Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 16, 1991

You had to see “Big Monday” at the Sports Arena not to believe it. . . .

“It was the craziest, wildest game I’ve ever seen,” said General Manager Elgin Baylor after the Clippers had finally put away Houston, 130-126, in overtime. “I never played in one quite like this, either. We kept trying to give it away and they kept hitting three-pointers. Wow!” . . .

With 6.5 seconds remaining in regulation, Ken Norman’s 20-footer hiked the Clippers’ lead to three points. With 1.4 seconds left, David Wood tied it when his Hail Mary went swish as he fell on his posterior. With 0.2 seconds left, Norman was fouled. He missed the first free throw. He missed the second. Overtime! . . .

The Clippers led by five points with 30 seconds left in overtime when Wood threw in another three-pointer. The Clippers led by four with 14 seconds left when that other famous Rocket, Kennard Winchester, hit a three. The Clippers led by two with four seconds left when Wood got wide open in three-point country and let loose. No good! . . .

“Better to have won than to have lost,” Clipper Coach Mike Schuler said after he resumed normal breathing. . . .

Indeed, the Clippers will take any victory they can get. This was supposed to be the season owner Donald Sterling didn’t have to throw another draft lottery party. But the team is 13-24, compared to 15-19 on the same date last year. . . .

Maybe they need to make a trade, but what they need more than anything else is Ron Harper. . . .

The target date for Harper’s return from knee surgery remains Jan. 26, a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. . . .

“His mere presence will add a lot to this team,” Baylor said. “It’ll be a while before he gets to play full time. At first, it will be 15 minutes. He’s a basketball junkie and he’ll want to play more, but we’re not going to rush things.” . . .

Before Seattle shipped Xavier McDaniel cheaply to Phoenix, there was talk of a McDaniel-A.C. Green deal with the Lakers. . . .

Mouse Davis reportedly is out as quarterback and receiver coach of the Detroit Lions, and so is the run-and-shoot. The Lions are expected to switch to the I-formation to better utilize the talents of running back Barry Sanders. . . .

If University of Houston junior David Klingler opts for the NFL draft, he probably will be the first quarterback taken. . . .

Look for San Francisco to trade Steve Young and give him the opportunity to start somewhere else. . . .

Rocket Ismail isn’t too familiar with the New England Patriots, who soon may be employing him. In a recent interview, the Notre Dame star said he thought Raymond Berry was the Patriots’ coach. . . .

The 49ers’ road record since 1980 is better than any other team’s home record. . . .

Ticket prices for NFL playoff games are set by the league office. Compared to what the Lakers charge at the Forum, the scale of $36, $25 and $15 at the Coliseum Sunday was reasonable. . . .

You can’t really blame Raider radio announcer Bill King for calling the Bengals “the Reds” once Sunday. King also broadcasts Oakland A’s games. . . .

Jack Clark’s arrival in Boston may mean another trade for Mike Marshall. . . .

Thumbs up to Cal State Long Beach for naming Willie Brown as the late George Allen’s successor. . . .

The Martin Luther King holiday controversy is harming recruiting at Arizona and Arizona State. . . .

It still seems strange to see Vassar in the men’s college basketball results. . . .

Ground could be broken for a basketball arena at USC as early as June. . . .

News item: UCLA quarterback Bert Emanuel and tight end Bobby Gray transfer to Rice. Reaction: Those football factories will do it to you every time. . . .

Todd Marinovich has cut his hair. . . .

More than 2,000 people will lose their jobs because of the recent NCAA edict that reduces the size of coaching staffs. . . .

Where They Are Now: Daryl Evans, who scored the winning goal for the Kings over Edmonton in the “Miracle on Manchester” in 1982, is playing and coaching in Whitley Bay, Scotland. . . .

The new “Hustle Boards” at the Sports Arena for Clipper games show team rebounding, blocked shot and steal statistics. What, no category for floor burns? . . .

Chicago fans, who like what the Cubs and White Sox have done in the off-season, are hoping for the first all-Windy City World Series since 1906. . . .

Darryl Strawberry’s longest shot on opening day of the Dodgers’ winter workouts at the Stadium was estimated at 425 feet. . . .

It seems as though the Dodgers are returning to the old, pre-Ron Cey game of musical chairs at third base. . . .

Postponing the Super Bowl would damage American morale.