The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 27

THE COURIER-JOURNAL, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1973 3 Join Rosewall, Ncwcombe ill Open semifinals Smith wallops Parun and Kodes squeaks past Pilic By WILL GRIMSLEY Associated Press Special Correspondent FOREST HILLS, N.Y. America's world champion, Stan Smith, and little Jan Kodes of Czechoslovakia followed contrasting routes to victories yesterday that joined them with two tough Australian pros in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. The 6-foot-4 Smith used an overpowering service in crushing unseeded Onny Parun of New Zealand 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Kodes, runner-up to Smith here two years ago and winner of boycotted Wimbledon in July, was carried to the 12th game of the fifth set for an up-and-down 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 triumph over petulant Nikki Pilic of Yugoslavia.

The Kodes-Pilic battle was a weird one, marked by flashes of good tennis and periods of sloppiness. Pilic fretted with his racket in the first set, breaking it in half, and at times was argumentative. But he staged great come backs and five times in the fifth set fought off break points with sizzling aces. Now the confident, top-seeded Smith, 26, playing out of Sea Pines, S.C., and the scrappy Czech, No. 6, meet again Saturday to see who goes against the winner of the Ken Rosewall-John Newcome match for the $25,000 first prize and the honor of winning the year's most prestigious title.

On the center court here in 1971, Smith whipped Kodes 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6, but he was even more successful in their most recent meeting on the World Championship Tennis tour. "I lost the first game to Jan and then won 12 games in a row for 6-1, 6-0," Smith recalled. "I've never played better." Stan, a poised giant who now covers the court with the grace of a ballet dancer and digs divots in the turf with his explosive service, is favored to beat Kodes, but he could run into a buzzsaw in Sunday's final. Rosewall, 38, is playing the almost flawless type of tennis that won him the American crowns in 1956 and 1970. He hasn't dropped a set.

His fellow Aussie, Newcombe, 29, was the world's No. 1 player in 1967, winner of the American and Wimbledon titles, and captured consecutive Wimbledons in 1970 and 1971. The women's semifinals are scheduled today. The Rosewall-Newcombe match had originally been set for today, too, but officials agreed to move it to Saturdayunder heavy pressure from Smith. "I don't think it's fair," said Smith.

"Both semifinals should be the same day. If we had a long match Saturday the ner would be at a disadvantage Sunday." If Smith and Rosewall should happen, to meet in the final, however, the lanky American may be at a disadvantage anyway. "The last time I played Rosewall on grass was in 1970 when Ken beat me here," Smith said. "He creamed me." Murtaugh replaces Virdon Pirates won't disclose specifics of firing; players9 reactions mixed plane crash off Puerto Rico on Dec. 31, 1972.

Brown said Murtaugh, 56, an affable, cigar-chewing Irishman, would remain as manager at least through 1974. Brown refused to discuss his reasons for the shuffle, but said the announcement was his "most difficult in my 35 years of baseball." Virdon, 42, who had succeeded Murtaugh as manager after the Pirates' 1971 World Series victory over Baltimore, said he had no immediate plans beyond a vacation. Brown's announcement was made as the team, after a day off, was preparing to leave for Philadelphia, where they begin a weekend series against the Phillies today. Player reaction was mixed, sources close to the club said. One bystander said catcher Manny Sanguillen had tears in his eyes when he learned of the change.

Others appeared unconcerned, while some seemed shaken, bystanders said. In Philadelphia last night, Murtaugh said: "It's pretty late in the season to, change managers. I'm not sure just what effect it will have on the team. I can't tell yet whether it'll hurt or help. "Naturally, I don't anticipate an easy time of it.

But I don't think it's ever too late to turn things around." The team knew something was wrong, sources added, when Virdon's gear was removed at the last minute from a truck that was to carry club equipment to the airport. Murtaugh joined the team's front office as director of player acquisition and development when he stepped aside as manager in 1971. Virdon had been Murtaugh's right-hand man the 1970-71 seasons, often filling in his place when Murtaugh was sidelined with illness. He was the team's hattintr field goal carries past Dolphins 26-23 and outfield coach from 1968-71. The team had been encountering in-.

creasing troubles this season, and on Wednesday night finished a crucial four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals, who lead the Pirates and Montreal by three games in the National League East. Despite his troubles, Virdon remained -cool and stoic. "I suppose that's just the way I am," he said after the Cardinals' series. "What else can I say?" Brown's announcement stunned the sports writers assembled for his news conference, held at Three Rivers Stadium.

1 Brown declined to be specific when pressed about his reasons for the firing. "The fact that a change has been made indicates something," Brown said. "In some areas, he has not done what I thought he should do." Sports on radio 7:40 p.m. Jeffersonville-Providence, football, WXVW(HSO). 8:05 p.m.-Reds.Braves, WLW (700), WMPI-FM (100.9), WLRS-FM (102.3).

11:15 p.m.-Louisville Downs race, WHAS Morton, in a fight for the No. 1 Cowboy quarterback job with Roger Staubach, was magnificent in the second half. He rallied the Cowboys with a six-yard touchdown strike to former Dolphin Otto Stowe to tie the game with 6:40 remaining. Dallas all but fumbled its way out of the game in the first half and except for a magnificent goal line stand would have Statistics Dolphins Cowboys ursT downs 10 Rushes-yards 31-86 Passing yards 67 Passes 9-20-1 Punts 8-42 Fumbles-lost 2-2 Penalties-yards 1-5 MIAMI DOLPHINS 7 16 DALLAS COWBOYS i 7 IB 40-136 149 17-26-2 5-36 5-2 5-64 0 023 3 1026 Dal Hill, 20, run (kick blocked); Miami Kiick, run (Yepremian kick); Miami Briscoe, 5, pass from Griese (Yepremian kick); Miami Csonka, 1, run (Yepremian kick); Miami safety, ball centered out of end zone; Dal. Stowe, 26, pass from Staubach (Fritsch kick); Dal.

FG, Fritsch, Dal. Stowe, 6, pass from Morton (Fritsch kick); Dal. FG, Fritsch, 22. Attendance 61,378. been even deeper in the hole.

With a first down on the Dallas two-yard line, Miami failed four times to punch the ball in with linebacker Rodrigo Barnes making a fierce tackle on Dolphin back Jim Kiick on fourth and one. Dallas finished the exhibition season season with a 4-2 record, while Miami was 4-2-1. The Dolphins had an unbeaten streak of 23 games snapped last Friday at Minnesota 20-17. Miami handed Dallas a quick touchdown in the first half when Kiick fumbled and Cliff Harris recovered at the 20. Hill circled right end for the touchdown with only 27 seconds expired.

Kiick scored on a one-yard run after an interference penalty on Dallas corner-back Charlie Waters and Griese nailed Marlin Briscoe with a five-yard scoring pass behind Waters for a 14-6 lead. Larry Csonka scored on a one-yard run and Miami got a gift two-pointer- when Cowboy rookie center Jim Arneson snapped the ball out of the end zone. Associated Press have his eyes shut as he smacks a backhand in the U.S. Open Tennis Championships at 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 to gain the semifinals. STAN SMITH appears to I to Onny Parun yesterday Forest Hills.

Smith breezed rajra V35 vre meld wmmv Dave Kindred anna eiiiMvsnisjei Courier-Journal sports editor Associated Press The Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Bill Virdon yesterday and called back Danny Murtaugh to succeed him, effective immediately. The announcement was made in a hastily called news conference at Three Rivers Stadium by Joe L. Brown, general manager of the National League club, which has been plagued by malady and misfortune ever since star right-fielder Roberto Clemente was killed in an air Fritsch 9s Cowboys Associated Press DALLAS Toni Fritsch kicked a 22-yard field goal with three seconds left last night to give the fumbling Cowboys a stunning 26-23 come-from-behind National Football League exhibition victory over the Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins. Quarterback Craig Morton drove the Cowboys to the Miami 15-yard line in the dying moments of the nationally-televised contest to set up Fritsch's boot. Calvin Hill's 13-yard run to the Miami 17 placed the ball in perfect chip-shot position for Fritsch.

The Cowboys, victimized by fumbles, interceptions and bad center snaps, overcame a 23-6 lead which Miami built up in the second quarter behind Dolphin quarterback Bob Griese. Exhibition pro football (Startinj Times EDT) LAST NIGHT'S GAME Dallas 26, Miami 23. TOMORROW'S GAMES Kansas City at St. Louis, 9 p.m. New England at Detroit, 9 p.m.

San Francisco at Los Angeles, 11 p.m. SATURDAY'S GAMES Oakland at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. Green Bay at Cincinnati, 8 p.m. New York Giants vs. Cleveland at Akron, 1 o.m.

New York Jets vs. Philadelphia at Tampa, I P.m. Atlanta at Pittsburgh, p.m. Minnesota at San Diego, 11 p.m. Houston at New Orleans, p.m.

SUNOAY'S GAMES Baltimore at Denver, 3 p.m. Chicago at Washington, 8:30 p.m. "It so happens there's only one man on each committee. He has no trouble communicating." Bryant likes a few things about his team. "Our defensive tackles are strong.

The linebackers are excellent Woodrow Lowe, in fact, might be another Lee Roy Jordan. Our offensive receivers all can catch the ball. We have depth at the running backs." Maybe Alabama won't need those prayers. When Bryant hooked Woodrow Lowe's name with Lee Roy Jordan's, it was a signal the sophomore must be a man among boys. Jordan played on Alabama's 1961 national champions, at center and linebacker.

He wasn't big. He was all iron and ferocity. His name, above all, is hallowed here. Lowe is 5-11, 205, a native of Phenix City, Ala. As a freshman on the varsity last year, he was sensational on specialty teams and as a No.

2 linebacker, Bryant, in his press conference, twice made the Lowe-Jordan comparison. He hinted, too, that Lowe would wear Jordan's No. 54 this season "if he earns it." Three Alabama players in a year have been injured riding motorcycles. One player is lost for the season. Bryant has communicated this message across the generation gap: "Nobody is going to be riding motorcycles around here and expect to play.

Unless he likes the team." Alabama at a glance 1972 record-10-2. Regulars returning fense. Six on offense, seven on de- Stars Wayne Wheeler, senior split end, all-SEC last year when he caught 30 passes for 573 yards a 19.1 average gain and seven touchdowns. Wilbur Jackson, senior running back, has averaged 6.6 yards a carry tor two seasons, "hits you like a brick wall," according to Georgia defensive back Dick Conn. Woodrow Lowe, sophomore linebacker, one of tour standouts at the position along with senior Waynt Hall, lunior Mike Dubost and senior Chuck Strickland.

Team strengths The linebackers head up a strong defense. The offensive backfield is three-deep. The pass receivers are very good. Weaknesses The offensive line Is unproven and slow, according to coach Paul Bryant. The quarterback, either sophomore Richard Todd or junior Gary Rutledge, needs experience.

Predicted record 10-1. L'iL The Bear, playing possum again, says Alabama only a 5-5 team Forestering is enjoying our premium whisky for all the right reasons Taste. Drink inn nnA thinn Pvpctprinn ic said. "The linemen are big, but they're immature, young and not agile. There are only two winners on that line." At quarterback, Bryant is working sophomore Richard Todd and junior Gary Rutledge.

Todd comes with rave notices, and Bryant himself says, "He has more ability at quarterback for what we want done than anyone I've ever had." Bryant doesn't like Todd's inconsistency. "He may get you a touchdown in two seconds and he may give the ball up on the next snap." Todd played with the freshmen last year. At 6 feet 2 and 205 pounds, he's a strong runner who carred for 203 yards in five games. He completed eight of 16 passes for 201 yards. The statistics tell nothing of his passing potential.

It is immense. Rutledge was a second-stringer last year behind Davis. Does the generation gap preclude communication between Bryant, 61, and his players? "Around here we have a lot of committees," said senior fullback Ellis Beck. Staff Photo PAUL (BEAR) BRYANT Casualty list heavy, he says 3' wy rmmimm TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Wherever in this land resides a man who considers Alabama football dear, he should say a prayer for the Bear.

This is it. The end. Paul (Bear) Bryant has no football players. This we know because Bear tells us so. Let us bow our heads in memory of Alabama football.

'Why, right now we look like a 5-5 team and I'm not kidding," the coach sid the other day. At some places, 5-5 is heaven. At Alabama, 5-5 is obscene. Bear's boys were 10-2 a year ago. They had 13 regulars coming back this season.

They've been picked in the Top Ten. Yet t'ryant weeps. With the Southeastern Conference Skywriters at his feet, Bryant recited a list of 26 men injured, ailing, operated on, dropped from the team or otherwise of no immediate use to Alabama. "That list has a lot to do with our lack of preparation right now," Bryant said. The Skywriters have been here before.

In 1961 Bryant said his team wouldn't make a first down in SEC competition, It vas so bad, It won the national championship, undefeated. Bryant then allowed as to how it was a good bunch of yung'uns. The coach's technique remains unchanged: Kick 'em in the rear first, pat 'om on the back later. Bryant does have hopes for this team. "Our success depends on how much it really means to us," he said.

"If we keep fighting, scratching, biting until everybody gets healthy and if we don't get embarrassed in our early games yeh, we'll have a good football team." A reporter called his newspaper collect. call from Tusaloosa," the operator said to the newspaper switchboard. "From where?" the newspaper said. "Where?" "Tuscaloosa, Alabama," the operator said. "The newspaper accepted the call, and then the Alabama operator said to the reporter, "We ouchta change the name of this place to Bear Bryant, Alabama." Done with his casualty list, Bryant said his two biggest concerns now are building an offensive line and replacing graduated quarterback Terry Davis, the SEC Player of the Year in '72.

"The offensive line is pitiful," Bryant v. wi iv I III IJJ. I VI W.4I something else. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. 86 or 100 Proof.

Vl II ly Brown Forman Distillers Corp. Louisville, Ky. 1973..