Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 18, 1993

My dislike of NFL exhibitions has been heightened by the injuries that will keep Jim Lachey, Vaughn Dunbar, Steve Bono and Greg Skrepenak, among others, out of games that mean something. . . .

Lachey might be the best tackle in the league. But exactly how much will his loss, probably for the entire regular season, mean to the Washington Redskins? Last year, the Redskins were 6-4 with him in the lineup and 3-3 without him. It had been incorrectly reported that he sat out five games. . . .

The San Francisco 49ers could use an experienced backup quarterback--such as Joe Montana. . . .

Kickers seldom are drafted in the first few rounds, but the Denver Broncos might have made a wise third-round selection in Hawaii’s Jason Elam, who kicked a 52-yard field goal that traveled another 10 or so yards in Mile High Stadium on Monday night. . . .

Fox Broadcasting is planning a made-for-TV movie about Dennis Byrd. . . .

I wonder how Oiler Coach Jack Pardee feels about the radio commercials in Houston that say, “Come see Buddy Ryan’s defense.” . . .

The H-back, a sort of tight end in motion, has returned to the USC playbook. Sophomores Johnny McWilliams and Tyler Cashman have been performing well at the position during practice sessions at UC Irvine. . . .

The last time Bill Walsh of Stanford was voted Pacific 10 Conference coach of the year, in 1977, Don James of Washington was voted national coach of the year. . . .

Michigan has finished in the top 10 in seven of the last eight seasons, but hasn’t won a national championship since 1948. . . .

General Manager Jim Lynam of the Philadelphia 76ers wants Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to teach 7-foot-6 rookie Shawn Bradley the sky hook. I’ve never understood why more centers don’t try to learn what appears to be a simple, but effective shot. . . .

Joe Kleine doesn’t strike me as pennant insurance for the Phoenix Suns. . . .

Maybe Bob Weiss, an 82% free-throw shooter in the NBA, can help solve the Clippers’ woes from the line. The loss of Ken Norman should also improve the percentage. . . .

NBA teams will play exhibitions in Munich, Mexico City, London and Toronto this year. . . . *

Rafael Ruelas, who is expected to challenge Freddie Pendleton for the International Boxing Federation lightweight title Dec. 30 at the new MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas, will have a tuneup against Conny Lopez on Thursday at the Irvine Marriott. . . .

Thirty-six years ago tonight, heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson knocked out Roy (Cut ‘N Shoot) Harris in the 13th round at Wrigley Field in L.A. . . .

Tickets for the Julio Cesar Chavez-Pernell Whitaker fight Sept. 10 in the 80,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio are priced from $10 to $1,000. . . .

Sorry, but Lanny Wadkins doesn’t make my Ryder Cup lineup. . . .

There is great competition at the world track and field championships nearly every day and it’s too bad that we can’t see more of it on TV. . . .

The late Prairie Bayou still might win the Eclipse Award as the outstanding 3-year-old, but Kentucky Derby winner Sea Hero and Belmont Stakes winner Colonial Affair will have the opportunity to earn some votes in the Travers Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga. . . .

One way for the San Francisco Giants to avoid a late-season slide would be for Barry Bonds to repeat the .392 batting average he hung up last September and October for the Pittsburgh Pirates. . . .

Pedro Martinez could become the first Dodger relief pitcher to lead the team in victories. . . .

XTRA radio would be smart to make Ira Fistell’s Sunday baseball talk show a year-round feature. . . .

Remember when the Twins and Atlanta Braves went from worst to first? The Oakland Athletics have a good shot at reversing the process this season. . . .

Angel Manager Buck Rodgers deserved better than a 7-2 defeat by the Detroit Tigers on his 55th birthday Monday night. . . .

The Minnesota Twins went a major league-record 105 games without a complete game from a pitcher, then got two in their next three games. . . .

For whatever it means, baseball players are four times as likely as others to file for bankruptcy. . . .

If 50,000 turn out for stock car practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, what will the first Brickyard 400 draw next August? . . .

At the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Alabama Athletic Director Hootie Ingram said: “This stadium made our university.” Funny, but I always thought Bear Bryant did.