Notes on a Scorecard - Feb. 16, 1993

Maybe what this town needs is more day hockey. . . .

It has been a while since the Kings achieved a more hard-earned, crowd-pleasing or unexpected victory than their 3-0 decision over the Vancouver Canucks on President’s Day at the Forum. . . .

This had been billed as the irresistible force--the Canucks, who were tied for second in the NHL in scoring--against the movable object--the Kings, who had given up 29 goals in their four previous games. . . .

It was suggested that Davis Gaines, after singing the two national anthems beautifully, should have stayed on the ice and taken a spot in the Kings’ net. . . .

After all, Gaines plays the lead role in “Phantom of the Opera” downtown and is accustomed to wearing a mask. . . .

But the first 44 minutes 41 seconds were scoreless. Plenty of good scoring opportunities, no results. The question was whether the Kings’ Kelly Hrudey or the Canucks’ Kirk McLean would crack first. McLean did. . . .

Ken Dryden, the former Montreal Canadien star goaltender, used to say there were two kinds of shutouts--”easy” and “working.” For Hrudey, who stopped Pavel Bure six times and other Canucks 37 times, this was the working variety. . . .

Coach Barry Melrose was asked what the Kings would have to do on their upcoming trip to build on this victory. . . .

“We’ll have to keep shutting teams out,” Melrose replied. . . .

*

So far, so good for John Robinson (0-0-0) during his second term at USC. . . .

“I found recruiting to be a more acceptable experience for the kids than the last time,” said Robinson, whose first term lasted from 1976-82. . . .

“A head coach is allowed only one off-campus visit with a prospect and a coaching staff a total of three,” he said. “Before, it was something like 647. The number of phone calls has been cut way down. There are other restrictions and the whole process is more sensible.” . . .

Robinson also discovered that more emphasis is being put on academics by high school coaches, administrators and counselors. . . .

“It’s a lot better at USC, too,” he said. “Every morning at 11 o’clock, I get a report on how players who had difficulty in the classroom last year are doing at a special study table.” . . .

During spring practice that opens next month, Robinson, who coached Heisman Trophy winners Charles White and Marcus Allen, is going to take a long look at his tailbacks. One of them will be Scott Fields, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound sophomore from Bishop Amat High who practiced as a safety and saw limited duty with the special teams last season. . . .

Bernard King paid quick dividends for the New Jersey Nets, scoring 13 points during 22 minutes of an overtime victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday. . . .

There are 12 players named Williams in the NBA and seven named Johnson. . . .

Brian Williams of the Orlando Magic should not be confused with Brian Williams of the New York Giants or Brian Williams of the Houston Astros. . . .

*

It’s unusual to see the Big East Conference leader, St. John’s, unranked in the USA Today/CNN poll and ranked 25th by the Associated Press. . . .

Tony Baltazar, who fought exhibitions as a kid and 20 professional bouts at the Olympic Auditorium, will make his Forum debut March 1 against Fidel Avedano. . . .

Baltazar, a former lightweight contender who now weighs 140 pounds, is living in Phoenix and being trained by Michael Carbajal’s brother, Danny. . . .

One reason Sergei Bubka sets world records by increments of less than an inch is that he is paid $25,000 by Nike each time. . . .

However, Bubka, who complained about the conditions last time, won’t be at the Sunkist meet Saturday at the Sports Arena, where world record-setters will be rewarded with a car. . . .

The Daytona 500 is like the NBA used to be--you don’t have to tune in until the final minute. . . .

Eager to regain his form, Dwight Gooden is going to wear his original spring training number, 64, at the New York Mets’ camp. . . .

Best wishes for a speedy recovery from a mild heart attack to Gary Jones, the highly successful and likable trainer. . . .

Thoroughbred owner Steve Shapiro’s successful proposal to Karen Kircher on the Santa Anita tote board Valentine’s Day began, “Karen--Let’s become an entry.”