Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 5, 1996

Come on down, Seahawks . . .

They are not the defending NFL champions like the Rams when they moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles in 1946 nor can they be expected to have as much early success as the Raiders, who won the Super Bowl their second season in L.A . . .

But the Seahawks, or whatever they’re going to be called next season, appear to be a team on the rise . . .

They have won six of their last eight games and have a bright coach in Dennis Erickson, one of pro football’s most exciting young players in Joey Galloway and a terrific running back in Chris Warren . . .

I’m greedy . . .

I’ll take the Seahawks now and the expansion L.A. Dodgers somewhere down the line . . .

Matter of fact, R.D. Hubbard should have a team in Inglewood too . . .

Crazy? Yes. But that is what the NFL has become . . .

Or didn’t you notice the other day that Dan Rooney said he was unhappy with his lease in Pittsburgh . . .

*

Magic Johnson’s comeback is wonderful . . .

However, it should be limited to NBA games . . .

Players who have done a lot more than Johnson the last few years deserve the two remaining spots on the U.S. Olympic team . . .

Besides, he already has had the opportunity to enjoy the Olympic experience . . ..

Laker assistant publicist Raymond Ritter submitted the nomination of Johnson for NBA player-of-the month . . .

During January, Magic averaged 19 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds . . .

NBA date book: Orlando at Chicago on Feb. 25 and Chicago at Orlando on April 7 in nationally televised, Sunday afternoon games . . .

“It looked like they were double-teaming every one of our players,” Laker owner Jerry Buss said after the Bulls’ 99-84 victory Friday night at the Forum . . .

One of those defenders who is an even better rebounder, Dennis Rodman, belongs on the Eastern Conference All-Star team . . .

Buss was much happier Saturday night watching boxing in his building . . .

He had predicted that the main event between junior-featherweights Marco Antonio Barrera and Kennedy McKinney would be great . . .

He underestimated it . . .

Barrera’s 12th-round stoppage of McKinney ranks as one of the most exciting fights in the 28-year history of the sport at the Forum . . .

In the sixth round, 190 punches, an average of more than one a second, were thrown . . .

Of those, only 38 were jabs . . .

“I fought not only with my fists, but with my heart,” the unbeaten Barrera said . . .

The same can be said about McKinney . . .

Forget about career seasons. UCLA reserve forward Bob Myers had a career day against Oregon State on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion . . .

Myers scored 20 points, only 10 fewer than he had previously during 2 1/2 seasons with the Bruins . . .

Somebody should tell USC students and alumni that college basketball is a major sport . . .

The turnouts for the Trojans’ games against Oregon State and Oregon at the Sports Arena were even more embarrassing than usual . . .

Look-a-likes: Tom Cruise and Oregon State guard J.D. Vetter . . .

*

When Wayne Lukas smiles, listen . . .

Asked what he thought about Prince Of Thieves’ chances in the Santa Catalina Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita, the champion trainer broke into a wide grin . . .

The fourth choice in a field of six, Prince Of Thieves pulled away in the final 100 yards to win by three lengths and establish himself as a legitimate Kentucky Derby candidate . . .

Lukas, who will be seeking a sixth consecutive victory in a Triple Crown race, earlier saw his more publicized 3-year-old, Dr. Caton, finish third while making his debut in a 1 1/16-mile race . . .

The Kings’ record on the road is miserable except when compared to 1969-70, when they were 2-30-6 . . .

If you think the Lakers have retired too many jerseys, consider that the Sacramento Kings’ franchise, going back to its Rochester Royals days, also has retired six . . .

Laker Coach Del Harris on the Chicago Bulls before Friday’s game: “Everybody is beatable. They’ve lost three games.”