The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 30

7 rt' M1 1 4-C THE TENNESSEAN, Wedne.doy, Jonuory 25, 1984" Retired Kittle's Love for Baseball Hasn't Waned mm "That's a lot ol bunk in what they say. There's no geniuses in this game. There ain't one who ever lived" ONE THLNG about Kittle: he'd talk to anyone. In St. Louis, he'd roam the downtown bars and strike up conversations.

On the road, he'd hang around the team hotel, hoping to find someone with whom to talk baseball. Or he'd have a few beers. Or shoot a little pool. Anything to be around people and talk baseball. "Communication," he'd say.

"That's all baseball is. Conversation. Manager to players, player to player. Me to you. You to me." LONG BEFORE he quit old Hub convinced me that he really did love baseball.

"There's no game like it, this game," said the man who pitched professionally in six decades. "If I didn't love it as I do, I wouldn't have been around so long. Someone would have fired me a long time ago, and I've never been fired in my life. I'm proud of that. "I've been in every league there is.

Rookie League. League League. League. I've been the general manager. 1 drove the bus, year in and year out.

I sold all the fence signs and all the advertising, and I sold the box seats and coached third base, and I was the trainer, too. 3 "I HAD to get boxes of basebaiis C.O.D. at the bus station because our credit was so lousy we couldn't get a shipment of baseballs on credit. "But you go and see the game and what it means today in our society the enthusiasm and the fan appeal, and what it means for the months we play in. And what it means for the people, the kids and the old folks in nursing homes who listen on the radio and can't get out and their only enjoyment is baseball.

They still identify with the players and winning losing teams, and the contest. There's nothing like the game." No one has more love lor 'the game than old Hub. Hub Kittle, one of baseball's most colorful characters, won't be on the major league scene this year. Pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals the past three years, Kittle, 66, resigned following the 1983 season, reportedly to spend more time with his wife, June, who is in bad health.

However, he will continue to draw paychecks from the organization in a scouting and special assignment coaching capacity. The old man will be missed. In 1982 he became somewhat of a cult figure in St. Louis when he walked out to the mound to talk to a pitcher, Busch Stadium would rock with cheers. Under his guidance, a highly suspect pitching staff was good enough to win the world championship.

His careful handling of Joaquin Andujar, the volatile righthander, turned Andujar into one of the top pitchers in the National League. Kittle even became the first pitching coach to have his own fan club. KITTLE WOULD get riled up when he got too much credit. "I'm not the genius," he'd say, punctuating his remarks with his cigar. "It's the players who did it.

Never think that I did it. It's the players who did it when they walked between those white lines. "No matter what I teach, no matter what I tell somebody, and no matter that he might look like the-greatest thing in the world in the bullpen, he's got to do it. Marcis Cuts The Corners First Sports Page) season for tires; a big-budget team probably spent $200,000. "If you can'-tkeep fresh tires on, you're giving lip a lot of speed right there," he sayBut you can't put 'em on if yofj don't have 'em." All the top teams conduct wind-tunnel tests in preparation for su-pefspeedway races at Daytona and Tajladega.

The only winds Marcis tests his car in are the cold drafts that swirl through the garage when somebody lifts the tarp on the door. ''It'd really be tough for us to win on 'those tracks," he admits. "We're at Such a great disadvantage but weJU how up and run as competitive a race as we're able, I can guarantee you that. "One thing nobody has ever been abletd accuse us of is not trying." Ricky Rudd dropped by Bud Moore's shop to see how work is pro-greying on' his new Daytona ride. "This a first-rate team and I'm look-; injEj forward to driving for Bud," who replaced Dale Earnhardt as driver.

Earnhardt takes over Rudd's driving job with the Richard Childress team. "Dale's problem was that he nev-." er adjusted to driving a Ford and running a lower gear ratio," said Moore. "All cars aren't built the same way." Richard Petty is expected to make an announcement about his driving future during the media tour stop at his team headquarters today. Earlier in the week Petty an-' nounced he was splitting with the new- California-based RahMoc Go QDGDnDfWt 7 1 7 P15580R13Whitewall No trade needed TSU Expects Eyeful 15 (From First Sports Page) than Elmore Smith, a better shooter than Travis Grant or guys that 'played with more intensity than. Kevin Loder and Billy Ray Bates," Oliver says, referring to some of his former stars.

"But as far as having all these qualities in one player and playing with the most consistency, Lewis is the best." Also jumping on the Jackson bandwagon is Arkansas coach Ed-'di'e Sutton, who saw his team edge Alabama State 86-80 despite Jackson's 50 points. Sutton called Jack-. son "a legitimate first-team All-American. There's no doubt he'll be a first-round draft choice." QjHviS, WHO was recruited from the playgrounds of rural Wetump-ka, says the Hornets set their goals high this season and are aiming, for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Alabama State went to the National Invitation Tournament last season, where the Hornets lost Ole Miss'87-75.

first goal was to go undefeated in the regular season. '4A JrTV Whitewall SALE Size PRICE P16575R13 $45.20 P18580R13 $49.45 P18575R14 $53.70 P19575R14 $56.50 P20575R14 $59.90 P21575R14 $62.60 P20575R15 $62.20 P21575R15 $65.00 P22575R15 $67.85 P23575R15 $70.65 10,000 biting tread edges deliver all season traction Gas-saving steel belted radial ply construction Functional scuff rib helps keep whitewalls white SALE DEADLINE: JAN. 31 It" 1 Dave Marcis Small-Change Driver Team, with which he signed during the of f-season. Banjo Matthews, considered the Stradivarius of stock car builders, says at least 1,000 hours of work go into each of his products. The going price? Between $50,000 and $75,000, depending on the individual requirements.

Matthews was asked if there is a completley safe race car. "Only if it's not driven," he said. David Pearson, 49, and his son Larry, 1 9, will compete against each other in 10 races this season. Asked if growing older had slowed him down, Pearson, "the sport's second-winningest driver, replied: "Who's growing older?" Next question. In addition to the stop' at Petty Enterprises, the 67-member media tour will also visit Junior Johnson's team headquarters, where cars are prepared for Franklin's Darrell Waltrip.

We've already lost three games, so our goals now are to keep from losing any more and to get into the NCAA," he said. "The most important individual goal for me is to lead this team as far as it can go in a postseason tournament." LEWIS BENEFITS from a fine supporting cast which has helped score an average of 87.5 points per game, third-best in the country. Joining Jackson on the front line are 6-6, 225-pound Melvin Armstrong and 6-10 Eddie Tanner. Starting guards are Mike Freeney and Alexander Newell. TSU's Jose Crisp, ranked 15th in the nation in rebounding, will draw the assignment of defending Jackson when the Tigers are in their man-to-man.

Other probable Tiger starters are post player Thomas Walker, wings Ronnie Cage and Russell Sanders and point guard Glenn Washington. After tonight's game, TSU is idle until Monday night's home contest against North Carolina the way with 17 points. Fred Jenkins had 16, and Tyrone Beaman and White 15 each. Burton had 11 rebounds. The Southeastern Conference's leading scorer, Chuck Person, had 17 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.

BARKLEY, WHO over the years has averaged 22 points and 1 1 rebounds agains Tennessee, had 18 points and nine rebounds. But as he said in the dressing room afterwards, "Coach Smith kind of looks to me to take the lead in close games down the stretch." Last night he took the lead and won the game. Tennessee begins a stretch of four games on the road Saturday afternoon against Vanderbilt in Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. AUBURN 7l turnw 2-i 3-4 7. Perwn 117 17, B.rWev 1-11 J-J U.

Wh.ie -U 2-? 14, Ford 5 J-3 12, Strickland 1-7 6 I Hollgnd 1-2 1-13 Tot4 31-60 17-25 7 TENNESSEE (72) Bjrion Ml 3-4 17. JonM J-S Jenkim 1-12 9-0 16. Bramwi 4- 7-1 IS. Harper 1-2 0-0 2. While S-ll i-i IS FMcrnm 0-2 1-7 I Totals 27-63 11-21 72 Haittime-Auourn 36, Tennnwt 12.

RetwunoV Auburn 47 iPtrton 131, Tenneutc 26 (Burton 111 Auburn 13 IDantt 41, Tennessee 14 (While 4) Total Fouis Auburn II. Tennessee 20 Fouled Out-Wriite. Tennessee Indians' Franco Jailed for Night CLEVELAND (AP) Cleveland Indians' shortstop Julio Franco spent one night in jail and was fined last weekend in the Dominican Republic for carrying a pistol, the American League team has confirmed. Franco was arrested and detained for a night for carrying a gun without a permit in San Pedro de Macoris. Christiansen Leaving Atlanta Falcon Staff SUWANEE, Ga.

(UPI) The Atlanta Falcons announced yesterday that defensive backfield coach Jack Christiansen -would not return for the 1984 season "due to health rea-soas." Christiansen, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and at Stanford University. ATTENTION! oSf" Save On The Tracker That's Right For You. Super Savings On Goodyear Auburn Edges Vols NO TRADE NEEDED Tracker XG "action 'read r.70.1 lr-c sJr5 The New Enjoy Car Radial true radial per formance plus gas- mm 3 saving economy Chosen by Detroit for on some new model cars Tracker LT G78-15 LR-C CQ) P1b5'80R13Wtuteall No Hade needed '4935 pta) Shi 4 MPH'l oetC'd Pi, lt "die use Watch the 1984 Winter Olympics on ABC-TV, brought to you by Goodyear. 01981 ABC.Inc Last Chance To Save: Jan. 31 '62 35 fSflib Ho tt needed SB lb While neefltfl IS YOUR ait DUE FORAUALIGWXNT? WHEEL ALIGNMENT NEW! Credit card convenience for automotive needs.

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"On the rebounds that, came off the missed fouls, the first one sort of hung on the lip. Willie (Burton) had me boxed out but the little hesitation on the lip of the basket gave me a chance to get back to the ball. "I just got a lucky bounce on the second, I guess." THE GAME would have been more one-sided than it was if the Tigers hadn't made so many turnovers. They had 29 in the game. Tennessee helped them some, with 20 of its own.

Auburn had a 47-26 edge on re bounds and shot 5.7r'c from the field to Tennessee's 42.9. The Vols hit 18 of 21 free throws while Auburn connected on 31 of 50. "Auburn did a good job of beating us by going to the boards and getting second and third shots," DeVoe said. "We didn't exercise any control Of the game. We had too many turnovers and got beat badly on the boards.

"I think our team will continue to fight but we can't keep falling behind by double digits and expect to come back every time." Smith said, "This is a difficult place for us to win." THOUGHT the backboard was the biggest factor in the game. We pretty much controlled rebounding as the game went on. I thought our press hurt them early." The press was a tactic that Auburn used to surge into a 10-point lead 12 minutes into the game. The Tigers led by one. at 15-14, when the press was applied.

Three interceptions in a row and a missed in the next minute and 18 seconds put Auburn ahead 25-15 and thpy never again trailed. TENNESSEE WAS forced to over an Auburn zone the entire second half and it resulted in an average of only 37.1 1- after they had shot 50rr the fir-t half. Moreover, the Vols seldom got more than one shot. At thaL four Vols werf in double gures uvJi Willie BuMtrn leading PRICES LIMITED WARRANTIES AND CREDIT TERMS SHOWN ARE AVAILABLE AT GOOOYEAR AUTO SERVICE CENTERS SEE ANY OF THE BELOW LISTED INDEPENDENT DEALERS FOR THEIR COMPETITIVE PRICES. WARRANTIES AND CREDIT TERMS AUTO SERVICES NOT AVAILABLE AT STARRED LOCATIONS.

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