Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 16

Section TTftfTWl! PS Classified ads C-6 Green Bay Press-Gazette Lll LJJ1L Death notices C-6 Tuesday, June 6, 1989 I Comics -5 Mand ackers, arich $1 million per year apart In the meantime, Sharbaugh is telling people that Mandarich will fight heavyweight champion Mike Tyson for a guaranteed $10 million. Braatz did his best not to laugh at the chances of it materializing, but Coach Lindy Infante couldn't help himself. "We drafted the No. 1 heavyweight contender in the world," cracked Infante. "He is going to use this to the hilt, but I still think we'll sign him." Bob Harlan, the Packers' new president, said the disparity in numbers at this stage doesn't necessarily mean that agreement won't be reached later.

One prominent agent said recently that for Mandarich to receive a contract worth even $1.2 million per year would be a "stunning, revolutionary deal." Negotiations with Tim Harris have stalled, said Braatz, because the linebacker is demanding "fringe benefits" which he labeled unacceptable to the team. "He's asking for some things the club can't do," Braatz said. "If it was just money we could probably get it done." Braatz has negotiated all player contracts since arriving in February 1987. Please see NotebookC-4 By Bob McGinn Press-Gazette Here's a suggestion. Clip and save this story the next time one of your friends asks, 'Gee, are they going to sign Mandar-ich soon?" What infinitesimal chance there may have been for an expeditious resolution of the high-stakes negotiation between the Green Bay Packers and top pick Tony Mandarich took on a sobering light with revelation of the two positions.

-With seven weeks before Green Bay's draining camp opens, Mandarich's proposal is for $1,839 million per year whereas the Packers' offer is for $820,000 per year. "They are at Aikman's figures to the penny," Tom Braatz, vice president of football operations, said Monday. "We've offered exactly what Atlanta paid Aun-dray Bruce last year. "I don't think anybody in the National Football League is going to pay quarterback money to an offensive lineman. It's not just Green Bay.

Even if he was with the L.A. Raiders, I doh't think they would." Quarterback Troy Aikman's blockbuster contract with Dallas is for $11,037 million over six years. Mandarich's agent, Packers notebook Vern Sharbaugh, hasn't moved from those numbers since making his opening proposal May 8, said Braatz. Bruce, the Auburn linebacker selected by the Falcons with the first pick in the 1988 draft, signed a five-year contract for $4.1 million. Because of heavy deferrals, the present value of Brace's deal was valued at $3,421 million.

The Packers offered the Bruce contract two weeks ago. "We think it's fair," said Braatz. Nod estate Parins: Financial future a challenge By Bob McGinn Press-Gazette Robert Parins' valedictory Monday contained a warning and a challenge for future leaders of the Green Bay Packers. The retiring Parins bowed out as team president with a state of the franchise address to stockholders in which he predicted the corporation might lose money from operations in 1989. "We have very grave concerns about the future," Parins said in fU arlan 1 1 5 1 I "In my opinion Bob Harlan is the consummate football executive." Robert Parins Former Packers president At the close of the hour-long ses By Bob McGinn Press-Gazette Bob Harlan was elected president of the Green Bay Packers in a precedent-setting move Monday without a peep from corporation stockholders or board of directors.

The board, in a unanimous vote following no discussion, made Harlan the first non-Green Bay native to lead the franchise in its 71 -year history. i If his 15-minute address. "The bottom line is that expenses have increased by 25 percent in the last four years and will likely increase by 35 to 50 percent in the next two or three years. "We will be hard-pressed to avoid a loss without generation of 1 i- 0 I 1 4 IL, tl tf- V- i Press-Gazette photo by John A. Robb Packers president: Bob Harlan was elected Parins, who announced his retirement last Monday as the ninth president of the Green winter.

Parins will replace the late Dominic Bay Packers. Harlan, 52, succeeds Robert Olejniczak as chairman of the board. Transition accomplished in trademark Harlan style sion, Parins introduced Fred Lindner, chairman of the nominating committee. He listed a slate of candidates for election, including Harlan, for a one-year term on the board. That was the first official indication to confirm widespread speculation suggesting Harlan was a shoo-in for the position.

But when Parins asked for discussion from the group, there was none. The slate was elected by acclamation. In the 40-minute board meeting that followed Parins said he reviewed the process before calling for a vote. He indicated there was no discussion, that Harlan was the only candidate placed in nomination, and that the vote was unanimous. "In my opinion Bob Harlan is the consummate football executive," Parins said.

"There are instances which I can't share with you that demonstrated unequivo-cably to me that he could make the tough decision and make it now." Parins recommended Harlan as his successor following a five-month period in which he screened about 20 candidates. Parins reviewed all the names with the executive committee, a board screening committee and the nominating committee, during which he said there was discussion. "But the firm feeling (in the league) is that you should always stay in-house unless you find somebody substantially more qualified from the outside," said Parins. "I took that advice." Because Harlan emerged quickly as the top candidate, Parins said he was the only candidate that was interviewed for a period longer than one hour. By Harlan's estimates, his many interviews totaled about nine hours.

He said they began in March and ended in May. His interrogators included the five members of the screening committee and four or five other individuals he would not identify. "I didn't think it was going to turn out this way," said Parins. "I really felt that we would probably be involved in somebody from an Born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Harlan is in his 18th year with the Packers, most recently as executive vice president of administration. He succeeds retiring Robert Par-ins, elected in June 1982 as the team's eighth president.

Directors elected Parins chairman of the board, a position formerly held by Dominic Olejniczak, who died in April. Parins said he will serve in a "very limited capacity" as an advisor for at least one year. Meanwhile, John Fabry an at-large member of the executive committee since 1981, was elected vice president. He replaces Tony Canadeo, who, like Parins, is 70 years tld. Canadeo said corporation bylaws did not permit him to remain as an officer past 70.

He plans to remain as an at-large member of the executive committee for one more year. was smart enough to know when to get out as a football player, and I was smart enough now," said Canadeo, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a halfback for the Packers. He was elected vice president in 1982. Harlan, who is 52, will head a far more youthful executive commit-iee than the one that began the decade. Fabry is 50, secretary Peter Platten is 49 and treasurer Phil Hendrickson is 69.

I Joining Canadeo as at-large members are Don Harden, 53, and Din Schneider, 53. "It's the beginning of a new era," said Fabry. WTith Parins leaving as a full-time employee, Harlan said board member Tom Olejniczak, 40, a Gfeen Bay attorney, would be asked to increase his current workload as corporate counsel. Olejniczak campaigned for the presidency before withdrawing. already talked to Tom and Jold him that in the years ahead I want to get him more involved in the corporation," Harlan said.

"I can see a time when we will really increase Tom's value to us." More than 250 people about twice as many as in recent years attended the annual stockholders meeting at the Midway. Motor Lodge. History has never been made Packers balance sheetC-4 more local-type revenue and becoming more involved in cost containment." Increased player costs was cited as the main reason the Packers earned just $191,480 from operations in 1988. With the exception of strike-shortened 1982, it represents the lowest gain from operations since 1977. The '88 net income of $1,285,832 buoyed by return from investments of almost $1.5 million was the lowest since 1981, not counting the '82 strike year.

Parins predicted that, even though budget projections for 1989 show an increase from $32 million to $35 million, "if we could show a $1 million profit we will have done well." The Packers raised ticket prices at both Lambeau Field and Milwaukee County Stadium, will save money in the NFL's reduction to 80-man training camp rosters, and won't be required to make severance and pension-plan payments as long as a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached. Both Parins and Bob Harlan, elected as his successor, stressed that the Packers must market new forms of revenue. "The challenge is to be more aggressive in all aspects of our business," said Parins. "We have to be more creative in our thinking. We must make Green Bay a more desirable environment for our players.

The Green Bay Packers' mission is to become a dominating force in professional football." Also, he said the Packers' unique, community-owned structure promises to be a plus, not a minus, entering a new decade. The numerous changes in NFL ownership in the 1980s, combined with the fortunes paid for teams by the new owners, is another unsettling variable facing the Packers. "When an owner pays $100 million for a franchise, he has a significantly different outlook on its performance than does one that paid $250 for a franchise as we did in 1922," said Parins. Don Langenkamp Sports opinion he's no stranger to adversity. Maintaining a stiff upper lip over two decades of losing football is no mean feat, but Harlan has accomplished this.

He has not only survived, he has ascended to the highest position in the corporate structure. It became readily apparent months ago that Harlan was to be Parins' choice as his successor. There was no evidence to the contrary. If you sat down and made a list of potential candidates around the league, it would have been brief perhaps four or five names. But there didn't appear to be any interviews, any search, any feeling-out process going on.

Parins was coy to the end, but the conclusion was obvious. It seemed as though fans around the city never seriously questioned Harlan as the choice. If there was a lingering question, it was of Harlan's toughness, and whether his previous duties had sufficiently prepared him for this upward move. Some fans rattled off the Please see LangenkampC-4 more quietly and with less surprise and anticipation. When Robert Ernest Harlan took command of the Green Bay Packers corporation Monday, the shock waves were nonexistent.

It was similar to an electoral college vote for president the bloodletting, if any, had been done beforehand. In one sense, it was a significant development. The Packers, for the first time ever, went outside the old boys' network to find a president. Not very much outside, mind you, only down the corridor from Robert j. Parins' office.

But figuratively outside in the sense that Harlan was a product of the system and not a product of the sometimes archaic structure that has served as the Packers' governing body. The annual meeting Monday at the Midway Motor Lodge was as cut and dried as you can get. There were no whimpers of discontent, no umbrage taken over the nomination of Harlan, no bones of contention. No shock waves. But shock waves have never been Harlan's style anyway.

His is an innate gift of parting the waters without making waves. If he ever felt compelled to belt you in the chops, you'd probably lie there and think you had it coming. Harlan built his career on getting along with people. He has a delightful sense of humor, which is a commodity he may well need in the months and years ahead. Given the Packers' track record over the past 19 years Harlan's tenure with the club he has had ample opportunity to hone that sense of humor during the tough times.

That is another way of saying other franchise or somebody from another sport. Please see HarlanC-4 Brewers spoil Blue Jays' SkyDome opener Unheralded Chang knocks off Lendl ByJimDonaghy Associated Press TORONTO It was a perfect day for the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans except for the final score. The Blue Jays lost their opener in the $375 million SkyDome, 5-3 Tonight'sgame Milwaukee at Toronto Pitchers: Higuera (1-2) vs. Flanagan (3-5) Game time: 6:30 p.m. Coverage: WGBA-TV, Channel 26; WNFL Radio, 1440 AM.

part of the outfield covered by the permanent egg-shaped roof. The game had a post-season atmosphere, as both teams lined up on the basepaths for pregame introductions, a band played and Canadian star Anne Murray sang the national anthems of Canada and the United States. When the Blue Jays took the field, they were given a standing ovation by a soldout crowd of about 53,000 and several players tipped their caps. "That was great," Toronto catcher Ernie Whitt said. "This is a Court in a mixture of exhaustion and exhilaration.

He left the court in tears as the capacity crowd of 14,000 gave him a standing ovation. By winning 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Chang ended Lendl's chances this year of winning the' Grand Slam of tennis and became the youngest male player ever to reach the French Open quarterfinals. "I'm just surprised I was able Please see ChangC-4 PARIS (AP) Using moon balls, sheer guts and even an underhand serve to overcome painful leg cramps, Michael Chang upset top-seeded and three-time champion Ivan Lendl in five sets Monday in one of the most dramatic matches in French Open history. When Chang crowded the service line and rattled Lendl into double-faulting to end the four-hour, 38-minute match, the 17-year-old American fell onto his back on the red clay of Center on a sacrifice and scored on Sheffield's grounder to shortstop. With the score 2-2 in the fourth, Rob Deer led off with a single against Key, 6-4, and Braggs followed with his 10th home run.

Don August, 5-6, struggled but managed to get out of several jams for the victory. He pitched 5V4 innings and allowed six hits before Bill Krueger and Mark Knudson relieved in the sixth. Dan Plesac pitched 1 innings for his 13th save. Sheffield got his second RBI of the game in the fifth when he singled home Moiltor to give the Brewers a 5-2 lead. August walked George Bell leading off the fourth and Fred McGriff followed with his 13th home run, an opposite-field drive to left.

McGriff has hit safelv in 12 of his to the Milwaukee Brewers Monday night. But nobody really could be all that disappointed. "I didn't come into this stadium until today," Toronto Manager Cito Gaston said. "I just wanted to see it all at once. It's quite a place." Glenn Braggs hit a two-run homer for the Brewers and Gary Sheffield drove in two runs as Milwaukee snapped the Blue Jays' three-game winning streak.

"It's disappointing not to win the opener, but we're going to win a lot of games here, too," Gaston said. The day started overcast, but by late afternoon the sun was shining the $100 million retractable roof was rolled back, leaving only Brewers select Iowa pitcher Cal Eldred in the first round of the amateur draftC-4 ing out," said Molitor, who scored two runs. The first pitch ever at the SkyDome was a strike by Jimmv Key to Molitor at 7:46 p.m. EDT The ball was taken out of play and will be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. But Key's performance was hardly Hall of Fame caliber thereafter.

Molitor doubled, moved to third great place and it belongs to the people of Toronto and I'm sure there will be many great moments here." At the end, it was sort of like a Christmas celebration. Ixts of expectations, some met and some not Milwaukee's Paul Molitor found the stunning new stadium to be quite fair. "You get a true hop and the ball seems to carry well without jump- Inside: Green Bay Southwest becomes just the third metro school to place first or second in the WIAA boys state track and field meetC-3 Baltimore Orioles score 1 3 unearned runs in 1 6-3 last 13 games. Bell later had a solo home run. The Brewers tied the score 2-2 in the third on Robin Yount's sacrifice flv.

victory over the New York YankeesC-4.