Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 20, 1991

This is my favorite week of the NFL exhibition season--the last week. . . .

Indianapolis Colt Coach Ron Meyer had the right idea when he suggested a three-week training camp, no exhibitions and an 18-game regular season. . . .

If Stanford and Washington can get ready in three weeks to play a Pacific 10 Conference game, why can’t the pros? . . .

One of the biggest ripoffs in sports is asking fans to pay regular-season prices for games that don’t count in the standings. . . .

The owners like the present setup because they pay the players only a pittance for exhibitions. But they should consider the additional television revenue they would receive from a couple of extra regular-season games. . . .

When the season that matters begins Sept. 1, one of the more interesting matchups will be the Phoenix Cardinals vs. the Rams at Anaheim Stadium. Ousted Ram defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur now works for the Cardinals, who have given up only 23 points in three exhibitions and shut out the New England Patriots on Saturday night. . . .

Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, who will face Florida State on Aug. 29 at Anaheim Stadium and UCLA on Sept. 7 at the Rose Bowl, completed 17 of 25 passes for 258 yards in a recent Brigham Young scrimmage. . . .

Former NBC Sports executive producer Michael Weisman is teaming with Sports Illustrated in putting together an NFL preview show that will be shown on ABC after the first Monday night football telecast Sept. 2. . . .

Monica Seles earned $70,000 for winning the Virginia Slims of Los Angeles on Sunday, a purse more than twice as large as Pete Sampras’ $32,400 first-place prize in the Volvo/Los Angeles tournament two weeks earlier. The catch is that Sampras also got a six-figure appearance fee. . . .

Wayne Gretzky is captain of the host nation in the Canada Cup hockey tournament that will begin Aug. 31. . . .

One reason Corporate Report stole the Travers is that he had the best jockey, Chris McCarron. . . .

Since Tom Lasorda became manager in 1977, the Dodgers have never gone more than two years without winning at least a division title. . . .

The six games remaining between the Dodgers and the Braves will be played Sept. 13-15 at Atlanta and Sept. 20-22 at Dodger Stadium. . . .

Dodger assistant trainer Charlie Strasser was married in home plate ceremonies at Waterbury, Conn., in 1973, before what was supposed to be an Eastern League game. “The game was rained out,� said Strasser, who eventually was divorced. “I guess that should have told me something.� . . .

The game between the Dodgers and Houston Astros on Saturday night lasted so long that this message had to be posted on Diamond Vision: “Advance ticket booths will close at 12 midnight.� . . .

Some baseball scouts believe that the best prospects are in double-A leagues, rather than triple A, because there is more emphasis on winning than player development in the American Assn., the Pacific Coast League and the International League. Seeking to build attendance and enhance the worth of their franchises, many triple-A owners are stocking rosters with veterans. . . .

For the first time in nine years, neither New York team is involved in a pennant race this time of year. . . .

Forget about the player shortage. National League expansion in 1993 is going to require four more umpires. . . .

The Dodgers eventually might have their own version of 6-foot-10 Seattle Mariner pitcher Randy Johnson in 6-9 Cam Aronetz, who is pitching for Great Falls, Mont., in the rookie Pioneer League. . . .

Here’s the difference between two major league managers: When Barry Bonds got into a beef with Pittsburgh Pirate Coach Bill Virdon during spring training, Manager Jim Leyland tore into Bonds. When Vince Coleman yelled at New York Met coach Mike Cubbage, Manager Bud Harrelson did nothing. . . .

Omar Linares, third baseman for the Pan American Games champion Cuban team who was voted the best amateur player in the world by Baseball America, will appear in the International Baseball Assn. World All-Star game Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. . . .

The Elias Sports Bureau reports there is no such record in the books, but the eight years between major league home runs for Warren Cromartie is believed to be the longest such span for a position player. Cromartie, whose two-run homer in the ninth inning Saturday lifted the Kansas City Royals to victory over the Boston Red Sox, spent six years playing in Japan. . . .

After being interviewed by the expansion Colorado Rockies for their opening as general manager, Ralph Nelson, assistant general manager of the San Francisco Giants, was told: “The job is yours--if you bring Will Clark with you.�