Notes on a Scorecard - May 18, 1992

An old joke has been revived this year. Fan: “The Dodgers pitched a no-hitter tonight.” Second fan: “Great, but did they win?” . . .

Until their four-run outburst in the sixth Sunday, the Dodgers had not scored more than two runs in an inning since April 25. . . .

The magnetic resonance imaging test on Darryl Strawberry’s back was a lot more objective than the skeptics who thought he simply did not want to face the Mets or, worse yet, the New York media. . . .

The best player in the NBA, Michael Jordan, decided to take charge Sunday. . . .

However, the contributions of the Jordanaires, particularly Horace Grant, should not be minimized. Grant helped to keep the big, bad New York Knicks from dominating underneath. . . .

It took elimination from the Eastern Conference semifinals to persuade some about the coaching ability of Pat Riley, who has won four NBA championships. . . .

The Olympic Games might be the proper swan song for Larry Bird. . . .

The way Buck Williams defends Karl Malone, it is difficult to imagine the Utah Jazz climbing off the canvas and upsetting the Portland Trail Blazers. . . .

The difference is that the Trail Blazers can win when Clyde Drexler scores only 11 points, but the Jazz can’t win when Malone scores 11. . . .

Shaquille O’Neal will be the most impressive center in Orlando since Epcot. . . .

A lot of Laker fans got their late-season wish when Mike Dunleavy participated in the lottery. . . .

John Nash, the Washington Bullets’ general manager, says this draft is so strong that a team “picking 15th will get a good player.” The Lakers are scheduled to draft 15th and the Clippers 16th. . . .

Attention Chicago fans: Teams from the same city never have won the NBA championship and the Stanley Cup during the same season. . . .

The New York Rangers got what they deserved after they took Mario Lemieux out of the Pittsburgh Penguin series. . . .

He might not be a favorite of his players, but Penguin Coach Scotty Bowman must be doing something right. . . .

No boxing administrator was more dedicated to his job than Charles Minker, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. . . .

In knocking out Bert Cooper during the fifth round after being floored twice, heavyweight contender Michael Moorer again showed that he can throw a punch much better than he can take one. . . .

Instead of the normal news conference, Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes will address students at a selected South Central L.A. high school June 11, eight days before their heavyweight title fight at Caesars Palace. . . .

News item: The World Boxing Council will conduct a seminar for ring officials July 2-6. Reaction: Will Don King be among the lecturers? . . .

The bout that knowledgeable fight fans want to see most is a Terry Norris-Julian Jackson rematch. . . .

Brad Aragon, son of Art (Golden Boy) Aragon, will receive his law degree from the University of La Verne on Sunday. . . .

What makes this baseball season unusual is that no team has taken a big early lead in its division. . . .

It can’t be long before Nolan Ryan, who has struck out 15 in his last 12 innings, wins his first game. . . .

It must be mid-May when the Sunday averages show Dave Justice batting .174 and Mickey Morandini batting .345. . . .

Ernie Harwell, the former Detroit Tiger announcer who is working some Angel and CBS radio games, hasn’t lost his appeal. . . .

Deion Sanders has more triples than each of 15 teams. . . .

Never have so many minor league fielders worn major league uniforms. . . .

About the only thing the Orioles haven’t won in Baltimore lately is the Preakness. . . .

That replacement jockey who gave Pine Bluff such a terrific ride in the Preakness, a kid named Chris McCarron, looks like a comer. . . .

If A.P. Indy had not been hurt, there still might be a Triple Crown contender. . . .

A pop music group from Mexico, Los Temerarios, set a Sports Arena attendance record when 19,579 saw its concert April 18. . . .

Bill Koch has shown that money can buy victory. . . .

I hope Lyle Alzado’s death has a bigger effect upon potential steroid users than Len Bias’ death had upon potential cocaine users. . . .

Happy retirement to Bob Hunter after a distinguished 58-year career as a writer and columnist on the Los Angeles sports beat.