The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 42

2 THE COURIER-JOURNAL TIMES, SUDAY, APRIL 18, 1976 Sparky is Mr. Wonderful, but 'humans are funny' mmujumm nmmj ii i i I 4Wwr if-li! CINCINNATI "The human being," said George Lee Anderson, "is a very funny thing." George Lee, whom you know more familiarly as Sparky but whose nickname maybe ought to be Aristotle, revealed this yesterday. He was in his office, two hours before the invasion of the bees and 2 34 hours before his Cincinnati Reds took on the San Francisco Giants, and his brain, as usual, was on a rampage. "If you're nice to somebody, it's amazing how they start taking advantage of you," he said. "You give them something, and then they want something else." Anderson reached into his desk drawer.

When his hand came out, it was filled with matchbook covers, buttons, pencils, all sorts of odds and ends. He threw them across the desk. "I can give to you and give to you and I'm a nice guy, right? But the minute I don't, I'm a I understand that. The human being is very funny. He never likes to see somebody else do well, and he loves to see a king knocked down." For Sparky Anderson, the morning had gotten off to a bad start.

He had been in a restaurant, breakfasting, when he was spotted and besieged by autograph fans. He signed a bunch, about 20, he estimated, and then excused himself to fulfill a commitment The 21st took exception. This is the way it has been for Sparky Anderson since the Reds won a world championship last October. Friends, some of whom he regarded as close ones, have turned against him because they resent the lack of time he has been able to spend with them. "Once during the winter I was on the road 21 straight days, then home for two before leaving again," he said.

"People say, 'Well, he used to come over for dinner, now he But you. just can't. You don't have the time you used to have for friends. "I'm the first one that says you belong to the public. But I understand John's situation now.

(He spoke of Johnny Bench, the Reds' catcher) If he did everything everybody wanted, he'd never Associated Press 4s easy as A-Bec-C Walter Howard (left), a Cincinnati exterminator, remove the bees that delayed the start of the Reds-and Floyd Hastings of Ft. Wright, carefully Giants game at Riverfront Stadium 35 minutes. War moonlighting Rein, Derby Classic basketball dick fenlon Louisville Times SporU Editor have a minute to himself. You just have to make the break. You're going to get bad-mouthed anyway, no matter what." Because he is a thinker, Sparky Anderson often is puzzled by the human condition.

It boggles him, for example, that some athletes do not take better care of themselves, and he finds it particularly difficult to understand why baseball players do not make an attempt to condition themselves during a long off-season which often drains them of their skills. "I'd say baseball is the biggest offender of all sports," Anderson said. "In pro basketball, a month after the season, they all go into their summer leagues. "In football, six weeks after they're finished they go into their weight and training programs. "But look at baseball! We're the only sport where a man goes four or five months and does nothing.

"I hear guys say, 'You can't throw all the I say, 'Why can't you? You're an athlete, aren't "So guys show up for spring training, and after a couple of days, they're all worn out. "It's no big mystery. If a guy swims everyday and then stops for four months, I guarantee you he's going to be tired the next time he swims. Why wouldn't he be? So if you don't throw for four months, why wouldn't you be tired? "That's one thing I've never under lot of points on tip-ins, works Mike Woodson "puts the ball IN THE Rein fairly gushed. "Look at the talent we've got in Kentucky and Indiana.

I could take the five kids from either state and line up against anybody in the country." Rein has two other projects under way. One is a crusade to get an organized summer basketball league going in Jefferson County. "Daggone it, we need it here," he said. "Look at California. Brad Holland (now playing at UCLA) played more games in the SUMMER than our Kentucky kids play in their whole careers.

If people around here want to keep bragging on Kentucky basketball, they better 4 THE GREATEST NAME IN RETREAD TIRES MOUNTED FREE KNOWN Ones stood about baseball. You'd think, a month after the season ends, that the major league player would be on a regular program running every day, throwing, swinging at a tee, stretching the muscles. Why wouldn't you want to keep in perfect condition the things that are making you a livelihood?" Anderson's interest in the subject was accentuated by circumstances this spring. Because of a management-player hassle, the spring training camps opened tardily, and pitchers did not get their normal training periods. Worse, Don Gullett, Anderson's best pitcher, did not check in until March 20 because of a contract dispute.

Gullett has yet to pitch, and must go to the bullpen before working into a starting assignment. "But I don't think the late start is that important," said Anderson. "I think that's an alibi. Pitchers might need a little longer spring than the others, but the pitchers wouldn't need it if they did more work. "Anything's how you want to use It And pitchers are the same way as everyone else.

If the excuse is there, why not use it?" Sparky Anderson, the dugout philosopher, stands at the peak of accomplishment as a new baseball season begins. In six years as manager of the Reds, his team has a winning percentage of .603. Since 1900, only four other managers have gotten off to better career starts. He has won four divisional titles, three National League pennants, a World Championship. But he knows that someday maybe tomorrow it will end.

"Today, you are up here," he said, holding his right hand high above his desk. "Tomorrow, down here. I have been able to school my mind to one thing: That this isn't going to last forever. "You're only going to be king for a day. When you win, you're Mr.

Wonderful with the players, with the fans, with everybody. And when you don't win, you're not wonderful anymore." Why? "The human being," said Anderson, "is a very funny thing." is heaven do something to keep up with these other states." Rein's proposal is that Jefferson County subsidize such a league. The cost would be about $30,000. "We ought to make a commitment to our kids, they deserve it," Rein said. If public funds don't come, Rein said he will try private money.

He also is arranging a trip for a high school team to Russia, leaving July 30 and returning Aug. 12. The team would be made up primarily of players from "either California or Kentucky, we don't know which yet." Other than the Derby Classic, the Shooit the Hoop, the summer league, the Russia trip, Max Rein isn't doing much these days except work at WINN. AS CASH On Approved Credit iff ff vrf dave kindred Courier-Journal Sports Editor Honored Sporlswriter of Year award again goes to C-J's Kindred Dave Kindred, sports editor of The Courier-Journal, has been named Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year for the third straight year in voting by the stale's members of the National Sports-casters and Sportswriters Association. Kindred, 34, who joined The Courier-Journal in 1966, also won the award in 1969.

Named sports editor of The Louisville Times in 1969, Kindred worked in The Courier-Journal Times Washington bureau in 1972 and returned as C-J sports editor in 1973. He won the 1971 National Headliners award for a general interest column in The Louisville Times Scene magazine. will be in Salisbury, N.C., June 15 to receive the sportswriters' award. Van Vance of WHAS radio-TV was named the state's sportscaster of the year. Darrell did dunking the ball in the Capital Classic," said Denny Crum, the University of Louisville coach.

"IN-CREDIBLE." One of Griffith's most spectacular dunks BEGINS at the free throw line. Shades of Dr. J. "Griffith is one of two or three players who can take over a game at both ends of the floor," Rein said. On other Kentucky-Indiana players, here are some capsule Rein comments Bobby Turner "is a bull, a big, strong rebounder who can hit the Durand Macklin "is going to be an All-America because he has soft hands, great timing and great leaping Tim Stephens "is a pure shooter who plays Anthony Jackson "is a burner with the Antonio Martin "gets a rui jU TO if vi 4 lJLt mm 3 SIZE GROUPS TO CHOOSE FROM BRA fWMk Led astray by his own hand Max Rein is a vice-president and the general manager of Louisville radio station WINN.

"It can be safely said, however, that I would not have my present employment unless I worked for understanding people," he said with a smile. Rein is hooked on basketball. The fourth annual Derby Festival Classic comes up Saturday night at Freedom Hall. An all-star basketball game matching Kentucky and Indiana's best high school players again 10 blue-chip-pers from across America, the Classic has given us early glimpses of Richard Washington, Moses Malone, Rick Robey, Wayne (Tree) Rollins, Make Mitchell, Jeep Kelly, Reginald King, James Lee, Jack Givens, Wesley Cox, Dave Batton, Toby Knight, Bernard Toone, Winford Boynes, Sam Drummer, Brad Holland That very best, that's who. For that, we can thank the understanding people at WINN, who have kept Max Rein gainfully employed so he can, the year around, talk to coaches, see players, make phone calls, attend to six zillion details all to make his brainchild, the Derby Festival Classic, "the best high school all-star game in the country." That's not a quote from Rein.

It's from Brendon Malone, the former coach at New York City's Power Memorial High and now an assistant coach at Fordham University. Malone has coached in the Derby Classic and also the Dapper Dan game in Pittsburgh. Those games, along with the new Capital Classic in Washington, D.C., are considered the class of the all-star lot. "The others pale in comparison to the Derby Classic," Malone said. More than 11,000 people came to last year's game, which was carried on a mini-network of eight television stations in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.

There'll be TV again this year and the game will mike barry Louisville Times Sports Columnist Until I see the entries, I'm not going to get too excited. Suppose they come up with a fourth starter? I talked to LeRoy Jolley, trainer of both Honest Pleasure and the Ashland Stakes winner Optimistic Gal, about playing in a golf tournament on Wednesday of Derby week. Something came up last year and Jolley couldn't make it, but he said he definitely planned to play this year. Then I talked to Don Brumfield about golfers in the jocks' room. "I don't of splits doubleheader Chip Steier slammed a three-run homer and Chuck Schupp came out of the bullpen to stymie Memphis State as the University of Louisville nipped the nation's fourth-ranked college baseball team 9-8 in the first game of a doubleheader yesterday at Parkway Field.

Memphis, though, regrouped for a 12-7 win in the second game. Memphis went out to a 6-0 lead in its first two at-bats in the opener before Steier rifled a three-run home to spark a five-run outburst in the third inning. Catcher Duke Shumate then singled home the winning run in the sixth. Schupp, a senior righthander, stopped Memphis on two hits over the final 3 23 innings to record his third win in seven decisions. Memphis raked three Louisville pitch I be on three radio stations, including WHAS.

It should be a fine show. Besides having 20 of the best high schoolers in the country we'll talk about some of them in a minute the Derby Festival Classic has enough extra added attractions to drive even the nuttiest basketball freak nuttier. The Slam Dunk, for one. Even before the rulesmakers decided to put the dunk back in the game, Max Rein had arranged a slam dunk contest for the Derby Classic. Preliminaries will be held Saturday morning at Freedom Hall (the public is invited, at no cost; also, the one-on-one contest, a great show in itself, will be run off that morning).

The finals of the slam dunk contest will go on just before game time Saturday night. Dr. J-type dunks At halftime of the Classic, youngsters who have survived shoot-offs in Eliza-bethtown, Winchester, Nicholasville, Richmond, Lexington, Louisville, New Albany, Clarksville, Jeffersonville and Madison, will take part in the finals of the "Shoot the Hoop" contest sponsored by McDonald's restaurants. "The response has been absolutely marvelous," Rein said. This year's Classic game has Rein excited.

"You've got to be when you've got the best high school player in the country right here in Louisville," he said. He referred to Darrell Griffith of Male High, a 6-foot-3 guard-forward who averaged 24.3 points a game this season. Griffith will head up the 10-man Kentucky-Indiana team and is the early favorite in the slam dunk contest. "It is UN-BEEEE-LIEVABLE what know," Brumfield said. "I believe Eddie Arroyo plays pretty good.

Don't know about any of the others I can't break 100 myself." My eyes lit up. "Are you sure? Maybe we could get together." I can tell you right now nothing's going to come of it. Can you imagine a guy wanting three shots a side from a fellow who can't break 100? That's what Brumfield kept saying. If he doesn't want to give me my fair handicap, he can forget it. Leading rider so far is Eddie Delahous-saye, and a racetracker was talking about one of Eddie's rides earlier in the week.

"What do you think of a jock," he said, "who's still whipping and driving with a 15-length lead?" I asked at what stage of the race. "In the stretch!" the man said. "And this was a 2-year-old race at only four and a half furlongs!" I asked if the horse won. "Of course he won!" the man said. "But Eddie was still whipping with a 15-length lead! What do you think of that?" "Eddie's my kind of jock," I said.

"I'd like to have him on all of my horses." If there's one thing I can't stand, it's overconfidence. with fourth-ranked Memphis ers for seven hits in an 8-run sixth inning of the second game to erase a 6-3 deficit. Steier, though, cracked another homer and centerfielder Chris Bouchee had five hits for the day. Louisville is now 18-20, Memphis 28-5. MEMPHIS STATE 2 100 1 I LOUISVILLE 005 Ml 11 John Lee, John Thanber9 (4).

Bill Aquadro (5) and Mark Brantley. Larry De Benzick, Don Gatin (2), Chuck Schupp (4) and Duke Shumate. Schupp (3-4). Lee. HR Ron Merritt (M), Chip Steier (L).

3B Ken McKinney (M). 2B Chris Bouchee (L), Butch Dean (L), Tony Conflentl (L). MEMPHIS STATE 010 028 112 16 1 LOUISVILLE 014)00 17 13 1 Dusty Farmer, Gary Robertson (6) and Mark Mitchell. Bob Haddad, Bill Farawell (5), Matt Inflram (6), Keith Springer (61, Chuck Schupp (7) and Dukt Shumate. Farmer.

Inqram (1-1). HR Rene White (M), Mitchell (M), Terry Davidson L), Chip Steier (L). 2B Ron McNeely (M), Mark Brantley (M), Robert Lee (M), Chip Steier (L), Jim LaFountain (L), Tony Conflentl (L), 650x13 560x15 I n. iil $1588, 775x15 1 M. 8xl4 as 168- 855x15 1 Sfc WHITI WU.S $1.00 MOM 1 -m fGm F.E.T NO EXTRA CHARGE FOR YOUR UNRETREADABLE TRADE-IN asked these two guys if I could ride up to Keeneland with them.

"On one condition," the driver said. "You want me to put up something for gas?" I said. "I'd like to, but "Not put up," the driver said, "shut up. You've got to agree not to say one word about a horse." "Whatever you say," I said. "If you guys want to miss out on a couple of the best things of the meeting "We'll take our chances," the other guy said.

"Not one blinking word!" So, on that happy note, we headed up 1-64. The sun was shining, the breeze was warm, the whole countryside so lovely that I had to say something. "On a day as beautiful as this," I said, "it's almost a pleasure to lose your money." you hadn't said almost," the passenger said, "I'd have pushed you out of the car." driver spoke up immediately. "You wouldn't have done anything of the "Gee, thanks," I said. "It's nice to know "That ain't it," the driver said.

"Didn't you see that sign back there about a $300 fine for littering?" Two of the three people in the car thought that was hilarious. They laughed all the way to the track. "I got even, though. I gave 'em such a story on the second race I know they just about tapped out. Anyway, I had to hunt up another ride home.

If only I hadn't listened to my own story They're talking about a three-horse field for the Blue Grass Stakes on Thursday. Apparently the owners of only two others, Proud Birdie and Inca Roca, are brave enough to go against Honest Or maybe that should read smart enough. There'll be second and third money, you know, around $20,000 and $10,000 respectively. Also respectably, because future stud ads could read, "Second (or third) in the Blue Grass Stakes to Honest Pleasure else," a guy said. "Anything you pick is bound to finish in the money." itcbcb if nnnsumccriim1 NO DOWN PAYMENT EXAMPLE: Total THREE MONTHLY PAYMENTS SAME PurchaM Prk $60 00 3 Poymentt at $20.00 RADaiffSf 1467N.

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