Notes on a Scorecard - May 12, 1993

Baseball can take a giant step backward by accepting the proposal that will increase the number of playoff games, but decrease those available to television viewers in their entirety. . . .

Only one of the two league championship series would be telecast in each market until the possible sixth and seventh games, when the starting times would be staggered. . . .

Since their inception in 1969, many league championship series have been more exciting than the World Series. . . .

It would be as though we could watch either the NFC or AFC championship game, but not both. . . .

The playoff fields would be increased to four teams in each league, but only one first-round game, interrupted by reports from the others, would be shown each night. . . .

What baseball is telling us is that the playoffs are so terrific that they should be expanded--but that none of the games are really all that important. . . .

And, by the way, how are they going to decide whether to show a National or American League championship series game in an area like this, which has teams in each league? . . .

Most surprising score of the year: Detroit 2, New York 1. . . .

Unlike many young players, rookie Angel first baseman J.T. Snow hasn’t allowed a hitting slump to affect his fielding. . . .

Is there a more honest manager in baseball than Buck Rodgers? . . .

If the Philadelphia Phillies have a problem, it is at shortstop. . . .

Bret Saberhagen’s shutout of the Florida Marlins was his first victory over a National League East team. . . .

Former Angel second baseman Mark McLemore, now a Baltimore Oriole right fielder, is off to a fast start. . . .

The Atlanta Braves must be happy that they didn’t trade David Justice, who has been their prime power source. . . .

Sid Fernandez turned down a multiyear contract offer from the New York Mets shortly before he was put on the disabled list because of torn cartilage in his left knee that will require arthroscopic surgery. . . .

The Colorado Rockies will more than double the Dodgers’ first-year attendance of 1,845,556 in 1958 in the 92,000-seat Coliseum. . . .

Recommended reading: “Punch Lines,” a collection of boxing stories by Phil Berger (Four Walls Eight Windows). . . .

The rematch of the Genaro Hernandez-Raul Perez bout, ended because of a head butt after 28 seconds of the first round, has been signed for June 28 at the Forum. If Hernandez retains his World Boxing Assn. junior-lightweight title, his next defense might be against Oscar De La Hoya in October. . . .

Lennox Lewis supporters point out that Mike Tyson didn’t look good against Tony Tucker during 12 rounds, either. Yeah, but that was six years ago. . . .

Promoters Dan Duva and Shelly Finkel have become involved with Evander Holyfield again. . . .

Harry Kabakoff, long-time fight figure best known for managing former bantamweight contender Jesus Pimentel, will be honored at a luncheon today at the Forum Club. Pimentel lost a 12-round decision to Chucho Castillo on June 14, 1968, in the main event of the first boxing show at the Forum. . . .

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I don’t hear much talk about Sea Hero’s chances of winning the Triple Crown. . . .

Nothing Mario Lemieux does anymore surprises me. . . .

Kansas State football Coach Bill Snyder, who signed a 10-year extension Tuesday, must love Manhattan. . . .

The PGA International Golf Show will be held Aug. 13-15 at the Anaheim Convention Center. . . .

Does Michael Jordan play both ends of the court? He was voted to the NBA all-defensive team for the sixth consecutive year. . . .

If Danny Manning is willing to negotiate, the Clippers certainly should be, too. . . .

The 21-foot 7-inch long jump by Marion Jones of Thousand Oaks High that won the Marmonte League girls’ championship meet would have been good enough to win several boys’ league meets, too. . . .

Steve Robbins, a former Arizona and Hamilton High sprinter who is a professor of management at San Diego State, recently ran the 100 meters in 10.83 seconds--at 50. . . .

A college version of the NFL combine will be held for 500 Southern California high school seniors-to-be Saturday at El Camino College. College football coaches from throughout the nation will attend the event, which is sponsored by Reebok and coordinated by Cal-Hi sports magazine. The results will be sent to every Division I program. . . .

Now that the U.S. Olympic Committee is going to pay cash to American medal winners, the words amateurism and Olympic don’t belong on the same page, let alone in the same sentence. . . .

I’m glad Dick Schultz had the decency to resign when the NCAA lacked the guts to fire him.