THE WRITING ON (AND OFF) THE WALL : DEFRANTZ'S DEFINING MOMENT.

There's no one more deserving - male or female - of becoming the next president of the International Olympic Committee than the Amateur Athletic Foundation's own Anita DeFrantz, elected unopposed as a IOC vice president last week. Juan Antonio Samaranch, 77, will likely retire when his current term ends in 2001, and DeFrantz, 45, would be the perfect choice to continue the women's quest for equality in the Olympic movement. Plus, it could mean L.A. has a better shot to host an unprecedented third Summer Olympics somewhere, say, around 2012 or 2016. . . .

Upon further inspection, the two sides of beef that the Kings recently received from Boston Market might be tainted. Our observers in Beantown tell us center Josepf Stumpel has a tendency to pull a Houdini on the ice - now you see him, now you don't - and Sandy Moger loves pain so much he's injured three-quarters of the time. He's the early favorite to keep Rob Blake company in the hyperbolic rehab chamber. . . .

Not even Judge Judy woulda let Todd Marijuana-vich scramble to safety after what the ex-Trojan, ex-Raider and future-con pulled off in the last few months. Maybe all that naked surf boarding makes sense now. Toddy has been a rebel without a compass since leaving USC a year early and should be the poster boy for Compulsive Parental Behavior. Next up, Todd's little brother, Mikhal, a 9-year-old with a rifle arm on the Torrance American Baseball fields . . .

Fox official quote-supplier Vince Wladika, one of the best fox trotters in the biz, says Rupert Murdoch's purchase of the Dodgers should not signal a major-league overhaul. ``Any changes will be made with PBS-style tastefulness,'' said Wladika. . . .

Did you catch the PBS special the other night? It was the one about how a pack of unprovoked foxes have been known to eat their own. . . .

Unfortunately, it took five years before the Roller Hockey International's Blades discovered that playing in L.A. can be a double-edged sword. A huge fan base doesn't guarantee a huge fan support. Wonder how long they'll leave the team's '94 Pacific Division championship banner up on the Forum wall or if it goes in the closet with stuff from the Lazers soccer team and Strings tennis team, two other Buss-related ventures. . . .

John Elway has accepted the lead as Lazarus in the NFL production ``Super Bowl XXXII.'' . . .

Track legend Carl Lewis admitted on the Keenan Ivory Wayans show the other night that the new dreadlocks, ear ring and tattoo (he wouldn't disclose where) are his ``last compulsive acts'' before he turns 40 and starts his acting career. So that's how it works in Hollywood, eh? You declare yourself a thespian and wait for the offers . . .

Clip 'n' save: Fox's Howie Long picked the Raiders to win it all in the Inside Sports NFL preview issue. ``That's because Al Davis still owes him $3 million,'' said Fox partner Terry Bradshaw, who picked Carolina and now says there's no way that'll happen either. . . .

After going for a stretch listing all the team's potential for greatness, even ex-Raider Howie couldn't keep a straight face. ``OK, it's a homer pick. Believe me, I catch a lot of crap over it.'' . . .

Reaction to the news that Raiders coach Joe Bugel ordered no more cursing in the locker room, during practice or on the field: ``Gee willikers, what's next? A Raiders logo with a happy face?'' asks ESPN's Charley Steiner . . .

Dennis Rodman said it about the autobiographical movie ABC has in production, creatively titled ``Bad As I Wanna Be'': ``I think it's going to be in good taste. Not too much sex, but just enough so people get a good taste of it.'' Breath mint, anyone? . . .

Lakers season-seat holders are just giddy over the fact they had to have 100 percent of their bill paid by Aug. 1, even though the season starts Nov. 1. . . .

The Lakers and Clippers are two of seven NBA teams that have cut a deal with Northwest Airlines to get VIP travel treatment this season. Northwest converted five of its Boeing 727s into ``luxury'' carriers, each with 56 first-class seats, card tables, couches, video systems and leather sofas, plus catered food. The Clippers don't even get it this good for the locker-room spread during home games. . . .

The Clippers' Brent and Jon Barry, along with brother Scooter, are part of a group buying the Phoenix Firebirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Other investors: Jason Kidd and Christian Laettner. Just in case Michael Jordan gets another wild hair? . . .

CAPTION(S):

Photo

PHOTO McPeak at the apex: Beach volleyball star Holly McPeak, along with 16-month-old Juliana Loiola (the daughter of Brazilian men's star Jose Loiola) checks out the digs for the World Championship of Beach Volleyball, which runs from Wednesday through Sunday at the UCLA Tennis Center in Westwood. Some 2,700 tons of sand were trucked over last week from Simi Valley to cover over the tennis courts, which creates the first off-shore stadium-seating court in Southern California. To anyone who has ever had to vacuum up sand from the living-room rug after a family trip to the beach: Good luck cleaning up when this is over.

Associated Press