Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 2, 1992

A national sports magazine says the USC football program is in trouble and ranks San Diego State 20th in the country. So who will be favored Saturday afternoon at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium? USC. . . .

“It’s really important as far as our confidence is concerned,� Coach Larry Smith said about the Trojans’ 100th opening game. “We need to get the feeling of winning a football game, coming off a six-game losing streak. It’s important for us to see success.� . . .

The scouting report on sophomore quarterback Rob Johnson, who has won the starting job from Reggie Perry, is that he isn’t blessed with an exceptionally strong arm, but has good touch and the ability to lead a team downfield. Hmmm. Sounds a little like what people were saying about Todd Marinovich three years ago. . . .

USC has sold as many tickets, 10,000, as San Diego State for the game, which is expected to draw at least 40,000 and will be regionally televised by ABC. . . .

About the schedule that begins with games at San Diego, Oklahoma and Washington, Smith said: “I think we can overcome it. The extra week off after each of the first two games helps.� . . .

Smith says San Diego State sophomore Marshall Faulk was a better-looking freshman back than even Tony Dorsett and thinks the Aztecs will try to get him the ball “30, 35, or 40 times� as a runner or receiver. . . .

“Sis Boom Bah,� an exhibit that is described as a lighthearted look at Trojan football, will be on display at Doheny Library on campus through Dec. 11 and is open to the public free of charge. . . .

Notre Dame has had to return $3.4 million to alumni who were unsuccessful in a lottery that made 16,000 tickets available for each of the Irish’s six home games. . . .

I was looking for the Rams to add a running back through a trade, not to delete the one--Marcus Dupree--who put up the best numbers during the exhibition season. . . .

According to the NFL scouting combine, Notre Dame quarterback Rick Mirer is the top senior prospect at any position and Washington offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy the second-best. . . .

Last year at this time, Indiana running back Vaughn Dunbar, who had an outstanding exhibition season with the New Orleans Saints, was rated No. 1. . . .

The most attractive matchup opening week in the NFL is Monday night’s game-- Washington at Dallas. . . .

The biggest baseball trades used to be made at the winter meetings, but free agency has changed that. . . .

If you are out of the pennant race and you don’t think you are going to be able to sign Ruben Sierra, David Cone, Jeff Reardon or Craig Lefferts when he becomes eligible for free agency, you trade him. . . .

The deal that sent Sierra, free-agent-to-be relief pitcher Jeff Russell and starter Bobby Witt from Texas to Oakland for Jose Canseco must rank as the biggest late-season transaction ever. . . .

What makes it especially significant is that the two sluggers--Canseco, 28, and Sierra, 26--are in what should be the prime of their careers. . . .

If Oakland signs Sierra to a new contract, give the advantage to the A’s. If not, give the Rangers the edge. . . .

The Baltimore Orioles might get as much out of Lefferts down the stretch as the Toronto Blue Jays get out of Cone. . . .

San Antonio Spur Coach Jerry Tarkanian, former heavyweight contender Earnie Shavers and Southern California boxing referee Burton Gilliam, an actor by trade, have roles in the hit comedy, “Honeymoon in Vegas.� . . .

The PCC Fund for Substance Abuse Prevention will benefit from a golf tournament Sept. 14 at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. A long-drive contest will feature host Cary Schuman, who holds the Guiness Book of World Records mark for longest drive at 411.9 yards. . . .

Largest daily attendance at a racetrack in America again belongs to Saratoga, where the average was 25,400 during the meeting that just closed. . . .

Wayne Lukas is having a disappointing summer in Southern California, but he tied with Bill Mott for the Saratoga training title with 14 victories. . . .

Kent Desormeaux, the leading jockey at Del Mar, will ride at Pimlico in Baltimore Sept. 24-Oct. 4 before returning for the opening of the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita on Oct. 7. While based in Maryland, Desormeaux set a world record of 598 victories in 1989. . . .

Lucky Jimmy Connors. He gets to celebrate his 40th birthday at his favorite place in the world--the Stadium Court of the National Tennis Center in New York, where he will play a first-round match against Jaime Oncins of Brazil tonight. . . .

Monica Seles might be interested to learn that professional wrestlers used to be known as “grunt ‘n’ groaners.�