Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 21, 1992

This is supposed to be the week of D.C. in Minneapolis, but Monday was the day of A.C. at the Forum. . . .

A.C. Green worked hard during every one of his 39 minutes in the Lakers’ win over the Seattle SuperSonics. He hit the boards. He ran the court. He played good defense. He made some outside shots. He got a double double--16 points and 16 rebounds. . . .

Perhaps most important of all to the Lakers, he has begun to emerge as their floor leader in the first season of the post-Magic Johnson era. . . .

Some people thought the Lakers were going to trade the 28-year-old forward to Seattle for Sedale Threatt in October. Good thing they didn’t. They will not miss those three second-round draft choices nearly as much as they would have Green. . . .

Although the Lakers have a 23-15 record, ninth best in the 27-team league, they have scored 14 fewer points than the opposition. . . .

Benoit Benjamin is almost as popular at the Forum as he is at the Sports Arena. . . .

The thumb injury that will sideline Seattle forward Derrick McKey for at least six weeks enhances the Clippers’ chances of making the playoffs for the first time since they moved to Los Angeles in 1984. . . .

During the second half, the Sonics could have looked up at the scoreboard and been informed that a national newspaper was reporting that George Karl would become their next coach. . . .

Sam Bowie of the improving New Jersey Nets finally is being recognized for something else besides having been taken second by the Portland Trailblazers in the 1984 draft when Akeem Olajuwon went first to the Houston Rockets and Michael Jordan third to the Chicago Bulls. . . . I like New England Patriot chief executive officer Sam Jankovich’s proposal that the end zones be extended five yards. That would mean more room for the offensive team, more touchdowns, and fewer field goals. . . .

Here’s a switch: Cincinnati Bengal tackle Anthony Munoz missed the last three games of the regular season because of an injury, but will play in the Pro Bowl. . . .

The crowd of 60,105 for the Mickey Thompson Off Road Gran Prix at Anaheim Stadium Saturday night was bigger than any Ram home game crowd this season except the Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers. . . .

Here is part of the difference in the offensive philosophy of Jimmy Johnson and Tom Landry: Emmitt Smith carried the ball at least 32 times in five games last season. Tony Dorsett never carried the ball as many as 30 times. . . .

You didn’t have to be a golf fan to appreciate John Cook’s incredible performance under pressure in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic playoff Sunday. . . .

If Barry Larkin had waited to become a free agent, he eventually would have signed for more money than the measly $25.6 million the Cincinnati Reds are giving him over five years. . . .

First player to be awarded $1 million in a salary arbitration case was Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers in 1983. . . .

Chris James, Cory Snyder and Kevin Bass of the San Francisco Giants would have made an outstanding outfield in 1987. . . .

What I meant to say in this space Monday was that Brent Barry of Oregon State shoots free throws underhanded, but not nearly as well as his dad Rick did. . . .

You would never know it watching the All-Star game, but fighting penalties in the NHL are up. . . .

Gary Edwards was a guest commentator on the Washington broadcast of the King-Capital game at the Forum last week. Edwards, who played during the Rogie Vachon era, was the best backup goaltender the Kings ever had. Maybe General Manager Vachon should sign him up again. . . .

Lou and Dan Duva are caught in a quandary. Two of the stars of their stable, Meldrick Taylor and Pernell Whitaker, want to fight Julio Cesar Chavez. . . .

Whitaker probably would stand a better chance than Taylor, who hasn’t been the same since his war with Chavez a couple of years ago. . . .

Actually, the best fight around might be Whitaker vs. James (Buddy) McGuirt. . . .

Challenger Domingo Sosa will tower over World Boxing Council light-flyweight champion Humberto Gonzalez Jan. 27 at the Forum. Sosa is 5-7, making him a giant in the 108-pound division. . . .

The difference between Lonnie Smith, the fighter, and Lonnie Smith, the ballplayer, is that the fighter isn’t hesitant to run. . . .

After the revelation that UCLA football Coach Terry Donahue is the state’s highest paid public employee and earns a total of $359,000, it is worth noting that John Wooden’s salary before he retired in 1975 was $32,500. There were no perks, either, for the man who coached UCLA to 10 NCAA basketball championships.