Notes on a Scorecard - April 23, 1991

No wonder Todd Marinovich sets off so many fireworks. He was born July 4, 1969. . . .

That means he will be 22 next season, the same age as many of those NFL rookies who completed their four years of college eligibility. . . .

A running back could be the steal of the draft. Among the possibilities are Eric Bieniemy of Colorado, picked in the second round by San Diego; Nick Bell of Iowa, picked in the second round by the Raiders; and Chuck Webb of Tennessee, picked in the third round by Green Bay. . . .

So the Rams traded Gaston Green to Denver for the much-troubled Gerald Perry. Who do they think they are, the Raiders? . . .

Overlooked on trade day was NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue’s remark that Plan B free agency probably is dead. . . .

Agent Leigh Steinberg already is gaining dividends from one of his clients who was drafted in the first round. Dan McGwire told Steinberg’s 4-year-old son Jonathan that he would never grow up to be 6-feet-8 and 250 pounds if he didn’t drink milk. So, Jonathan ordered three glasses for dinner after having refused to touch the stuff since he was an infant. . . .

Russell Maryland, who weighed 330 pounds when he graduated from high school, got the last scholarship offered that year by Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson. . . .

The Rams, coached by former USC man John Robinson, have drafted four UCLA players in the first or second round the past four years. . . .

Coach Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears and second-round selection Chris Zorich, the intense defensive lineman from Notre Dame, is a match made in heaven. . . .

USC wide receiver Gary Wellman, chosen in the fifth round, should be a good fit in the Houston Oilers’ run-and-shoot offense. . . .

The trade relationship between the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots is beginning to resemble the old one between the New York Yankees and Kansas City A’s. . . .

Upset of the week is the announcement from Toronto that the Argonauts have no plans to raise ticket prices next season. . . .

USC football players’ graduation rate update: The class that entered school in 1984 posted a five-year rate of 25%. The class that entered in 1985 had a 50% rate. And the class that entered in 1986 is expected to reach a 71% rate this academic year. . . .

NHL linesmen should be allowed to call penalties. . . .

Hockey fan Tom Hanks wore an Oakland Seals’ pin to the opening game of the King-Edmonton series at the Forum. He said his favorite Seal was Bobby Sheehan. . . .

In Las Vegas, the odds against Evander Holyfield beating George Foreman by decision were 4-1. . . .

All those empty seats Friday night and Donald Trump’s financial problems make the future of big-time boxing in Atlantic City dim. . . .

Last week wasn’t a good one for heavyweight prospects. Bruce Seldon lost, and Tommy Morrison and Riddick Bowe were less than scintillating in victory. . . .

Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard sat 10 feet away from one another courtside at a recent Laker game and didn’t speak. . . .

Star of the U.S. track and field team in the 1992 Olympic Games should be sprinter Michael Johnson. . . .

Each of the four latest NBA expansion teams improved by at least six victories this season. . . .

However, Minnesota didn’t improve enough to save Coach Bill Musselman’s job. The authoritarian types are out of vogue. The future is with low key former players like Mike Dunleavy, Don Chaney, Rick Adelman, Jerry Sloan and Phil Jackson. . . .

Worst drop-off was shown by Paul Westhead’s Denver Nuggets, who won 23 fewer games than the previous season. . . .

Most damaging regular-season loss by any NBA team might have been Utah’s at Golden State Sunday. Now Phoenix will have the home court advantage over the Jazz in a best-of-five series. . . .

I got excited just reading about the Pittsburgh Pirates’ two remarkable comebacks in their 13-12, 11-inning victory over the Chicago Cubs Sunday. . . .

The sale of beer after the seventh inning has been banned at Busch Stadium, of all places. . . .

Something’s goofy about the National League schedule when the Dodgers play the San Diego Padres seven times the first 13 days of the season and don’t play the Cincinnati Reds until May 24. . . .

My vote for best race of the Santa Anita meeting goes to Valiant Pete’s upset of Griswold in the thoroughbred-quarter horse match race Saturday. . . .

Trainer Noble Threewitt on the backside improvements at Hollywood Park: “This is the first time I’ve ever wiped off my shoes before going into the men’s room.”