Notes on a Scorecard - May 27, 1993

Tip of the day to the Kings: Try to shoot the puck over Felix Potvin’s shoulder instead of between his legs. The kid is terrific, but he handles grounders better than flies. . . .

It is time for Wayne Gretzky to return to his form of the Vancouver and Calgary series. . . .

Toronto is trying to become the first city to follow a World Series championship with a Stanley Cup championship since New York with the 1939 Yankees and 1940 Rangers. . . .

The highlight of ESPN’s telecasts has been the ever-expanding segment showing every overtime goal scored during the playoffs. . . .

Just once, I would love to see a penalty shot awarded during overtime. . . .

Heck, I would love to see hooking called once. . . .

“It’s a lot easier on the nerves playing in a sudden death overtime game than watching one,” Larry Robinson said. “When you’re on the ice, you’re just thinking about how you can contribute.” . . .

When Jesse (The Body) Ventura retires as a wrestling commentator, Don Cherry will be a worthy successor. . . .

Whose fans take hockey more seriously? The wave has been executed at the Forum in Montreal during the playoffs, but not at the Forum in Inglewood. . . .

The last time two members of the old six-team NHL met in the Stanley Cup finals was in 1979, when the Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers in five games. . . .

Trivia item: Daren Puppa, acquired from Buffalo in the Grant Fuhr trade, is the Maple Leafs’ backup goalie. . . .

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Patrick Ewing vs. Will Perdue is the biggest mismatch since Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse Ferguson. . . .

New York Knick guard John Starks’ dunk over the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan and Horace Grant late in Game 2 will make highlight shows for years. . . .

Hasn’t Scottie Pippen been around long enough to know that throwing a ball at a referee is grounds for ejection? . . .

Now maybe people will better understand Pat Riley’s obsession with getting the Knicks the home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference championship series. . . .

Moses Malone of the 1983 Philadelphia 76ers was the last center to be voted NBA most valuable player. Malone also was honored in 1982. The last of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s six awards was in 1980. . . .

Sure, Charles Barkley is going to retire. . . .

This is a big day on the diamond for UCLA. The softball team will begin its quest for a fifth NCAA title in six years at Oklahoma City against Connecticut a few hours after the baseball team opens against Lamar in the Central 1 Regional at College Station, Tex. . . .

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I still expect to see Rocket Ismail in a Raider uniform this season. . . .

It hasn’t been much of an off-season for the Philadelphia Eagles, who soon might lose free agent Keith Byars to the Dallas Cowboys. . . .

From our rich-get-richer file: North Carolina’s basketball recruiting class, which includes three of the top 15 ranked high school seniors, is rated No. 1 in the nation. . . .

Top-ranked Pete Sampras has joined Michael Chang and Michael Stich in the field for the Volvo Tennis/Los Angeles tournament Aug. 2-8 at UCLA. Sure would be nice if a few more ranked players competed in L.A. for a change. . . .

Tennis writers say they are treated best at the French Open. . . .

Look-alikes: Mitch Webster and a young Will Rogers. . . .

The Dodgers now are finding a way to win instead of a way to lose. . . .

Junior Felix has a son named Junior Felix Jr. . . .

The Toronto Blue Jays might be interested in trading for Florida Marlin shortstop Walt Weiss. . . .

Two of San Francisco Giant Manager Dusty Baker’s most effective moves have been the switches of Willie McGee down to No. 6 in the batting order and Robby Thompson up to No. 2. . . .

Omar Daal should lend a vowel to fellow Dodger relief pitcher Rick Trlicek. . . .

With the Knicks and Bulls tied, 49-49, at halftime Tuesday, guest commentator Isiah Thomas said on the TNT telecast: “Of course, this one’s not over yet.”