Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 4, 1995

The best pro football news in Los Angeles this season is that Peter O’Malley is busy formulating plans to build a state-of-the-art facility next to Dodger Stadium and land an expansion team. . . .

The NFL would be foolish to look elsewhere in Southern California, where the O’Malleys have operated one of sports’ most distinguished franchises for 38 years. . . .

Marcus Allen should thank Al Davis for all the wear and tear he saved him during Allen’s last couple of years with the Raiders. . . .

Isn’t it about time that the team with the best record in the NFL, Kansas City, got some respect? . . .

Even without Jeff Hostetler, the Raiders were favored over the Chiefs on Sunday. . . .

The Washington Redskins are 2-0 against the Dallas Cowboys and 2-9 against the rest of the league. . . .

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre lets his actions and words do his talking. . . .

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gone from winning ugly to losing ugly. . . .

The Carolina Panthers have moved into a third-place tie in the NFC with the Buccaneers in the most important defensive statistical category--fewest points allowed. . . .

Charlie Weatherbie did a fine job during his first year as coach at Navy, but after that decision to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal in the fourth quarter against Army, I’m glad he’s a coach, not an admiral. . . .

June Jones made a similar move that backfired during Atlanta’s 21-20 loss to Miami. . . .

The complaint in Miami this week will be that Don Shula’s club didn’t win by enough points. . . .

It didn’t take long for the Steelers, who clinched the AFC Central Division title Sunday, and the Penguins, who should nail down the NHL Northeast Division title any day now, to make Pittsburgh fans forget about the Pirates. . . .

Thumbs up to Florida Coach Steve Spurrier, who is still campaigning for a college football playoff system even though the Gators will play Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl for the national championship. . . .

Second-best bowl matchup is Ohio State vs. Tennessee in the Citrus. . . .

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One thing I like about the moves that have rebuilt the left side of their infield is that the Dodgers gave up virtually nothing in return. . . .

Shortstop Greg Gagne was a free agent, and third baseman Mike Blowers was traded from Seattle for a couple of minor league infielders who didn’t figure in Los Angeles’ plans. . . .

The Dodgers would have had to give the Chicago White Sox something of value for Robin Ventura, who is a better player than Blowers. . . .

A couple of negatives are Gagne’s age, 34, and the possibility that Blowers, no longer hitting in the comfy Kingdome, won’t be able to approach his numbers of last season. . . .

Pete Sampras’ three victories in the Davis Cup final on clay in Moscow rank among the greatest accomplishments of his career. . . .

Were flu, a plate of bad spaghetti and visions of Jimmy Garcia the only reasons Gabriel Ruelas was knocked out Friday night or did Azumah Nelson have a little something to do with it too? . . .

I mean, it isn’t as if Ruelas was upset by some tomato can. . . .

Nelson is one of the best fighters of his generation, was a world champion for 10 years, and performs especially well in rematches, as Jeff Fenech can attest. . . .

Butterbean’s next appearance will be on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on Friday night. . . .

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As it showed Saturday at Kansas, this young UCLA basketball team is capable of playing like a powerhouse one half and a powder puff the next. . . .

The Bruin schedule got even tougher when San Francisco upset Stanford last week at the Cow Palace. UCLA plays the Dons Dec. 30 at Pauley Pavilion. . . .

Georgetown guard Allen Iverson is the most exciting, if not the best, college basketball player in the nation. . . .

That should be some duel of centers Wednesday night on ESPN, Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan vs. Massachusetts’ Marcus Camby. . . .

There is something screwy about the NHL schedule when the Kings play their 27th game of the season and the Dallas Stars their 21st on a Saturday night at the Forum. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think the Stars have had any rainouts.