The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 26

26 THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Saturday, Marrh 9, 194 One Man's Road To The Rodeo Just Took Off and Stayed Gone iffy i iiiuw'w -v. mi i iKxijt i "I never cared much for her," he said. A fellow In Iowa had a one-horned bull Bobby recalls more fondly. The fellow said nobody could ride that bull. Bobby rode the hell out of htm.

In saddle bronc riding, both the animal and the man are graded. "You have to worry about your stirrups, your reins, your saddle bindings and It doesn't mean nothing unless the stock bucks good." To this end, the horses are fitted with flank straps and the cowboys with spurs. But the horses still present a range of personalities. "I NEVER CARED for the rankest ones," Bobby said. "I would rather let the others take their chances with them.

I liked them kind of In the middle. Then you can nod your head with more confidence and make it up yourself." Bobby and Lenore have two sons, both "born on the as he says, but one ran away. "The young one's 13 and a trick rider like his mother. He's seen about everything. He's been about everywhere." By rodeo definition, everywhere encompasses Monroe, Texarkana, Calgary and Cheyenne.

And our other boy, 19, was sure making a good bull rider. But he got tired of it. And of the road. It's okay. I'm all for him," Bobby's older son jut wanted a few acres and some rows.

When Bobby first heard that, he smiled. He thought of his father and their old farm and Frank and the wild west show. It's his life, Bobby figured. BOBBY ROWE was 17 when a wild west show passed too near the farm in upstate New York, and Bobby and his brother I rank "just took off and stayed gone." Seem? they left seven other brothers and eicht sisters behind, It was some tune before they were missed. And Bobby's father wasn't too concerned, at that.

Awhile back, he had observed the two of them encouraging milk cows to buck, and knew then there was mi point fitting either fur a plow. It' their lives, he figured Rodeo lias not been a bad life for Bobby Rowe. In IW5, when he was 30 and in his prime, he was the world champion cowboy in saddle bronc riding. "That only means you go a few more miles, make a few more dollars," Bobby says, but he sounds insincere. And you know there's more than that.

"I made right at that year, saddle bronc riding. That's all. Oh. a few dollars bulldogging, bareback riding, you know." Now he has a troublesome knee and restricts his activity to an occasional wrestling match ith a steer. And he serves as arena director as well as livestock foreman for the I.onghorn Rodeo camped this weekend in the Cincinnati Gardens.

Friday morning. Hubby supervised the handling of the slock, from the redoubtable rogues he used to ride lo the srruffv looking hulls newly armed from Mexico. "At times. I miss the broncs," he said, yanking Ills Stetson his head and replacing it more snugly, "hut then I somebody on real rank stock, getting his head driven Into the ground, and my lonesomeness goes away." Bobby's wife. Lenore, Is a trick rider from Nashville who receives billing In the Longhorn Rodeo.

They travel about in a silver trailer. THE is sanctioned by the International Rodeo Association, which Is to the Rodeo Cowboys Association what the American Football League was to the NFL. Friday, young girls galloped ponies around barrels, and their youth reminded Bobby of his own. "There used to be a horse," the lean, dark cowboy began, "named Eva. Number 13.

You know, all of the rodcu stock are branded with a number. "I tried 18 times one season to ride Eva. Twelve of the times I was bucked off, I got hung up In the rigging. Then, one tune, I was really getting her rolling. But I bailed out.

I didn't ant to get hung up again." He became quiet. "The one time I could have gotten her rolling, and I quit her myself. til i it i hi i enojuar (Die Saim) Photo Looking In From The Inside Bobby Rowe once a rodeo champ himself Inhibition HaH'ball feai Dividends, But Skeptically Borbon Retired Kook, Almost time Roberto Clemente was hitting and Borbon decided Hookies Sees lied, A 's Ihsebalh Itest I. AS VEGAS, Nev. (API The Cincinnati Reds are 21 favorites to take the National league pennant, with the Oakland Athletics favored by the tame margin in the American League in pre season odds announced by bookmakers here Friday.

The Reds were followed closely by the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 52 choice in the National League, while the Baltimore Orioles were rated 3-1 in the American League in the odds released by the Holly ood Rare and Sports Kook. Other National League odds had the Los Angeles Dodgers 3 Houston Astros 5-1; New York Mots 6-1; San Francisco t.iants 7 Atlanta Braves I'M: Chicago Cubs 12 St. Louis Cardinals 12-1; Philadelphia Phillies 20 Montreal Expos 20 and San Diego Padres 150-1. SrjC 000 X- 1 5 Oat.and 021 Bd-U 11 7 Mtirt'e', Motfmn ij). Fr-9rt it, and Ttntct tii.

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Beene Hi, Ooweff -I) fl Demovey Bey, Haoan A ten (4), Wuentarft fli, Jarvt M0 and Bry4, SwDbeffli) w-jaryt -OowH to throw htm a blooper pitch. Anderson almost went through the ceiling of the dugout. "I learned something from him. It got so I couldn't see him do anything right. One game we played Detroit and they had six left-handed hitters in the lineup.

They hit Pedro pretty good and I Just figured he couldn't get lefthanders out. But I realized that if he had gotten them out I would have said it was because they didn't have any good players playing." Borbon. of course, gained a good bit of fame last October when he came rushing to aid Pete Rose in the free for all against the New York Mcls. is 136 years old. He is the oldest man in the Domlniran Republic." Now come on.

Pedro. Really? A hundred and thirty-six. You're putting us on. "No. really," he answers.

"His name is Bernardo and he lives on the same street as I do. He is blind and he walks with a cane but he gets around. "He is my mother's father. My father's father, he lived until he was 118. And his brother, he die at 102." Could It be for real? Some people are more than a bit skeptical.

"Last year his grandfather was 128." laughed Pete Rose when informed of Borbon's boast. "Maybe he ages eight years eery year." With Borbon It Is hard to tell what Is real and what isn't real. He Is what you would call a flake and. for quite some time, It hurt his career. Then, last season, he blossomed Into one of the finest relief pitchers in baseball with an 11-4 record and a 2.16 earned run average.

He pitched In 80 games and worked 122 Innings. By BOB HERTZEL Enquirer Sports Reporter TAMPA, Fia. Pedro Borbon spent a lot of time worrying about his life this winter, a rare thing in the Borbon family. Borbon was pitching for Lice, the Dominican Republic Winter League champion, and wasn't faring too well. He won five and lost five but, as he put it, "I no force myself." That the Cincinnati Reds' relief pitcher wasn't forcing himself soon became evident to the many gamblers ho spend their time betting in the Dominican ball parks.

"They shout at me, 'Hey. go home. You no throw the I was scared. Maybe somebody lay $5O0 and wait for me after the game and kill me." recalled Borbon. If someone had, Borbon would have been one of the youngest men In his family ever to die.

At least, that's the way he tells the story. Whether you believe it or not Is up to you. "My grandfather," he said Friday after the final workout before the Reds open the exhibition season today against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Rradrntnn, "he 1 That was when he took a -large bite out of Icon Jones' hat. him from getting ahead. "I lost him for a whole year (1971) because I didn't go to that approach." said Anderson.

"He'd throw the ball frnm up top, then from down below. When someone would get a hit off him he would just go crazy. He never acted like a guy you'd want to expose in a big league game." Anderson's mind wandered to the past. He brought back the 1972 World Series and the film that had Sparky wired for sound. Anderson walked to the mound, told Borbon not to worry about the runner on first and certainly not to throw over.

He went to the bench, sat down and watched as Borbon threw wildly to first. And then there was the The change In Borbon was directly related In the change in the way he was treated. Reds' manager Sparky Anderson believes. "Last year we started treating him like a man," said Anderson. "Before that everyone said he was kookle and we treated him like a kook.

There's no way he could have come out of it being treated like he was crazy." The man responsible for the change was scout Ray Shore, who recommended the Reds get him 1969 hen they traded away Alex Johnson. "Ray came to me and said we should try to treat him like everyone else," Anderson revealed. Bnrbon's "kookiness" kept TOOAY'S GAMES Ctncmnati vt. Pitttbura af aontnr Fta. Loi Angela vi.

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Fia. Mnnevotavt Detrott at i AtMVl Fa Cafciand Cbfnrna at Patm Sprmy, Caw Until Thursday had all but forgotten the incident. He was, however, reminded by the league office. "I get a telegram from Mr. Feeney (National League president Chub Feeney) and he say I am fined $150 for the fight.

Why he no write me In the Dominican?" asked Borbon. who immediately paid the fine. If he hadn't he wouldn't have been allowed to appear In any exhibition games. -Fnqutftf (FrM S'r. Photo Hill Opposing ers Heds' Pedro Horbim can afford to kid No Getting Around Nomad K-9 Corps Vietnam Vet Guards Stable At Latonia Bengals Think Clark Can Do The Job By Bil l.

WZFR Enquirer Sports Reporter The thief in the night better not come around the stable of Lester's now, because an alert Vietnam veteran is standing guard. When trainer Mike Zeller and his attractive wife, Patricia, came to I.alnnia nine days ago. they bedded down Lester's and four other thoroughbreds from the stable of Dr. Hassi Shim. They didn't brlieir that a thief roine in and steal away with 'the leeri tubs of Lester's Jester and It vd a9 Opener A Sellout Hank Aaron or.no Hank Aaron, the Reds' game opening the National League season on April 4 at Riverfront Stadium is a sellout.

Raseball temperatures invited hundreds of fans across the overhead walkways to Riverfront Stadium Fridav to snap up the last of the 51.726 seats. The baseball rlub taid standing room would go on sale at 9 a.m. today. A sellout on Opening Day of the baseball season is traditional to the city. This year's game against the Braves has stirred controversy since the Braves announced Aaron would not start, although the slugger would be available for pinch-hit duty if necessary.

Aaron has 713 career home runs, one shy of Babe Ruth's all-time 714. Braves officials want Aaron to save, if possible, his history-making homers for home crowds in Atlanta 1 I -H. that long chain he can really protect the barn." Besides, Lester's Jester, a nominee for the $20,000 Latonia Championship, Zeller has two potential stars in his stable, a pair of three-year-olds, Kajafa, a filly, and Marching Mark, a colt. Kajafa Is an entry with Lester's Jester in today's Damascus Purse, a six furlong event. If Lester's Jester Is to duplicate his winning performance of last year at Latonia he'll have to whip some recent impressive winners like Rpd Hot Taniale, Nadarko, Fleet Tudor and Luck Ahead, plus rising stars Lord Adams, Cozy Winter and Call Me Jodie.

1 I Latonia Trainer Hit Charge By Dm; Swords, Most Of Them, Say 'Rye, Raltimore' BALTIMORE (Special )-The Cincinnati Hword.s make their final regular season visit here tonight to take on the Clippers. "I told you the last time we were 'in," Smith warned Baltimorcans in mid-January, "that you'd better beat us now if you're e' er going to, as we're 'hurting with recalls and injuries. When they all return, we'll be plenty tough." Baltimore accepted the challenge hen and nipped the Swords here, 3-1. It was Baltimore's first win over the Swords on home Ice, as the Ohloans had won 9-2. and 5-2 here earlier In the campaign.

The series stands 5-2 for Cincinnati, with only tonight's game left In the season series. Still, the Swords are without Peter McNab, Gary Bromley, Nell Korzack, Bobby Richer and Jean Landry. the other horses. Someone did, though. Lucky for the thief, the Army Canine Corps veteran.

Nomad, a sleek, black and tan (ierman Shepherd, was penned up. Nomad Is on guard now, on a lengthy chain, roaming as protector of Lester's Jester who Is coming back to Latonia today in the $7'O0 Damascus Purse. The name of Lester's Jester is well known. An also-ran In the 1072 Kentucky Dprby Trial, he was injured in the race. His stablemate that year, Hassl's Image, ran In the Kentucky Derby and finished eighth.

Just a year ago, Lester's Jester came to Latonia and was clearly the class of his competition In winning the Sprite Handicap. Class still Is In his legs, but they got knocked around last July In a race at Rockingham Park and he was laid up for about six months with an ankle Injury. He came back to the races under Zeller this year in January and his last race was at Garden State last month. "He led for about a mile," said Zeller, a University of Notre Dame graduate, at his barn Friday morning. "Then he tired and finished out of the money.

Earlier this year he was second to Tough List. "We decided to come back to Kentucky for two reasons," explained the distinguished, gray-haired Zeller. "First of all so Dr. Shlnl. a Louisville resident, could see his horse run again at Latonia.

"The next reason iv that lie won here and plans to race at Keeneland and Churchill Downs." Lester's Jester has been walking or working at Latonia under exercise boy Chris Moruno, one the exercise boys for Eastern Fleet of the famed Calumet Farm stable. "With new feed tubs, Lester's Jester Is eating three square meals a day," cracked Zeller. "If anyone figures now that he's going to take the food out of his mouth they'll have Nomad to contend with." Nomad, relates the graduate of the home of the Golden Dome, was wounded In the left rear leg while on duty in Vietnam with the Army Canine Corps and was sent hack to the United States for rehabilitation to civilian life. That's when trainer Zeller picked him up for a watch dog around his stable. "He can be mighty vicious," says Mike.

"The other day he snarled and showed his teeth to the trainer next to our stable. He wouldn't let him go near his horses. Now that he's on WHAT IS THE REAL REASON behind the Bengals' decision Friday to trade quarterback Mike Boryla. their highly-regarded draft choice from Stanford, to the Philadelphia Eagles? There are several theories. Boryla was rated as the best senior quarterback In college last year.

The Bengals were startled when he was still available In the fourth round. Now they have let him go for a couple of "undisclosed" future draft choices. Why? Consider these points: Money. Boryla would come high, possibly too high, for Paul Brown. His agent is his father, Vlnce Boryla, president of the Utah Stars in the American Baskeball Association and an old hand in dealing with talented college prospects.

The trade that brought San Diego barkup quarterback Wayne Clark to the Bengals in exchange for Virg Carter. Clark has played in only a couple of games for the Chargers and is untried and unproven. Nevertheless, the Bengals must feel he has innate talent. Certainly his pro experience, even with so little playing time, is a factor. Boryla may have been drafted simply as possible "Insurance" in case the Clark -Carter deal was nullified.

Good quarterbacks, as Boryla Is regarded, are very marketable. The "undisclosed" draft choices the Bengals received for Boryla: one next year, another In 1976, may be far better than anyone anticipates. With Greg Cook and Mike Ernst still on the Bengals' roster, whichever one they decide to keep as No. 3 will certainly cost less than would either Clark or Boryla. WHILE ASSISTANT GENERAL manager Mike Brown talked further about two new slgnings the Bengals also announced Friday, It was significant that Wayne Clark was in an adjoining room at the Bengals' offices at the stadium.

He was here for a weekend visit with Bill Walsh who coaches the quarterbacks, and Clark had his play-book open as Walsh made with the X's and O's on a blackboard. With Boryla gone and the Clark-Carter trade ruled "valid," the familiarization of Clark with the Cincinnati offense couldn't start soon enough. "They Just brought me In for a couple of days to go over a few things," Clark said. Where they brought htm In from was California. Mike Brown explained the trade in his careful way.

"With Ernst and Cook already here, and now Clark, we felt we'd be overstaffed a little," he smiled. "Overstaffed," Indeed. "We think it suits Boryla better. The long range prospects for him to be a starter al Philadelphia are better than he had with us." Mike pointed out that Roman Gabriel Is not only getting old, his salary comes high, too. Boryla has a good chance to replace him, having only to beat out John Reaves-the Eagles: first-round draft choice from Florida State two years ago, and Rick Arrlngton, a five-year veteran from Tulsa.

"As a matter of fact," Mike suggested, "they may be having thoughts, now, of moving Reaves." hat draft choices did the Bengals get? Ail Mike would admit was that one was for 1975. another for 1976. Would a third round both years be a good guess? "Possibly," Mike smiled. Another source has since come forward, however, to tell me the choices were much, much better than that, as time will reveal. And who did the Bengals sign? One was 255-pound Dave Lapham out of Syracuse, chosen first In the third round, a player they project as playing guard Instead of offensive tackle.

Mike also projects he's going to give the veterans a lot of worry The other was Bill Bryant, a defensive back from Grambling: a speedster thought of as a cornerback. Bryant was Cincinnati's second pick In the sixth round. OF THE BENGALS' ORIGINAL 22 draft picks, they've now signed 12, Boryla Is traded to Philadelphia and two more signed with the World Football League. That leaves seven to go. The losses to the WFL were defensive back Robin Sinclair of Washington State, who has Joined Hawaii, and 16th-round pick Darryl Bishop, another defensive back from Kentucky who pledged with the New York Stars.

"We've signed more choices earlier than ever before," Mike Brown derided. "1 think where you have other parties bidding for their talents, it speeds the process up, brings It to a head sooner." Brown hardly knows how to answer questions about a possible strike by the NFL Players Association. "I'd like to think we're all (players and management) In the same boat, and a strike really isn't necessary. It seems to me: from Just what I read, there's a little retreating'on both sides. I think we can Iron it out the next few months before July." Frozen Royally, a claiming horse which won the fourth race Monday after going off at longshot odds of 34-to-l, was found to be running under a forbidden medication, Latonia stewards announced Friday.

The trio of officials, state steward Art Hebel, Charles Gormley, and Lucas Dupps, said the Louisville Testing Laboratory (official chemist representing the Kentucky State Racing Commission) reported to them that the urinalysis of Frozen Royalty contained the prohibitive medication, oxyphenlbutazone. Chicago trainer Robert Tread-wav, after the hearing, was given a suspension of 35 days (March 8 thru April II, Inclusive). He has been denied the privileges of the grounds and his horses also have been denied entry Into any race. rozen Royalty, running under a $2500-clalmlng tab, won the mile and a sixteenth race by two and a half lengths and paid $71.00, $23,80 and $14.40. Frozen Royalty has been declared unplaced and Jacks Joust declared the winner.

Parl-mutuel wagering Is not affected. New NHA Team Needs Coach NEW ORLEANS AP) The head of the newly-formed National Basketball Association franchise In New Orleans said Friday he expects to name a head coach by the end of March and then find some players eager to be coached. "We have a number of potential coaches under consideration but it would be premature to mention any names," said Fred Rosenfeld. Wvrkvnd Sporls Schedule TV-SATURDAY tilt IAMITIAILi Off ton M-Vtc, Channel 7, 1 30 comai lAsmmiL: vtrmtt vt. OhtoUnivtrllty, Channel and 2, 2 pm.

irom smctcuii v.i gmo MmIki Platform Oo4Mt Champlonthip. Hilton Head. C. Nation indoor Track and Fiaid Championthipt, haw York City. Channrl t.lKpn MOOOLIfc Oorai Eaitarn Opan, Miami, Fla Channat 310pm COUIOI IASKITIAIL: Notra Dam vl.

Auitm Paay. Charm i and 7. 4 HO IOWIIII TOUI: 155.000 Naw Orktant Liona Club Opan, Malum, La Channrt 17, 4 WOILD 6 SCOm: World Champlon-thlp DamoHtlon Darby, Itltp. NCAA Indoor Track and Fiald Champlonihip, Dtlroll, Channal 17. 9 0 m.

COLLIOI AJKITSALLl Dayton vt. Cantornia Slat, NCAA Tournamant, Channal 12,9 p.m. COLLIOI lAlKITIAlL: UCLA at USC. Channali and 2, 1 1)0 m. RADIO SATURDAY CIO lAIIIALlt Cincinnati vl, Pltli- Duron.

WLW-AM, 1:75 m. MO HOC KIT: Cincinnati at Balllmor. WLW-AM, 50 pm, TV-SUNDAY IrA KINO OF IOWLINCV: Jim Tumor, Stan ciouta. Bin Hatlin and Rogar Sauarwam oiiattk. Channal FIO TINNIt: Bnnkar Intarnallonal Ladiat Champlonihip, DaDai, Channal 41, 7 MOIIOIF: Doral Eailarn Opan, Miami, Fia Channal 17.

7 p.m MO HOC II IT: Philadelphia al Bullak), Channali 5 and 7, 7 m. MO lASKITIALLl Lol Angatai al lotion, Channal 9 and 7, 2 30 FIO TINNISi World champlanihip malr.hai, Hartford, Channali 5 and 2, 410pm WOILD OF IPOITIi California "500" Indianapolll Car Raca, Ontario, Channal 12,4:30 m. RADIO-SUNDAY CAR lACISi Daytona WCLU-AM, 12:45 pm FIO IAIIIALI: Cincinnati vi. Plttt-burgh, WLW-AM, 1:30 m. They will have the services of left winger Andre Dcsrhamps, who has been recalled on emergency conditions for this one game, and then will return to Charlotte of the Southern League.

With a dozen games remaining, coach Jim Morrison's Clippers come up to the inevitable nitty-gritty time in this year's AHL pennant race, embroiled In a three-way battle with Ilershey and Cincinnati for the Southern Division crown. Baltimore's top scorers include Marc I) ii four (.18 goals, 48 assists, 86 points), Bob Rivard (26 50-76), Howie Menard (41-31-72), Brian Murphy (22-41-63), and Rick Foley (11-46-57)..