The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 23

MONDAY, AUGUST 1978- THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR -PAGE 23 IIIGUERAS 7-5. 6-1 LOSER IS FINALE Co: nnor Three-Time Clay ANOTHER STORY PAGE 26 Connors held the upper hand (love-40) twice in the early part of that opening set but the stubborn lad from Barcelona served his way out of trouble. Higueras wasn't making any mistakes and he was hitting his passing shots so well Connors couldn't come to the net with his customary reckless abandon. JOSE DIDN'T weaken until that 11th game and once Connors got the opening he didn't let it slip. Connors jolted Higueras with a love game on the service break.

Higueras threatened to return the favor in the next game holding the advantage twice but Jimmy nailed it down with a ringing overhead smash on set point. Higueras held service just once in the second set after Connors took charge, 4-0. Helena Anliot of Sweden and Helle Sparre-Viragh of Denmark teamed for the women's doubles title against Barbara Hallquist of Arcadia, and Sheila Mclnerney of Rome, N.Y., 6-3, 5-7, And somebody turned on Aiild Lang Syne signifying the end of the Racquet Club's successfully clay court tenure (since 1974) after Gene Mayer of Min-dham, N.J., and Hank Pfister of Bakers-field, wrapped it up in men's doubles with a 6-3, victory over Jeff Borowaik of Tiburan, and Chris Lewis of New Zealand. many more times before the year is over. I guarantee it." Questioned about the torrid rivalry with Borg, he said "they told me last year the Masters would decide who's best in the world, so I get all hyped up to win the Masters and then they start talking about the Grand Slam again.

"What do they mean by Grand Slam it's all changed around so much. Why don't we call Indianapolis part of the Grand Slam?" Connors declared he would probably return next year to help christen the new downtown stadium. "WE HAD A full house out here at 10:30 this morning to watch Orantes and me play five games and that's impressive. They'll fill that 10,000 seat stadium because the people here love tennis." needed only about 26 minutes to finish the suspended match against Orantes. He led 7-5, 2-0 Saturday when the big semifinal showdown had to be called because of darkness.

Higueras matched Connors shot for shot in their tight first set on a very humid afternoon it was so hot, in fact, that a young ballgirl keeled over from the heat during the third game. Amy Eggers toppled over but seconds later walked off the court under her own power with loud applause from the crowd. By BOB WILLIAMS Top-seeded Jimmy Connors of Belleville, 111., grabbed his third U.S. Open Clay Court title on his fifth trip to the finals since 1971 Sunday afternoon with a 7-5, 6-1 sweep against seventh-seeded Jose Higueras of Spain. 1 Connors completed his men's singles semifinal victory over defending champion Manuel Orantes of Spain in the morning by the same 7-5, 6-1, score.

Jimmy's impressive 1 hour and 45 minute victory over Higueras with a $24,000 check on the block in the American Fletcher National Bank sponsored clay classic was almost a carbon copy of their Washington, D.C., semifinal three weeks ago. HIGUERAS HELD three set points in Washington and Connors observed that Jose was even better in the first set of Sunday's Clay Court windup before a capacity Indianapolis Racquet Club crowd of 5,500. Connors finally forced the match's first service break at 5-5, served out the first set and then kept the pressure on for another big service break to start the second set. It was a big turning point and gave Connors the confidence he needed, to build a commanding 44 lead in the second set. Higueras also was tiring rapidly from two straight J-set wins over second-seeded Guillermo Vilas and fourth-seeded Corrado Barazzutti, but as Jose pointed out later in the press room, "Jimmy was hitting the ball so hard I couldn't have returned those shots anyway." The Clay runner-up who received $12,000 second money from tourney director Stan Malless told the press "Connors hit the ball so hard I couldn't control it.

No, I didn't have a letdown after that first set he was just playing a lot better." HIGUERAS PAID Connors a lefth-anded tribute when he said "I still believe that Borg is No. 1 in the world and Connors is the only one who can beat Borg." Connors said he considers winning another national title important and believes that his clay game has "improved immensely here in the last week. It's got me in good condition. I've won every major title in the U.S. and I reached the finals at Wimbledon, but just getting to the finals isn't good enough.

"I'm having a good year and Borg is having a good year and we will play i (STAR PHOTO BY JEFF ATTEBERRY) JOSE II1GIEH AS STRAINS TO HIT A SERVE RAY MALA VASI NAMED REPLACEMENT Rams Allen Eire George coach, by Rosenbloom, perhaps the strongest personality among -NFL owners, left almost everyone in total shock. A CLASH BETWEEN Rosenbloom and Allen was expected at some point because of the nature of their personalities, but Allen was expected to at least last out one season. Although the Rams played poorly in their first two exhibition games and were booed by the Coliseum crowds in both games, Rosenbloom may have fired Allen because he simply couldn't live with his system of coaching. Under Allen, who coached the Rams once before from 1966 through 1970, the team had been practicing five hours a day. Most of the players were unhappy about that although many of the Rams publicly praised Allen.

All-pro cornerback Monte Jackson walked out of the Rams' Fullerton, training camp Friday and Allen said after Saturday night's game that he didn't expect him back. All-pro linebacker Isiah Robertson, wide receiver Ron Jessie and offensive tackle Doug France previously left camp. Rosenbloom, who has announced he will move the Rams from Los Angeles to Anaheim, in 1980, was frank in giving his reason for hiring Allen. He said he brought in Allen to take the Rams to their first Super Bowl. THAT WAS SOMETHING Knox couldn't do.

Knox coached the Rams to five straight National Football Conference West titles but after his team lost to Los Angeles (UPI) George Allen, hired to get the talent-rich but frustrated Los Angeles Rams into their first Super Bowl, was fired Sunday by owner Carroll Rosenbloom after the team lost their first two exhibition games of the season. is my feeling that I made a serious error in judgment in believing George Allen could work within our framework," Rosenbloom said in a statement. "It has been extremely difficult for him to adjust to this new situation. 'QUESTIONABLY HE is a fine coach-and administrator. His record speaks for itself.

However, I -am certain it is in the best interests of all concerned that we make this change at this time." Allen was not available for comment. i 'j. Rosenbloom named Ray Malavasi, the Rams' offensive coordinator and defensive co-ordinator under Knox, to replace Allen as head coach. Allen had taken over for Chuck Knox, who left Los Angeles to take the head coaching job with the Buffalo Bills. Under Allen the Rams lost their first exhibition game 14-7 to the New England Patriots and were defeated 17-0 by the San Diego Chargers Saturday night.

Malavasi, 48, joined the Rams in 1973 as a defensive coach and became their defensive coordinator. This year Allen chose him to take over as the club's offensive co-ordinator. Malavasi also has served as interim head coach of the Denver Broncos and as a defensive coach with the Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. Like his hiring, the sudden firing of Allen, perhaps the National Football League's most controversial Minnesota in the playoffs last season it was apparent that he would not be back as the Rams' coach in 1980. He then officially left to go to Buffalo.

Allen became available when he was fired as head coach of the Washington Redskins early this year following a bitter contract dispute with Redskins' owner Edward Bennett Williams. After Saturday night's game, the Rams dressing room was tense. Allen issued a short statement about how disappointed he was with his team but that it would begin to improve next Thursday night at Seattle; the Rams' third exhibition game. Like Knox's departure from the Rams, Allen's departure from the Redskins was somewhat mystifying. There were a tangle of motives and cross relationships that included Jack Pardee, who left the Chicago Bears to to go Washington.

One of the primary figures in the cast was Ed Hookstratten, the Rams' attorney who represented Allen, Knox and Pardee. ALLEN WAS IN full charge for seven seasons at Washington and his departure left bitter feelings between Allen and Williams, the flamboyant lawyer who is operating-owner of the Redskins. The suprising announcement Sunday night marked the second time Allen was fired by the Rams. After a five-year reign as the Rams' coach, Allen was let go in 1970 in a personality clash with Dan Reeves, the late Rams' owner. When Rosenbloom brought Allen, 56, back in a news conference Feb.

1, there were audible moans from the Ram front office employes left over from the first Allen coaching administration. A 4V VI iT'j 1 1 Wit I I Vl- JIMMY CONNORS LABORS TO CLAY COURT TITLE 20 mg 1.3 mg meow av per cigarette, FFC Report MAY 78. Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. Padres' Three-Run First Inning Enough To Handle Reds, 3-2 Get intoWinston and Rodeo. George Foster's RBI single gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead in the first.

Dan Driessen followed with another single, but the inning ended when he was forced at second on Concepcion's ground ball. Norman settled down after allowing three Padres runs in the first and limited San Diego to just three hits over the next five innings. San Diego had a chance to pad their lead in the fourth as Gamble drew a walk to open the inning and took third on Winfield's double. But Fernando Gonzalez popped to second, Gamble was cut down at the plate trying to score on Thomas' ground ball to short, and Bill Almon ended the threat by striking out. OTHER N.L GAMES PAGE 24 The Padres took a 3-1 lead in the first.

Gene Richards led off with a walk and stole second, his 32d theft of the year. One out later, Gamble singled to score Richards. On the throw to the plate, Reds' catcher Vic Correll let the ball go through his legs, allowing Gamble to advance to third. Dave Winfield followed with an RBI single and came around to score on Derrel Thomas' double. The Reds scored a run in the fourth when Dave Concepcion singled with one out, took second on Cesar Geronimo's groundout and scored on Correll 's single down the right-field line.

San Diego (AP) Dave Winfield and Oscar Gamble each had two hits and a run batted-in in San Diego's three-run first in-. ning to lead the Padres to a 3-2 victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Reds. Padres' starter, Eric Rassmussen, gained his 11th victory in 20 decisions, and Bob Shirley, who relieved Rassmussen in the seventh inning after Mike Lum's pinch-hit double, earned his third save. Shirley has not given up a run in his last seven relief appearances. Cincinnati starter, Fred Norman (10-7), was the losing pitcher.

The victory was the Padres' third in four games with the Reds and represented San -Diego's 20th win in their last 25 home games. Indiana State Fair Rodeo Fairgrounds Coliseum August 22-24 For ticket information contact: State Fair Ticket Office Administration Building, Indianapolil Indiana 46205 Phone 317-923-3431 Peterson Wins Wet G.P. After Andretti Crashes 1 Zeltweg, Austria (AP) Sweden's Ronnie Peterson won the wet, delayed Austrian Grand Prix Sunday on the Oesterreich-ring circuit to move closer to the lead in the world championship points after Mario Andretti crashed on the opening lap. The race was staged in two parts because of, hazardous conditions and Peterson drove a Lotus to victory from the pole position to turn' the Formula One chase into a battle of teammates After the first seven laps, rain made the track slippery, and several of the top driversincluding Andretti, swerved Off and smashed into fences. THE ORGANIZERS interrupted the race with Peterson in the lead and restarted it one hour later when the rain diminished and finally ceased.

Peterson collect nine world championship points for a new total of 45, while Andretti still has the lead with 54. Giants Nip L.A., Regain 1st Place Los Angeles (AP) Jack Clark singled home Larry Herndon in the 11th inning to break a 6-6 tie and give San Francisco a 74 victory over Los Angeles Sunday as the Giants regained first place in the National League West. Larry Herndon led off the 11th with a double off loser Charlie Hough, 3-3, and Clark followed with a run-scoring single. John Curtis, 4-5, the sixth San Francisco pitcher, needed relief help from Ed Halicki to nail down the victory. PINCH-HITTER Marc Hill's two-run bases-loaded single with two out in the 10th inning put San Francisco ahead 64.

The Dodgers rallied to tie it in the bottom of the 10th, loading the bases with none out against reliever Randy Minton. Steve Garvey scored as Joe Ferguson hit into a double play and Vic Davalillo tallied the tying run when Davey Lopes hit a bad hop single. The Giants scored their two lOth-inning runs off Rick Rhoden, who was making his first appearance in two weeks. Willie McCovey led off with a single off Terry Forster and Johnny LeMaster ran for McCovey. LeMaster was forced at second by Evans and Terry Whitfield moved Evans to second with a groundout.

Forster intentionally walked pinch-hitter Mike Ivie, then also walked Jolm Tamargo to load the bases. Rhoden relieved and Hill sent home two runs with his single. Minton, the fifth of six Giant pitchers, started the bottom of the 10th but gave up singles to Garvey and pinch-hitter Davalillo, and walked Rick Monday to fill the bases wih none out. After Garvey scored on the double play, pinch-hitter Lopes' grounder to second baseman Madlock took a bad hop and went into center field. Los Angeles threatened again in the bottom of the 11th against Curtis.

Bill Russell led off with a single, Smith flied out and Ron Cey grounded to short, where LeMaster booted it for an error. Halicki then came on and got Garvey on a fly to center and Dusty Baker, batting for Teddy Martinez, to pop to Ivie at first. France's Patrick Depailler finished second in a Tyrell, ahead of Canadian Gilles Villeneuve in a Ferrari, Brazil's Emerson Fittipaldi in his Copersucar and Vittorio Brambilla of Italy rounded out the top five in his Surtees. The rankings of Peterson, Depailler and Villeneuve were unofficial but undisputed. Results from both parts of the weekend race had to be added before official tabulations were released.

Peterson's victory the 10th in his 121-Grand Prix career promised an exciting finish between him and fellow Lotus pilot Andretti in the four remaining Grand Prix races of this season. ANDRETTI HAD gone into the race with a commanding lead. But at the start he swerved off the track, hit a fence and had to drop out. -The man next to me raced like an old woman," Andretti was overheard complaining, apparently meaning Argentina's Carlos Reutemann in a Ferrari, who he had tried to overtake at the time. As it was, Andretti got on the outside of the track in a turn, slipping off it and smashing into the fence, spinning around several times.

He got out of the car unhurt, just in time as South Africa's Jody Scheck-ter in a Wolf slipped off the track at the same spot and hit Andretti's empty car. Specualtion has begun regarding whether, Peterson will be allowed by Lotus to give battle to leader Andretti. He was believed by some to have been given orders not to endanger Andretti's championship chances. In the first part of the race, cars were colliding or spinning helplessly off the track when the rain started. Drop-outs in the second part of the race included reigning world champion Niki Lauda of Austria in a Brabham Alfa, who was running second at the time of the rain break.

West Germany's Hans Joachim and Ireland's Derek Daly also dropped out. Walton To Play At Golden State? San Francisco (AP) Bill Walton has decided he wants to play basketball for the Golden State Warriors, according to a published report. The San Francisco Chronicle said in Monday's edition that the NBA's Most Valuable Player preferred the Warriors over other teams because he liked the Bay area, the team, its fans and management. Other teams, including the New York Knicks, reportedly offered Walton more money but the Warriors offer was large enough, the Chronicle said. The newspaper said Warriors executive Scotty Stirling met Walton in Portland Saturday night and confirmed that he wanted to play for Golden State.

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