Clovis News-Journal from Clovis, New Mexico • Page 14

CLOVIS NEWS-JOURNAL, Sun. May 26, 1974 Players Split Over Modifications Most Favor New Rules Change Modern Version Of Deorikln iqg 'Possible Kit'Needed By Boater Is your "possible kit" in food possible bag tied around his suggested by Mercury ByFttANKMACOMBEK Copley News Service Most sportswritcrs and fans seem to favor the liberalized National Football League rule changes, agreeing they should provide new twists to add excitement to (he pro game this year and wipe out some of the boredom of the 1973 season. But NFL players are split pretty much along "party" lines over the rule changes that is, according to their roles on the football field. The kickoff and punt-return men, of course, are all for the new rules moving the ball back to the 35-yard line from the 40' yard stripe for kickoffs and holding members of the offensive team behind the scrimmage line until the ball is punted or place-kicked. They claim it will make their lives safer from the pounding of onrushing linemen moving down under a punt or field-goal attempt and at the same time make punt returns more colorful and often longer.

Wide receivers welcome the new ban against exessive bump-and-run tactics of the defense. And they point out, it will be easier to get down field quickly now that roll-blocking and'cutting of wide receivers has been eliminated. But not everybody is tired. with the rule switches. Take Garo Ycprcmian, the champion Miami Dolphins' crack field- goal artist.

"I like the game as it is now," he says. "These changes are going to make the game even more conservative than it is now. Moving the goalposts to the back of the end zone is one of the worst rules they possibly could have put in." And now that missed field goals must be returned to the line of scrimmage or the 20- yard line, whichever is further from the goal, kickers like Ycprcmian won't be called on as often to boot the long three- pointer. But Ycpremian doesn't have many lakers for his opposition. NFL fans last year were complaining, often in print, that the pro game was becoming a duel of field-goal kickers and that too many games were being decided via the three-point route.

Few NFL players were about the new! 15-minute overtime period for games ending in a tie. Both teams are weary atler 60- minutes of bone-tiring football. The player consensus 5s that the extra period is likely to. produce injuries, for they occur- most often when the players Star Cleveland middle linebacker Bob Babich was only half joking when he suggested the players should get "time-and-a-half pay for overtime." Two other dissenters from the rule change approval verdict are Washington Redskin Coach George Allen and Ed Garvey, NFL Player Association chief, Allen sees no reason for most of the rule shifts and observed wryly that "if they (the club owners) had met another day, they probably would have brought back the flying wodge." That is a long- outdated offensive strategy used back in the days of Red Grange. Garvey especially is displeased with the 15-minute overtime period to settle ties and would rather have seen a "sudden death" rule giving the game to the first team that scored during overtime.

Most sports experts credit the ultraliberal rules of the fledgling World Football League with pushing the conservative NFL owners into spicing up their game. But NFL owners say they were considering the changes long before the WFL was even gleam in WFL commissioner Gary Davidson's eye. Now that Tampa, has wrapped up an NFL franchise for $16 million, the speculation is that Phoenix, is next in line for the league's blessing. This is because Karl Eller, a wealthy Arizona businessman is talking about building a new stadium as a welcome mat for the franchise. (He is not to be confused with Carl Eller, the Minnesota Vikings' defensive end.) Memphis was a contender for the next NFL franchise until it accepted the WFL Toronto franchise when the Northmen were tossed out of Toronto by the Canadian government.

Now they're the Memphis South- men. Ironically, Memphis earlier had rejected an offer of 'a WFL franchise. Seattle was in the running for an NFL franchise for a time, but lost ground because of financial troubles over US domed stadium. And Honolulu lost out when it grabbed a WFL franchise. order? A possible kit is the modern version of the old-time mountain man's "possible bag," a deerskin pouch which contained flint and steel, dry gunpowder, knife and whatever else the wilderness traveler wanted.

Mis thought was that if his pack and gear were lost, he'd have enough tools to his find his way back to civilization. Modern boaters have little use for dry gunpowder, but a possible kit could make life much more comfortable when bad weather, mechanical failure, or fuel shortage makes it impossible to return to the marina. The modern possible Outdoor News Garr Takes Batting Lead While Atlanta Takes Win Blyleven Protects Ruth, Oft Records BLOOMINGTON, Minn. Blyleven had the kind of game any pitcher would be proud of and in the process did a'favor for two of baseball's greatest Ruth andMelOtt. came to being in trouble was when he gave up singles in the second to 3im Spencer and Toby Harrah but he ended the threat by striking out Leo Cardenas.

The victory set BIyleven's Blyleven, the hard throwing' record for the season at 4-6. Minnesota right-hander, had 11 The loss went to Texas strikeouts and gave up just five hits Friday night in a 9-0 in victory over the Texas Rangers. His strikeontvictims included young Texas slugger Jeff Burroughs in the first and. fourth innings. Burroughs, who four at bats, lost his bid to tie the consecutive game major league RBI record of 11, held by Hall of Famers Ott and Ruth.

Burroughs had driven in runs in 10 straight games. Blyleven was in control all' way against the Rangers and was backed by an 11-hif attack, including homers by Harmon Killebrew and Larry Hisle. The closest Blyleven teenager David Clyde, now 3-1, who lasted only 2 2-3 innings. The Twins gave Blyleven all the support he needed'in the third inning with three runs, one on a home run by Hisle ad the other two on a shot by Killebrew, who now has 551 homers in his major league career. Killebrew also drove in a run with a single during a four-run rally in the fourth.

Jerry Terrell drove in two runs for Minnesota with a bases loaded pinch-hit double in the seventh. American League batting leader Rod Carew of the Twins got a double in four at bats, dropping his average to .403. ATLANTA (UPI) Ralph Garr smacked two home runs and a single Friday night to take over the National League batting lead and pace the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 victory over theHouston Astros. Garr, who now has 73 base hits to lead the majors, hiked his average to ,378, two points higher than previous leader Reggie Smith of St. Louis who' went 04 Friday.

Garr walked in his other time at bat for a 33 night. Garr's first homer, his fourth of the season, led off the first inning, and his second came while leading off the third, marking only the second time the Braves outfielder has had two home runs in one game. Buzz Capra, who became a starter last week when Ron Reed was injured, gave up only three hits Friday night while picking up his third victory in five decisions. Capra gave up only five hits in his first start last Sunday in Los Angeles and has now allowed a total of only 21 hits in 412-3 innings. Braves other run came in the fifth when Darrell Evans got his second double of the night and was singled home by Dusty Baker.

Capra retired 11 men in a row from the fourth to the eighth inning and 17 out of 18. The victory was the ninth in the last 11 games for the Braves. COST1LLA, N.M. (Special) Department of Game and Fish, at the request of (he Costilla Grazing Association, has closed the Wildlife Lease, including the Latir Lakes to entry for hunting and fishing because of extreme fire danger. The Department leases public hunting and fishing rights on the tract from the grazing association.

The fire danger is due to the. dry conditions existing over much ot the state at this time. The area will be reopened to hunting and fishing as soon as some moisture is received and the fire danger is alleviated. The Department obtained a 10-year lease on hunting and fishing rights on the area in with an option to renew at the end of that period. The area includes the popular Latir Lake Chain, Little Blue Lake and is miles of stream on Latir and Ute Creeks and'the Costilla River, along with some of the stale's finest habitat for deer, elk, bear and grouse.

The closure goes into effect immediately. SANTA FE, N.M. (Special) Game and Fish Department and the National Forest Service have renewed an agreement to run summer patrols of thePecos Wilderness and adjacent areas expected to receive heavy use from campers, backpackers and trail riders during the coming months. Game and Fish Department Director Ladd S. Gordon and Santa Fe National.

Forest Supervisor Chris Zamora signed the renewal this week. This summer's will be the- second in a series of cooperative agreements under when the Forest Service will pay the salary and expenses of one of the two game depart- ment officers assigned to patrol the area, from June 1 through Sept. 2. Increasing numbers of people using the forest and wilderness areas for increasing numbers of days have led to the necessity of summer-long patrols, according to the announcement. The Game Department and Forest Service officers will work in teams and singly to prevent violations of game and fish and Forest Service regulations and to apprehend Violators.

Vandalism, fires, 'cutting, littering and numerous game and fish law violations are likely to occur during the heavy-use summer months. Another problem is that with the increasing numbers of people, crowding can lead to friction, and there have been reports of harrassment board's staff contains that require tittle space when stowed aboard a bolt. A waterproof bag is the beginning of your kit. Choose each item that goes into the bag its ability to keep you warm and dry. Place a 10 12-foot plastic kit- sheet in the bag first.

This wilt serve as a shelter in case ot rain, and will help protect other items in the bag from moisture. Next add a change of clothes and a folding cap. Put in a waterproof, screw-top plastic jar filled with kitchen matches. Add some canned food, a can opener, a quart canteen of water, a cup and spoon, and' some newspaper folded inside a small plastic bag. Now you can cover-up In it rains; change clothes if you get wet; start a fire with the matches and paper; cook in the cans, and have a drink of fresh water when you want.

Your "possible kit" is complete and it's possible to cope with almost any adverse situation. Braves Get Better Deal In Trade With Mets ATLANTA (UPI) The Atlanta Braves got a better deal than they bargained for when they purchased Buzz Capra from the New York Mets couple of months ago. They figured the 26-year-old right-hander'might give some help in the bullpen but even that was a wait-and-see situation. Capra, forced into a starter's role when Ron Reed broke his hand last week, went the route for the second straight Friday night, beating the Houston Astros 3-0 with a sparkling three-hitter, Capra has given up only nine hits and two runs in his last 27 innings and only 21 hits 'and eight runs in 42 innings (3 1.73' era). "I- didn't Icnow very much about him," said Braves Manager Eddie Mathews, "He worked four innings against us in mid-March and I liked what I saw.

About a week later, we learned that the Mets had him on the selling block. We needed help in the bullpen and hoped that he might work in as a long relief man. I was really surprised that he could step in like he did and pitch nine innings. It sure didn't hurt." Capra shared honors Friday Sports Briefs By United Press International COLLEGE STATION, Tex. collegepitch- ers have signed letters of intent to attend Texas University.

Kirk Campbell, with an 8-2 record at Blinn Junior College, and lefthander James Gibson, 15-5 in two years at Bee County Junior College, signed with Coach Tom Chandler. Ja high school Campbell played at Corpus Christi Carroll and Gibson at Carrizo Springs. Houston Tesaus of the World Football League have signed running backs Paul Gipson and Pick Post and guard Dave Middendorf. Gipson, second leading rusher in history gt tog University of Houston, played with At. lanta and Detroit.

Post was with the Houston Oilers in and fee NFJ, Aeawicao Conference leading rusfcer at Sao Diego in 1968. Mid-ieudorf, play- id five seasons with, Cincinnati basketball letter of intent to tendRiceUniversity.Louwerse, averaged 13.5 rebounds per game last year at Eisenho er High School, ARLINGTON, Tex. (UPI) The Texas Rangers Friday nounced the sale of Larry Gura, a pitcher with their AAA farm team in Spokane, to Syracuse of the International League, night with Ralph Garr, who had two home runs, a single and a walk in four at bats to raise his average to in the National League. Capra pitched only 100 innings in three partial seasons with the Mets and before the Braves pulled him out of the bullpen, hadn't started since he hurt a finger "around Memorial Day" two years ago. "I really wasn't expecting the Mets to sell me," said Capra.

"I thought they might option jjie to Tidewater again." Through the Braves first 32 games, Capra pitched only 141 3 innings and had an record. Then he got hot. He 3 innings against San Francisco on May 12; gave up one hit in six innings in relief of the injured Reed against San Diego on May 15 for his first win; beat division-leading Los An geles 4-3 with a five-hitter last Sunday; and then turned in the three-hit shutout against Houston Friday night. NEW YORK (UK) Boston of the American League and Pittsburgh of the National League played the first World Series, with Boston winning, five games to three in 1903, HOUSTON a Etecater, 111., high star who averaged 16.2 yet game, ixas signed naSHUGART COUPON FRI SAT, May 31 to June 1st TG Family Center Hilltop Plata Shopping 9 WALLET SI COLOR PORTRAITS Exrrq charge for OB0UP5 campers by others using the wilderness area. Texas Schoolboys Vie For Playoffs DALLAS (UPD-CarroltonR.

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