The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 15

(gahiggton $Jatlg In NFC title game Section Local, State, World Sports Tucson Open 1st stop for '82 PGA tour TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) The golf pros are heading back to work, beginning Thursday, with the Tucson Open the first stop among the 44 events on the 1982 tour. The field of 144 golfers, vying for the top prize of $54,000 from a total purse of $300,000, includes defending champion and four-time winner Johnny Miller, fresh from a nine- hole sudden-death playoff victory at Sun City, Bophuthatswana, that earned him a record $500,000. But everyone's starting from scratch at Tucson on the renamed 1982 Tournament Players Association tour, "so Scott Watkins of Phoenix finished 169th on the tour last year) is tied with Johnny Miller," says TPA tour information director Tom Place." Dan Halldorson, a 29-year-old Canadian who finished third hi last year's Tucson Open after leading through the third round, said the par-70 Randolph Park North Golf Course is one where "you can get away with some bad shots at the beginning of the year When you haven't played in a month or so, it's a real nice starting course." Homero Blancas, Randolph Park course pro and a tour member who will be competing in the tournament, said the fact that the Tucson Open was the inaugural event was a plus, "because a lot of people who have not played in the last six or seven weeks want to get going again." Thus, he said, "the first two tournaments (of the year) will give you a good field. And this is a good golf course to begin after a long layoff," suited to medium-range hitters who use their irons and wedges well.

Halldorson, who finished 47th on the tour in 1981, and 45 of the top 60 money winners will tee off Thursday, one day after a $7,500 celebrity pro-am tourney that features Tom Lasorda, Don Sutton, Billy Martin, George Brett. Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, Trini Lopez and Morris Udall. This is the third time the Tucson Open will be played at Randolph. In 1980, the tournament was played at the longer, par-72 Tucson National Golf Club. Tanana glad to leave Fenway ARLINGTON (AP) For former Boston Red Sox pitcher Frank Tanana it was the big ballpark that went along with the big contract that reinforced his decision to join the Texas Rangers.

The free agent left-hander said Wednesday that being able to pitch in Arlington Stadium "definitely had weight" in his decision to agree to a two-year contract with the Rangers at a reported $400,000 a year. Tanana played out his option with the Red Sox last season, compiling a 4-10 record and a 4.02 earned run average. The 28-year-old left-hander won 106 games and lost 88 in seven seasons with California and one with Boston. His 269 strikeouts led the American League in 1975. He won a career-high 19 games in 1976 and in 1977 he led the league with a 2.54 ERA and seven shutouts.

Tendinitis in the left shoulder almost ended Tanana's career in 1979, but physical therapy enabled him to return to the mound. "I feel the arm is getting stronger. I learned I could still pitch and win without having an overpowering fastball," said Tanana. Tanana and the Rangers reached agreement on the new contract after two full days of negotiations and a meeting with majority owner Eddie Chiles. Tanana had sought a three-year contract, but dropped the demand when the salary was right.

Page 1 Thursday Morning, January 7, 1982 Sports 744-361 ii rematch Sunday Islander makes the TD AP Laserphoto Ma-l ack Char Ies Alex- schoolboy football at Galveston Ball High, will er (40), a native of Galveston, is shown be a starter for the Bengals when the play for 2 3rd ln ag alnSt th AFC championship this weekend. the Buffalo Bills. Alexander, who played By DENNE FREEMAN AP Sports Writer DALLAS (AP) When he hasn't been seeing Fred Dean on film, Pat Donovan has been seeing him in his sleep. Donovan hasn't been counting sheep. He's been counting Fred Dean.

"Dean is the best pure pass rusher in the National Football League," said Donovan, the offensive left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys. Donovan knows because Dean was playing right defensive end the day San Francisco whipped the Cowboys 45-14 in a regular National Football League season game. Dean went around, inside and over Donovan. In Sunday's National Conference championship game between the 49ers and Cowboys, the Dean- Donovan matchup will be a big focal point. If Donovan is handling Dean, then the Dallas passing attack should If Dean is pressuring quarterback Danny White, then the Dallas passing attack probably will have about as much effect against the 49ers as it did in that humiliating loss Oct.

11. "Dean has had good days against more tackles in the NFL then any end," said Donovan. "I'll be more aware of him this time around. He certainly got my respect the last time." Donovan is considered the Cowboys' best pass blocker so it was something of a shock to the coaching staff to see Dean maul White virtually unchecked. White isn't worried about a repeat performance by Dean.

"I saw a lot of Fred that last game, not that he isn't a nice person, but I just don't want to see him Sunday," said White. "I have a Inexperience hinders TC hoop season By FRANK KELLEY News Sports Writer Rosy dosen't exactly describe the type of season Texas City's basketball team is having. In coach Joe Collins' words, it's been a bit frustrating. "We're playing without any experience," Collins expressed Wednesday. "That's not an excuse, that's just the way things are." One could blame Texas City's lack of experience as the reason why the Stings fell to Alvin 68-59 Tuesday night.

Holding leads of six and eight points in the fourth, the Stings allowed Alvin to play its game and emerge victorious. "We were up by six and had some costly turnovers," Collins said. "The press hurt us but I was pleased with the way we played." Alvin's win demoted the Stingarees (7-10) to 1-3 District 24-5A record. It was a hard loss to swallow because four Stingarees scored in double figures a good performance by any standard. Texas City's other losses were 82-49 to Galveston Ball and 59-55 to Dickinson.

The Stings put down Clear Creek 63-57 for their lone 24-5A victory. Senior Marvin Lacey flipped in a team-high 17 points. Dwayne Cotton and Lance Stifflemire, both seniors, scored 12 each. Junior Patrick Thompson completed Texas City's assault with 10 against Alvin. Lacey, the postman, is the Stings' tallest active player at 6-foot-3.

From the other starting four all the way to the bench, the heights are scattered from 6-2 to 5-6. Texas City's bench is another story. Resting on it are three sophomores and three juniors eager to play for Collins. "These kids will have varsity experience for next year," Collins said already sizing up the prospects for 1982-83. "We have pretty good size.

We don't have any giants we never have." Stephen McNeill, Thompson and Houston Williams are juniors. The 6-foot-4 McNeill and Williams occasionally see action but Thompson is used as Texas City's sixth or seventh man. Sophomores Red Wade, Bill Stewart and Oscar Stoker keep watchful eyes on Texas City's tactics. Stewart frequently gets to play and is an able scorer. Rogers is AP Rookie of Year Collins pointed out that he doesn't expect to be in the running for the district race.

He said that the 24-5A coaches poll at the beginning of the season had Texas City lying on the bottom of the ratings. Ball High, La Marque and Clear Lake will fight for No. 1, he said. "We get up for La Marque probably more than we do for Ball High. I'll know how to play them (Ball's Tors) better the next time.

As for Lake, they are not as strong as a lot of people think they are." Texas City meets both Clear Lake and La Marque on Dec. 15 and 19 respectively. The Stings play host to Pearland Friday at 7:30 p.m. Collins said his team will work on gaining experience. "If any of them take us lightly, we're going to be able to knock someone off." great deal of confidence in Pat Donovan.

He's been doing a great job all year and I have no reason to doubt him." Donovan got off to an admittedly poor start this season but came on strong in the Cowboys' playoff surge. "I was distracted somewhat early in the year by my contract hassle," Donovan said. "I feel I have my game together now." Donovan is part of a fast- improving Dallas offensive line that helped carry tailback Tony Dorsett to Associated Press All-Pro honors as the second leading rusher in the NFL. "The offensive line got a lot of satisfaction out of Dorsett's year," said Donovan, who received the offensive game ball after Dallas ripped Tampa Bay 38-0 Saturday in an NFC divisional playoff. Guard Herb Scott, who plays next to Donovan, had Donovan worried at midweek because of a sprained ankle.

Scott may not practice all week. "I need Herb in there because he helps me out when somebody tries to go inside," said Donovan. Donovan wants all the help against Dean he can get Sunday. Cotton Bowl stays in Dallas (AP) The Greater Houston Bowl Association has been rebuffed in its attempt to have the annual Cotton Bowl game moved from Dallas to Houston, GHBA President Lan Bentsen said Wednesday. "Basically they said no," Bentsen said.

"They gave us a fair consideration. They didn't open the door but neither did they close the door for the future." The GHBA, which sponsors the annual Bluebonnet Bowl, offered an additional $1 million above current revenues to the Southwest Conference last year if it would move the annual classic to Houston. The SWC faculty representatives met in December and voted against the plan. Dr. James Castaneda of Rice University, president of the SWC, told Bentsen of the decision in a letter, which Bentsen said he opened Wednesday.

Asked if he thought the SWC might accept the offer at a later date, Bentsen said "I don't know if we will try them a second time around. Castaneda said the additional offer of $3 million was a consideration in the decision but added, "The Cotton Bowl is not open to the highest bidder. All the SWC schools have been the recipients of a great deal of funds and rewards from the people that run the Cotton Bowl through the years." NEW YORK (AP) George Rogers of the New Orleans Saints, who won the National Football League rushing title and set a record for a first-year player along the way, was named Wednesday The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. finished the 1981 season with 1,674 yards, slipping past Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys on the final Sunday of the season to win the rushing crown. Dorsett wound up with 1,646 yards.

Rogers also shattered the rookie rushing record of 1,606 yards set in 1979 by Ottis Anderson of the St. Louis Cardinals. He also scored 13 touchdowns. The Heisman Trophy winner from the University of South Carolina, who ended Earl Campbell's three-year reign as rushing champ, ran away from his challengers in the balloting by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Rogers received 65 of the 84 votes cast.

Cris Collinsworth, the wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals, was a distant second with 12 and George Rogers running back Joe Delaney of the Kansas City Chiefs received the remaining seven votes. Bum Phillips, who turned Houston into a playoff team by building the Oilers' offense around Campbell, then was fired after the 1980 season and hired to coach the Saints, made no secret he was going to take the same route in New Orleans. He made Rogers the No.l pick in the draft last April. The Saints, the worst team in the league at 1-15 in 1980, improved marginally to 4-12. "George has been the kind of back we drafted him to be," Phillips said after the season.

"He took his licks and played every game. He led the league in rushing when every team we played prepared specifically to stop him. He has been measured all year not just against rookies but against players." Rogers' season started off slowly with 61 yards rushing against Atlanta. But on the second Sunday he had his biggest game of the season, 162 yards against Los Angeles. He clearly loved the Rams' defense or the lack of it.

Eight weeks later he ripped through it for 161 yards. Galveston squads score impressive wins By SCOTT ROTHSCHILD News Sports Writer Galveston's two high school basketball teams enjoyed fine perfomances Tuesday night in capturing district wins. Ranked No. 1 in the Houston area, Ball trounced Dickinson 74-44, in District 24-5A action, while O'Connell used frozen-ball tactics to upset TCIL 1-3A Houston Marian, 32-24. AH county teams' next assignments are at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, except for the O'Connell Buccaneers, who will meet Kinkaid at 7 tonight. In other action around the area, Alvin downed Texas City, 68-59, La Marque stopped Pearland, 73-58 and Santa Fe edged Katy-Taylor, 53-52. Hitchcock was idle and will carry its 14-5 record against Houston St. John's. Elsewhere in 24-5A loop competition, seventh-ranked Clear Lake (19-2, 4-0) slipped past La Porte 47-40.

Although snubbed by the Associated Press schoolboy top ten rankings, Ball received No.l credentials in unofficial polls and displayed them Tuesday. Oscar White tallied 15 points and Carl Hilton swept 13 rebounds in the rout. Now 18-5 overall and 3-0 in district, the Golden Tornadoes host the upset-minded Alvin Yellowjackets. Treen Green paced the Gators with 25 marks. Dickinson faces Clear Creek (5-13, 0-3) in Wildcat-land.

Alvin (11-9, 2-2) is giddy after its home win over the Stingarees. Alvin's Ronnie Floyd canned crucial free throws in the final quarter to send TC packing with a 7-10 and 1-3 mark. Marvin Lacey pumped in 17 points for the Stings. Texas City's next outing is at home against Pearland. On the island, coach Ken Wilkins' O'Connell squad played catch for all of the first quarter to produce a 0-0 deadlock against favored Marian.

John Kallie then rammed home 20 points to lead the Bucs to victory in their district opener. At Pearland, Alvin Franklin continued his scoring crusade with a 27-point effort to stake La 'Marque to a deadlock at the top of 24-5A race. The Cougars (13-5, 4-0) prepare for a visit from La Porte. Ernie Guedin and Calvin Lawson sparked a Santa Fe rally in the closing two minutes of play to help the Indians nab their third District 14-4A win. Guedin and Lawson netted 20 and 19 points respectively.

The Indians (10-9, 3-D host Houston Scarborough in a non- conference game. News photo by VInce Stiglich Jr. Mascot looks on With the O'Connell mascot painted on the wall in the background and looking on, the Buccaneers' Sean Coughlin hits for a long two in O'Connell's 32-24 victory over Houston Marian in a District 1-3A basketball game played here Tuesday night. O'Connell is 1-0 in district and 10-6 on the season..