Notes on a Scorecard - April 2, 1991

Duke was hot, Kansas was cold, and the NCAA championship game was anticlimactic. . . .

Do I already hear talk about a repeat? Duke will have four returning starters and welcome freshman Cherokee Parks, the center from Marina High in Huntington Beach who was voted most valuable player in the Capital Classic. . . .

Actually, the Blue Devils’ most important returnee will be Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He is the best in the business, although he didn’t finish in the top four in the Associated Press’ coach of the year balloting, which was completed before the tournament began. Neither did any of the other Final Four coaches. . . .

Best postgame scene was that of Brian Davis hugging Coach K and saying, “We got it for you, baby!” . . .

Ironman of the tournament award goes to Duke guard Bobby Hurley, who played a very active 80 minutes in Indianapolis. . . .

Kansas ought to take free-throw shooting lessons from Christian Laettner. . . .

CBS’ coverage was solid, but I can still do without those shots from the cheap seats behind the basket. . . .

Looking at their Plan B free agent signings, which Los Angeles team do you think is more dedicated to winning an NFL championship? . . .

A star was born on the Las Vegas strip Sunday night. His name is Rafael Ruelas. Ruelas’ 25th consecutive victory was his most impressive, a third-round demolition of former featherweight champion Stevie Cruz in front of an ESPN audience. In scoring his 21st knockout, the 19-year-old Ruelas floored his more experienced opponent four times with crisp and powerful punches. . . .

Trainer Joe Goossen, who helped guide middleweight Michael Nunn to the top, is doing an another outstanding job with Ruelas. Next up could be Troy Dorsey for the vacant International Boxing Federation 126-pound title. At 5-11, though, Ruelas’ future is in heavier divisions. . . .

Look for an announcement soon that Terry Norris, coming off a victory over Sugar Ray Leonard, will defend his World Boxing Council junior-middleweight title against Donald Curry June 1 at the Radisson hotel in Palm Springs. On the same card, promoted by Ten Goose, Meldrick Taylor will defend his World Boxing Assn. welterweight title against top-ranked Luis Garcia of Venezuela. . . .

Norris’ older brother, heavyweight Orlin, boxes Mike (Bounty) Hunter tonight at the Country Club in Reseda. . . .

Sugar Ray Leonard finally got an audience that he didn’t want Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C. . . .

The Kings’ increase from 75 points to 102 was the biggest in the NHL this season. . . .

Coach Bob Murdoch, who was fired Monday, wasn’t the problem at Winnipeg. Lousy players were. . . .

For the record: It was Boston University, not Boston College, that lost to Northern Michigan in the NCAA Division I hockey championship game. As several Bostonians have informed me, there is a big difference between BU and BC. . . .

Brad Gilbert can play for my Davis Cup team any time. . . .

I’d like some handicapping tips from those two women who won $1,015,215.80 with a $24 Pick Nine ticket at Santa Anita. . . .

Former basketball star Dan Issel was a revelation as the color commentator on ESPN’s telecast of the Jim Beam Stakes Saturday. . . .

ABC has signed a two-year contract to televise the Virginia Slims championships finals at Madison Square Garden in November. . . .

A manager on the hot seat early this season will be Nick Levya of Philadelphia. . . .

Toronto is shopping for a veteran shortstop. Among the possibilities are Ozzie Smith, Garry Templeton and Jose Uribe. . . .

The Cubs’ 22-year-old third baseman Gary Scott is only 5-10, but he can dunk a basketball. . . .

New York Met catcher Mackey Sasser, who is still having trouble throwing the ball back to the pitcher, is visiting a psychologist. Maybe he should see Steve Sax, who used to have trouble making the short throw from second base to first. . . .

If you have any doubt that the minor leagues are back, they are the cover story in the April issue of National Geographic. . . .

White Sox pitcher Jack McDowell, who started and won the last game at old Comiskey Park, probably will start the first game at the new Comiskey April 18. . . .

Unbeaten UCLA, the top-ranked men’s tennis team in the NCAA, plays host to second-ranked USC Wednesday and third-ranked Stanford Friday. . . .

Magic Johnson could become the first NBA player to reach 1,000 assists and not lead the league. . . .

Charles Barkley has made the spitter more famous than anybody since Gaylord Perry. . . .

Call Sacramento anything, but Kings of the road.