The Bakersfield Californian from Bakersfield, California • Page 19

NFL draft- modern-day slave auction By WILL GRIMSLEY AP Special Correipoadeat NEW YORK (AP) It was, if you take the word of San Francisco's federal judge William SweigerL a 20th Century throwback to an 1850 slave auction. The flesh peddlers were at work in the sumptuous surroundings of a second-floor ballroom in one of New York's swankiest hotels. "The Chargers pick Gary Johnson of Grambling!" bellows the thin man in the dark business suit from the dais. There is a rustle from the gallery in the few hoots, a burst of applause. So the 260-pound tackle who was known as "Big Hands" in his three years as small college All-American learned that his future place of employment is San Diego.

Maybe "Big Hands" would rather work in his native state of Louisiana. Or maybe he likes it cold as in Green Bay rather than hot as in California. Makes no difference. He's got no say. It's San Diego or back to the farm.

This is the 1975 football draft of the National Football League, an annual ritual which Judge Sweigert said was "patently illegal and unreasonable." Love it or hate it, it's quite a these bunks of talented football flesh being bartered and sold, wheeled and dealed like cattle at an auction or prize tokens in a lottery. In two days, a total of 442 robust and talented athletes are pinched and no personal 17 rounds of drawing by the NFL's 26 member teams. The judge intimates that the draft violates individual rights. The NFL insists it is necessary to maintain competition and keep the circuit alive. It's an issue that may have to go to the Supreme Court for resolution.

Meanwhile, the various teams pick in an elaborate maze of electronic devices, the choices are recorded on giant TV-like screens and hundreds of football buffs, shoulder to shoulder, sit in a special gallery section and act like spectators at a Roman blood-letting. "Boo, boo, boo!" they bellow. "Hiss, hiss, hiss!" they hiss. "Yeah, hooray!" some occasionally approve. The pro football draft, once conducted in smoke-filled rooms away from the helter-skelter of the mob, is now a show produced with the delicate artistry of a Ziegfeld and the flamboyance of a Barnum.

"The newest spectator sport," commented one cigar- chomping pundit. Commissioner Pete Rozelle, Madison Avenue dapper in a dark suit, striped tie and goldbuckled shoes, supervises the ceremony. He is surrounded by his top Kensil, Don Weiss, Jack Hand, Jim Heffernan and others. Behind the dais is a huge screen which flashes the name and colors of the picking team and a clock, just like those on the football scoreboards, clicking away the 14:56, etc. A team has 15 minutes to make first and secon- dround choices, five minutes for all subsequent rounds.

As the picks are announced, they are promptly flashed on another screen and duly recorded on boards placed strategically throughout the massive parlor. Representatives of the various teams bug round, cloth- covered tables, their ears glued to telephones. They are actually little more than ribbon clerks. The big decisions are being made hundreds and thousands of miles San Diego. Houston, the strategy flashed to the nerve center for announcement.

Newsmen wander listlessly, sipping black coffee, nibbling on sweet buns and taking periodic notes. The main drama lies in the packed, emotional gallery. The fans start assembling hours before the doors open and by the time Commissioner Rozelle makes the First Falcons pick Steve Bartkowski. quarterback of the University of are all in their seats or shoving for position. Most of them are high school kids, out on an exam break, but there is a generous sprinkling of curious businessmen, lugging black satchels, and secretaries stretching their coffee breaks.

One group of 40 kids shelled out a buck apiece and rented a suite in the hotel. "The Lions pick Lynn Boden. offensive tackle from South see NFL draft page 34 Pro grid have draftees smiling Snkfrrf irlh (f.nlifnrntnn Sports 29. 1975 Ohio State's Doug Doug Franca left, and Kurt Shymachtr txprtss joy on learning they were picked in NFL's first round Tuesday. Tight end-offensive tackle France went to Los Angeles and offensive tackle went to the Wlrephoto) Houston defensive end Mac Mitchell gets word he's been drafted in first round by Cleveland Tuesday.

Cleveland took Mitchell as fifth player chosen. Louis Wright, Bakersfield High and San Jose State star, went to Wlrephoto) Draft Haden on seventh round Rams go for linemen on top three picks LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Rams picked a hefty trio of linemen with their three first round choices in the National Football League grabbed Southern California's Rhodes scholar quarterback when he was still available in the seventh round. The Rams were loaded with draft choices Tuesday from two quarterback trades and the first round choice they received from Green Bay in the John Hadl deal Los Angeles was to to select Notre Dame defensive tackle Mike Fanning. Then with Philadelphia's top choice, obtained for Roman Gabriel, the Rams took offensive tackle Dennis Harrah of Miami of Florida before picking offensive lineman Doug France of Ohio State with their own first round choice. Three of the next four Ram picks came in the quarterback trades and Los Angeles used the No.

2 choice in the second round for cornerback Monte Jackson of San Diego State before choosing defensive end Leroy Jones, a player who has been in Canada for two years. with their own second round selection. With their choice in the seventh round, the final round of the opening day of the draft, the Rams went for Haden. who will spend the next two years studying in England but can plav football until October in thefall. Fanning is a 6-loot-6.

270- pounder who also made the NCAA wrestling finals last year and one scouting report declared him a "rough competitor with the kind of pursuit that upsets running backs and terrorizes quarterbacks." Harrah. 6-5 and 257. is the first offensive lineman picked by the Rams on the first round since All-Pro Tom Mack was selected in 1966. France. 6-5 and 280.

played tight end at Ohio Slate but wilt be tried at offensive tackle by the Rams. "I don't care whal posilion it is." France said "I'd take any position on the line as long as its a position on a winning team. I know how to win In Fanning the Rams hope for someone to replace All-Pro Merlin Olsen who is 34. With France. Hannah and third round pick center Geoff heece of Washington Slate the Rams are trying to put youth into an offensive line that has 36-year- old Charlie Cowan, Joe Scibelli.

35. and center Ken Iman, also 35 Haden is a "future" that his collegiate coach. John McKay, called "the best college passer I've ever seen." Although Haden will spend two years as a Rhodes scholar, his agent. Chuck Barnes, said classes don't start at Oxford until October and the quarterback would be available through the exhibition season. "We were fortunate to tain a player of Pat's ability on the seventh round." said Don Klosterman, the Ram general manager.

"I'm certain the reason for bis late selection was because of his Rhodes scholar commitment." Klosterman said "it's quite possible" to come back to football after a layoff and noted Roger Staubach'5 success at Dallas after coming out of the Navy. The Rams also made one trade during the day, obtaining defensive back Donnie Walker from Buffalo for a fifth round draft choice. 3 more first-round fBartkowski picks for Ohio St. Pfister recovering Special to The Calif ornlan PALO ALTO Bakersfield College tennis coach Hank Pfister, who underwent open heart surgery at the Stanford Medical School Heart Center Tuesday, came through the operation well and is recovering in the hospital's intensive care unit, according to hospital officials. Sugeons said they found four arterial restrictions is the heart and repaired all four.

Pfister's heart was found in good condition, they said. Prognosis for complete recovery is good, they said, but the next three days will be critical ones for the patient. Robin Yount, Brewers' youthful shortstop, joins Culver tee field COLUMBUS. Ohio (AP) "I cried," said Neal Colzie. "It was the slowest i hours I ever went through," said Kurt Schumacher.

"I'm going from one winning team to another. I know how to win," said Doug "Bubba" France. Those were the varying reactions of the three Ohio State seniors after their opening round selections Tuesday in the National Football League draft. Their selections marked the second straight season the NFL has dipped into the Big Ten school's talent for three opening round picks. Ohio State was the lone college with three first round draftees this year.

Last year. Buckeyes John Hicks, Randy Gradishar and Rick Middleton went in the opening round. The Ohio State record, however, is four first-round players Jack Tatum, John Brockington. Tim Anderson and Leo Hayden in 1971. Schumacher, a 6-footp-4, 252-pound blocker deluxe from Lorain Ohio, was the 12th player taken.

He was selected after the Saints dealt defen- Robin Yount, who at the tender age of 18 was the regular shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers last year, has been added to the celebrity list for the fourth annual George Culver Invitation golf tournament Sunday at Kern City. Yount, a Southern California product, jumped right from high school into the major leagues and won himself a starting berth with his outstanding fielding and throwing ability, and also hit better than expected. According to tourney host Culver, Yount is also an excellent golfer, more Culver said that all spots have been filled for the tourney, which will take over the KC course Sunday. It will be a scramble affair, with a shotgun start scheduled for 10 o'clock. Many of the baseball luminaries who will take part in the baseball clinic Saturday at West High will also participate in the links event, including Maury Wills.

Joe Morgan, Bert Blyleven. Duke Sims, Ken McMullen, Al Downing. Del Rice. Dick Selma, Steve Ontiveros, John Hale, Junior Kennedy. Dave Campbell and Rick Sawyer.

Other celebrities bail from baseball, football, auto racing, bowling and the world of entertainment. The bowler is Don Glover of Bakersfield, winner of six PBA tour titles. The auto racers are George Snider Jr. of Bakesfield and Billy Vukovicfl Jr. of Fresno.

Other baseball names are Ron Perranoski, Jim Herritt, Steve Hargan and Gus Zemial. Shafter's Dick Witcher leads a grid contingent which includes Frank Nunley and Caz Banaszek of the 49ers, former teammates of Witcher Dave Eimendorf, Jack Youngblood and Rich Saul of the Rams, and Dean Halverson of the Eagles Softball's famed Eddie Feigner, of the "King and His Court" fame, will be on hand And from show biz, there'll be McLean Stevenson of "Mash." Harvey Korman of the Carol Burnett show, "Barnaby Jones" producer Bill Sandifer. and actors Norm Alern, John Elliott, Brad Trumbull and H. M. Wynant.

Forty-two five-man teams will play. Drawing for teams is scheduled for 6:30 tonight at the Bakersfield Inn. sive end Billy Xewsome to the New York Jets for their first selection. "The Saints told me if 1 can handle the left tackle job. it's mine.

I can't ask tor much more." said Schumacher, an offensive line pillar for the Big Ten co-champions. "I got up at 8 o'clock this morning. New Orleans didn't call until 9:30. It was the slowest Hi hours I ever went through. All you do is sit and wait for the telephone to be said.

The Saints made Middleton a linebacker, their No. 1 pick and Schumacher said. "I talked to Rick a couple of weeks ago. He's really happy down there." The 6-6 260-pound France was the Buckeyes' regular tight end. but Rams' officials say be will be switched to offensive tackle.

"I don't care what position it is. I'd take any position on the line as long as it is a position on a winning team. I know how to win." said France. He couldn't have been happier over his pro team. "I've been a Rams' fan as long as I can remember.

My little brother (16-year-old Darryl i has Rams' pennants and buttons all over the place," he said Colzie also was tickled over going to another 1974 playoff team. "Everybody likes to play on a winner," he said. Reached by telephone at his parents' borne in Miami, the 62, 200-pound Colzie said Oakland planned to try him at nerback or strong safety. "I feel I can play. I just want a shot." said the man who led the nation's colleges in punt returns in 1973.

He has been a three-year regular at Ohio State, helping the Buck- eves to a 29-4-1 record. romance cooling off SEATTLE (UPI) The "Husky Honey" whose romance with Steve Bartkowski was rated as the No. 1 love story among the college football faithful last fall admits: "It's kind of cooling off." Katbi Arnason met the California quarterback when she was a member of the University of Washington group designated to welcome visiting football teams to Seattle. They called themselves "Husky Honeys." Bartkowski was picked No. 1 in the National Football League draft, chosen by the Atlanta Falcons.

Kathi has left the university and is enrolled in a modeling school. "We still talk and write," she explained Tuesday, "but he doesn't call every day like he used to." They haven't seen each other since Thanksgiving, she said. "He's been busy with the bowl games and everything," she explained. "If we get together, something might come out of it after the draft, he might have more time. "We're really still good friends." Kathi and Bartkowski met when she handed tbe quarterback an apple in the lobby of a Seattle hotel last November when Cal was here to play tbe Huskies.

They were introduced by Frank Cooney. a sports writer for the San Francisco Examiner. Tbe next day Bartkowski set a Cal record with 309 yards of total offense as the Golden Bears beat Washington 52-26. Kathi was in the stands and she said she rooted for California. Killanin says Montreal will keep Games despite troubles AMSTERDAM (AP) International Olympic Committee President Lord Killanin said today the 1976 Summer Olympics will take place in Montreal despite the labor and financial difficulties presently threatening the construction of Games' facilities.

Killanin told a news conference, "There is no question of tbe Games taking place anywhere other than Montreal." adding that the IOC is confident the Canadian city will fulfill its responsibilities and has made no contingency plans. However. Killanin said. "If there is a risk of the GKA.MES NOT BEING HELD IN TOTO OR IN PART OR IN SOME WAY IN Montreal, it is quite natural that we should think. "We're not idiots." the IOC president said.

"If something goes wrong we must think of certain contingencies. But there is no need at this stage to try to implement them or broach them. We are using our little brains as best we can, so there are many permutations I and suggestions if something Ralston names Killanin said he was waiting team for Mexican duel PALM SPRINGS (AP) The United States and Mexico announced their four-man teams Tuesday for their second round North American zone Davis Cup playoffs and there were no surprises from either side. Dennis Ralston, the U.S. Captain, named Stan Smith, Bob Lutz, Dick Stockton and Roscoe Tanner.

Paul Ramirez, tbe former University of Southern Californian star, was picked by Mexican captain Pancho Contreras along with Vincente Zarazua, Joaquin Loyo-Mayo and Roberto Chavez. Although Smith and Ramirez are expected to face off in singles competition, both the United States and Mexican teams said they would not divulge their singles and doubles lineups until after the draw is announced Thursday. The three-day playoffs begin Friday with two singles matches. Tbe winner here will host 1974 champion South Africa the second week in April. for the report of Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Roger Rousseau.

Rousseau is presently in Canada attending the hearing of the Quebec Parliamentary Finance Committee, which has been discussing the Olympics' budget. "I hope to meet with Rousseau withing 10 days," Killanin said. "There is no point in meeting before we have definite facts." A meeting of the IOC executive board is scheduled for Feb. 20 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Killanin said tbe Montreal Organizing Committee will be there. Canadian IOC executive member Jim Worrall.

who met for nearly five hours Tuesday with Killanin and his three IOC vice presidents at an Amsterdam airport hotel, told a newsman Tuesday there had been discussion of the possibilities of Games being held at other sites in Canada. Asked if there was a possibility of tbe Games being spread around Canada, nin said that until tbe Organizing Committee makes its report "we do no know what they are going to suggest "If there are different permutations, different sports in different places, it's not only us but the international federations who are involved. But the indication would be that that may not be the case." Concern over the construction of Games' facilities arose following a strike by ironworkers which caused progress on the main stadium to fall two months behind schedule. As a result, some Montreal officials have expressed doubts that it could be finished in time for the Games in July 1976. A review of the Games budget in November showed that costs bad increased over 100 per cent, from $310 million to $653 million, and the Canadian federal government has said it will not help.

Bakersfield's First Annual I Major League Baseball MARK TRAIL I By ED DODD I WHILE BENJI HUNTS FOB SPRIN6 LirABPS, BOSOX, IN SEARCH OF ACOBKI5, tVAUDEES RABTHS2 ANP FAETHEB Aivay FEB. 1 WEST HIGH FREE TO ALL YOUNGSTERS FACULTY STARTS AT 10 A.M. George Culver Maury Wills Joe Morgan Bert Blyleven Steve Ontiveros Bob Rodgers Tom Egan Duke Sims Roi Clark Kei McMullen Al Dowalng Del Rice Dick Selma Jim Gilliam Ed Farmer John Hale Jim Napier Nolan Campbell Junior Kennedy Rick Sawyer Dave Campbell.