 : From Manning Board to a Man Who’s Bored

Ed Miller, one of the 26 part-time employees who took turns manning the Anaheim Stadium scoreboard on game day, now gets his football scores while sitting on his couch watching TV.

Miller, who works full-time as a custodian supervisor for the Long Beach School District, had been monitoring the Rams’ play since 1981 from the rear of the baseball press box.

“My wife doesn’t know what to do with me now that I’m home, but she’s been complaining about the roof needing fixing,” Miller said with a groan.

The way the Rams played in recent years, one might think the scoreboard operators would be bored. Not so, said Mike McKay, video scoreboard manager.

“The Rams were doing everything they could to fill in the gaps with cheerleaders, baton twirlers, acrobats, bands and scoreboard animation. I think what they were really trying to do was just distract the fans from the team.”

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* It was another fine day in Los Angeles with 0% chance of precipitation and 0% chance of professional football.

* One year ago this week, the Rams were 2-4 after losing, 24-17, to the Green Bay Packers; they presently are 5-1 and alone in first place in the NFC West.

* Former Ram quarterback Tommy Maddox came on in the second half for the Giants and completed six of 23 passes for 49 yards with three interceptions in New York’s 17-14 loss.

* The Oakland Raiders, who play in Denver against the Broncos tonight, are 31-11-1 on Monday nights, best in the NFL. When they played in Denver on a Monday night two years ago, on Oct. 18, 1993, the Los Angeles Raiders won a thriller, 23-20.