Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 41

Minneapolis 1C if Sunday October 19 1980 Section CPart I Willie now own legend Sports 11 Mays Aikens Joe Soucheray TvAisn Kansas City, Mo. They kept Willie Aikens out on the field In the cool and gathering dusk Saturday afternoon. The World Series ball game between his Royals and the Philadelphia Phillies had ended long ago, with the Royals winning 5-3 on the strength of two Aikens home runs that were crushed so hard he stood at home plate and admired both of them before his slow strut arpund the bases. Willie Aikens was a hero now in one of those timeless moments that only a very few ballplayers ever get a hold of. His voice was on automatic pilot as he spoke to the television people.

He did not hear the hundreds of fans who had crowded the edge of the field and shouted to him, calling him the most valuable player of a "Did I really?" Aikens said. "But I'm glad it's you," the man said. "So am Aikens said, "so am In four World Series games Aikens has now launched four home runs, one shy of tying Jackson's output of five home runs for the Yankees in the 1977 Series against the Dodgers. But Aikens is the only man to have ever experienced two multiple home-run games in a single Series. He had two cannon blasts in the first game last week in Philadelphia.

"The first one I hit today," Aikens was saying now of his first inning shot into the fountains in right, off Soucheray continued on page 5C He looked warrior-like, with blacking under his eyes and his heavy beard matted close to his face. He ducked through his dugout and moved toward the clubhouse. He looked at people as though they had suddenly appeared from thin air. "You went through what Reggie Jackson went through," somebody said. i 1.

A --q Royals win 5 3 5 Brett dived and spun out of the way, looking to the mound as he pulled himself together. It was impossible not to recall a statement made by Pete Rose before the game, that Brett's health problems had been exaggerated, the implication being that the Phillies regarded Brett with somewhat less affection than Kansas Citians. Brett's manager, Jim Frey, rushed from his dugout and tried to get at Noles. "It looked to me like a knockdown pitch," Frey said afterward. "You've got a good hitter at the plate and a count of 0-2 and the next pitch comes at his head.

That's a knockdown. I hollered at Noles to stop it, I didn't want a battle of head-hunting just because we were hitting so well. I've seen guys get almost killed because tieS i Associated Pres9 Willie Aikens tossed aside his bat Saturday and watched the first of his two home runs In the fourth game of the World Series. World Series that is now tied at two games apiece. Willie Aikens was in his own world now, walking slowly off the field with his glove held high in the air.

He did not hear the questions coming his way. Willie was going back in his mind through some hard times and good times, all the times that brought him here to Royals Stadium on a splendid afternoon in October. by Philly reliever Dickie Noles. The Brett incident, In the fourth inning, may have sustained whatever ardor the Royals had accumulated from the very first inning, when they scored four runs off Larry Christen-son in one-third of an inning. Brett tripled In the first and he is hot, hitting close to .500 In the Series.

Brett is regarded in Kansas City with the same consideration given the late Harry Truman, born in Independence, just beyond the Royals Stadium center field fence. All of this becomes important in the fourth. The Royals, behind Leonard, were leading 5-1 when Brett came up against Noles with one out in the fourth. The count went to 0-2. The next pitch was a fast ball, clearly aimed at Brett's prominent chin.

Siarf Pnoio by Reggie Raaniecki x- ft Gophers perform homecoming slapstick By Joe Soucheray Staff Writer Kansas City, Wol The Kansas City Royals have issued a directive of sorts to the Philadelphia Phillies, advising the National League champs that if they want to make an Issue of character in this World Series, they will be obliged to do so until the final out of the final game. The Royals beat the Phillies 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Royals Stadium, squaring the tournament at two games apiece and ensuring a return to Philadelphia for at least a sixth game Tuesday evening. On this bright Saturday Willie Aikens connected for two home runs, Dennis Leonard and Dan Quisenberry combined to protect an early lead and George Brett almost fell victim to some vicious chin music arranged promising drivt died. After Minnesota's Rick Witthus had intercepted a Michigan pass at the Gopher 15, Marlon Barber fumbled two plays later and Michigan's Cedrlc Coles recovered at the Minnesota 5. It took the Wolverines only two plays to make a touchdown out of the gift for a 17-7 lead.

Just 3 minutes, 27 seconds remained to Hope. When the Gophers couldn't make a first down and had to punt, Michigan's John Wangler and Anthony Carter got their own aerial act going to set up a field goal by Ali Hajl-Sheikh, one of three he would boot. The Wolverines led 20-7. Only 25 seconds remained to Hope. On the ensuing klckoff, Gopher freshman Teddy Watson chose to field the ball somewhere near the last stool at Stub and Herb's bar across Oak and after a long run was still burled only 9 yards outside the Minnesota end zone.

On the next play, White dropped the banana and Coles again recovered for Michigan at the Minnesota 8. Haji-Sheikh performed another high leg kick and the Wolverines had a 23-7 lead. Only two seconds remained to Hope. But there was no hope for the Gophers. "It was unbelleveable," said a downcast Gopher Coach Joe Salem.

"Everything in the world that you could Gophers continued on page 3C in passing passes and completions on 51.2 percent of his 712 passes. This year he's thrown 221 times, completing 115 for 1,308 yards and 14 touchdowns. Stock has a 52-percent completion rate and just seven interceptions. He also developed a new skill this season rushing. He has run for 602 yards and eight touchdowns.

More important, New Ulm is 5-3 this year, Its first winning record since 1968. The Eagles were 4-5 and 2-7 during Stock's first two seasons. The Stock continued on page 8C Sports inside: New York man breaks record for run across the United States Page 2C. Sid Hartman'8 column. Page 3C.

'Runaholic' Barney Klecker of Hopkins was a mediocre runner in school, but he recently set a world record for a 50-mile foot race. Staff Writer Bruce Brothers reports on Klecker, who calls sleep "my No. 4 priority." Page 4C. Scoreboard. Page 5C.

Calgary Flames hand North Stars first loss of season. John Gilbert's hockey column. Page 6C. Gophers open with a win over Michigan Tech in U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game.

Page 7C. Believe it or not, Vikings are contenders. NFL preview. Page IOC. Canadiens get first victory of season.

NHL roundup. NBA summaries. Page 12C. Murray's 224 yards lead Buckeyes over Indiana. Both quarterbacks surpass Big Ten passing record as Purdue beats Illinois 45-20.

College football roundup. Page 13C, the second sports section. of the so-called brushback pitch." Noles stayed on the mound. Rose, meanwhile, intervened and conversed with Frey. "Rose told me to get off the field," Frey said.

"I don't remember what I said to him." "Brett was the guy who should have argued," Rose said later. "I just told Frey it was a hell of a thing for a manager to come out and yell at our pitcher. Brett wasn't saying anything. It was really a weird thing." "I didn't say anything because the brushback happens," Brett said, "and when it happens, it happens. I got out of the way.

I was lucky, too." World Series continued on page 5C A i Southwest St. depends on run-shoot By Howard Sinker Staff Writer Marshall, Minn. Southwest State has brought a very simple game plan into this football season. Throw the ball and, If that doesn't work, throw it some more. Throw all day.

All night, if necessary. Run and shoot, it's called. The same attack that Minnesota debuted against Ohio State last fall. If the wishbone was the trendy offense of the 1970s, the run-and-shoot must take that honor for the '80s. All that's needed are four receivers (two wide and two slot backs), a quarterback and, to differentiate the game from two-hand touch, a running back.

Curt Strasheim loves It. He should; he's Southwest State's quarterback. A good one, too. "It's a lot more fun this year," he said. "We're much more wide open." Strasheim continued on page 9C 'tL-T ft nil-" tl.j.,,i- Why is this man laughing? Perhaps at University of er Bruce Brothers tailed Gophers homecoming visl-Minnesota football team's comical 37-14 loss to tor Bob Hope yesterday.

His account is on page 3. Michigan Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Staff Writ- By op Roe Staff Writer What was going to be a dream turned to a nightmare Saturday faster than any one-liner Bob Hope could ever hope to deliver. Old Ski Nose was among the 56,297 at Memorial Stadium yesterday, but before he had a chance to drop some half-time quips, the University of Minnesota football team had dropped its own bad joke on the expectant audience. It was the Michigan Wolverines who left grinning, burying Gopher homecoming and Little Brown Jug dreams by a no-laughing-matter score of 37-14.

In the few moments before Hope's intermission show the Gophers turned into bagged-pants burlesque performers. Instead of being a top banana, the Gophers handled the football like a banana. And when they could hang onto the slippery thing, they chose to run from places even the Keystone Cops would fear to tread. The gallows-humor script went like this: Trailing only 10-7 midway in the second quarter and having just had Tim Salem complete a pass to Garry White to the Michigan 34, the Gophers were Instead penalized for clipping on a block delivered several yards behind the play. The ious shades of deep coverage.

Unfazed, the 6-foot-l, 195-pound senior heaved a spiral far downfleld and Into the hands of split end Mitch Haber, gaining 64 yards. Three quarterback sneaks later, Stock scored a deficit-cutting touchdown. It was a good show, but one that Stock has repeated throughout bis three-year career as New Ulm's starting quarterback. Stock's career statistics are impressive 4,210 yards, 33 touchdown On that evening, the Rockets secured a 9-0 regular-season record with a 26-22 nipping of Backus. It would be more accurate to say that quarterback Dan Willoughby secured the nipping, to go with several previous Motley victories that were direct results of his skills.

Willoughby must be a football hero while there's time. He will suit up for Motley's nine-man state play-off games knowing his quarterbacking career will almost certainly end when this season does. Even though New Ulm takes Stock At the heart of many successful football teams is a slick quarterback. There are also several quarterbacks whose skills keep their teams one step from atrociousness. Staff Writer Howard Sinker hit the road last week to check out three of the state's better signal-callers Neil Stock of New Ulm (shown in action below), Dan Willoughby of Motley and Southwest State's Curt Strasheim of Granite Falls, Minn.

By Howard Sinker Staff Writer St. James, Minn. New Ulm High School took a thorough 36-22 beating from powerful St. James last week. But one moment during the game erased any doubt about Nell Stock's ability.

St. James scored two touchdowns in 35 seconds to take a 22-8 lead 1:36 before half time. New Ulm returned the klckoff to Its 32-yard line, leaving Stock to face a stiff wind and a prevent defense seven Saints in var Willoughby sparks Motley's 9-man crew i I By Howard Sinker Staff Writer Motley, Minn. There may be more meaningful pursuits fori the youth of Motley. But Wednesday night was a time to extol the virtues of the high school football team from the first pregame chorus of "Another One Bites the Dust" to the last celebratory soft drink at El-Ray's truck stop, where the jukebox, mercifully, does not Include that selection.

he will go to college next fall and probably play football, there isn't much of a market for higher-education quarterbacks whose listing at 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds in their high school programs may be stretching things. "Boy, I'd really would like some more size to help my college chances," he admitted. "But there's really I can da about it. Maybe I can return klckoffs." Willoughby continued on page 9C if Staff Photo by Dan Seifert.