The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 19

SECTION Scoreboard2 Major Leagues4 Classified6 SX2 Saturday, April 27, 1985 cotft Wiris Masters Crowd, ises Laver By CAROL STUART Tennessean Sports Writer BRENTWOOD, Tenn. Gene Scott won over the crowd, but lost the battle to "Rock-, let" Rod Laver in their grand Grand Masters' opener last night i Scott's spectacular play early seemed to have the evening audience favoring him in the 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 victory by Laver. The 500 fans at Marvianrl Farms Rarmifit and Cniin- even though I had a 5-2 start," said Laver. "Fitness doesn't create the problems (at our age), but you feel like you'd like to be more consistent It's frustrating I feel I got to the net more and volleyed the last set a little more. But it's tough when you're not getting the ball where you want it because you've already committed to the net That's the problem with the inconsistencies." Earlier in the day, Ken Rosewall, billed as tennis' "most distinguished citizen," made a royal rally to win his first-round match against India's Ramanathan Krishnan 6-4, 6- "4.

Center court at Maryland Farms was far from Wimbledon where he was awarded the Order of the British Empire as a consolation prize in 1971 after the title continued to elude the world champioa But the location and the sparse sprinkling of spectators didn't seem to matter to the 50- year-old Australian yesterday in his smashing second-set comeback. Rosewall, who was pushed to win the opening set of the best-of-three, easily won five straight for another 6-4 victory after falling behind 4-1 in the second go-round. "I played a good game to win 4-2, but actually Krishnan was a bit unlucky on the serving game," said Rosewall, who set records by winning the Australian Open 19 years apart, the French Open 15 years apart and the U.S. championships around a 14-year span. "He hit two shots that both touched the top of the net and carried out and both could have turned in.

A win would have given him 5-2, which would have made it tough for me to win the set" The slow-starting win for the top-seeded Rosewall in the over-45 tour now puts him in today's 1 p.m semifinals against No.2 Mai Anderson. Anderson, who also helped Austra about poor lighting over the court at Maryland Farms' indoor barn, and others found the playing surface uneven. "We're all nearly 50 years old or over, and our eyesight isn't as good as it was," Rosewall said. Fraser, who once won the U.S. doubles, singles and mixed doubles, acknowledged his complications in seeing the ball also had a lot to do with Anderson's sizzling serve.

Today at 8 p.m, Anderson and Fraser will be on the same side when they face Gimeno and Stolle, the second-seeded team behind Laver and Rosewall. The latter two, the most popular names to the fans, open the doubles competition immediately after Rosewall's match against Anderson. Today's 1 p.m. session will be telecast live on Channel 2, WKRN, and tommorow's 1 p.m finals will be shown by tape delay at 7 p.m. lia dominate tennis in the 1950s and 60s, used a powerful serve yesterday to slam fellow countryman Neale Fraser 6-1, 6-4.

In the late match yesterday, the fifth Australian on the Grand Masters circuit Fred Stolle, downed Spaniard Andres Gimeno 6-2, 6-4 to move into the berth opposite Laver in today's 6:30 p.m. singles semifinals. "I've had problems with my serve for a few months, but this was the best I've served for a good 12 months," said Stolle. "I didn't miss that many first serves and I went for the second serves with only two or three double faults. "If I serve well I will have a chance against Rocket but if I don't I don't think so," he added.

"We've played one another for 25 years, and I don't think he or I have any new moves to show the other." Both Rosewall and Fraser, having trouble hitting into the net complained yesterday Itry Club particularly liked the American's backcourt shot between the legs when he had to run down a deep lob by his Australian opponent 5 But Laver launched a serious attack from I point on, despite losing that game in the second set to lead only by one, 4-3. Both 'were given standing ovations after the tie-: "He kept the ball in play, and let me make the mistakes, which I obliged the first set 5 UIIW.JJ lee Smith Criticizes Louisville, Nashville Too Wet Mad ntvr xw ni I By LARRY WOODY Tennessean Sports Writer LOUISVILLE, Ky. A sudden cloudburst gave the Nashville-Louisville game the old heave-ho here last night with the score tied 3-3 after five innings. The game was called after a 1-hour, 32-minute rain delay and will be replayed in full at a later date. Still, since the contest went five full innings, it will be counted as an official game and all statistics including home runs by each team will count.

The final game of the scheduled four-game series will start at 6:30 CST tonight with Nashville's Paul Voigt (1-0) facing Louisville's Todd Worrell (1-2). The Sounds, 5-9 and dragging bottom in the American Association East return to Greer Stadium to open a four-game homestand against Indianapolis at 2:05 tomorrow. Louisville is in second place in the division at 8-6, two games behind Buffalo. Last night's rainout marked the debut of Sounds interim manager Gordy MacKenzie, who arrived yesterday to take the helm of the team in the absence of hospitalized Lee Walls. Tm here under difficult circum-, stances," said MacKenzie, who comes to the Sounds from Birmingham, where he was manager of Detroit's Double-A Barons.

"I hope Lee is back on his feet soon and back out here with his ball-club," added MacKenzie. "In the meanwhile, I'll do my best to carry on for him This is a great group of players and it's a pleasure to work with them" Walls remains in the Critical Care Unit of St Thomas Hospital, in serious but stable condition. He underwent surgery last Sunday for internal bleeding. Player-coach Leon Roberts had handled the team for the past eight games. Just as they had done the previous night when Lousville rallied for a ninth-inning 4-3 victory, the Sounds jumped to a quick 3-0 lead last night Nashville plated three runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run homer by catcher Bob Melvin.

Scott Earl led off the inning with a bunt single, moved to second on a (Turn to Page 4, Column 4) I Lee Smith, a commentator whose views appear weekly on WSMV-TV, (says Vanderbilt coach George should have known of 'Steroid usage on his team and has been criticized unfairly. Smith, publisher of the Tennessee 'Journal, told the Channel 4 audience last night that he agrees with Ten-hcssean sports editor John Bibb that should have known about the steroid problem. I- "It's part of the coach's job to find ijout about it when 32 of his players obtain dangerous drugs over a period of years," said Smith, who is also a frequent contributor to the piashville Banner opposite editorial page. His commentary, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the management of Channel 4, also addressed the issue of whether the Nashville news media has blown the problem out of proportion. The complete text of Smith's commentary: "After widespread news coverage of indictments in the Vanderbilt 1 steroid case, some Commodore loyalists are suggesting that the Nashville news media has blown the problem out of proportion, i "In his only public comment after his indictment former Vanderbilt weight coach EJ.

(Doc) Kreis told Channel 4 he was upset with The Tennessean and sports editor John Bibb for what Kreis termed an unprovoked and unwarranted attack on football coach George Maclntyre. "The Vanderbilt problem is not as serious as the recent scandal at Tu- lane University. Or as the cheating scandal at the University of Florida. Or as it would have been had the drug abuse involved cocaine or some Other mind-altering drug, "But potential health dangers stemming from unprescribed steroid use are well documented. And 32 present or former Vanderbilt football players have admitted to illegal possession of the drug.

This was no isolated incident It was a continuing pattern of illegal activity and a serious problem I "Coach Maclntyre has said he Knew nothing about the use of steroids by Vanderbilt football players. He is among those who say the issue has been blown out of proportion. And he has suggested that (Turn to Page 4, Column 1) Staff photo by Callie Shell Gene ScOtt takes time to water the flowers during a break of his match with Rod Laver in the Masters. Tournament. Board of Trust Backs Kramer.

Tests Panel Chairman Says Vanderbilt Steroid Use Under Control By JIMMY DAVY Pat Wilson, chairman of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust says that the board is con-vinced that the illegal use of steroids in the Commodore football program is under control. "My personal feelings are that Vanderbilt has received undue publicity for what has happened in light of what is happening in college athletics," said Wilson yesterday. "But we can handle it. The chancellor and the athletic director have control of the situtation and have the total backing of the board," Wilson said. Wilson's remarks came just moments after the university board had listened to Vanderbilt athletic director Roy Kramer's annual report on the status of intercollegiate athletics at the university.

"Generally, I talked about the issues facing college athletes and steroids testing was just a part of it" said Kramer yesterday. "It was no small part, but smaller than other aspects of the report." "I told, the board that we have put in place the most extensive testing program, bar none, in college football," Kramer said. "And I reported that the random testing of a sizable number of our athletes has reaffirmed our confidence in our student-athletes." Asked to characterize the board's reception of Kramer's report, Wilson said: "I'll answer that by saying that Roy received a standing applause when he finished his presentation." The Kramer report to the Board of Trust came just one week after the Davidson County Grand Jury returned a 97-count indictment against three men including former Vanderbilt strength coach EJ. (Doc) Kreis for conspiracy to dis tribute steroids without a prescription. A three-month investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation led to the grand jury indictments which named 32 present and former Vanderbilt football players as unindicted co-conspirators.

Within a week after the TBI notified Kramer that a two-state search for the source of illegal steroids to Clemson University had been traced to the Vanderbilt weight room, the Commodore athletic director announced a random testing program to "control and eliminate" the useage of anabolic steroids by Vanderbilt student-athletes. The testing program was in place prior to the beginning of spring football practice, March 19. Kramer says that by this time next year, the (Turn to Page 4, Column 6) Majors Wishing for Defend Strength Annual Orange-White Game at Neyland Stadium Concludes Vols' Spring Work TSU Ends Spring Drills By MIKE JONES Tennessee State coach Bill Thomas said he's had trouble gauging the progress of his Big Blue Tigers this spring, but is nonetheless looking forward to today's annual Blue-White Game at Hale Stadium. The first-team offense will duel the first-team defense in the 4 p.m contest which is free to the public. "It's kind of strange," Thomas said yesterday.

"I haven't been able to get a feel for this year's team so far. There are so many things now to take into consideration when you're as young as we are. But if we don't have any academic casualties or nagging injuries, we should be all right by the time the season opens." Priority items for Thomas and his staff today include looking at reserve quarterbacks in order to find a solid backup for senior Gilbert Renfroe and testing a tender secondary and offensive line. Renfroe was the the nation's second best in passing efficiency last season and aided TSlTs surge to an 11-0 record in Division I-AA. And while Renfroe, barring injury, is a sure-fire starter for TSU come fall, the backup situation is more of a question.

Three redshirt freshmen, Stacy Greer, Ricky Mahaley and Leon Garlington, will be battling for the top reserve job and should see plenty of action in the game. Several key Tigers will miss today's game with injuries, including linebackers Onzy Elam and Michael Repress, Springfield, defensive tackle Jeff Chatman and defensive back Michael Armstrong. In the defensive secondary, three redshirt freshmen are expected to get strong looks. Youngsters Albert Thomas, Ben Robinson and Roger Holmes will team with veteran Robert Hall, although Thomas said that junior cornerback Carl McAfee, who is currently off the team for disciplinary reasons, may return by fail practice. While running through the position-by-position makeup of his team at yesterday's annual "State of the Vols" press conference, Majors men-.

tioned some probable weaknesses before arriving at one vital conclusion. "We have some strengths and some weaknesses. But we have what we have, and we've got to make the most of it" he And what the Vols have is potentially one of the finest offenses in the country, a kicking game that has possibilities and a defense where the flesh may be weak but the spirit is so very willing. In short, it is the kind of team that has a chance to win on each of 11 Saturdays this fall. And that hasn't always been the case at Tennessee during the past few seasons.

This renewed optimism is built around an offense that features senior quarterback Tony Robinson, certainly one of the most talented and productive passers In the college game. At this time last year, Robinson was nothing more than a string-bean of a question mark. While Alan Cock-rell was pondering professional base- ball, Robinson was getting mixed reviews in spring practice. Now, it's a whole new ballgame. Robinson is cool.

He is calm And he has collected almost 2,000 yards through the air in one short season. Put simply, he turned out better than any orange-tinted optimist dare hope. And for an encore? "There's a lot of weight on those thin shoulders," offensive coordinator Walt Harris said. VWe tried to get those shoulders bigger, but Tony's not an avid weight-lifter. But he is an avid football player." While tne Vols' offensive line is a small question mark, Robinson has the option of throwing to an array of receivers which includes the pluperfect Tim McGee crafty, heady and quick.

I love that kid a lot," Majors said) and tight end Jeff Smith. There is talent and depth elsewhere among the pass-catchers. The Vols are so deep at wide receiver that track stars Terry McDan-lel, Terry Scott and Sam Graddy who comprise three-fourths of a world-class 4x100 meter relay team are little more than practice fodder, at least for the time being. There is no Johnnie Jones around which to build a ground game, but the Vols do have several solid runners, including sophomore Charles Wilson and redshirt freshman Keith Davis of Nashville. Davi-shas participated in just seven of 18 practices this spring due to a pulled hamstring.

The Vols' big area of concern is on defense, where ex-Alabama assistant Ken Donahue has been entrusted with the job of making the unit decidedly more physical and hopefully intimidating. "We were a soft, spongy defensive team last year. It would be overly optimistic and highly unrealistic to think we could be outstanding, but we can be more intense," Majors said in a strong dig at Larry Marmie, who directed the defense for the last two seasons before joining the Arizona State staff. The major trouble spot is in the defensive line where only manchild Richard Cooper appears capable of dominating the action. "He has ability and talent, but he hasn't learned how to make full use of it yet," Donahue says of Cooper.

"It's my job to help him do it" By DAVID CLIMER Tennessean Sports Writer i KNOXVILLE The list of wishes is quick and to the point: A couple of defensive linemen, some more linebackers, another quality defensive back and a take-charge guy in the offensive line. That is what Johnny Majors wishes he had. But while approaching his ninth season at Tennessee, Majors has emerged from what he calls' "my most enjoyable spring practice" equipped with an outlook that includes equal parts of realism and optimism And it is that optimism which shows through when Majors talks about the 1 985 Vols, a team that stacks up as his best since returning to his alma mater as coach. The fruits of Tennessee's spring labors will be put on display today at 12:30 p.m in the annual Orange White Game at Neyland Stadium Ticket-holders can attend Fans Day festivities beginning at 11 a.m. CST, with fans invited to mingle with players and coaches on the playing field at the stadium.

A crowd approaching 20,000 is expected at the intrasquad game. f- 1.