Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 16, 1995

The same USC partisans who are trying to downplay the importance of Saturday’s game because the Trojans already have clinched a Rose Bowl berth will consider the season a dud if they wind up losing to both UCLA and Notre Dame again. . . .

UCLA can become the first school to win five in a row in the intra-city rivalry. USC was unbeaten in the first eight meetings, but there were three ties. . . . Most offensive linemen go unnoticed except when they are caught holding, but watch Jonathan Ogden at work Saturday at the Coliseum. . . .

He is the person most responsible for the Bruins’ last three victories over the Trojans. . . .

The Bruins have scored a total of 96 points in those games and they never could have done it without the run- and pass-blocking of the 6-foot-8, 310-pound left tackle from Washington, D.C. . . .

He may be the first player taken in the NFL draft next spring. If so, what would it mean to him? “It would mean that I would be rich,” Ogden said with a smile. . . .

Karim Abdul-Jabbar at tailback or not, Ogden likes the Bruins’ chances against the Trojans. . . .

“USC has had trouble breaking streaks,” Ogden said. “Look at how they played against Notre Dame. If we can jump on them early, they might start thinking, ‘Hey, here we go again.’ ” . . .

“The important thing is that we have to dominate up front and, no matter who’s back there, make room for our runners,” he said. “The USC offense is really good, so we need to control the ball and not turn it over.” . . .

An upset would give Bruin Coach Terry Donahue his first winning record in the series at 10-9-1. . . .

John Robinson, who has won at least eight games in each of his 10 years at USC, is 5-4 against UCLA. . . .

In the annual battle of the bands, UCLA defeated USC last Sunday, 28-26. Bruin senior trombonist Randy Weis threw three touchdown passes. . . .

Making his debut in the rivalry on KMPC will be USC play-by-play announcer Larry Kahn. “I’m not making a prediction,” Kahn said. “My last one, at a rally in Chicago, was USC over Notre Dame.” . . .

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A great way to avoid the traffic Saturday is to attend the water polo game between the No. 1-ranked Bruins and No. 2 Trojans at 10 a.m. at the USC swim stadium. . . .

There will be a bonfire and rally at the UCLA intramural field tonight about 9:15 after the Bruin-ZTE Golsun (Hungary) exhibition basketball game at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

Jorge Paez, the clown prince of boxing, has been fighting professionally since 1984, but will appear at the Grand Olympic Auditorium for the first time tonight against Anthony Jones. The show stealer could be exciting junior-lightweight Isagi (Little Guns) Pumar, who fights Jesus Morgan Hernandez in another scheduled 10-rounder. . . .

Larry Robinson will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday at Toronto and the next member of the King organization to be selected should be Rogie Vachon. . . .

Vachon had 355 NHL victories, fifth highest of any goaltender ever. . . .

The loss of Rob Blake may hurt the Kings’ power play even more than their defense. . . .

Now is the time for them to make a deal to bring back Alexei Zhitnik from Buffalo. . . .

Eight former Soviet skaters played Tuesday night at the Forum--Dimitri Khristich, Vladimir Tsyplakov and Vitali Yachmenev for the Kings and Viacheslav Fetisov, Vyacheslav Kozlov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Igor Larionov, and Sergei Fedorov for the Detroit Red Wings. . . .

Consider yourself a hockey buff if you can name even two or three of the players on the team off to the best start in the NHL, the Florida Panthers. . . .

Host Greg Norman has never been on the winning team in the Shark Shootout, but likes his chances this weekend at Sherwood Country Club when he will be paired with two-time winner Raymond Floyd. . . .

After a slow start, new Philadelphia Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes is getting rave notices. . . .

It will be interesting to see how the Dallas Cowboys fare against Tim Brown on Sunday after their unpleasant experience against another wide receiver, Jerry Rice, last week. . . .

Kansas City, the team with the best record in the NFL, will be tested for class during a three-game stretch on the road against Dallas, Oakland and Miami that begins on Thanksgiving Day. . . .

Who would have thought that the Clippers would have as many victories as the San Diego Chargers or the New England Patriots in the middle of November?