Notes on a Scorecard - Sept. 2, 1991

I guess the Dodgers are the only Los Angeles team that you can depend upon these days. . . .

The Rams have proven that they can beat themselves. Whether they can beat anyone else in the near future is questionable. Oh-and-four is a distinct possibility after the giveaway to the Phoenix Cardinals Sunday and with road games upcoming against the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. . . .

Actually, the Rams might be better off away from Anaheim Stadium, where they play even worse than the Angels and have lost their last five league games. . . .

Stat of the day: The Rams punted only twice but scored only 14 points. . . . Robert Delpino, a rare Ram who can run and hold onto the football at the same time, showed that he deserves a permanent spot in the backfield, whether it be at fullback or tailback. . . .

Don’t blame the Raiders’ quarterback for everything. What has happened to the defense? In their last two meaningful games, they have allowed 98 points. . . .

Those groans you heard when Philadelphia Eagle quarterback Randall Cunningham went down with a knee injury came from fantasy football league participants. . . .

The last time the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants met on a Monday night, quarterbacks Joe Montana and Phil Simms produced only 10 points. Maybe Steve Young and Jeff Hostetler can do better tonight at the Meadowlands. . . .

If Jose Offerman wants to become an effective major league hitter, he should study every move Dodger teammate Brett Butler makes. . . .

In his first year in Los Angeles, Butler has done almost no wrong. However, he has been caught stealing 27 times. The National League record is 36 set by Miller Huggins of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1914. . . .

The next time a fan runs onto the field at Dodger Stadium, security ought to react quicker. The other night, some wise guy practically loitered in right field before he got Darryl Strawberry’s autograph. . . .

If the Angels aren’t going to re-sign Wally Joyner, they should have accepted Oakland’s offer and traded him for Mark McGwire. . . .

Not that they really needed pennant insurance, but the Pittsburgh Pirates made a nice move by acquiring Texas Rangers’ good-field, good-hit third baseman Steve Buechele. . . .

The Minnesota Twins are trying to become the first team to win division titles in each of four decades. . . .

Sorry, but I was rooting for Patrick McEnroe to beat Jimmy Connors at the U.S. Open. This McEnroe is a real gentleman on the court. . . .

Tokyo has been the site of two of the biggest sports stories in awhile--Buster Douglas’ knockout over Mike Tyson and Mike Powell’s long jump record. . . .

The Kings’ Luc Robitaille scored a goal in Canada’s 2-2 tie with Finland on opening night of the Canada Cup, but goaltender Markus Kitterer robbed Wayne Gretzky of what could have been the game-winner with three minutes remaining. . . .

Labor Day has been no holiday for Larry Smith, whose USC Trojans open the season today against Memphis State. Smith lost his first USC game in 1987 at Michigan State and Todd Marinovich’s debut was spoiled by Illinois in 1989 at the Coliseum. . . .

On Kids Day at the Coliseum, 12 of the Trojans’ 22 starters will be freshmen or sophomores. . . .

New USC starting quarterback Reggie Perry was an honor student in high school at Denison, Tex., birthplace of President Dwight Eisenhower. . . .

Lovable Miami will be a sentimental favorite against John Jenkins’ Houston (Pour It On) Cougars Sept. 12 at the Orange Bowl. . . .

Of course, Houston did have to come from behind courageously to edge Louisiana Tech, 73-3, Saturday. . . .

For the record: Barry Switzer is among those who have coached Heisman and Outland award winners and a national championship team. . . .

Little wonder there were acres of empty seats for the Disneyland Pigskin Classic at Anaheim Stadium. All tickets cost $28. Tickets for the USC-UCLA game at the Coliseum cost $27. . . .

ABC commentator Dick Vermeil after Miami quarterback Gino Torretta’s 99-yard touchdown pass to Horace Copeland against Arkansas: “I wouldn’t doubt that’s a school record.”