St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 71

7 (fr SIMPS ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 1C April 8, 1976 Jrawy flVes BoMn line Pie Wtehf By Gary Mueller Of The Post-Dispatch Staff BUFFALO, April 8 Defenseman Bob Hess definitely will be sidelined and left winger Chuck Lefley is only a "doubtful starter as the Blues face the Buffalo Sabers here tonight in the second game of their best-of-three Na-" tional Hockey League playoff series. Hess suffered a hairline fracture of his left ankle when hit by a Rick Martin slap shot late in the second period of the 1 Blues' 5-2 victory Tuesday in St. Louis -and Lefley suffered a severly bruised and cut forearm when slashed by Rene Robert late in the game, as Lefley was scoring the Blues' final goal. i I- "We'll just have to regroup and get jhe job done as best we can," said Blues coach Leo Boivin.

Neither Hess nor Lefley accompanied the team when it traveled to Buffalo late yesterday afternoon. Lefley remained in St. Louis with trainer Tommy Woodcock for treatment of his arm, but was scheduled to fly to Buffalo this morning and might play in Tonight's 7:05 o'clock game (St. Louis time, KMOX radio and KPLR-TV). A third game, if needed, i-would be in Buffalo tomorrow night.

"I'll have to talk to Tommy when he and Chuck get here and see how the arm responded to treatment," said Boivim "We had X-rays taken and nothing is broken, so there's still a chance he might be able to play." Even with Lefley in the lineup, the Blues would face a formidable task in trying to defeat the heavily favored Sabres. The Blues have not won in Buffalo in the last six tries, dating back to a 5-2 victory on December 16, 1973. Without Lefley, who set a Blues record with 85 points this season and had two goals and an assist in Tuesday's stunning victory, the Blues seemingly would rate as definite underdogs. In addition to the injuries to Hess and Lefley, the Blues still will be without left winger Floyd Thomson, who is out with a skull fracture, and probably won't have veteran defenseman Barclay Pla-ger, who sat out Tuesday's game with a hand injury. Rookie defenseman Jamie Masters has been recalled from the Blues' farm club at Providence, R.I., and will be in uniform if Plager cannot play.

Defenseman Bob Gassoff is expected to play, but his right eye is nearly swollen shut, the result of an accidental collision with teammate Pierre Plante late in Tuesday's game. Garry Unger and Rick Smith also have minor bumps and bruises and skipped practice yesterday. Although no one would comment officially, the Blues blamed their battered condition on the loose officiating by referee Wally Harris in the series opener. Harris allowed both teams to get away with borderline tactics that seemingly should have resulted in penalties but instead only encouraged cheap shots when no penalties were called. Boivin attempted to hide the Blues' injuries after Tuesday's game, shuttling his walking wounded into a medical room before admitting the press, which included a 12-man delegation from Buffalo, into the dressing room.

"We sent ail our injured players into a back room and locked the door so the Buffalo reporters wouldn't see who was hurt," said Boivin. "We didn't want to let anyone know how banged up we were." The Sabres might be in equally bad shape. Defenseman Jim Schoenfeld and Lee Fogolin missed the Sabres' practice yesterday because of a bruised foot and knee, respectively, but were expected to play tonight. Buffalo coach Floyd Smith indicated that he would start goalie Gerry Desjar-dins, who was removed from the opener after yielding four goals in 43 minutes. Boivin declined to name the Blues' starting goalie, but there seemed little doubt he would come back with rookie Ed Staniowski, who was sensational in Tuesday's game.

"I haven't announced who will be starting," Boivin said last night on arriving in Buffalo, "but you have an idea who I might go with, don't you?" Smith was certain his Sabres would be facing Staniowski again and he promised his team would keep the youngster busy. "We have to start shooting more," said Smith, whose team outshot the Blues, 39-31, in the first game. "They (the Blues) play an umbrella type defense where they concentrate on protecting the net. It left a lot of rebounds, but we too often had no one there to get them. What we have to do is shoot and drive for the net to get more penetration." Meanwhile, Buffalo general manager Punch Imlach, who drew criticism from Buffalo partisans for not solving the scheduling conflict that forced the Sabres to open the series on the road, continued to insist that the Sabres still held the upper hand.

"The best thing that could have happened to us was losing Tuesday night's jame on the road," said Imlach. "The way we played, we'd have lost it here (in Buffalo), too, and look at the predicament we'd be in then having to win in St. Louis to stay alive." BLUENOTES: If the Blues defeat the Sabres either tonight or tomorrow, they would advance to a best-of-seven quarterfinal series against the Montreal Canadiens. That series would open in Montreal with games Sunday and Tuesday, with the action shifting to St. Louis for games next Thursday and Saturday at The Arena.

If Buffalo can come back with victories tonight and tomorrow, the Sabres would move into a quarterfinal series with the New York Islanders as their likely foe. Buffalo had a 28-7-5 record at home this season, including a 4-2 victory and a 4-4 tie in games against the Blues. Last season, the Sabres were 28-6-6 at home in the regular season and 8-1 at home during the playoffs. Charity Collects; Mullenix Wxup DENVER, April 8 (UPI)-Tom Burns, an attorney representing the defunct Denver Spurs of the World Hockey Association said the team's owner, Ivan Mullenix of St. Louis, will have a 1800 check in the mail for March of Dimes officials to pay off money earned for the charity during a benefit game.

The response followed complaints by representatives of the March of Dimes to District Attorney Dale Tooley after they had been unsuccessful in efforts to obtain the money, which was raised during a Dec. 13 benefit game between Denver and the Phoenix Roadrunners. Burns said Mullenix had authorized a bookkeeper to issue a check "two or three months ago," but there had been a "mixup." Burns said that Mullenix "has had his reputation lambasted enough already." The Spurs left Denver Dec. 31 owing the city about $60,000 in seat tax money collected from fans. Giants Get Csonka For A Cool Million rowing Bear Josses Qauntlet NEW YORK, April 8 (UPI) For the second time in three years, Larry Csonka has traveled the free-agent route to a million-dollar contract this time with the New York Giants.

Csonka, the bulldozing fullback who helped carry the Miami Dolphis to two successive Super Bowl championships before defecting to the World Football League, chose the Giants over a half-dozen other National Football League clubs yesterday and, in the space of an hour and a half, signed a multi-year contract worth more than $1,000,000. "We were blitzed, that's all," said Csonka's agent, Ed Keating, at a hastily called news conference. "Usually this kind of negotiating takes several sessions, but the Giants came right out with their best shot and we bought it. They kayoed us." "The reason I chose New York," said Csonka, "was coach Bill Arnsparger. I got to know him at Miami and I think he's a great coach.

I know we'll work together well." Csonka found himself back in the lucrative free-agent market with the demise of the WFL and his team, the Memphis Southmen (Grizzlies). John Bassett, who originally founded the WFL team as the Toronto Northmen, lured Csonka, wide receiver Paul Warfield and running back Jim Kiick away from the Dolphins in 1974. Csonka received $3,000,000 in the deal. Prior to playing out his option and jumping to the WFL, the 6-foot-3, 237-pound Csonka was unsurpassed as an NFL fullback, leading the Dolphins to four straight division titles, three Super Bowl appearances and NFL titles in 1973 and 1974. Against the Minnesota Vikings in the 1974 Super Bowl, Csonka was voted most valuable player when he set a championship game rushing record with 33 carries for 145 yards.

The Giants are hopeful of getting similar production from Csonka. "Before signing Larry, we were thinking in terms of the running back area in the draft," said Arnsparger. "Now we can concentrate on other things." Keating said the Giants were among six NFL teams to make serious offers for Csonka's services but refused to go into the specifics of the contract. AUGUSTA, April 8 Jack Nicklaus knows exactly when he's got himself ready to play in the Masters golf championship. "I start giving Barbara rough answers.

I don't hear all the questions. I can't watch television," he said yesterday. Barbara is his wife and she's probably had a rough week because Jack said he 'was ready to play in the Masters that began today. "I'm not unhappy with any part of my said the Golden Bear, who is the defending champion looking for a record "sixth title and a record seventeenth major championship. He was willing to admit that the -V--1 noteoooK by bill beck I competition looked tough.

"At least on paper it does," he said, "more players have done well earlier than at any time I can remember. But the question is: 'Can they do well Obviously, he was tossing down the gauntlet before triple winner Hubert Green and double winners Hale Irwin and Johnny Miller. He paid special attention to Irwin. "Hale is very good. I keep reading where he is underrated.

Well, he's never underrated by me," said Nicklaus. mum Snip, Snip, Snooze JGene Littler, Arnold Palmer, Nick-4aus. They are only three of the eventual Sgolfing greats whose first introduction to jjltigusta National Golf Club and the Masters championship came as non-Jfeaying guests in the old bell tower atop mm the white Georgian clubhouse. MORE THAN A HANDSHAKE. with coach Bill Arnsparger after $1,000,000 contract with the New That's where the Augusta National quarters promising amateurs on their first visit so they can be lulled to sleep by the snip, snip, snip of the sprinkling system and the cries of the night birds.

The two amateurs there this week are Jay Haas of Belleville, 111., and Curtis See MASTERS, Page 5 Hot Haas Has AUGUSTA, April 8 Wake Forest University's Jay Haas of Belleville, 111., became only the second amateur ever to win the nine-hole, par-3 tournament yesterday that is the preliminary to the Masters championship that started today. Haas shot six-under-par 21, beating Billy Casper and Art Wall by a shot, and won a silver memento and a new measure of confidence. "Mostly, it helped me get used to the crowds," said Haas. "I've been worried that if I push it or pull it (the ball), I'll kill somebody. I learned in the Open that I can play with anybody.

Still, for an amateur to win the Masters would be amazing." Haas, playing in the Masters for the first time, was low amateur in the United States Open each of the last two years. Haas was paired today with another Wake Forest alumnus, Arnold Palmer. Other pairings of area players were: Larry Ziegler and Msashi Ozaki, Hale Irwin and Lou Graham, and Bob Goalby and amateur Bill Campbell. Goalby, who is Haas's uncle, won the Masters in 1968. Last week, Haas cad-died for Goalby at the Greater Greensboro Open, "so I could earn some money to pay my caddie at the Masters," said Jay.

Bill Beck A Catch To It CARDINALS WHITE SOX Which Csonka Did NY Sign? The way Joe Sullivan, the football Cardinals' director of operations, sees it, there are two Larry Csonkas. "I don't know which Csonka they signed," Sullivan said last night after he had learned that if mvm Sards' Slips Show Training Hinds WW 1 0 ax) Larry Csonka shakes hands Csonka signed a multi-year, York Giants. (AP Wirephoto) the New York CANADIAN 1 I ii obrhM obrhlX Brock II 4 0 0 0 Lemon cl 4 2 0 0 Richardss 4 110 Gorrrf 2 2 0 0 McBridect 2 110 Orta3b 3 0 11 Anderson cf 10 0 1 Stein pr-Jb 0 0 0 0 Simmonsc 4 0 0 0 Joneslf 3 0 2 0 Smithrf 4 0 11 Maydh 10 0 0 Hernandez lb 4 0 2 0 Brodtortph-dh 3 0 1 3 Cruz lb 2 0 0 0 Spencer lb 3 0 0 0 Tyson 2b 3 0 0 0 Downing 2 0 0 0 Falcone 2 0 0 0 Esslonc 10 0 0 Reynolds 0 0 0 0 BrohamerJb 4 10 0 Prolvp 0 0 0 0 Dentss 4 112 Melendezph 1 0 0 0 Gossagep 0 0 0 0 Wallace 0 0 0 0 Hamilton 0 0 0 0 Carroll 0 0 0 0 Totals 31 2 5 2 Totals 30 i 5 6 CARDINALS BOO 101 CHICAGO (A) 000 141 0ta-i E-Richard, Gossage. O.P-Cardinals 1. L.0 4, Chicago 2B Hernandez.

3B Richard. H.R. Dent. SF Anderson. Giants were about to announce that they had signed Csonka.

"If it's the Csonka that was with Memphis last year, I don't much care. If it's the Csonka that used to play for Miami, I wish he would have gone to a different division that Csonka was a heckuva football player." Sullivan said that the Cardinals had not talked with either Sconka or Calvin Hill, the former Dallas Cowboy running back who signed with the Washington Redskins last Saturday after a trip to the World Football League. "Those teams (the Redskins and Giants) are getting players with something in common," Sullivan said. "They both look at money as the most important thing, otherwise, they never would have left the National Football League. They still have no loyalty, I would guess, and loyalty still has to be No.

1." One thing that both Hill and Csonka do have plenty of is money. "How much money is there?" Sullivan asked. "If he (Csonka) got anywhere near what he was asking Miami, it's a good thing he didn't talk to us I would have filled the waste basket." Doug Grow Tampa Tabs Selmon No. 7 Compiled From News Services NEW YORK, April 8 The Tampa Bay Bucaneers, picking first in the National Football League's draft of college players, surprised nobody today by making University of Oklahoma defensive lineman Leroy Selmon their No. 1 choice.

Tampa Bay got the right to pick first by virtue of a coin flip with the Seattle Seahawks, the other expansion team that will begin play this season. The two teams were to alternate going first in each of the remaining 16 rounds. In brief trading before the draft, the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers swapped unhappy corner-backs Tom Hayes going to San Diego for Sam Williams. Hayes, a five-year veteran, asked to be traded and Williams, going into his fourth season, wanted the Chargers to renegotiate his contract and they didn't. Five clubs have been penalized draft choices for signing violations.

The New York Giants and Chicago Bears each forfeited a sixth-round pick, the Redskins a seventh-round choice and the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons lost tenth-round selections for various violations of the league policy on signing free agents. A league spokesman said the number of the pick was determined by the severity of the infraction. Selmon, a 6-foot-2, 260-pounder from Eufaula, is expected to be the hub around which coach John McKay will build his defense. Heis the fourth defensive lineman to be made the No. 1 selection in the draft in the past five years and the first Oklahoma player ever to be made the first choice.

The Seahawks used 14 minutes 58 seconds of their alloted 15 minutes and finally selected Notre Dame defensive tackle Steve Niehaus, a 260-pounder who underwent knee operations his freshman and sophomore seasons. I By Neal Russo Of the Post-Dispatch Staff Do the Cardinals have a good chance So win the Eastern Division of the National League? "Yes, if we can just catch the ball," Said manager Red Schoendienst. "We've Jj)een having too many dropped balls and other bad plays in the field. No pitching is good enough to overcome all 26at-" Schoendienst was upset because the JSSrdinals' defensive slips showed up again yesterday as the Redbirds lost to She Chicago White Sox, 6-2, at Sarasota, in their last spring exhibition fame. same thing happened the game Jefore," said Red, who still can't get aver the way the defense put the Xardinals in a hole in the early months JJjJlast season.

But Schoendienst had some reasons to Smile, too, as the Birds ended their play-for-fun period with a 6-9 record. ZFor one thing, Pete Falcone threw 5vell for the fourth time in as many Starts. After facing just nine men in three Jtttiings, Falcone gave up an unearned ron in the fourth inning when Bee Bee Jfckhard, playing shortstop in place of STJing Don Kessinger, messed up a grounder. Falcone walked three men in 3our-run fifth. Two of those runs were JJlearned because of a passed ball charged to Ted Simmons.

m'l'm ready," said a confident Fal-Jqne. "I had all my pitches going good. I think the umpire squeezed me too much some of those walks. The only ball Jtfty hit good off me (in five innings) as the home run (by Bucky Dent), and ewind helped that." SJLefthanded reliever Mike Wallace, Mining on strong, set fown all six outers he faced, five on routine grounds. know I'm ready when I don't walfi ii 1 PITCHING SUMMARY IP ER BB SO Falcone (L) Reynolds Proly Wallace Cossage(W) Hamilton 5 'l 2 6 Carroll anybody and I have the batters hitting into the ground," said Wallace, who had not walked anyone the day before either.

Mike Proly, who might help plug up the righthanded relief gap, retired the only man he faced, but lefthanded Ken Reynolds had control trouble again, walking two men. Schoendienst still has nightmares when he recalls the outfield failures early last season, and said of the fly balls dropping yesterday, "I know it's a little tough to see the ball in the White Sox park, but their guys seemed to do all right. You saw the diving catch Cleon Jones made." Schoendienst could console himself with the fact that his players are in pretty good condition. Kessinger was a late scratch yesterday because of a slight groin injury. He is expected to be ready for the Cardinals' National WHISKY A BLEND 80 PROOF SEAGRAM DISTILLERS NEW YORK, N.Y.

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