The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 29

NBA, ABA Seek Congressional Permission to Merge ATLANTA (AP) Owners of franchises in the National and American Basketball Associations voted yesterday to seek permission from Congress to merge into one professional league. Walter Kennedy, commissioner of the NBA, said the vote came on a statement of principles agreed to by merger committees of both leagues before a U.S. District Court in New York issued an injunction in May legally barring a merger until disposition of a suit filed by the NBA Players Association. "I'm quite sure it would much longer than a year I don't anticipate Congressional action so we can have a unification at the end of next season," Kennedy said as the NBA's Board of Governors concluded a two-day meeting. Kennedy made the announcement for both leagues, saying NBA owners approved the statement 13-4.

while all 11 ABA owners, meeting in Denver, approved it unanimously. The agreement touches only basic items that would be included in a merger provision and Kennedy said he was certain there were other items that would "have to be added" in the event Congress and the courts approved a merger. Items already agreed upon call for a 28-team league to be known as the National Basketball Association, a single league schedule as early as practicable, a world championship playoff between the two league winners, a common draft of college players and expansion by at least two new teams before the single league schedule goes into effect. Kennedy would serve as commissioner of the merged league. Kennedy said the statement would now be prepared for submission to the Judiciary Committees of the U.S.

House and Senate. "We have no sponsors for the proposed legislation at the moment," Kennedy said. "I really don't know when we'll file it, but certainly within the next few weeks." The statement itself points to a merger, championship play and a common draft next season. Kennedy noted it was unlikely that all the legal matters could be resolved by the time the 1970 season opens in October. The 13-4 vote by the NBA owners came after a gruelling five-hour meeting that carried through the lunch hour.

Five negative votes would have killed it. "The NBA had to go with this or nothing," Kennedy said. "Under the court's injunction, we cannot discuss situations involving specific players." Several NBA stars have jumped to the ABA and others have considered it. Such matters, Kennedy said, would certainly have to be resolved before a merger could occur. The principles of the plan provides for 28 franchises in 27 cities, with New York holding two franchises.

Each club in the ABA would pay $1.25 million over a 10-year period, with the exception of the Washington Capitols, who have plans to move next season. ports Horse Racing Page C4 Finest' Florida's: Tony Petrella Page C2 Wind Wrecks Scores -B Palm Beach Post, Friday, June 19, 1I7-C1 -way FSU Fall Jacklin Leads Open In Finals f. k- fr. -e 4 -9 CHASKA, Minn. (AP) Tony Jacklin, delighted with the raw, blustery wind that wrecked the rest of the field, cut out a one-under-par 71 yesterday for the first round lead in the weather-plagued U.S.

Open Golf Championship. "I'm happy in this weather," said the 25-year-old reigning British Open champ from Elmsham, England. "It reminds me of home." But while the blasts that reached 40 miles per hour were gentle breezes for the handsome young Briton, they were tornadoes of disaster for the giants of the game. Jack Nicklaus had an 81. Gary Player took an 80.

Arnold Palmer struggled in with a 79. Defending champ Orville Moody shot a 79. Lee Trevino managed only a 77. Billy Casper rallied for a 75. More than half the field failed to break 80 on the 7,151 yard, par 72 Hazeltine National Golf -Club course, a Robert Trent Jones creation that features huge, hump-backed greens and has 10 blind holes.

"If conditions stay like this, 300 will win it and Sam Parks will come out of retirement," quipped Player. Parks won the open in 1935 with a score of 299. "It was awful out there," said Nicklaus, who had a horrendous, seven-over-par 43 on the front nine. "But I'm not out of it. Suppose I come back with a 68.

That would make it 149. If conditions stay this tough or get worse, that might make the cut by 10 strokes." "I don't know what the hell to say," said Palmer. "I just played poorly. There's no excuse for not shooting better than 79 even on this course. Some guy shot 71 today on the same damn course I played." "I played badly, putted badly, did everything badly," said Player.

"The weather was more like the British Open than the United States 1 The temperature was in the chill 50s in the morning, and reached only to the 60s. "It's the worst conditions for playing golf I can remember," said tour veteran Mason Rudolph, who had a 73 and was tied for second with 50-year-old Julius Boros, a two-time champion, and Chi Chi Rodriguez. "It was a lot like Pebble Beach, site of the Bing Crosby," said Boros. "Mix a little rain in with it, and you've about got it." a pro since he was 17 and a tour regular since 1967, was four under par coming down the home stretch, but had a three-putt bogey on the 16th and doubled bogeyed the 17th when his ball hit a tree and kicked into the water. Turn to JACKLIN, Col.

2, C3 '-WW 1 tr-' '7 r- v-'rTvk, Special TIM Pt OMAHA. Neb. The Univeristv of Southern California Trojans scored one run in the bottom of the 15th inning here last night to defeat the Florida State University Seminoles, 2-1. in the finals of the NCAA College World Series baseball tournament. Frank Alfano's infliold single with the bases load- jJ JlJPA ed in the bottom of the 15th -TL scored Southern Cal's winning run.

JP Both teams went into the H5S final with one loss apiece. This was Florida State's fifth bid for the NCAA KjtldTdQS crown. The best previous showing for couch Jack Stalling's Tallahassee club NEW YORK (AP) The was a fourth place in 1962. National Football League Southern Cal had made Players Association re- the trip here to Rosenblatt vealed yesterday it had Stadium 12 previous times, filed an unfair labor prac- winning five titles. The last tice charge against the time the Trojans won was NFL and its owners follow- in 1968.

ing a breakdown in negotia- Southern Cal came into tions over a threat to com- the double elimination tour- missioner's Pete Rozelle's nament ranked No 1 in the powers. country. Florida State was tu urmi ranked No. 3. The NFLPA, bargaining The Trojanj.

lone lo agent for some 1,300 play- came in tne tournamenf, ers in both the NFL 0 nlng round t0 0hio Uni. American and National vmity 7.2 FSU 8uffered a conferences, issued a state- loss t0 Texas after win. ment under the signature ning its first tw0 games of association president Later FSU Tex- John Mackey accusing the as M.2i t0 earn a spot in NFL club owners of refus- tne finals against Southern ing to negotiate with the It was the 50th victory It came some 12 hours a8ainst losses for lne after the owners acknowl- Seminoles this season, edged that negotia tions had Junior lefthander Pat Os- broken down, showed the bo. ol Clearwater. 12 2.

two groups to be at polar- slarte(i on lhe mounJ for ized positions over the is- against Southern Cal. sue of the commissioner's bul was taken out of the powers and raised the pos- ame in the lnird inninK sibility of a repetition of when he was hit in the head negotiations two years ago. a thrown ball. At that time, the players StllOrt threatened to boycott training camps unless their de- rp rr mands were met, and the 10 llOSl owners responded by refusing to open the camps. The Rorrnttn deadlock existed for about ituuu 10 days when a settlement STUAHT Preparations finally was reached.

have bwn completed here on ThP firt iami ar the river course for the Stuart I tie first teams are Sailf.sh IW Boat ltegatu. scheduled to go to camp at 11:30 am. Saturday this season in about three and 12 X) rn Sunday weeks. (Vganuers Herman Reit2 The statement issued by and Jak Sailer report 89 en- Mackey, a tight end with tranls rea(Jy lhe the Baltimore Colts, said uf limited inboard hydroplane that thP NFt PA had filwt rannK "P1 at tnat tne rst- U'A had filed one word reford t0 broke(J its unfair labor practice lhe buaU in cilisn charge Wednesday after skim over the water at ipet-ds the association "had nego- up to 160 miles per hour tiated in good faith" in Points gathered at this TONY JACKLIN it with 71 Cold And Windblown, Jack Nicklaus Trudges Head Down severe weather took the toll of Nicklaus and others mmmm I lor idians Doyle Backing Up His Words Jack Flowers Post Sports Editor Related story, C4 "It's my money. It took me long enough to make it and I figure I can spend it like I want to.

"Before you can sell the public on a product, you have to have a product you can sell." Those were the words two weeks ago of Ned Doyle, new owner of the Miami Floridians of the American Basketball Association. Doyle hasn't wasted any time in backing up his words. Within the last week the Floridians have pulled off two trades. Their latest venture in the swapping market came yesterday in a triangular move involving the Floridians, Utah Stars (formerly the Los Angeles Stars and the Denver Rockets. This trade saw guard Donnie Freeman wind up with Utah.

This is the deal that's hard to understand. Why Donnie Freeman, an all-league performer who averaged 27.4 points per game last season? Here's the way yesterday's trade worked: From the Denver Rockets of the ABA, Miami acquired 6-foot-3 guard Larry Jones, 6-foot-8 forward Greg Wittnam and the Rockets' No. 2 winter draft choice. In exchange, the Floridians sent 6-foot-7 Don Sidle, Larry Cannon and their No. 1 winter draft pick to Denver, Immediately, the Floridians sent Freeman and the No.

2 draft choice acquired from Denver to Ltah for 6-foot guard Mack Calvin and 6-foot -7 Tom Washington. Last week the Floridians picked up 6-foot-7 forward we got tour starters and traded away two starters -Freeman and Sidle. Besides, Jones has been an all-league guard every year since the ABA has been formed. "We feel like with the additions we have we'll be a fast, quick and aggressive team next season. I think you'll see us improved a great deal ondefense.The way it stands right now we'll have Franz (6-foot-7), Washington (6-foot-7) and Thoren (6-foot-10) as our front line and Calvin (6-foot) and Jones (6-foot-3) in our back-court.

"We feel we'll be able to compete with anybody in the league with that lineup," said Deming. "I think we've got the best club, talent-wise, that we've had since the Floridians have been in Miami." Deming said he felt sure the NBA-ABA merger was just a matter of time now after the two leagues announced yesterday they had agreed upon a plan to submit to Congress. "That means in the future the people in the state will have a chance to see teams like the Lakers, Knicks and Milwaukee. It's not only great for Miami, but for the state," said Deming. Deming said the policy of the Floridians on college basketball players was the same as that of the ABA "hands off" until their eligibility has been completed.

"No, we're not going after Jacksonville's Artis Gilmore (7-foot-2) until after he has completed his eligibility," said Deming. Ned Doyle has the money and the Floridians are getting richer. American Power Boat Associ three sessions beginning in April. At the last session in Baltimore last weekend, ation recognized meeting will go toward the national championship standings. ReiU said he eipecti seven Ron Franz from the New Orleans Buccaneers of the ABA.

"Thoren (Skip) says his knee is in the best shape it has ever been in the past five years," Floridians official Jay Deming said yesterday. The 6-foot-10 Thoren figures to start at center for coach Hal Blitman's club. Still, the question remains. Why trade Freeman? "You have to give up something in order to get something in return," said Deming. "The key to the entire deal yesterday was Freeman.

Without giving up Freeman we wouldn't have been able to complete the trade. "This is a trade we've been working on since March," said Deming. "Sure, we hated to give up an individual like Freeman, but look at it like this. From the ones we got Mackey said "the NFL ne- of eight champions to attend gotiating committee broke the weekend races off negotiations. We regret rM from S.

I to Stu- that it therefore becomes 'Tiil? "if necessary to seek interven- Jy MaJm County Sheriff sDe- uon of the National Labor partment. Proceeds of the Relations Board to con- races will go to (he Martin vince the employers to re- County Association for Retard- sume negotiations." Children. Kostpflr JV rs- Has 'wm a. v. Basebal AMERICAN LEAGUE NATIONAL LEAGUE Yesterday's Results New York 3, Boston Cleveland Washington Only garnet scheduled Yesterday's Results Montreal 10, Atlanta 7 Chicago 4, San renclscoO Only games scheduled East 34 24 31 30 31 33 28 31 27 33 23 38 West 45 18 35 28 Best Fishing Bet Large verlety of tlth are offshore Dolphin, bonito, bteckfln tuna and some king-fun In grass lines from one to sii miles offshore.

Troll ballyhoo for bait, or If not available, use mullet or strip bait. Clipboard, C5 Chicago New York Pittsburgh St. Louis Philadelphia Montreal Cincinnati Sports on the Air TCLIVISION (Ttnlght) 10:30 p.m. Coll U.S. Optn preview, RADIO (TwtfgM) t.X p.m.

Maior Leagu Baxtwll Washington at Baltimore, second game of double header. WJNO 1230). 10 25 p.m. Maior League Baseball Chicago at Oakland, WXV I (1600). East Pet.

GB Baltimore 39 23 .643 -New York 38 25 .603 l'i Detroit 31 28 .525 6V Boston 29 30 .492 8Va Washington 29 33 .468 10 Geveland 27 32 .458 10V West Minnesota 38 19 .667 California 35 28 .574 5 Oakland 34 29 .540 7 Chicago 23 39 .371 17 Kansas City 21 39 .350 10 Va Milwaukee 20 41 .328 20 Pet. GB 4 .484 6 .475 6 .450 8 .377 12V4 .714 .556 10 .550 10W .460 16 .426 im .422 18Vi Today's Garnet Chicago (Horlefl S-7) at Oakland (Odom 4), 30 p.m. Milwaukee (Krautse 4-t or Pattln 3-5) at California (Murphy t-S), 11 p.m. Minnesota (Blyleven Ml at Kansas City (Drtgo 4-4), 1:30 pm. Detroit (Lollch 4-4) at Cleveland (Austin 0-0), 7:45 pm.

Washington (Co 4-5 and Batman 4-5) at Baltimore (Hardin 2-1 and Palmer 1-3), 2, 30 p.m. New York (Bahnsen 4-4) at Boston (Sleb- Today's Games Philadelphia (tunning Ml at New York (Soever -3), 1:09 p.m. St. Louis (Taylor 3-4) at Chicago (Decker 30 pm. Montreal (McGinn 3-3) at Pittsburgh (Moose 4-4), I Mp.m.

Houston Lemestor 4-4 and Bllllngham 4-I) at Atlanta (McQueen 0-1 and Jarvls 4-5), 2,4 :05 pm. Los Angeles (Singer 1-2) at Cincinnati (Nolan San Francisco (Marlchal 3-D at San Diego (Santorlni 1-5), 10 30 m. Los Angeles Atlanta. San Francisco San Diego Houston 33 27 29 34 29 39 27 37 ert 5-4), 7:30 p.m. More baseball, C3 i- 'xmmmmmmm'').