St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 31

ft mi' Off mim, By Rick Hummel Of tha Post-Dispatch Staff The Cardinals Increased their offer to reliever Bruce Sutter Wednesday, but agent Jim Bronner said, "It really doesn't mean very much because we haven't solved the problem." The problem, for Sutter, is that he wants a no-trade clause in the contract The Cardinals have a policy of not giving such a clause. "There has been no progress on that," Bronner said from Chicago. Bronner said that Sutter was "adamant about not signing with a team that didn't offer a no-trade clause. "If he says there's no chance, there's no chance," said Bronner, who added that he planned to relay the Cardinals' offer to Sutter Wednesday night in Pennsylvania, where Sutter is on a hunting trip. Of the Cardinals' chances of re-signing the record-setting relief pitcher, Bronner said, "It doesn't look like they're in very good shape." Lou Susman, the Cardinals' executive committee member who heads the club's negotiating team, had no comment on the newest proposal, other than to acknowledge that it had been made.

It was the Cardinals' first official offer since Sept. 30, when they offered an estimated $6.5 million for five years. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves continue as the leaders in the Sutter sweepstakes. The Braves made what Bronner called a "very substantial" offer. "Clearly, they're being seriously considered," said Bronner, although the agent denied a published report that be already had received authorization from Sutter to accept the offer if the Braves altered their financial package.

"I have not talked to Bruce and I do not have any specific authorization to accept anything," said Bronner. "This is not to say that that authorization won't be coming." The Braves have offered an estimated $8 million for five years, a blanket no-trade clause and "it does conform to the structure we want," Bronner said. The structure apparently includes deferred payments, annuities and insurance policies and the contract could be paid out over 40 years. They responded favorably to what we're looking for," said Bronner. "They drew some lines as far as dollars, and we have some problems with that But the dollars are very substantial and much more than the Cardinals' (first offer)." Bronner declined to discuss the Cardinals' second offer pending further conversations with Sutter, agent Bob Gilhooley and Susman.

But he said, "This may very well be a situation where they're not going to sign Bruce, even if they resolve the no-trade." Gilhooley met with Baltimore officials Wednesday and Bronner will meet with Toronto officials today. "Bruce has genuine interest in pursuing both Baltimore and Toronto," said Bronner. The Texas Rangers, Bronner said, have made an offer that is unacceptable. "Their offer wasn't what we were looking for, either in terms of money or length," Bronner said. "I think it's an offer that we won't seriously consider." Toronto's Pat Gillick, noting that his club also has a policy of not awarding no-trade contracts, said.

"I think it can be overcome. I just don't know if we're in a position to overcome it You'll need a whole lot of money." Earlier in the week, Bronner said he didn't think the Sutter matter would be resolved until after next week's winter baseball meetings in Houston. He now appears optimistic that it could be settled sooner, "but there's still no timetable." "You don't want to rush it but there's no reason to drag it out either," he said. In Independence, Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog waits anxiously. "I don't know why we can't get this resolved," he said.

"Why cant we get together See SUTTER, Page I SECTION spalls Nov. 29,1984 BusinessPages 8-13 ClassifiedPages 14-19 General NewsPages 20-21 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Klew Battery das iectiacged Pats Swagger Fits Blues After Win Meyer lost out in a power struggle five weeks later and was replaced by Berry, the veteran quarterback became an active tutor. Instead of sitting alone during games, Grogan now carries a clipboard, talks with the offensive coaches in the press box and consults frequently with Eason. "Steve has been a big help.

I don't know what I'd do without him," Eason said Wednesday to representatives of the St. Louis media. "I come to the sidelines and he's able to make shortcuts for me and really communicate with me in a way that maybe only quarterbacks can talk. He understands exactly what's going on and can make things easier for me." There wasn't much Grogan could do, however, to help his young friend in the Patriots' last game. The Dallas Cowboys sacked Eason 10 times in a 20-17 victory on Thanksgiving Day in Texas Stadium.

The Cowboys used the same blitzing techniques that the Cardinals ate up in their 31-20 triumph over Dallas, but the Patriots never got the hang of picking up the blitz until it was too late. "Part of the education of any young quarterback is playing against the Dallas Cowboys' defense," said Berry. "Once you've seen that kind of pressure, you don't have to think, 'Well, I've got worse things I think he handled it real well. "The thing that impressed me was that in the fourth quarter, after being slapped around a lot, he comes right back and puts two touchdowns on the board. That tells you a whole lot about Tony Eason." Eason says he has no ill effects from being buried by the avalanche of Dallas blitzes, and his fourth-quarter performance lends validity to that.

He said he had no idea whether the See BIG RED, Page 3 By Steve Kelley Of the Post-Dispatch Staff The New England Patriots, Sunday's opponent of the Cardinals, are stalking an American Football Conference playoff berth despite a midstream switch of identities. The Patriots began the season with Steve Grogan at quarterback and Ron Meyer as head coach. Then they changed batteries, going with a pitcher and catcher with sparkling credentials. The offense now revolves around "Champaign Tony" Eason, author of numerous Big Ten Conference passing records in his days at the University of Illinois, while the head coaching buck has stopped since Oct. 25 at the desk of Raymond Berry, a Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver.

And despite the changes, the Patriots are 8-5 and trail the Los Angeles Raiders by one game in the race for the second AFC wild-card berth. Considering that the Cardinals (7-6) are one game behind both their division leaders and the National Football Conference wild-card pack, Sunday's stakes in Foxboro, obviously are high. Eason, who is in his second National Football League season, became the Pats' starter In the fourth game after he had come off the bench against the Seattle Seahawks and rallied his team from a 23-0 deficit to a 38-23 victory. After that game, Meyer benched Grogan and handed the ball to the former Illini star. "This had to be a tough decision for Ron Meyer," Eason has said.

"I know it probably came as a shock to Steve and some of the other players. But that's the way things go sometimes in this game." Grogan had almost no role under Meyer after his demotion. But when v. -w By Ron Cobb Of the Post-Dispatch Staff VANCOUVER, British Columbia For anyone who witnessed the Blues' 13-game winless streak on the road early last season, the sight of them playing the bully Tuesday night at the Pacific Coliseum was strange indeed. The Blues have been a pretty fair road team for some time now, so the mere fact of them winning wasn't startling.

But to see them stroll into another National Hockey League rink and toy with the home team, as they did in a 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, was something else. Taking into account the sorry state of the Canucks, it might be a mistake to read too much into the Blues' victory. The Blues came on like a nasty Charles Bronson, and the Canucks put up a fight like a jittery Don Knotts. IThe Canucks, who fired Bill LaForge as coach last week, have problems that go well beyond the coaching staff. Their second loss at home against the Blues in eight days dropped their record to 4-18-2 and extended their losing streak to six games.

If the Blues deserved credit, it was for carrying out the deed efficiently and unsympathetically. The player least likely to go easy on the Canucks, was center Alain Lemieux, who had been having problems of his own. After playing against brother Mario of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 8, Lemieux didn't see action again until Friday night when an Injury to center Bernie Federko opened a spot in the lineup. Lemieux scored his first goal of the season Saturday, against the Oilers in Edmonton, and he added three goals Tuesday night for his first NHL hat trick.

"When you don't play for so long, you start to wonder what's going on," he said. "It really feels good to help the team, because we need these precious points on the road." Lemieux's hat trick was the third for the Blues in five games and their sixth of the season. The only other Blues team to have as many as six in a season was the 1980-81 club, which had eight Another oddity of sorts is a streak being put together by center Doug Wickenheiser, who scored his seventh goal Tuesday night. Each of his first six goals was the first of the game for either team. His goal against the Canucks was the Blues' first but it didn't come until after right wing Stan Smyl had given Vancouver a 1-0 Jead 23 seconds into the game.

Wickenheiser's goal came on a breakaway at 6:17 of the first period, after Federko had failed to score on back-to-back breakaway chances. He appeared to have goaltender Frank Caprice beaten each time, but he misfired. "Can anybody teach me what to do on a breakaway?" Federko asked as he boarded the Blues' bus after the game. The victory paid the Blues handsomely for reasons other than the fact that they improved their See BLUES, Page 2 Karen Elshout WhiteleyPost-Dispatch Wednesday. Blackburn's Ike Dodd is close behind.

The Bills' No. 22 is Luther Burden. comes up with a Louis University Blackburn's loose ball Mike Pauline against St. Home Sweet Home? BLACKBURN (88) Bllini Win pener ackbum hres lis il Bits Sea? At Klme.81 -i o)l FG FT Rb A Pt Pauline 4-11 3-5 8 5 0 11 Dodd 10-17 10-10 9 4 1 30 Missavage 3-3 2-2 7 4 1 8 Whlsenton 6-10 2-3 2 5 3 14 Harms 5-12 5-4 3 3 0 15 Bailey 0-10-0 0 10 0 Wade 3-7 0-0 0 1 0 6 Coleman 2-2 0-0 4 2 1 4 Team Rebounds 2 Totals 33-66 22-28 37 26 6 88 ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY (101) FG FT Rb A Pt Norman 2-6 4-7 10 0 0 8 Brown 7-11 9-11 6 1 1 23 AIMatlln 5-8 2-4 8 4 0 12 K.

Williams 10-20 2-2 3 2 2 22 Burden 7-17 2-2 3 5 0 16 Lenard 3-6 0-1 1 4 4 6 Jansen 4-4 04) 3 0 0 8 Hudson 1-2 2-2 3 2 0 4 R. Williams 1-3 0-0 2 1 2 2 Renken 0-10-0 13 10 Thomas OO OO 1 0 0 0 Team Rebounds 3 Totals 40-78 21-30 44 21 10 101 Special to the Post-Dispatch CHAMPAIGN, 111. Illinois guard Doug Altenberger tied for the lead in scoring with 14 points Wednesday night, but still wasn't happy with the way he played. "I wasn't looking inside enough," said Altenberger after the Illini beat Chicago State, 81-63, in their home opener at the Assembly Hall. "My job is to get the ball to George (Montgomery), Efrem (Winters) amd Scott (Meents)." Altenberger did a good enough job to help the Illini to their fourth victory in five games.

Chicago State, which was coming off an upset victory over Wichita State, dropped to 1-2. "I thought we played good team ball," Illinois Coach Lou Henson said. "We also did a good job defensively. When you hold them to 37 percent shooting, you're happy with that." Henson was also happy with the play of Montgomery, who also scored 14 points and dominated the smaller Cougar front line. Montgomery also had nine rebounds, one less than Winters.

"We've played some big teams, but we just weren't able to match up with them," said Chicago State Coach Bob Hallberg, whose tallest player is 6-foot-7 center Wayne Irving. Illinois, meanwhile, has four players at 6-9. "If we had a legitimate 6-10 center, I think we could have given them a good game." The Cougars were led in scoring by 5-11 guard Charles Perry, who scored 24 points, most of them on 20-foot jump shots. Perry was successful despite playing with a sprained ankle. "I really wanted to play against Illinois," said Perry, whose team is in its first year of Division I ball.

"It (the ankle) was hurting me, but I tried to block it out" Both teams had rather unimpressive first halves. The Cougars appeared nervous in the first-ever game against nationally ranked opponents, while the Illini came out sluggish after having just one day to recover from their trip to the Great Alaska Shootout. Chicago State took the lead three See ILLINI, Page 2 By Dave Dorr Of the Post-Dispatch Staff A band of courageous Blackburn Beavers turned what St. Louis University's basketball team thought would be little more than a scrimmage embellished by blue and white bunting into a chamber of horrors Wednesday at the West Pine Gym. The Billikens finally won it, 101-88, but to do so they needed two overtime periods, a lot of luck and relentless performances by Pee Wee Lenard, Kevin Williams and Paul Jansen.

Just to make sure that his players did not think that what took place on the floor was an apparition, Billikens Coach Rich Grawer ordered them to report at 8 o'clock Wednesday night for practice. That may have hurt more than the boos the crowd showered on the Bills when they streamed off the court at halftime. If the Bills had to play for their supper, they'd have gone to bed with no porridge. Grawer was in a snlt, and no wonder the way his team allowed itself to be cut to ribbons defensively in the first half when Blackburn built a 44-30 lead. The Division III label Blackburn carries meant nothing to the Beavers Wednesday.

They were a polished team which demonstrated exceptional patience and coaching. They deserved to win this one. "It won't be something we can hang our hat on historically in the Billiken comeback," said Grawer. "It wasn't part of our master plan. The game was in West Pine Gym, which is supposed to be a pit.

It wasn't a pit to them (Blackburn). "We played scared and It's hard to figure why. I won't pinpoint any one player publicly. We did that in the dressing room after the game. There's something missing and that may not be the players' fault.

On paper, we're a better team than we were last year." Deficiencies magnified in St. Louis 97-64 loss to Duke Monday In the Bills' season opener at Kiel Auditorium were even more apparent in the first half Wednesday. Grawer's Intent to put his team on display on the BLACKBURN 44 36 I 0- 88 ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY 30 50 I 13-101 Shooting percentages FG: Blackburn St. Louis University FT: Blackburn St.

Louis University Technical touls None. Referees Ron Zetcher ond ich ichhorst. A 400 (est.) campus for the students drew few students in a crowd estimated at 400. What students were there booed until the second overtime when St. Louis U.

outscored the Beavers, 13-0, to wrap it See BILLS, Paget Mchimon Living Up 'Gan't'BBiss' Tag MIZZOU'S WOMEN bow to San Diego State, 76-70, as Tina Hutchinson scores 26 points Story on Page 2. 7 "But Tina's mother said that so many nice things had been said about me that she was sure I wasn't like that I finally suggested that they let her stay for two days. If she didn't like it, she could go home. Tina didn't go home until Christmas." But adjustments had to be made. "Where I first went to high school, you didn't have to go to class, they protected the athletes," said Hutchinson.

"At Lincoln, if I wanted to play basketball, I had to go to class and I had to have at least a 'C average. It was something that I had to make up my mind to do. "Back then, I didn't like to go to class and I didn't like people telling me anything. Finally, either he was going to go or I was going to go and I knew he wasn't going anywhere. So I had to change." When she arrived in East St Louis, See HUTCHINSON, Page 4 By Cathie Burnes Of the Post-Dispatch Staff 'COLUMBIA, Mo.

The Women's Basketball Yearbook proclaimed her freshman of the year last season. She also has been called the second-best player in America, with only Cheryl Miller ranking above her. By her own admission, Tina Hutchinson has become a household name among Southern California basketball fans. As well she should. Hutchinson had a banner freshman season for San Diego State University, as she helped put the Aztecs on the college basketball map.

Her numbers were staggering. She averaged 29 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots per game. And she had 188 steals, the most of any player on a team In the National Collegiate Athletic Association. including Jackie Joyner and Debbie Thurston, and was impressed. "One day, she came up to me and asked me if I could help her with her defense," Riggins recalled.

"I wanted to be helped, and I thought he was the person who could help me," Hutchinson said. "He could either say 'yes' or Riggins said yes and he's been helping her ever since. "A couple of days later, she said she wanted to be a Tigerette and move to East St. Louis," said Riggins. "When I went to Birmingham where Hutchinson lived with her mother and grandmother), her mother thought it was a good idea because she said she needed some help.

Her grandmother wasn't so sure. She said she heard about these men who picked up young girls and never brought them back. Considering the buildup Hutchinson had coming out of Lincoln High School in East St Louis, it hardly should be surprising that she could be a dominant collegiate player. Two publications called her the nation's best high school player; 300 schools recruited her. 1 If anyone was a 'can't-miss' player, it was Hutchinson.

But let's take this story back about four years and move the location to Milledgesville, where Earnest Riggins, then Lincoln's coach, was helping out at a basketball camp. Hutchinson had met some of his players, "Sometimes I got a little fancy last season. But I got the things done that needed to be done." TINA HUTCHINSON.