Notes on a Scorecard - Oct. 26, 1995

Karim Abdul-Jabbar’s coach, Terry Donahue, doesn’t like to make comparisons. . . .

So we’ll let the numbers do it for him: Abdul-Jabbar has rushed for more yards in seven games this season than any other UCLA Bruin at the same stage and that includes All-Americans Gaston Green, Freeman McNeil, Kermit Johnson, James McAlister, Mel Farr, Kermit Alexander, Bob Davenport, Paul Cameron and Kenny Washington. . . .

Abdul-Jabbar’s remarkable 261-yard performance at Stanford last Saturday brought his total to 995 and lifted him from 19th to sixth nationally. . . .

The junior tailback, who was a teammate of Keyshawn Johnson at Dorsey High, is on target to break Green’s school record of 1,405 yards set in 12 games during the 1986 season. . . .

Next up for Abdul-Jabbar and company is California on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. Naturally, a streak will be on the line. It always seems to be in this series. The Bruins have lost five in a row to the Bears after beating them 18 consecutive times. . . .

News item: Washington, which plays USC on Saturday at Seattle, ranks ninth in rushing defense in the Pacific 10 Conference, ninth in pass efficiency defense, and eighth in total defense. Reaction: Notre Dame was supposed to have a lousy defense too. . . .

It wouldn’t have changed the outcome, but the Trojans could have used a power-running tailback, such as Shawn Walters, against the Irish. . . .

*

The more I see the Miami Dolphins, the more I think Jimmy Johnson will be coaching them next season. . . .

Parity in the AFC Central means mediocrity when the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals are tied for first place at 3-4. . . .

Former Kansas City and New Orleans coach Hank Stram still calls good plays on the Monday night broadcasts on KNX. . . .

You knew Cleveland fans were psyched up for their first World Series home game since 1954 when they roared after Carlos Baerga called time in the third inning Tuesday and stepped out of the batter’s box. . . .

It has been frigid at Jacobs Field, but weather conditions would have been worse if the Colorado Rockies had reached the Series. It snowed Sunday in Denver, where Game 2 would have been scheduled. . . .

Tony La Russa is a fine manager, but it would be unrealistic for St. Louis Cardinal fans to think he can turn their struggling team around in one year. . . .

Before the end of the century, the Oakland A’s probably will move to Sacramento. . . .

Barry Bonds will be honored by the Cardiac Arrhythmias Research and Education Foundation next Thursday at a dinner-dance at the Beverly Hills hotel. . . .

Alexei Zhitnik, the young defenseman traded to Buffalo last season in one of the Kings’ most unpopular deals ever, has been a disappointment for the Sabres and reportedly is on the trading block. Maybe the Kings should try to take him back. . . .

It takes $357,658--by David Frost--to make the top 50 among PGA money earners this year. . . .

Best place outside Belmont Park to enjoy Breeders’ Cup day will be Santa Anita. Wagering will be offered on the seven races that will be shown on TV monitors starting at 8:55 a.m. and a nine-race live program will begin at 12:40 p.m. Gates open at 7:30 a.m. Last post time is 4:50 p.m. . . .

I’m going out on a limb and picking Cigar to win the Classic. Other picks: Juvenile Fillies: Golden Attraction. Sprint: Track Gal. Distaff: Heavenly Prize. Mile: Harayir. Juvenile: Editor’s Note. Turf: Hernando. . . .

It’s an injustice that Laffit Pincay, who is tied for second for most Breeders’ Cup victories, is without a mount this year. . . .

Second-ranked UCLA will play fifth-ranked Brown on Friday at 8 p.m. at Spaulding Field in the feature matchup of the MetLife Soccer Classic. Cal State Fullerton will face Washington at 6. Sunday games at the North Soccer Field in Westwood will be Cal State Fullerton-Brown at 11:30 a.m. and UCLA-Washington at 1:30. . . .

The Lakers will be saluted by the L.A. Chamber of Commerce at its annual luncheon Monday at the Biltmore. . . .

Thumbs down on Miami center Matt Geiger for smashing Shaquille O’Neal’s thumb. . . .

Joey Fariello, who is training Buster Mathis Jr. for his fight against Mike Tyson on Nov. 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, also trained the late Buster Mathis for his bout against Joe Frazier in 1968. . . .

Frazier won by knockout in the 11th round. It will be a moral victory for Buster Jr. if he lasts that long with Tyson. . . .

“The heavyweight division is not in such a bad state,” Tyson said. “You have just been spoiled seeing me fight all these years.”