Notes on a Scorecard - Jan. 27, 1994

Beverly Hills resident Wayne Gretzky celebrated his 33rd birthday at home Wednesday. . . .

He was happy to have a roof over his head. . . .

“Our family feels fortunate,” he said. “The house suffered a lot of damage from the earthquake. We might have to move out sometime while repairs are being made. But a couple of houses on our block were destroyed. Next door, they were taking down the chimney yesterday.” . . .

Because of the quake, Gretzky’s wife Janet Jones, three children and mother-in-law Jean went back to Jones’ old hometown of St. Louis while the Kings were on the road. . . .

Jean was hit by a car in St. Louis and thrown into a ditch. . . .

“She’s undergone a couple of operations,” Gretzky said. “There had been some concern that she might have to have a leg amputated, but she’s better now.” . . .

In times like these, work might seem trivial. . . .

But ice time this week at the Forum and the America West Arena in Phoenix has been an escape for Gretzky. . . .

I can’t remember seeing No. 99 in better form than Monday when he scored, assisted Luc Robitaille, fed Jari Kurri for the game-tying goal with three seconds remaining, and put fear into the Calgary Flames every shift during a 3-3 draw. . . .

The next night, he set up two goals as the Kings rallied from a three-goal deficit to tie the Winnipeg Jets, 4-4. . . .

“I’ve got the feeling now that I can make something happen every time I touch the puck,” he said. . . .

Fifteen months ago, Gretzky, who had suffered an unusual back injury, was told that he might never play hockey again. . . .

Seven months ago, after the Kings were beaten by the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup finals, he said he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to play another season. . . .

But here he is, way ahead in the NHL scoring race with 87 points on 23 goals and 64 assists in 47 games. . . .

He needs only 14 goals to break Gordie Howe’s career record of 801. . . .

“All the records are special,” said Gretzky, who has tied or set 59 NHL marks during his 14 seasons. “But this one will be the most special. It will be very hard to break. To get to 800, you have to average 50 goals for 16 seasons.” . . .

He has no plans to stop at 802. . . .

“I’d love to get 900 or 1,000,” he said. . . .

And when perhaps the greatest career in the history of team sports is over, he will settle down and spend the rest of his years in Southern California. . . .

“I’m not moving anywhere,” Gretzky said. “This is still the best place to live.” . . .

After the Kings’ two consecutive ties, Coach Barry Melrose said he was satisfied with the five-minute overtime in the NHL. . . .

“They can’t play any more than this,” he said. “You might as well load a gun and shoot them.” . . .

However, he said he would approve of a shootout to settle ties during regular-season games. . . .

“I saw it in the American League and it’s exciting as hell,” Melrose said. “But I wouldn’t like to see it in the playoffs.” . . .

Jimmy Carson wasn’t allowed to play for Vancouver against Edmonton on Monday after Coach Pat Quinn wrote the name of Dixon Ward instead of Carson on the pregame lineup sheet. Ward was traded to the Kings for Carson recently. . . .

*

Painting will begin today on a 30-by-60-foot canvas of Oscar De La Hoya that will be hung outside the Grand Olympic Auditorium to advertise “Oscar Night,” March 5 when he fights Jimmi Bredahl. . . .

Remember that massive Reebok campaign before what was supposed to be a decathlon duel between Dan O’Brien and Dave Johnson in the 1992 Olympic Games? O’Brien and Reebok have split. . . .

If Clipper guard Ron Harper played all the time the way he did Tuesday against Seattle, he would be worth $8 million, not $4 million. . . .

Tonya Harding, huge in the headlines, is 5 feet 1 and 105 pounds. . . .

My Sullivan Award vote is going to two-sport star Charlie Ward of Florida State. Last football player to win it was Arnold Tucker of Army in 1946 and the last basketball player Bill Walton of UCLA in 1973. . . .

What makes this Super Bowl week different is that Bruce Smith isn’t complaining about a lack of recognition. . . .

Chuck Howley is the only member of a losing team to be voted most valuable player in a Super Bowl. The linebacker played for the Dallas Cowboys during their 16-13 loss to the Baltimore Colts on Jan. 17, 1971, at Miami. . . .

Average score of the last nine Super Bowls: NFC 38, AFC 15.