Notes on a Scorecard - Aug. 16, 1993

Nothing was more disgusting the past few days than the hours and hours of speculation by radio talk-show hosts and callers that Michael Jordan’s gambling was responsible for his father’s death. . . .

A moratorium should have been placed on the subject, ratings be damned. . . .

The first three batters in the Dodgers’ lineup Sunday--Brett Butler, Jody Reed and Jose Offerman--have hit a total of two home runs this season. . . .

Watching Reed play second base the way it should be played was one of the few joys of the home stand. . . .

Surprising statistic: Dave Hansen’s next pinch-hit, his 15th, would be as many as Manny Mota, the major league career leader with 150, ever got in one season for the Dodgers. . . .

The most overlooked reason for the San Francisco Giants’ success is their defense. . . .

Angel outfielder Tim Salmon and USC defensive back Mike Salmon are cousins of actress Holly Hunter. . . .

If the Chicago White Sox can send Wilson Alvarez to the minor leagues and Bobby Thigpen to the Philadelphia Phillies, they must have the deepest pitching staff in the American League. . . .

Jay Johnstone, who batted left-handed during his 20-year major league career, batted right-handed in the motion picture, “Naked Gun.” . . .

News item: Rickey Henderson pays Toronto Blue Jay teammate Turner Ward $25,000 for his No. 24. Reaction: When Mitch (Wild Thing) Williams joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 1991, he paid John Kruk a case of beer for his No. 28. . . .

What does Inverness, which kept giving him the lip Sunday, have against Greg Norman? . . .

It was a big week for USC golf. Trojan Jill McGill won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and her teammate, Heidi Voorhees, was the qualifying medalist. Former Trojan Scott Simpson was sixth in the PGA. Alumni Dave Stockton and Al Geiberger finished 1-2 in the $500,000 senior tournament at Park City, Utah. . . .

The Raiders are going to have to improve upon their TD-every-game-and-a-half offense.. . .

A week ago Sunday, Channel 9 announcer Rich Marotta mentioned that Raider quarterback Jeff Hostetler had the lowest interception rate among active NFL starters. Hostetler threw an interception on the next play against the San Francisco 49ers and threw another Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. . . .

Seven field goals were kicked in the Cleveland Browns’ 12-9 victory over the New England Patriots Saturday in Toronto, but there were no rouges. . . .

Do you have a souvenir program from the 1902 Rose Bowl game between Stanford and Michigan in your attic? It’s worth $7,500. . . .

Deserving of induction into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame is Jim Hardy, the USC quarterback who threw five touchdown passes and ran for another score in the Trojans’ 29-0 victory over Washington in 1944 and 25-0 victory over Tennessee in 1945. . . .

Nate Olsen, son of Merlin, has been converted from fullback to defensive end by Stanford Coach Bill Walsh. At 6 feet 4 and 252 pounds, Olsen carried only once last season, but sometimes was used as a blocker in short-yardage situations. . . .

The 75th-anniversary season of the Green Bay Packers has been tarnished by talk of changing the best-looking uniforms in the NFL from green and gold to navy blue and gold. . . .

So Bo Schembechler wants to coach an NFL team. Could hardly wait to see his imaginative offense. . . .

Look-alikes: Felipe Alou and actor Ossie Davis. . . .

Oscar De La Hoya was impressive again Saturday night, but his opponent, Renaldo (Little Red) Carter, will never be confused with Danny (Little Red) Lopez. . . .

HBO reduced its announcing crew for the fight show from Bay St. Louis, Miss., and Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant proved that two are enough. . . .

Thoroughbred trainer Bobby Frankel gets most of his colleagues’ votes as the best in the business. . . .

Trade rumors continue that the Lakers will acquire Dominique Wilkins from the Atlanta Hawks. . . .

The Philadelphia 76ers, who signed 38-year-old Moses Malone to a multiyear contract, must believe in the fountain of youth. . . .

Dick Vitale has chosen the top five college basketball teams for his preseason magazine: 1. North Carolina. 2. Kentucky. 3. Arkansas. 4. Louisville. 5. California. Vitale’s player of the year is Purdue forward Glenn Robinson. . . .

That was great timing USC women’s basketball Coach Marianne Stanley showed, filing an $8-million lawsuit against the university the day after UCLA dropped three sports for economic reasons.