Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 18

FINAL C4 The Arizona Republic Wednesday, April 18, 1990 Agent Allen, former associate targets of FBI investigation Oakland council vote rescinds Raiders deal 7 "C.h investigators. This whole thing is blown out of proportion." Perkins, reached late last week, denied receiving money from Allen before his eligibility expired. Owens said hs has not been contacted by an FBI representative. have heard that (an investigation is in progress) before, and it almost always comes from the same person," Owens said. "I think it's one agent trying to affect another." I Owens declined to identify the agent.

He said his split with Allen had nothing to do with the Amoia case or an investigation. "I'm just trying to hold my own in real estate. When I started with Bruce, I was independent. I had things going in Phoenix. (But) our economy is way down now, and this requires my full-time attention.

"I had no problems with Bruce whatsoever. That (Amoia case) had nothing to do with Bruce. That was Amoia and me. If he (Amoia) had done even some cursory talking, he would know Bruce is not involved in that." Edward King as the result of real-estate deals the player made through Sportsworld. King specializes in recovering damages from sports agents who allegedly bilk their clients.

Allen said Owens did not leave Sportsworld because of Amoia's suit or the other allegations. "I just wanted to take the company in a different direction," Allen said. "We're talking about ghosts. Sportsworld is not in the real-estate market. If somebody does something outside of football, am I responsible for that?" Allen said he was not aware of Lewis' role in the real-estate deals.

"I have no relationship, no association or business dealings with Herb (Lewis)." Allen also denied paying college players or making illegal contact. According to The Constitution, two players from Arizona State's 1989 team, running back Bruce Perkins and wide receiver Lynn James, bought new Toyota Celicas with loans arranged by Sportsworld. "We ain't got nothing to tell you, man," said James, who was aware of the report. "There ain't no federal Elewonibi among best of lineman prospects 5 ELEWONIBI from page CI "I'm not exactly your average person," he said. "I've been a few places." His brother wrote him often from Snow Junior College in Ephraim, Utah, and told him how much fun he was having.

Elewonibi joined him and played for the school's club soccer team. "I dreamed of playing in the World i Cup," Elewonibi said. "But when I got there, there were guys from the Middle East and Africa and we played a little pickup soccer. There were no other teams for us to play. We even played BYU once and lost, 13-0." The football coaches at Snow saw Elewonibi's size and convinced him to try out for football.

His first day, he wore soccer cleats and a soccer uniform. By his second year at Snow, he had converted from the Muslim to the Mormon religion. He also had made great improvement on the playing field and was rated one of the top junior college offensive linemen. Five schools, including Arizona, recruited him and he chose BYU, where he became one of the nation's best guards. "He's big, huge," said John Butler, Buffalo Bills director of college scouting.

"He has excellent pass-blocking ability. One reason is because he comes oiit of a great program that knows how to pass block." Elewonibi is considered the best guard prospect in the draft. Mohammed Elewonibi "I'm not exactly your average person. I've been a few places." Webb, 6-6, 290 and nicknamed "Bam Bam" for the way he dominates defenders, is considered the top tackle. "He plays the position everyone wants left tackle," Butler said.

"He has the great size you are looking for there. He has the long arms and the big base. He also is a terrific athlete who can really move his feet." Rated behind Webb at tackle is UA's Glenn Parker, who like Elewonibi has a limited football background. He also didn't play in high school, instead spending his time on the Southern California beach. He might make the perfect Los Angeles Raider with his skull-and-crossbones tattoo.

"The offensive line is the weakest part of the draft," Green Bay General Manager Tom Braatz said. "As a group, they are smaller than usual." Elewonibi doesn't fit that mold. But with his background, he always has been considered a little different. "People have a lot of misconceptions about Nigeria," Elewonibi said. "They have this Tarzan mentality.

Even when I got to college, with supposedly educated people, they would ask me, 'Did you have electricity over It makes you 'wonder how they got into college to begin with." At least, they didn't ask him about living one block from a jungle. "We had a lot of snakes in the yard," he said, "but it's not like we had a charging rhinoceros out there." THURSDAY: Defensive linemen. AGENT, from page CI I am not guilty of any of the charges. "(In) the Amoia case, Vinny chose the courtroom, and in the courtroom Sportsworld and I will win. He chose the arena." Owens is a former Arizona State assistant football coach who replaced Frank Kush on an interim basis when Kush was fired in 1978.

He left Allen's agency in December and is working independently in real estate in the Valley. When the two were together, Allen handled negotiations for players and Owens dealt in financial planning. The Republic has learned that other players have either threatened legal action that resulted in an out-of-court settlement, or are contemplating lawsuits. A source told The Republic that Tom Gibson, a Cleveland Browns defensive lineman who played at Northern Arizona, recently reached an out-of-court settlement with Allen. Gibson did not return calls.

Another former professional player, who asked that his name not be used, has retained San Francisco attorney ASK SHERWIN WILLIAMS CHECK YELLOW PAGES FOR THE STORE NEAREST YOU The Associated Press OAKLAND The Oakland City Council on Tuesday night tentatively approved rescinding a $428 million plan to return the Los Angeles Raiders' football team to its city of origin. However, the council's 6-0 vote also approved reopening of a new round of talks to lure the NFL team. The issue wasn't on the agenda of Tuesday night's meeting so the vote showed the council's "intent to rescind the deal," said a spokeswoman for the mayor's office. That vote will have to take place at the next meeting after it is on the agenda, a move required under the state's open meeting law. "This morning I had two conversations with representatives of the Raiders," Mayor Lionel Wilson told the council.

The mayor said he wanted to "attempt to arrive at some kind of resolution" with all parties, including those opposing the plan. The arrangement negotiated during the past 14 months was undone mainly because of petitions to place the football pact before Alameda County voters. Wilson announced Monday that he would ask for the vote, saying that if the deal "isn't dead, it's dying." The Raiders played in the Oakland Coliseum from 1960 to 1981. The team's lease in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum expires at the end of the 1991 season. AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING COOL, COMFORTABLE, CUSTOM UNITS 00 INSTALLED DOMESTIC CARS TRUCKS DIRECT SAVES YOU BIG MONEY Cards not 'desperate' for back Bugel counting on healthy Mitchell By Lloyd Herberg The Arizona Republic Despite what others may say, Cardinals General Manager Larry Wilson said Tuesday that the club is not "in desperate need" of a running back, while Coach Joe Bugel said that Stump Mitchell probably will be his opening-day starter at halfback if Mitchell is fully recovered from reconstructive knee surgery.

The main topic of conversation for the Cardinals at a luncheon was the NFL draft, but Wilson and Bugel also offered good news on Mitchell and other players recovering from major injuries last season. Wilson said Mitchell recently was examined by the team's medical staff. "Basically, there's a much better feeling from the doctors that Stump Mitchell will play again this year," Wilson said. Mitchell, 31, is a free agent who was left unprotected by Phoenix Glidden Glidden f5 GAL. EVERMORE MAXIMUM HIDE SB 1NTI5K1QR jj (EE) Latex.

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He would really add something if he's ready to go by the first (regular) season game. That's a plus for us." Bugel also said the club will lean heavily this season on fullback Earl Ferrell. Wilson said the Cardinals will attempt to re-sign running back Tony Baker, another player left unprotected by Phoenix, and that the club is close to signing free-agent wide receiver Bill Hess, who was cut by the Philadelphia Eagles in training camp last year. The Cardinals have had discussions about running backs Lorenzo White of Houston, Greg Bell of the Los Angeles Rams and Gary Anderson of San Diego. Wilson wouldn't rule out a trade before the draft, but said it would be "based on how he will fit in on the football team now and in the future." 5 GAL EVERMORE 15 YR.

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