The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 87

D-2 Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 5, 1 982 Gauging KC I jm i Steelers' if Chief Worry WHEN PITTSBURGH'S fanatic football aficionados loll about their golf courses and swimming pools evaluating National Football League teams in mid-summer, they show a tendency to rate these teams on the basis of past performance. If a team was 6-10-0 in 1981, the pool-side reaction is that it will continue to be a 6-10-0 team in 1982, mentally chalking up an in the victory column. Which is all well and good, except that last season's records, while they might have been handy for separating teams in the standings, are hardly accurate barometers of technical skill and raw talent. Ji i -j 7 rrV, .4 Force goalie Chris Vaccaro dives to make save on ball kicked by Spirit's Nathan Sacks.

Scoreboard A A -y s. I ---'tl I 1 1- .1., Prut Pholo bv John Sim Two years before winning the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers were a 2-14-0 team. That same year, the Cincinnati Bengals, who were to lose in that Super Bowl, were all of 4-12-0, and voices of gloom, such as TV colorman Bob Trumny, were wringing their hands that Cincinnati would become a football wasteland if someone did not send Paul Brown, the team's septuagenarian general manager, out Spirit Tilted By Force On Pinball Play, 9-8 By Pal livingson Sptrtf I Jilt to pasture, or to the glue factory, of a man angry at himself. When Wynshenk called Terlecki for pushing, Terlecki kicked at the turf. A little more than a minute after he went to the penalty box, George Nanchoff scored for Cleveland.

"I pretended to kick the ball," said Terlecki. "In Buffalo we had six penalties with these same officials. I didn't say anything, but in my mind I thought they did not have very good eyesight." Three times Terlecki hit the crossbar, but the Force also had its chances, missing open nets three times. The Spirit outshot the Force, 51-29, but Cleveland defenders blocked 17 shots and goalie Chris Vaccaro made 26 saves, some spectacular. It may seem odd for a game in which 17 goals were scored, but the defense by both teams was brilliant at times.

The highlight was in the first period. With Leite and O'Hara in the penalty box, Dave MacKen-zie, Paul Toomey and Paul Child (relieved by Terlecki with 27 seconds left on the second penalty) successfully fought off the Force. It was such inspired play that kept the Spirit coming back. Thirty-three seconds after Ongaro's second goal put the Force ahead, 8-5, Terlecki powered his third goal of the game past Vaccaro. Allen elbowed Schweizer on a seven players, Craig Allen and Ross On-garo scoring two apiece.

"Cleveland is a different team than last year," admitted Coach John Kowalski of a team the Spirit beat five times in six games last year. "And we were missing our key players. But they still didn't deserve to win. We played our hearts out. The thing that killed us is they scored on set plays from three or four free kicks." Gary Vogel scored off a direct kick with 13 seconds left in the first quarter, giving the Force a 3-2 lead.

Ongaro put Cleveland ahead, 6-4, late in the third period on another set play. Then came the killer. "I went to my left when they kicked the ball in front. He (James) wasn't standing there before the kick," said Schweizer of the winning goal. With Krys Sobieski out with a fractured cheekbone, Schweizer started his second straight game in goal for the Spirit.

He backstopped their 4-3 win at Buffalo Friday night. "I felt good. I thought the momentum would carry over," he said. "But it took me two quarters to get into the game." In the second period, with the Force on top, 4-3, referee Don Wynshenk penalized Terlecki for unsportsmanlike conduct, although Terlecki's conduct was merely that save at 12:04 and 17 seconds later Leite fot up to kick in a rebound of a shot by erlecki that Vaccaro couldn't handle. With 2.10 left, the Spirit replaced Schweizer in goal with Toomey, giving them an extra attacker.

It paid off when McCluskey hopped on a rebound of a shot by MacKenzie that rattled around in front of the goal for his first MISL goal. With overtime beckoning, the Force got one more chance and worked their pinball play to perfection. Bing! Bong! Bang! "Too manv (Spirit) players went for the ball," said Kowalski. "We had three players on one side of the ball in the original attack and then we had three players on the other side. Everybody wanted to do it (get the ball) at the same time.

"Baltimore, San Diego and now Cleveland put it away against us. We bad great effort, great desire and we were finishing off plays, but the one thing we lack is up there on the blackboard. We need greater concentration in the closing The Spirit lost at Baltimore in the closing seconds and twice gave up late goals in a loss to San Diego. "We're playing as a team. We'll come back," said Schweizer.

They get their next chance against Wichita at the Civic Arena Thursday night. By RAY KIENZL With nine seconds left in a tie game and the crowd going bonkers, the Spirit were 25 feet away from going into overtime against Cleveland at the Civic Arena yesterday. The Force had the ball in the left corner on a free kick and if it was to score it had to be on a pinball play. Tilt! Branko Radovic kicked the ball to Craig Allen, who deflected it to Bernie James, who knocked it past Rick Schweizer on a play that consumed five seconds, giving the Force a 9-8 victory and ruining a magnificent comeback by the Spirit. Trailing, 8-5, with a little more than three minutes left, the Spirit fired up the crowd of 5,904 by tying the score on goals by Stan Terlecki, Marcio Leite and Pat McCluskey.

Terlecki, who played the entire second half, scored three goals and had two assists, Paul Child and Leite each had two goals and John O'Hara assisted on four goals. But in the end three set plays by the Force and a questionable penalty on Terlecki cost the Spirit their fourth loss in six games. The Force, in second place in the Eastern Division with a 5-1 record after their second victory in two days, got goals from This year the cognoscenti of this silly game that is played with an off-center spheroid are holding services over the Kansas City Chiefs, an underrated team which, like a rudderless yacht, has yawed off to a 1-3-0 start. What happened to the Steelers in Seattle will not happen again, the implication seems to be. All of which must elate the Steelers.

There must be some comfort when an NFL team, especially a team that starts out winning three in a row, comes face-to-face with reality, a good team that starts out on a diametrically opposite tack. It should be an easy Sunday afternoon, right? Unfortunately, the NFL, with its predilection toward parity, is not composed of stiffs. While the Chiefs, a team that embarrassed the Steelers a year ago, have had their troubles in the early going, they are far from the cripples their early-season credentials make them out to be. They are 1-3-0, granted. They lost by 10 points to New Orleans, and they were beaten by six in Anaheim by a team that is presently receiving its own last rites.

But before the strike, the Chiefs made two perfectly creditable starts, losing by five at Buffalo and winning by 10 against San Diego. Which is what creates the confusion. Are the Chiefs, who are here today to play the Steelers, the team that lost to the Los Angeles Rams or are they, behind those masks of theirs, the team that dominated the Chargers? There is a difference, you know. A few analysts have diagnosed the Chiefs' problems as stemming from dissension en-. gendered by their hard-line player rep, Tom Condon.

There are others who feel affable Marv Levy, the Chiefs' coach, doesn't have an arm behind the center who can put enough Backup Beasley Shines Up Steel Curtain By JIM O'BRIEN Tom Beasley has been waiting for the Steel Curtain to close on an act that distinguished the Steelers in a different decade. The Steelers were the team of the decade in the '70s because of their staunch defense. It began with Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Dwight White and Ernie Holmes and later Steve Furness, Gary Dunn and John Banaszak did their best to fill out the front four. Beasley was always behind them, giving Greene and Greenwood a breather now and then, and getting good time only when one of the two was hurting.

Most of them stayed on too long, into the '80s, because Chuck Noll was no different than other coaches who could not part with players who helped win championships. It is among the many reasons the Steelers slipped and did not qualify for the playoffs the past two seasons. The Steelers do not have a front four anymore, not regularly. They have followed, kicking and screaming it seemed, the trend toward a three-man defensive front. The lineup for today's contest with the Kansas City Chiefs at Three Rivers Stadium consists of Dunn who doesn't have to split time with anyone John Goodman and, lo and behold, Beasley.

And Beasley has been terrific to date, standing out at right end, making tackles all over the field, and gaining the spotlight by sacking four quarterbacks in as many games. He leads the Steelers in that stastistical category, with two more than Jack Ham, Bob Kohrs and Robin Cole. The 6-5, 250-pound product of Virginia Tech has 12 tackles to his credit, six solos and six assists. Jack Lambert leads the team with 15 of each. "I like it; it's a lot easier playing a game when you know you're going to play and play a lot.

It's easier to prepare." Beasley split time with Greene for most of 1981, and started the final nine games one at left end and eight at left tackle. "It was a tough situation coming in and backing up Joe," said Beasley. "There were some intangibles there. In recent years, you couldn't just look at film, or stats and come up with a grading on Joe. Joe was a leader.

If it hadn't been for that, I'd have been out there more." Steeler coaches talked about Beasley's potential for. years. George Perles, the former defensive line coach, praised him often. Yet he had to wait. In 1979, Beasley started against the Houston Oilers at Three Rivers and established a team record with 11 solo tackles, stopping Earl Campbell before he could get past the line of scrimmage on most of them.

For that, he earned NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors. "I got a chance and I thought I proved myself," said Beasley, "but the next week I sat on the bench the whole game. I didn't understand it completely. A lot of factors were involved." Beasley did not sulk. He is the strong, silent type, who can get lost in the locker room.

As Beasley spoke of his situation, for instance, he had to shake his head at some of the shenanigans going on near him. Calvin Sweeney and Jim Smith succeeded in flooring and pinning Keith Willis, a 6-1, 250-pound rookie, like a rodeo steer. Beasley laughed, but Beasley leaves such clubhouse play to others. Unless he sacks someone, he does not demand attention on the field, either. Banaszak danced whenever he made a big tackle.

"We all want to be good and I've got a lot of emotions even though I don't show them. I've never been a rah, rah guy. After I get a good hit, I don't jump up and run around slapping hands. I just try to lead by example." Beasley goes to the clubhouse early on game day, whether the Steelers are at home or on the road. "I'm not one of the guys to get up tight," he said.

"I'm always relaxed and always joking around. When it's time to play football, I'm ready to play football." 4 4 points on the board to take a team to a super Bowl. But few entertain the thought that Levy, a bright, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Coe College who also holds a master's degree from Harvard, lacks the personnel to field a contender. While you may not be aware of it, the Chiefs do have some first-line talent under those baggy scarlet jerseys they wear. Defensively, you're not likely to find a more agile pair of tacklers than Art Still and Mike Bell, the bookends who man the flanks in Levy's three-man front.

Drafted No. 1 in 1978 and 1979 respectively, these were the first linemen chosen in each of those years and neither has been a disappointment yet. If anybody on defense represents a clear and present danger to the Steelers' hopes of victory, it is this bawdy, unruly pair. They are notorious for the pressure they exert on passers. On several occasions today they will flank nose guard Don Parrish, whom many of us still recall as the stud who filled that position so ably on Pitt's last championship team.

Another interesting Chief also a No. 1 draft choice is Willie Scott, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end from South Carolina who dueled so spectacularly with ex-Panther Hugh Green in the Gator Bowl a couple of years ago. It is a testament to Scott's soft, pliable hands and the liquidity of his moves that this jolly giant caught seven passes for 109 yards on Green that night, a feat that had him, rather than Heis-man Award winner George Rogers, extruding beads of cold sweat from Jackie Sherrill's brow. Talent abounds on this team despite its record. Running back Joe Delaney is quality.

Gary Barbaro, who ran Ken Stabler out of Oakland with his canine ability to anticipate the cagey old southpaw's intentions, is definitely an All-Pro. Another first-round draft choice, 24-year-old Brad Budde, the 255-pound son of an immortal with the Chiefs, Ed Budde, already is extolled as a chip off the old block. Because of the injuries they have sustained, the Steelers certainly will have to modify their offense today. Noting the quality of the Chiefs' talent and the caliber of their silenced guns, this game very well could turn into a real shootout, you know. It wouldn't be an upset, no matter how it turns out.

A V- (A Tom Beasley is a leader by example. For Openers, Pitt Gymnasts Take On Russians No one will ever accuse the Pitt gymnastics team of opening its schedule with a sure victory. As a matter of fact, the Panthers have what amounts to a sure loss tomorrow night when they host the Bourevestnik team, a squad of touring Russian students, some of whom are world-class gymnasts. Opening ceremonies begin at 7:30 at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House and a crowd of 3,000 to 4,000 is expected. The Russian team won its opening United States meet last week, defeating Northern Illinois, 285.3 to 276.4.

Northern Illinois was sixth in the nation last year and lost by what is a fairly decisive score in gymnastics even though it broke many of its scoring records during the meet. Pitt won the Baltimore Invitational this year, but this will be its first dual-meet competition. "We thought a lot about this meet before scheduling it," said Pitt Coach of Butler and Frank Kratz of Baden. Other outstanding members of the Pitt team are Matt Peters, Chris Femiani, Mark Claster, Ed Miller and Mike Lloyd. The top Russian performers are Vladimir Artemov, who has scored a 9.9 in vaulting, and Valentin Nogilny, who had a 57.15 on a maximum of 60 while winning the all-around at Northern Illinois.

The Russian team is making a seven-city tour of the United States. Frank Damico. "We decided to go ahead with it because we thought it would be a good showcase of Pitt gymnastics." Damico has great respect for the Russian team. "Their stunts will be death-defying," he said. "They will do extremely risky moves.

"We can match them in risk and height of dismount, but my team can't average scores of 9.5, as they do, though some of our individuals can." Pitt's top performers are Dave Smith Pirates Receptive To Trades But Only If The Price Is Right By RUSS FRANKE, Press Sports Writer HONOLULU The Pirates will enter baseball's winter meetings with an open mind but not necessarily an open pocket-book. They lost money once again last season and since then have signed two highly priced players in Jason Thompson and free-agent Gene Tenace. They refused to meet the demands of Omar Moreno because they felt his asking price was too high, and the operation of the franchise was proving to be so costly that they turned over Three Rivers Stadium to the city of Pittsburgh. Although their cash flow is thinner than that of the richer franchises such as the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers or the California Angels, the Pirates still will be in the market for improvement to a limited degree when the meetings egin in full tomorrow. If any trades are to be made, this will be the place to make them in face-to-face talks among owners, general managers and managers.

At last year's meetings, 19 trades were made involving a record 68 players. The clubs have until Friday at 10 p.m. to make inter-league deals without waivers. "The first thing we'll look for is pitching," said Pirate Manager Chuck Tanner, "and we'll try to improve on our power." Tanner said he will not necessarily be looking for a center fielder to replace Moreno, in the event Moreno does not choose to return to the Pirates after declaring for free agency in October. "Right now, if the season was starting, I'd open up with Lee Lacy in center field," said Tanner.

"I feel he can do a fine job. And there are others like Trench Davis (who played at Portland last season). I wouldn't eveniesitate to use Dave Parker in center most notable is Steve Garvey of the Dodgers. He was drafted by the Pirates, but they are not among the five clubs most actively pursuing him because of his price tag and because the Pirates are well-manned at first base with Thompson, Richie Hebner, John Milner and now Tenace. The Pirates signed Tenace last Wednesday and said his primary role will not be as a catcher-first baseman but as a backup left fielder.

Among the players considered to be most tradeable at this week's meetings are Ron Cey of the Dodgers, Bob Horner of Atlanta, Buddy Bell of Texas, George Hendrick of St. Louis and Dwayne Murphy of Oakland. The Pirates would seem to be the least interested in Cey, Horner and Bell because they are third basemen, and the Pirates are solid at third with newly appointed team captain Bill Madlock, coming off his best season ever all around.f field, but it would be very, very reluctantly." Pete Peterson, Pirate vice president and the equivalent of GM, said sporadic talks are still in progress with Moreno's agent, attorney Tom Reich. "We've called them," said Peterson, "but haven't had any response recently. We still have interest in Moreno, but only if the price is right.

"We're not close to doing anything with the other (21) free agents we drafted, but there is one player I would be interested in signing, depending on the situation. I can't say who it is." The Pirates are said to be interested in Cleveland outfielder Rick Manning, a free agent who batted .270 and hit eight home runs in a full season with the Indians last season. Among the free agents available, the "You never know about trades, though," said Peterson. "Sometimes a deal comes along when you least expect, it, from a chance conversation, and you make it." PIRATE NOTES Tenace said he is looking forward to catching Kent Telulve, whom he rates with two other relief pitchers he has handled Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter. "I'd rather catch Tekulve than try to hit him," said Tenace Besides Tanner and Peterson, the Pirate party attending the meetings will be club President Dan Gal-breath, vice president Joe O'Toole, vice resident Jack Schrom, assistants Olin De-olo and Milt Graff, treasurer Doug McCor-mick, traveling secretary Charlie Muse, scouting directors Branch Rickey and Murray Cook, PR director Ed Wade and team physicians Dr.

Joseph Coroso and Dr. Jack Failla'.