Notes on a Scorecard - April 25, 1995

Henry Rodriguez’s four home runs in an exhibition game Sunday were spectacular, but I’ll be more impressed if the Dodger outfielder hits one home run in Florida tonight when it counts against the Marlins. . . .

The Angels are hoping for a crowd of 50,000 for their opening game against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night at Anaheim Stadium, where season-ticket holders will be admitted free and everyone else for $1. . . .

The managerial match-up will be between Dorsey High graduates, the Angels’ Marcel Lachemann and the Tigers’ Sparky Anderson. . . .

The most remarkable achievement of a strike- shortened season was the 27-10 record posted by Steve Carlton in 1972 for the Philadelphia Phillies, who were 59-97. . . .

If Andres Galarraga became a great hitter in the light air of Colorado, what is Larry Walker going to do there? . . .

*

Before writing off the slumping Magic in the NBA playoffs, consider that they are 39-2 at Orlando and will have the home-court advantage in every Eastern Conference series. . . .

Remember when the Lakers were so tough on the road? They finished 19-22. . . .

Dallas was the most-improved team in the league, going from 13-69 a season ago to 36-46. . . .

At the opposite end was Golden State, which dipped from 50-32 to 26-56. . . .

Best of the first-round playoff match-ups should be Charlotte- Chicago in the Eastern Conference and Utah-Houston in the Western. . . .

It was surprising to see a five-paragraph story and photo of Jerry Tarkanian in the NCAA News, of all places, after he signed to coach Fresno State. . . .

Tark’s picture used to appear only on NCAA “most wanted” posters. . . .

*

Boxing is about to make a comeback on CBS. The network will show 18 bouts the next few months, beginning with the James Toney-Anthony Hembrick match Sunday from Las Vegas. Tim Ryan will do the blow-by-blow and Gil Clancy the commentary. . . .

If his teammates had shown half the enthusiasm as defenseman Rob Blake on Sunday, the Kings would have beaten the Mighty Ducks at the Forum. . . .

Blake’s hits could be felt in the colonnade. . . .

Five Kentucky Derby- winning jockeys on the Southern California circuit--Chris McCarron, Eddie Delahoussaye, Laffit Pincay, Gary Stevens and Patrick Valenzuela--are without mounts for May 6 in Louisville. . . .

Paying Dues, an impressive winner in a mile race at Santa Anita on Sunday, might be entered in the Preakness. . . .

Among those looking good in spring football practice at UCLA are wide receivers Eric Scott, a sophomore transfer from Northwestern; sophomore Jim McElroy and redshirt freshman Todd McBride. . . .

Terry Donahue, Jim Harrick and the rest of the Bruin coaches will participate in the annual UCLA Golf Invitational May 4 at Industry Hills. Playing spots are available through the athletic department and proceeds will help finance grants-in-aid. . . .

*

The Bruin volleyball team plays Brigham Young, and UC Santa Barbara faces Hawaii on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament. The winner of the championship game on Saturday will advance to the final four. . . .

Roller derby will return to the Grand Olympic on April 27 with the long-anticipated L.A. Aztec-San Francisco Bomber game. . . .

The fifth annual welcome- home celebration for Chicago Bear all-pro safety Mark Carrier will be May 12 at the Long Beach Hilton, proceeds going to the Red Cross. . . .

The Houston Oilers either made the best or worst choice in the first round of the NFL draft when they took Steve (Air) McNair third overall. . . .

I get a kick out of hearing how high the Cincinnati Bengals are on John Walsh, the quarterback from BYU and Carson High. If so, why did they wait until the seventh round to pick him? . . .

The selection of tight end Kyle Brady by the Jets reportedly brought the worst reaction to a first-round choice in New York since Phil Simms was taken by the Giants in 1979. . . .

Of course, the Jets are hoping that Brady is nearly as productive as Simms. . . .

The 249th and last player picked in the draft--Boston College defensive back Michael Reed, who was selected by Carolina--will be honored as Mr. Irrelevant XX during festivities in Newport Beach, June 25-30. . . .

News item: Lenny Wilkens is named coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Reaction: You or I could coach that team to the gold medal in Atlanta.