Notes on a Scorecard - March 2, 1994

My idea of an optimist is someone who believes Wayne Gretzky will break Gordie Howe’s record with an empty-net goal. . . .

How long has it been since the Kings won a game? They beat the Mighty Ducks at Anaheim on Feb. 11. That was the day before the start of the Winter Olympics. Yeah, that long ago. . . .

Gretzky needs five goals to reach 802 for his career. The Kings need one victory to reach 22 for the season. I’m not sure which will happen first. . . .

After the 3-3 tie with the Montreal Canadiens on Monday night, Gretzky, usually one of the most cooperative newspaper interview subjects in sports, fled the locker room before reporters arrived. . . .

The Kings, given a lift by Marty McSorley at wing, played well enough to win during their first Forum West game against Montreal since the Stanley Cup finals last April. . . .

Barry Melrose, on Canadien goaltender Patrick Roy: “As long as he’s there, they’ve got a chance to win the Stanley Cup.” . . .

Among others impressed was former King goaltender Gary (Scoop) Edwards, who was a guest commentator on the Montreal radio broadcast, and is starting a painting contracting business in Thousand Oaks. . . .

I like Robb Stauber’s fighting spirit. . . .

USC expects to double its previous biggest Sports Arena crowd of the year--6,123 last Saturday for the overtime victory over California--when UCLA makes its annual visit Thursday night. . . .

The Trojans have won four of the last six meetings, but the Bruins have a 105-91 edge in the series. . . .

UCLA was 19-59 against USC until Coach John Wooden arrived in Westwood in 1948. Wooden was 61-20 against the cross-town rival. . . .

The only school that has a winning record against UCLA in more than 20 games is Brigham Young (11-10). . . .

The Bruins hope to return to the Sports Arena on March 24 and 26 for the NCAA West Regionals, which already are sold out. . . .

Purdue forward Glenn Robinson is favored, but Connecticut forward Donyell Marshall will get some Eastern support for player-of-the-year honors. . . .

Both the Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball teams are ranked fourth in the Associated Press polls. . . .

Among the best little-known players in the nation is Missouri guard Melvin Booker, who is a major reason the Tigers remain unbeaten in the Big Eight. . . .

If the Rams are able to sign a relatively young, free-agent quarterback such as Scott Mitchell or Chris Miller, they won’t have to draft a passer in the first round. Most NFL scouts don’t rate Trent Dilfer or Heath Shuler as highly as they did Drew Bledsoe or Rick Mirer last year. . . .

Rickey Henderson batting third? It could happen this season if Oakland Athletic rookie speedster Kerwin Moore is able to win the center field job. . . .

A nice comeback story would be that of Bobby Ojeda, who is among the early surprises in the New York Yankees’ camp. . . .

Greg Zaun has a good shot to emulate uncle Rick Dempsey by making the Baltimore Orioles’ roster as a catcher. . . .

You will have to go to Japan to see Rob Deer, Dan Gladden or Mike Pagliarulo play baseball this season. . . .

*

The inaugural Southern Classic, a two-month series of races featuring members of the U.S. national cycling team, will be held at the Olympic Velodrome at Cal State Dominguez Hills starting Sunday. Mark (the Outlaw) Whitehead, a former national champion who is billing himself as the Lenny Dykstra of cycling, will attempt a comeback after a five-year retirement. . . .

Look-alikes: Derrick Coleman and rapper Dr. Dre. . . .

Leading welterweight contender Yory Boy Campas has the longest winning streak in pro boxing. He won his 55th consecutive fight and scored his 50th knockout recently in Tijuana, where 2,500 fans were turned away. . . .

Pernell Whitaker’s first bout since his “draw” with Julio Cesar Chavez will be on April 9 against Santos Cardona in a pay-per-view show from Norfolk, Va. Next might be a rematch with Buddy McGirt, who faces Livingstone Bramble on the same card. . . .

I lost my rooting interest in the Santa Anita Handicap when Diazo, trained by Bill Shoemaker and ridden by Laffit Pincay, was withdrawn because of a training injury. . . .

Actually, the most intriguing race of the weekend is Sunday’s San Rafael Stakes, which will bring together some of the best Kentucky Derby prospects. . . .

Please say it’s not true that Ted Williams, who could tell when a baseball was thrown a millimeter outside the plate, has been left with poor eyesight after a stroke.