Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 26, 1995

So much for those of us who thought the safest bet of the bowl season was that a lame-duck coach would win the Aloha. . . .

Glen Mason’s turnabout was reminiscent of Larry Brown’s decision to remain as Kansas basketball coach in 1988 after telling sportscaster Jim Lampley that he was taking the UCLA job. . . .

I hope Terry Donahue, the CBS analyst, will criticize any team that comes out as flat as UCLA did on Christmas Day. . . .

Paradise lost: The Bruins were 1-3 this year in Hawaii in football and basketball. . . .

The Aloha and Las Vegas bowls had something in common--plenty of empty seats. . . .

The Oakland Raiders and California Angels ought to compare notes about how to come from ahead and fail to advance to the postseason. . . .

The Raider quarterback rotation Sunday against Denver was unsettling. Why not just leave it up to Billy Joe Hobert, who passed for three touchdowns, instead of alternating him with Vince Evans? . . .

Their six-game losing streak left the Raiders at 8-8, a game worse than their record last season in Los Angeles. . . .

The Rams went from 4-12 in Anaheim to 7-9 in St. Louis despite losing nine of their last 12. . . .

Biggest improvement in the league was shown by the Houston Oilers, who went from 2-14 to 7-9. Biggest dip was taken by the Cleveland Browns, who went from 11-5 to 5-11. . . .

Indianapolis’ chances to upset the Chargers at San Diego might depend upon how well Marshall Faulk, who sat out the second half Saturday against New England after suffering a bruised left knee, performs in his first pro game at his old college ballpark. . . .

Seattle had more punts, 10, than first downs, eight, against Kansas City. . . .

The straight--or stiff--arm is such an effective technique that I don’t know why more runners don’t use it. . . .

If “Go You L.A. High” sounds like “Go You Northwestern,” it’s because it is the same song. . . .

USC is an impressive 22-20-1 against opponents ranked in the top three in the Associated Press poll. . . .

*

Santa Anita’s 59th season of thoroughbred racing that opens today is supposed to belong to Cigar. . . .

He is scheduled to run in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap on March 3. . . .

But plans for a multimillion-dollar bonus that would go to any horse that sweeps the Big Cap, the Gold Cup at Hollywood Park and the Pacific Classic at Del Mar are stalled. . . .

“Isn’t it ironic that the very horse who has made the series possible is holding up the insurance process?” said Ed Friendly, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. “To them, Cigar looks unbeatable.” . . .

However, a sweep of California’s three $1-million races for older horses might not be a slam dunk, not even for the 1995 Horse of the Year who is on a 12-race winning streak. . . .

Among those who have failed to win the Santa Anita Handicap and Hollywood Gold Cup the same year are Seabiscuit, Alysheba, John Henry, Cougar II, Dahlia, Determine, Ferdinand and Native Diver. . . .

Five horses have swept the two races: Kayak II in 1939, Noor in 1959, Ack Ack in 1971, Crystal Water in 1977 and Affirmed in 1979. . . .

There hasn’t been a sweep of all three, the Pacific Classic being only five years old. . . .

Eddie Delahoussaye’s three victories on closing day at Hollywood Park were vintage Delahoussaye. His mounts came from sixth in a six-horse field, 10th and ninth to win. . . .

Defenseman Darren Rumble, who was just recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers, would have been a natural for the old Broad Street Bullies. . . .

Don’t fret, Butterbean fans. There is a good chance that your favorite heavyweight will fight Mark Gastineau, the ex-New York Jet defensive lineman, on the George Foreman-Michael Moorer card Feb. 29 at Madison Square Garden. . . .

UCLA will get a scheduling break during the Pacific-10 Conference basketball season, playing Washington State at Spokane instead of Pullman and California at the Oakland Coliseum instead of Harmon Arena. . . .

Those who say the Baltimore Orioles have bought the American League pennant are underrating the Cleveland Indians. . . .

There is nothing quite like a lopsided loss to the Blue to ruin the holiday season for Gray fans.