The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 61

triT- i Thursday. Spt IS, 1976 THE CINCINNATI ENQl IRER D-7- Emprise Seeks Presidential Pardon Smedsmo On Way -1 Stingers Sign Much-Penalized Winger On Eve Of Training Camp Opening The Cincinnati Stingers and Dale Smedsmo, second on the team' In penalty minutes, came to terms on a one-year contract Wednesday, afternoon. The native of Roseau. Minn, said he will arrive in Cincinnati, today In time to participate in the first day of training camp for the World Hockey Association club at Riverfront Coliseum. Last season In 65 games, Smedsmo scored eight goals and assisted on 15 ov iers.

His 189 penalty minutes were second on the club to John Hughes' 201. Prior to joining the Stingers. "Smo" was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization for four seasons. He was drafted by the Maple Leafs out of Bemldji State College. The highlight of his first season with the Stingers came on February 15 when he scored the winning goal In overtime against Joe Crozler's Calgary Cowboys.

This season Smedsmo will be competing for a berth at right wing, a Stingers' spokesman reported. i Today's camp session will be strictly physicals and picture taking. the track up for sale is quite probable. Right now it's not for sale. We do not have an appraisal of the property value.

I would estimate it to be within $51 million," he said. What about 1977 racing dates at Latonia, Commonwealth? Will SportSystems fight a commission decision that all Commonwealth dates again be raced at Latonia? "WE'RE NOT satisfied that the Commonwealth dates may have to be transferred to Latonla," said Phillips. "I don't believe well fight it, though." Latonia has filed 1977 dates for 75 days, January 31 through April 8 and a fall session from September 7 through October 7. Commonwealth, on the other hand, has asked for a 21-date meeting January 1 to January 29 and a 31-date meeting November 28 through December 31, all at Latonia. "If there is any consolation in running the Commonwealth dates at Latonla it Is in the fact It helps Kentucky race 12 months out of the year," said Phillips.

"It helps the horsemen and provides the state with more revenue. "However, the most consoling thing to happen vould be a pardon from the President," said Phillips who doesn't believe any action on Emprise's request will be made for months. By BILL ANZER Enquirer Sports Reporter Stanley Phillips, executive vice-president and acting president of Latonla, is striving to give the race track a new spic and span look, a clean image. For the same reason he suggested to Emprise which controls 82 of Latonla, that It ask President Gerald Ford for a pardon from a 1972 conviction which linked the firm to organized crime. "Yes, it was my suggestion to Emprise attorneys that they ask the White House for a clean bill of health," said Phillips who was In town Wednesday to attend a meeting of the board of directors of the Latonla Jockey Club, Inc.

"I made the suggestion over a year ago and the request was filed with the pardon attorney of the Justice Department on August 4, 1975," said Phillips. "We (Emprise) have paid our fine. We're still paying for It In adverse publicity. I believe It's unjust "I WOULDN'T have suggested to the attorneys to ask for a pardon If the whole company wasn't absolutely clean of any association with organized crime," said Phillips who Is also presi-dent of SportSystems Parl-Mutuel Group, a newly formed subsidiary of SportSystems, Inc. Emprise, now SportSystems, was convicted in Los Angeles Federal Court In 1972 for conspiring to conceal ownership of a Las Vegas casino.

Emprise was fined $10,000. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction last year. Latonla has gone through extensive remodeling of Its plant and barn area and Phillips denies that any pressure to make these improvements has been brought by the Kentucky state racing commission. "We felt the property needed Improvements." said Phillips who pointed out that his suggestion for a presidential pardon was filed through attorney William Blttman, Washington attorney representing Emprise. "There was no special pressure from the Kentucky commission to make plant Improvements, but we were told by the commission to improve the backstretch facilities." AMONG THE many racing facilities operated or owned by SportSystems is the Commonwealth Race Track In Louisville.

Phillips considers it a white elephant, now. Commonwealth, totally owned by SportSystems, has been denied dates at Louisville by the Kentucky racing commission. However, the commission permitted the Commonwealth racing dates to be executed at Latonla, leaving the Louisville plant vacant year around. "Unless we can utilize the Commonwealth plant, it Is a white elephant," said Phillips. "We are trying to get some kind of harness racing In there or lease It out to quarter horse racing.

"If we cant do this, the possibility of putting 0 Playing This Year Without Seniors Turpin's Time Will Come Us wMs smrv Era 95 F70-14pjs S2.61 Fed. Ex. Tax. Wide track means winter traction! averaged 55 yards a punt quick-kicking. We Just have to play much better defense." Berta tried to Install his Highlands defense, but feels he may have expected too much too soon, and Is making changes before meeting Taylor Friday.

"The defense ought to attack the offense and take away the things they do best; that's usually what they practice the most. I encourage the defense to be very aggressive. But I made a mistake In Installing the Highlands defense. We Just don't have the personnel; they're too young, not big enough to play the Highlands defense. But potentially they're a super team by next year," says Berta.

For the moment Berta stresses attitude and patience and smiles when he recounts the young Spartans' enthusiasm: "They make up for a lot with enthusiasm. I tell them we're going to make mistakes, and winning or losing Is nothing to be ashamed of If they played hard. I tell them the big thing Is trying to do their best "Right now they're cheering first downs. When we scored at the end of the (first) half the locker room was like we Just won the game. I hope we can keep that attitude running through the season." OFFENSIVELY, BERTA feels he has some Jewels In halfbacks Mark Grogan and Rick Haynes, wishbone quarterback Tim Luglnbuhl and fullback Pete DeLols, who scored the school's first touchdown, as well as linebacker-punter Bill Newton.

Grogan, one of the city's top sprinters at Anderson last year, is "the most mature football player" on the team, and Berta says he and the sophomore Haynes "are the best two backs I've been around." Grogan did the quick kicking against Milford. "Right now the kids are looking for leadership, and everybody's kind of running around," says Berta. Turpin Is AA size this year, and will be AAA next year when it becomes part of the Hamilton County American Division. "It's not realistic to think we'll beat Colerain or Oak Hills right away," he says. "But we won't be embarrassed next year." Within a few years, Turpin may be dealing out the embarrassment "The day will come," says By ALDROOZ Enquirer Sports Reporter The new Turpln High School employs the open concept, from a spacious gym, swimming pool and athletic area to classrooms minus doors and barriers to a bright cafeteria In one of the main lounges.

Even to the office, one side of which is open, Turpin is wide open. But don't expect a wide-open football team at Turpin, at least not for a few years. The fledgling team, coached by defense-minded Bob Berta, promises only to be enthusiastic this year in building from scratch. "With our sophomores (Turpin has no seniors), and assuming we get the money we need-it's expensive to build a new team and don't have Injuries, In three years we'll have a solid program." But he adds, "We're not a dog outfit. Sooner or later (this year) we're gonna beat somebody." HOW DO you build a football team where none existed? "First you try to find a solid offensive line," says the affable first-year coach.

"For the team you're looking for 15 people that can provide a solid nucleus for the future. We're not big enough to play two-platoon, so right now everybody does everything." As an assistant coach, Berta masterminded the stifling defense that led Highlands High School to the Class AAA state championship across the river last year; and defense Is still his focus, though after Turptn's first game, he has made some changes. "Most head coaches think about the offense, and usually assign the defense to someone else," he says. "I think about defense, and I was lucky to get Steve Klonne from Elder as my defensive coach. Now we can share the defense." Attack-wise, Berta emphasizes playing for good field position, and was pleased with this approach a few times last week In the 39-15 loss to Milford.

"If you put the defense In good position, sooner or later the other team will make a mistake, give us the ball near the goal line and we'll score," he says. "ON THIRD and long, when they expect us to throw, sometimes we quick kick. Last week we 7 interi de 70 4 ply nylon cord body Wide tread, 7" across on sizes Deep treed, 33 1A deeper than-' regular, non-snow tires Yhitevall V. SIZE WHITEWAU ak F70-M $29.95 G70-14 33.95 2JS F70-15 27.95 33.95 "7 H70-15 37.95 'Hi A Sports Briefing AM price plus Fed En Ta NO TRADE-IN NEEDEO UNIR0YAL the end of the season. "I've lived In the fish bowl so long, but sure, I'll be excited.

I'll miss playing regardless of what I do after this. I don't know what that'll be. I expect to decide a week or two after the season," says Aaron who has been offered an unnanounced position in the Brewers' organization. Bs-Cs-And-Ds About The A-s It's stretch-run time in the American League West and here come the Oakland A's. And maybe there they go.

The A's are creeping up on the faltering Kansas City Royals and maybe Just maybe the club will own a fourth world championship in five years. Regardless, it probably will be goodbye A's so far as owner Charlie Flnley is concerned. "I know I won't be around," says catcher-first baseman Gene Tenace, one of five A's unsigned who will become free agents (Joe Rudl, Sal Bando, Rollle Fingers and Bert Cam-panerls are the others). "If we're going to go, we might as well go out as winners," Tenace said. The other day.

Fingers replied when told another day another dollar after a good relief performance, "No, another 80 cents. Charlie doesn't believe In dollars." Flnley let the players know he is "fed up, completely fed up" with their comments, but is counting on them to catch the Royals. Soviet Weekly Accuses Canadians Sergei Nemtsanov, the 17-year-old diver who left the Russian Olympic team during the Summer Games at Montreal only to announce later he wanted to return to his homeland and did, has resumed training In Kazakhstan. But not before the Literary Gazette, a weekly organ of the Soviet Writer's Union, accused "Canadian Intelligence" of engineering the defection of the teenager. Literary portrayed Nemtsanov as a total captive of Canadian officials and said the diver was suffering from "brain paralyzing drugs" when he met with Soviet officials In Montreal.

Canada has denied the charges and said Nemtsanov had asked for asylum, but reconsidered because of concern over his grandmother's fate In Russia. A Farewell To Hank Aaron Without a home run since July 20 and out of the lineup except for a few games since August 2 because of a knee injury, home run king Hank Aaron will be honored Friday night by Milwaukee Brewer fans. It's a tribute to baseball's greatest home run hitter who is retiring as a player at LUBE OIL CHANGE ALIGNMENT front end safety check Install up to 5 quarts of maior brand multigrade Hi Set camber, caster Sot toe-in. toe-out Check steering a Road test the car motor oil Install new oil filter Complete chassis lube Check all fluid levels NOW $095 Lancia. Seventy years of racing and car building experience.

Mnet American cat Inr lutH-S nolV (111 Qil Can wm atr fitter i.jfcO' PtXWU1 ic 3 ConrttTimina 1r1 4 OO The Lancia Coupe. Superbly designed. Incredibly BRAKE RELINE agile! Everything you expect in a grand HEAVY DUTY tounng car that grew out of Replace linings all 4 wheels. Safety-check complete brake 70 years of International racing and car building experience. A test SHOCKS Helps restore handling and ride.

Drive in for free shock inspection. system. Inspect grease retainers and front wheel bearings. TV drive will confirm its high standards of engineering, performance, styling, comfort Lancia. The $4295 Intelligent alternative to the rS.MO00 average and the overpriced automobile.

1 D'um-tyO? tvakes Mot American eort tmtoliad. The intelligent alternative. NORTHS No Coh down PoymiM. No finonca No impart, no money oown. no Wico 4 I a-.

r-fllttnrc A UME ehorooi. 6 month, to pay. toma eh. Eiompla. Coih Price 1 50.00.

4 monht 4 I I I I I lyMMMpoymeM K5 00. lolonce 10.80. Annual percentage rtrte 0 deWeel P'VJ 1 lJI fs jaam awa QlfArx IUDUV iMwntrj ef er -w Sedan Scorpion NOW OPM MOBWOOD IV Mile North of Trt-County Shopping Canter on Rout 747, 799 Princeton Pike. S050 MONTGOMERY RD. CINCINNATI 4445 READING RD.

242.4550 CINCINNATI 9799 PRINCETON PIKE 874.5222 S3 1-0777 Cincinnati WILLIAMS IMPORT SALES, IMC JAKE SWEENEY IMPORTS 9301 Montgomery Road 8276 Vine Street 793-6500 761-2300 Oversea, delivery, leering and dafly rental arranged through your participating dealer. Unci of America. DMakm of Flat Mottw of Noun America, tic. 155 Oteatnut lodge Read. Montwto.

New Jersey 07645.