Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 28, 1992

It is never too late--or early--for a Raider quarterback controversy. . . .

What Vince Evans showed Saturday against the Washington Redskins was that a hot, spirited quarterback might have reversed some of the Raiders’ losses this year and could lead them back into contention for the AFC West title next year. . . .

Evans, 37, wrote the nicest story of the Raider season in RFK Stadium, but he isn’t the answer after all those years on the bench and the waiver wire. . . .

A possibility is Boomer Esiason, whom the Cincinnati Bengals are expected to put on the trading block. . . .

Esiason, who will turn 32 in April, was one of the conference’s better passers not long ago, and a change in scenery should help him. . . .

Another oldie but goody who probably will be available is the San Francisco 49ers’ Joe Montana, who will be 37 next season. . . .

The Raiders’ brain trust also might want to consider using a younger man, Todd Marinovich, although doubts were cast upon his future when he was benched the last few games. . . .

Of course, after a 7-9 record, improvement also is needed at a number of other positions. If Al Davis truly is committed to excellence, he will be active in the free-agent market. . . . It would surprise the rest of the league, and greatly please Chuck Knox, if Georgia Frontiere also took advantage of the new free-agent regulations, which are expected to be announced this week, to fill some of the Rams’ many holes. . . .

There are more former members of the Los Angeles Express of the old USFL--San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young, Minnesota Vikings tackle Gary Zimmerman and Detroit Lions punt returner Mel Gray--than Raiders--guard Steve Wisniewski and cornerback Terry McDaniel--and Rams--none--on the Pro Bowl teams. . . .

Watching Washington lose to the Raiders on TV Saturday must have given the Minnesota Vikings incentive to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday so they could play the Redskins in a first-round playoff game. . . .

I winced every time I saw the Denver Broncos’ John Elway take a blow on the shoulder Sunday. . . .

Dale Carter needs some work on ballhandling, but the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive back made Will McDonough look good after the NBC commentator selected Carter as the AFC rookie of the year. . . .

Sound-alikes: Bill Parcells and Tom Lasorda. . . .

When the Rams were faced with a third-down-and-33 situation on their 17-yard line against Atlanta, KMPC announcer Paul Olden said it might be a good time to consider punting on third down. “Yeah, but Tommy Prothro isn’t the coach,” analyst Jack Snow said. . . . Thumbs-up to NBC for switching from the Kansas City-Denver game, when it got out of hand, to the closing moments of regulation time of Miami-New England and sticking with that game until it was decided in overtime. . . .

USC might have preferred another bowl assignment, but according to the Pacific 10 Conference contract, the Trojans really had no choice other than the Freedom Bowl against Fresno State on Tuesday night at Anaheim Stadium. . . .

Savings on what would have been out-of-town bowl expenses will help USC turn a Freedom Bowl profit of about $250,000. . . .

The Trojans will have played in the four largest Southern California stadiums this season--the Coliseum, Rose Bowl, Anaheim Stadium and San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. . . .

Tim Wallach would have been a better acquisition a few years ago, but at least Fred Claire addressed what had been the Dodgers’ biggest need by trading a minor leaguer to the Montreal Expos for the third baseman. . . .

Both Wallach and new second baseman Jody Reed are supposed to be good influences in the clubhouse, something else the Dodgers could use. . . .

Scrooge arrived at Santa Anita the day after Christmas. . . .

What should have been the kind of opening day that the sagging thoroughbred racing industry dreams about turned into a nightmare when the new tote system malfunctioned. . . .

The weather was beautiful, the scenery fit for a picture postcard and the caliber of racing outstanding, but most of the 46,242 spectators left the track early and upset after waiting in long lines and still being unable to make all their wagers. . . .

Some glitches couldn’t have been avoided, but Santa Anita management should have conducted more extensive classes in advance for parimutuel clerks on how to operate the new machines, which are more sensitive than the old ones. . . .

One horseplayer, though, told me he had his most successful opening day ever. He couldn’t get a single bet down.