Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 30, 1991

They ought to schedule more of these Los Angeles vs. San Francisco doubleheaders. . . .

Business was brisk Sunday--a sellout of 91,494 for the Raiders’ 12-6 win over the 49ers at the Coliseum and a sellout of 47,533 for the Dodgers’ 3-2 win over the Giants at Dodger Stadium--and the games were tight, tense and dramatic.. . . .

Much has been written about how the gutty little Atlanta Braves are not going to go down easily. Well, either are the big, bad Dodgers. . . .

Their comeback over the Giants was as important as any they have staged this season. . . .

After the Dodgers signed free agent Darryl Strawberry, the Giants signed free agent Dave Righetti. Al Rosen knew he needed a left-handed reliever to get out a left-handed slugger with the game on the line in the late innings. Righetti did once but not twice Sunday night. . . .

Thumbs up to Mike Morgan, who continued to pitch exceptionally well in September with a seven-inning stint that kept the Dodgers in the game while they were being shut out. . . .

Earlier in the day, no touchdowns were scored at the Coliseum. Hey, you can’t have everything. In three Raider home games this season, a total of three touchdowns have been scored. . . .

But there was a Lott for the home crowd to cheer about--Ronnie Lott. . . .

Signed as a Plan B free agent, he made the difference for the Raiders. If he was still making life miserable for every potential receiver in the neighborhood for the 49ers, they would have won. . . .

The first Raider to congratulate members of the field goal unit after each of Jeff Jaeger’s four successful kicks was Marcus Allen. . . .

If someone had told the Rams that they would be tied with San Francisco in the NFC West standings after five weeks, they would have been delighted. . . .

Injuries, retirements and Plan B free agency have turned the 49er defense into a veritable “Who’s that?� of the sport. . . .

Tom Lasorda’s arguments with umpires draw some of the biggest crowd reactions at Dodger Stadium, where they chanted, “Tommy, Tommy,� while he jawed with home plate umpire Eric Gregg in the ninth inning Sunday night. . . .

The way Will Clark swings a bat, I’m surprised he doesn’t hit .340 every year. . . .

The Giants return to Dodger Stadium April 6 to open the 1992 season. . . .

KORG sportscaster Larry Kahn, who worked in San Francisco for two years, says, “The hatred for L.A. up there is a sickness. They would be delighted if the Giants won 50 games in a season as long as the Dodgers won only 49.�. . . .

Steve Wilson, the Dodger reliever who isn’t eligible for postseason competition, asked Tom Lasorda if he could travel with the team if it won the NL West title. Lasorda told Wilson that he not only would travel, he would pitch batting practice. . . .

The box seat gates at Dodger Stadium, which have been opened several times by trespassers on their way to the field this season,

remain unlocked because of fire department regulations. . . .

Something is wrong with the system when no pro football games are shown on TV

in L.A. on a Sunday morning. . . .

Break up the Detroit Lions! . . .

Michael Jordan needed a better supporting cast on “Saturday Night Live.�. . . .

Early in the second half in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, USC discovered that smash-mouth football still works. . . .

Catch of the day: 6-3, 255-pound USC defensive guard Jason Uhl’s one-handed grab and 30-yard return of the interception for a touchdown against Oregon. . . .

The first half of the UCLA-San Diego State game Thursday made a great case for instant replay reviews in college football. . . .

The NFL could use a dose of Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden’s imagination. . . .

Called an “adventure� by ABC’s Keith Jackson, the first quarter of the Florida State-Michigan game may have been the best ever. . . .

Final score: Washington 56, Kansas State 3. Time of possession: Kansas State 33:12, Washington 26:48. . . .

If the Indianapolis Colts get first pick in the NFL draft, which is a distinct possibility, they probably will take Tennessee wide receiver Carl Pickens. . . .

Whatever happened to Irwindale?. . . .

Unexpected problem before the King-New York Ranger exhibition game Friday night outdoors at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas: The ice got

too cold and began to crack. The same thing happened Sunday night at Charlotte, N.C., and the Kings’ game with the Rangers was canceled because the ice was unsafe. . . .

From ABC’s Bo Schembechler: “Scheduling is very important, depending upon whom you play.�