Notes on a Scorecard - Dec. 18, 1995

I know about as much about Mike Tyson, the heavyweight, as I did the day he left prison. . . .

His 10 minutes in the ring with Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr. have proven nothing. . . .

Sure, Tyson’s timing was off both nights. That was to be expected of someone who hadn’t fought for four years. And, sure, he put McNeeley and Mathis out of their misery early. Roy Jones, who weighs about 50 pounds less than Tyson, probably could have too. . . .

Fox TV must have been stunned that the Tyson-Mathis fight lasted well into the third round. The show was supposed to be over at 7 p.m. our time. The main event didn’t start until 6:53, meaning it went a few minutes over. . . .

The age-old problem with the heavyweight division is that it is so shallow. . . .

Tyson might beat Don King’s three champions--Frank Bruno, Bruce Seldon and Frans Botha--next year and still answer few questions. . . .

Only Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis, who are supposed to meet early in 1996, seem capable of testing Tyson, regardless of whether he even approaches peak form again. . . .

I’m not sure that there is anybody who can give Oscar De La Hoya a tough night’s work. . . .

De La Hoya, who demolished undersized James Leija on Friday at Madison Square Garden in a fight that didn’t last as long as Tyson-Mathis, keeps improving. . . .

The image is that of glamour boy, but a tremendous work ethic has sped the 1992 Olympic gold medalist’s progress in the pro ranks. . . .

No champion is more dedicated in the gym. . . .

His long-anticipated bout with Julio Cesar Chavez is just about set for May 6. De La Hoya will be moving up from 135 pounds to 140, but still will have considerable edges in height and reach over his opponent. . . .

The Forum’s first big show next year will be announced soon--unbeaten super-bantamweight Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Kennedy McKinney and unbeaten super-flyweight Johnny Tapia vs. Giovanni Andrade in title bouts to be televised by HBO on Feb. 3. . . .

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The Dodgers--who have acquired third baseman Mike Blowers, signed shortstop Greg Gagne and re-signed second baseman Delino DeShields--would be unwise to leave infielder Chad Fonville out of their starting lineup. . . .

Fonville became the Dodgers’ sparkplug soon after his arrival last year . . .

He deserves to open the season at second base. . . .

Perhaps the worst thing that happened to shortstop Jose Offerman last summer was his selection to the National League All-Star team by Manager Felipe Alou. . . .

The honor told Offerman, who was hitting well at the time, that he could get away with being a lousy fielder. . . .

A bad attitude kept the former minor league player of the year from fulfilling his potential with the Dodgers, who traded him to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. . . .

Couldn’t New York Yankee owner George Steinbrenner have afforded to re-sign both David Cone and Jack McDowell instead of only Cone?. . . .

The Chicago Bulls’ 19-2 start brings to mind the NBA record for best won-loss record in a season--69-13 by Coach Bill Sharman’s champion Lakers in 1971-72. . . .

Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor began that season with the Lakers, but Baylor played only nine games. Among the reserves was Pat Riley. . . .

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The Dallas Cowboys are fortunate they don’t have a three-game losing streak. . . .

Most of Sunday, the best thing the Cowboys had going for them against the New York Giants was the officiating. . . .

Two questionable pass-interference penalties led to 10 Dallas points in the second half and a holding penalty on a run cost the Giants a touchdown in a 21-20 game. . . .

Chris Boniol has become the Cowboys’ big offensive star. . . .

They had another sellout in St. Louis for the Washington game Sunday, but the crowd didn’t approach the 95,985 that saw the Ram-Redskin exhibition at the L.A. Coliseum in 1951. . . .

The last two minutes of San Diego’s 27-24 win over Indianapolis showed that field goals can be exciting. . . .

Even those who have grown weary of watching Buffalo lose in the Super Bowl are having trouble rooting against the surprising Bills and their coach, Marv Levy, who had cancer surgery in the middle of the season. . . .

Bryan Cox can forget about getting my vote for Sportsman of the Year.