Notes on a Scorecard - March 4, 1996

Two seasons ago, Southern California had a Super Bowl finalist. . . .

Last season, it had a playoff team. . . .

Next season, it probably will have an also-ran. . . .

Southern California’s only NFL team that doesn’t have a Seattle address, the San Diego Chargers, appear to be self destructing. . . .

Running backs Natrone Means and Ronnie Harmon and defensive end Leslie O’Neal were three of the biggest reasons the Chargers landed in Super Bowl XXIX. . .

Now they are all gone. . . .

In return, the Chargers have gotten zilch. . . .

General Manager Bobby Beathard chose not to re-sign free agents O’Neal and Harmon. . . .

But the mind-boggling decision was to release Means. . . .

I realize the Chargers like Means’ replacement, Aaron Hayden, and dislike Means’ life style, but couldn’t Beathard have made a trade involving someone who set the team’s single-season rushing record of 1,350 yards in 1994 and is only 23? . . .

Means also was released because the Chargers wanted money to sign Miami Dolphins’ defensive end Marco Coleman to an offer sheet. . . .

The problem is that the Dolphins might match that sheet after refusing to do so for cornerback Troy Vincent, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. . . .

Beathard is a terrific general manager, but even the best have slumps. . . .

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After the flurry of free-agent signings, I’ll take the San Francisco 49ers over the Dallas Cowboys. . . .

O’Neal kept saying that he wanted to go to a team that was dedicated to winning. So he signed with Georgia Frontiere’s St. Louis Rams. . . .

New York Jet quarterback Neil O’Donnell used to be overrated. But since the Super Bowl, he’s been underrated by fans, sportswriters and sportscasters. . . .

Are the Eagles really counting on Ty Detmer to compete for the starting quarterback job? . . .

A lot of the same people who complained that athletes were slaves now complain that free agency has ruined baseball, basketball, and football. . . .

Santa Anita ought to get some repeat business after a smashing Big ‘Cap Day. . . .

The weather was beautiful, the setting unmatched, the racing highly competitive, and the surprises numerous. . . .

Only one favorite, Kentucky Derby prospect Honour And Glory, won. . . .

Five of the 10 races were decided by a length or less. . . .

The biggest margin was 2 1/2 lengths. . . .

The Santa Anita Handicap winner, Mr Purple, shouldn’t have paid as much as $38.00. No horse that is ridden by Eddie Delahoussaye and has a come-from-behind style should pay $38.00. . . .

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UCLA went from one of its worst victories of the season, a squeaker over weak Oregon State at Corvallis, to one of its best, a comeback over respectable Oregon at Eugene. . . .

Bruin sophomore Justin Gimelstob, the junior national tennis champion, is a wild-card entry in this week’s Franklin Templeton Classic at Scottsdale, Ariz. At 6-5, Gimelstob can see eye-to-eye with his friends on the basketball team, Kevin Dempsey and Bob Myers. . . .

King attendance should perk up a bit March 18 when the St. Louis Blues visit the Forum. . . .

I admire anyone who finished the L.A. Marathon, no matter what the time. . . .

The public is invited to the news conference at the Grand Olympic today at 11 a.m. for the Julio Cesar Chavez-Oscar De La Hoya fight.

Chavez and De La Hoya won their first world titles at the Olympic, 10 years apart and both at 21. . . .

Chavez knocked out Mario Azabache Martinez in the eighth round on Sept. 13, 1984, for the World Boxing Council super-featherweight title. De La Hoya stopped Jimmi Bredahl in the 10th round on March 5, 1994, for the World Boxing Organization super-featherweight title. . . .

Just once, I’d like to hear a Chicago Bull say that breaking the Lakers’ won-loss record would mean a lot to him. . . .

The Orlando Magic needs victories over Charlotte on Friday and Phoenix on Sunday to break the record of 38 consecutive home-court wins set by the Boston Celtics during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons. . . .

Last season, Anthony Mason of the New York Knicks was voted the best sixth man in the NBA. This year, he is leading the league in minutes played. . . .

Sign of the times: The investigation into the Texas Tech football and basketball programs includes allegations that athletes were given free bail-bonds services.