Notes on a Scorecard - July 4, 1990

The Fourth of July was more fun when the attraction was a day doubleheader instead of a night game and a fireworks show. . . .

The only thing less surprising than a no-hitter in the National or American League this summer is a shutout in the World Cup. . . .

People actually started buzzing at Dodger Stadium Monday night when Tim Belcher brought a no-hitter into the fifth inning against the Cubs. . . .

I’ve liked Lenny Harris from the day he reported to the Dodgers from Cincinnati. He’s not afraid to get his uniform dirty. . . .

Half of last year’s July 4 leaders--Oakland and San Francisco-- went on to win their divisions. Baltimore and Montreal didn’t. . . .

He’s not doing the national telecast, but Harry Caray will lead the crowd singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch in the All-Star game at Wrigley Field Tuesday night. . . .

Don Zimmer says he has never seen a better second baseman than Ryne Sandberg. Less biased observers agree with the Chicago Cub manager. . . .

Asked how he felt the other night, Tom Lasorda replied, “I’m outstanding except for the standings.”. . . .

Look-alikes: Kevin McReynolds and John Elway. . . .

If pitchers don’t throw hard anymore, neither do most right fielders. Nearly every team used to have a rifle in right. Now the Glenn Wilsons and Andre Dawsons are the exceptions. . . .

It was nice to see young Yankee Jim Leyritz come back with two hits the next day after his error in left field cost Andy (No-Hit) Hawkins three runs. However, Leyritz did boot the first ball hit to him at his customary third base position. . . .

Hawkins showed great restraint by not criticizing his teammates’ fielding--or hitting. . . .

The St. Louis Cardinals could lose as many as 10 players to free agency. The way they’re going, the more, the better. . . .

My baseball vocabulary needs updating. Don Robinson said the pitch Pedro Guerrero of St. Louis hit for a home run off him Monday night in San Francisco was a “backup cutter.” . . .

When the Chicago White Sox won a game without getting a hit, you became convinced they will remain in contention for the AL West championship the rest of the season. . . .

Sandy Koufax was only 4-3 in the World Series, but his ERA was 0.95. . . .

The good thing about Zina Garrison upsetting Monica Seles at Wimbledon is that I won’t have to lower the volume of Seles’ grunts on my TV set in the semifinals. . . .

Martina Navratilova could hardly have asked for an easier draw. . . .

Tennis doubles is an underrated spectator sport. . . .

Six of the eight Wimbledon women’s quarterfinalists-- Navratilova, Garrison, Seles, Gabriela Sabatini, Katerina Maleeva and Jana Novotna--have entered the Virginia Slims of Los Angeles Aug. 13-19 at the Manhattan Beach Country Club. . . .

In “Days of Thunder,” only crew chief Robert Duvall looks as if he belongs on the NASCAR circuit. . . .

Happy birthday to USC quarterback Todd Marinovich, born on the Fourth of July in 1969. . . .

The UCLA women finished first and the USC men second to Texas in USA Today’s annual national collegiate all-sports rankings. . . .

World Boxing Assn. welterweight champion Mark Breland is knocking out people again, but I’m still not convinced that he’s anything special. . . .

Buster Douglas, who needs plenty of work in the gym, would be helped if his scheduled Sept. 22 heavyweight title defense against Evander Holyfield is delayed a month. . . .

The brawl in Seattle between the Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers Saturday night lasted 15 more minutes than the Mike Tyson-Henry Tillman, George Foreman-Adilson Rodrigues doubleheader in Las Vegas. . . .

Meldrick Taylor came within two seconds of beating him, but Julio Cesar Chavez is still the consensus choice as the best fighter pound-for-pound in the world. . . .

Only four players on the regular PGA Tour have earned more than the $598,663 Lee Trevino has on the senior tour this year. . . .

The Clippers knew Bo Kimble would be a gate attraction, but the demand for season tickets after the NBA draft last week has surpassed expectations. . . .