Notes on a Scorecard - Nov. 14, 1990

The NFL has only itself to blame for the 1993 Super Bowl controversy. . . .

Besides the Martin Luther King Day issue, why reward what probably is the worst-run franchise in the league, the Phoenix Cardinals, with the biggest game? . . .

It’s doubtful that the USC-UCLA game Saturday in the Rose Bowl will be as lopsided as the first--won by the Trojans, 76-0, in 1929--or as close as the last--a 10-10 tie in 1989. . . .

The Bruins are touting three players for major postseason honors--quarterback Tommy Maddox for freshman of the year, free safety Eric Turner for the Thorpe Award and wide receiver Scott Miller for All-American. . . .

This could be a big weekend in the Southland for past and present UCLA quarterbacks. The day after Maddox leads the Bruins against USC, Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys will play the Rams in Anaheim Stadium. . . .

What a beating ABC’s potential Rose Bowl television ratings took when Washington and Iowa were upset. . . .

Suddenly, Washington isn’t underrated. . . .

How could Southern Mississippi possibly turn down an invitation from the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl?. . . .

Quick, somebody fix the New York Times computer, which has Georgia Tech first, Virginia second, Florida third and Notre Dame seventh. . . .

If you don’t think the NFL is packed with mediocre teams, consider that the Rams are only one game out of the last wild-card playoff spot. . . .

Attention, Jim Healy: Jerome Brown is no joke. . . .

Buddy Ryan must be giving himself an A-plus now. . . .

Heath Sherman? . . .

The Washington Redskins could use Doug Williams. . . .

Only George Foreman is making a more interesting comeback than Marcus Dupree. . . .

ABC is delighted with its next three Monday night matchups: Raiders-Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills-Houston Oilers and San Francisco 49ers-New York Giants. . . .

However, Ram owner Georgia Frontiere won’t be watching the Raiders and Dolphins. That night, she will be guest vocalist of the Beverly Hills orchestra at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. . . .

Nobody has emerged as a clear No. 1 choice in the next NFL draft. . . .

The best match in boxing, the Julio Cesar Chavez-Meldrick Taylor rematch, now is doubtful because of the usual politics. . . .

On TV recently, highly touted unbeaten heavyweight Bruce Seldon disappointed with his lack of punching power. He looks muscle-bound. . . .

Ten Goose’s exciting junior-lightweight prospect, Gabriel Ruelas, will have to wait another three to six months to return to the ring after a second operation to repair the broken elbow he suffered in a fight against Jeff Franklin last April. . . .

If Mike Fratello had been hired as Clipper coach, the NBA would have been deprived of its best TV commentator. . . .

Patrick Ewing and Charles Oakley of the New York Knicks are the Nos. 1 and 2 rebounders in the league. . . .

The Cleveland Cavaliers are making Larry Nance available on the trading market. . . .

Saddest sight in the NBA is the Washington Bullets’ John Williams, who looks as though he belongs on a sumo wrestling mat instead of a basketball court. . . .

The Indiana Pacers are bullish on rookie Kenny Williams, a North Carolina Prop. 48 reject. . . .

Houston may have made the steal of the year in Kenny Smith, who is solving the Rockets’ point guard problems. . . .

Danny Ainge is making the Portland Trail Blazers just that much better. . . .

Walt Frazier on Paul Westhead’s system: “It’s ridiculous. It’s not basketball. Basketball starts with defense.” . . .

Westhead wasn’t even in the building, but 365 points were scored in the Loyola Marymount intrasquad game. The Grays beat the Scarlets, 188-177. New Coach Jay Hillock will need all the points he can get in December, when Loyola plays at UCLA, Georgia Tech, LSU and Oklahoma. . . .

Duke Snider, Fernando Valenzuela, Mike Scioscia, Gene Mauch and Donna Caponi are among those who will play in the second annual City of Hope-Eric Tracy Open golf tournament Monday at Braemar Country Club in Tarzana. . . .

Sorry, wrestling fans, but penalties are down in the National Hockey League this season. . . .

I get a good laugh from those who claim the New York Mets will be better off without Darryl Strawberry.