The Ottawa Journal from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • Page 29

OttawM Journal Page 29 Toronto Reconciliation unlikely; Clair eyes By Kra Fidlla Journal Sports Staff If ever there was any hope of a reconciliation Jn the divorce of Frank Clair from Ottawa Rough Riders, It no longer exists and, -realistically, probably. never did. Clair wanted one position and one position only to remain as general manager, the Job he has held for nine seasons. The Riders were not, and are not, prepared to offer Clair that position In a proposed contract The Rough Riders' position was made clear at a news conference Friday morning in Frank Clair's old office when club vice-president Terry Klelty said, though the team was disappointed that Clair had turned down a directorship of' the team, a substantial raise in pay and a title of vice-president, that the offer was firm and would not be altered. Clair is ready to job hunt now.

He's extremely Interested In the situation in Toronto "I'd be -Crazy if I wasn't," he said where the Argonauts have' firmed up a deal whereby Carling-O'Keefe would purchase the franchise from inn-keeper Bill Hodgson. Previously, the brewery had owned 40 per cent, Hodgson 60 per cent. Carllng-O'Keefe also owns 91.1 per cent of Quebec Nordlques of the World Hockey Association. Sale of the club requires approval by seven of the eight other CFL teams, Including the unanimous approval of all three other Eastern Conference members. There appears little danger of the sale being vetoed by Hamilton Tiger Cats' eccentric owner, Harold Ballard who stopped Hodgson's most recent bid to sell to David Bassett.

Friday, Ballard expressed remorse that, he was "losing his farm team" a swipe at the fact that the Tic'ats were staffed largely with Argos rejects. And he had a suggestion for the prospective new owner change the name of the team. "They've diluted the name," Ballard said. "Any time you mention Argonauts, people go Into hysterics." Until it receives approval from the league and the federal government's foreign Investment review board Carllng-O'Keefe Is controlled by foreign interests the brewery will make no moves toward hiring personnel. Klelty and Waters, In their tension-filled news conference, In-.

sisted they felt they had made Clair a sound and reasonable offer which they believed Pair would not refuse. Head coach George Brancato, still In New York, where his father underwent surgery Friday, -confirmed that he will honor the final year of his contract despite previous statements he would look elsewhere if he was not named general manager when Clair resigned. -Brancato was quick to add that he hoped his future with the Riders extended past next season. Klelty told the news conference that "as far as George Brancato is concerned the Ottawa Football Club Is looking a long way into the future." He did not elaborate. As far as Klelty and Waters are concerned, Jake Dunlap will be general manager.

Dunlap had expressed some reluctance to take the Job Thursday night after learning of Clair's resignation, but Waters felt certain Friday that Dunlap would be the man: Both men reiterated the fact that Dunlap did not seek out the position and had agreed to accept It on the condition that Clair would also be a part of a proposed four-man management team. "It Is not accurate to say Jake undermined Frank," Klelty said. In reference to a remark Clair made in his resignation address. Riders Two points overlooked pneaval jl Kealey future of professional or amateur sport in this city. Having said that, though, it must be added that Is what he may have unintentionally helped accomplish.

Lost in the emotion-laced reporting of Thursday's, events are two salient points. It really all surfaced with a television interview Global's sports director, Mike Anscombe, conducted with head coach George Brancato two days before the Riders lost their playoff game to Montreal Alouettes. The final of many questions Brancato was asked by Anscombe went something like this and I'm depending on memory here: "I take it then, George, that you won't be back here (in Ottawa) next year if you are not offered the general manager's job." To which Brancato replied: "Yes, that's correct Mike." Brancato was later to elaborate to some extent in the print media that what he meant was he'd be back as coach providing Clair returned as general manager. Now Kielty was Incensed at what lie termed "the timing of this erroneous report." Previously Waters had said: "I was under the impression George was misquoted on that." Now Kielty's anger should not have been directed at the bearer of upsetting revelations. If he was ticked off.

he should have conveyed that message to Brancato, not at Anscombe. And just how anyone gets misquoted on a television Interview must Involve technical gyrations 'that escape this li- mlted Intellect Also, Clair rejected a selling-job that a four-man management committee would be more conducive to Ottawa's football fortunes. Clair took it not as a selling job, but a con job. Were Kielty and Dunlap officers In charge of absolutely nothing last year? And, if indeed, the offer was genuinely sincere, why, when It was turned down by Clair, was the management committee not reduced to three? Why has Jake Dunlap now been offered the general manager's title which Clair felt he deserved was his. Why are not Dunlap, Kielty and Brancato now sharing the three-man committee workload? Despite all the charges and counter- charges, the Ottawa Football Club was buying time Friday and will be for the next few days.

I believe It feels that come next April all this will have been forgotten, that all the promises of ticket cancellations from fans and the bleating over the treatment of Clair will have died down. What makes me a bit sad is that the club is probably right. Friday with neighbors and friends enjoying, or enduring, one of those rally-around-the flag-parties. No, he has not been approached by any football team and, no, he wasn't particularly enjoying the party. "I did what I did," he said.

"It may turn out that I made a mistake, but right now I have absolutely no regrets." And then showing he still has his delicious sense of humor intact, Clair asked: "Do you think I could qualify for a CARE package from Biafra before Christmas?" Clair wants to work in football and he added: "I really, would like to go back, to Toronto. I haven't heard from them but I'd be willing to work for them In almost any capacity. I know they need help and I believe I can help them." What would Clair's reaction be if Riders team owner Allan Waters had measured public opinion and called with a change of heart to offer him the general manager's position Clair was refused Thursday? "Well, I'd certainly listen to Mr. Waters." Clair answered. "But I know he's not going to call.

"I'm going to miss Ottawa the friends I have here. You know, 22 years is a long time. Sure I'd like to hear from him, but no I don't want anyone else or anyone acting on anyone's behalf to Some drippy thoughts leaked at the risk of flailing stilled Waters to a drowning: It's not likely I'm alone on this, but I got the nagging feeling Friday that Ottawa Rough Riders Football Club Inc. Ltd. wasn't enjoying what it terms In the trade "a good press." They seemed, if you'll pardon an understatement, to be under a touch of heat.

Hitler, it seemed, was getting better reviews back in the early '40s. This conclusion was arrived at after reading newspapers, listening to an open-line radio show on CFRA (the call letters do not stand for Can Frank Right Away) and talking to people. Some of whom were football fans, some of whom still are and others who simply know that Lansdowne Park is the place where they hold the Exhibition every August. Like many others, I went to bed late Thursday bewildered by the stunning turn of events which led to Frank Clair's resignation as general manager of the Rough Riders. Usually there are two sides to.

any disagreement. Friday I heard three. One was Clair's, another was from the team owners and a third version from people. There Is only one that makes any sense. That, of course, is Clair's.

I went to be bed last night as confused as I was 24 hours earlier. Which, I must confess. Is not entirely unusual. Frank Clair was. at his home late phone me and try to talk me out of what I've done.

I'll be leaving Ottawa, I'm convinced, and that hurts me more than anyone can Imagine." are so many perplexing angles the Clair equation that singling out one or two of them is like trying to stop after a single potato chip, making love with your clothes on or throwing oneself at the mercy of Idi Amin. It's an exercise in frustration. Before a frustrating start, I'd like to assert my admiration for Terry Klelty, Waters's right-hand man, and for Ernie Calcutt, sports director of CFRA. They were the brunt of telephone calls that bordered on the abusive. I do not feel that Terry Kielty or Waters or Jake Dunlap presented their proposition to Clair with any malice.

I believe Kielty when he says "I really thought Frank was going to accept our proposal." And I also know that Kielty would not do anything consciously to harm the Soviets suffer first loss against WHA "It was a pretty easy night for me because they could not tec up any shots like they normally do between the faceoff circles." Dryden "Basically they couldn't get deep enough Into our end." The Oilers managed just 17 shots at Soviet Soviets 5-3 after jumping to a 2-0 lead by the time the game was a little more than two minutes old. "Our style was to be tough on physically and to try to break up the plays just outside our blucline," said Oilers coach Glenn Sather. "They really didn't penetrate inside our own end very often." The result told in the shots on goal as Edmonton's defence allowed the Soviets just 17 drives at goaltender Dave Dryden, Including Just three in the second period. By The Canadian Press Edmonton Oilers found (a chink In the touring Soviet Union all-star style to hand the visitors Friday their first loss in four games against World Hockey Associations teams. The Oilers defeated the five minutes of the game', and then faded.

"Maybe we're making; goalies look good," Be-1 lisle. "I think that our attack warranted more than one goal. That's not say-' ing we're "going -to get: seven, but it warrants' more than one." "The fourth goal took a lot out of us and it really picked them up," Belisle said after the Capitals dropped a 6-1 National Hockey League decision to Minnesota Friday night. The Capitals applied heavy pressure in the first REDUCE FUEL COSTS WITH A Contribution not SECTIONAL GARAGE DOOR Giauford goaltender Alexander Myshkln, including just one shot in the second period. But that lone try was good enough for a goal by Ace Bailey breaking a 2-2 deadlock.

Soviet coach Boris Mayorv was not satisfied with the way his team played or the reforeelng. "We were no good and the refereeing was not good either," Mayory said. He also indicated fatigue may have played a part In the result It was the Soviet's fourth game in six days. Earlier in the week, the Soviets beat league-leading Quebec Nordlques, second-place New England Whalers and fifth-place Winnipeg Jets. Bill Flctt took a high stick and had to take 15 stitches to close a cut on his head.

The game before 13,856 fans counted In the WHA standings and gave Edmonton 28 points on 14 wins In 27 games. The Oilers arc the only team to have allowed fewer than 100 goals at this point in the WHA In an exhibition game at Winnipeg, the Jets edged a touring Swedish team 4-3 on a third-period goal by Kent Nllsson. Sweden took a 1-0 lead at 3: 16 of the first period on a deflected backhand shot by Lennart Norberg. The Jets struck back later In the period on goals by John Gray and Bob Guidon. Kent Andersson tied the game at 1:40 of the second period and, after Glenn Hicks had given the Jets the lead once more, tied the game again at 15: 14.

Nilsson's goal came on a 30-foot slap-shot from a sharp angle that Swedish goaltender Gunnar Leid-borg got a piece of only to have trickle through his pads Into the net. LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Washington Capitals coach Danny Belisle says it was the North Stars' fourth goal that put the game out of reach. ALL MAKES I -'MODELS g3Q Marcel Schnobb FROM THIS TO THIS 1V curling lanes IT IaW I m. 335 ROOSEVELT AVE.

OMT. L'cauman LA SONS LTD. Phone 722-6581 NOTICE: The following ran Incorrectly Dec. 9 and should have read as follows: Slapshots If Wee Willie Brown of Royal Montreal was the undisputed king of the Irons, certainly Eglentine (Tiny) Gauthlcr was the Mighty Mite of that era. which came to an end In 1954.

One cannot read the history of the Buckingham Ladies Curling Club and ignore her competitive record, not to mention her contribution as an executive. Tiny, who chuckles when she claims she is five feet tall and weighs 100 pounds, was the heavyweight in women's curling in the '40s and '50s, when the Iron game prevailed. She won the Coronation Trophy, emblematic of the Ladies Curling Association, three times 1943, '44 and '47 and took the second flight Balmoral in 1948 and 1954. The vivacious Tiny teamed with Mabel Morrison on three occasions to reach the double rink cham- -plonshlp final for the Lady Tweedsmuir Trophy. In 1945, Buckingham was beaten by Outremont but bounced back two years later to defeat Lachute for the title.

In 1949; Gauthier and Morrison again went to the finals, only to lose to Royal Montreal. In 1950, Tiny and her rink became the first from the Valley to win the Victory Trophy. While Tiny dominated, there were several other Buckingham ladies who brought honors to the club such as Mrs. R. M.

Kenny and Mrs. Velma Wal-llngford. The list goes on and credit undoubtedly belongs to Bclard Bisson, another master of the Irons who was a patient teacher. The Buckingham trophy cabinets testify to the skills of Bclard's students. Among the trophies which have adorned the shelves are the Snelling, Dubuc, Forhan, Victory, McGulre, Burkholdcr, Samcnhof, Code and Howard, along with the Coronation and Tweedsmuir.

There are enough medals to start a shrine. The ladies section of the Buckingham Curling Club was formed in November, 1936, with Mrs. R. M. Kenny as president Others elected by acclamation at the first general meeting were Miss Ann Hambly, vice-president; Miss Eleanor Kenny, secretary; and Miss Eglentine Gauthier, treasurer.

Membership was $5 for active members; the. social fee was $2. Those rates attracted 47 charter and 25 social members. The club's first nine skips were Marcelle and Eglentine Gauthier, Mrs. JR.

M. Kenny, Elizabeth Kenny, Mrs. T. B. McCallum, Mrs.

C. R. Morrison, Mrs. L. J.

Slcard, Mrs. D. N. Thompson and Mrs. R.

B. Walker. The first money spent was to purchase a mirror for the ladies dressing room. (In some clubs today, the first Item Is a hair dryer for the men.) The Buckingham ladies have served on many Important committees over the years. Kay Glllls was Junior delegate to the "Diamond the original Canadian ladles championship, in Halifax In 1965 and the following year she was senior delegate at Vancouver.

Kay was president of the Ladies Curling Association during the 1966-67 season. Another Buckingham woman, Doris Springer, was secretary. Getting back to Tiny, who was chosen curler of the year by her club in 1972-73 and again in 1976-77, did she prefer irons to granites? "The irons only weighed about 30 pounds and they were easy to throw, but the strategy of the game differed from the In irons. It was more of a draw game. There always were too many irons in the house.

It was a case of raise and push. "Really, I prefer granites. It's a faster game and I like to hit Once In a while you need a big end and you must go back to the draw to get It but I prefer granites; I like them best," explained the gracious Mighty Mite. Behind the plate glass: Congratulations are in order to Marty Sims and his Carletoir Heights rink of Felix Mack, Steve Ryan and Bryce Penncll, winners of the Canadian Branch seniors champion- ship. Sims, a charter member of Carleton Heights, -defeated R.

Bornals of Trols-Rivleres, George Davis of Asbestos and Fred Soucy of Valleyficld on his way to the title. We apologize for the delay In the report but the Branch dog team didn't arrive until midweek First, It was Heap Big Hunter -and now it's the Ageless President, according to the page one photo of Eldon Wlmperis. If you study the photo closely, you will see the hack directly behind Wimpy on the point of delivering his rock. Must have learned the Ottawa Valley Squat from his former skip, Gordle Perry. Terry Begin pops out from the strangest places Last time we saw Terry, he was emerging from the back of the Rideau CC bar Terry hasn't changed his living habits, he merely operates the Curler's Corner, a little shop which caters to curling supplies Now, If he would only give lessons, he could become the first leglti-" mate curling pro In the Valley Twenty-seven yean ago, Herbert Cole defeated II.

C. Hogarth to -win the Glebe CC Irons championship. Shore (2), Lionel Hitch-man (3), Dit Clapper (5) and Milt Schmidt (15). John Ferguson, vice-president and general manager of Winnipeg Jets, announced Friday that Rudy Pilous Is leaving the World Hockey Association club effective Immediately. Pilous had been general manager of the Jets before Ferguson was hired last month and subsequently had accepted the position of assistant to the general manager.

y.M 'W Left winger Dave (Tiger) Williams of Toronto Maple Leafs has been suspended for three games as the aftermath of a major penalty he received for slashing during a National Hockey League game against the Penguins In Pittsburgh Dec- Boston Bruins, stung by the loss of defenceman Bobby Orr 2 years- are burying the hatchet Paul Mooney, president of the Bruins, announced Friday that Orr will be honored in special ceremonies and his No. -4 raised to the rafters at Boston Garden Jan. 9 when the National Hockey League club meets Soviet Wings in an exhibition game. Orr will become the fifth player in Boston history to have his number retired by the Bruins. The others were Hall of Famers Edifc Available at your Canadian Tire Store.