The Minneapolis Star from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 31

7 7 -1 Nichols Masters was a Player's delight By RALPH THORNTON Minneapolis Star Staff Writer AUGUSTA In friendlier circles that 2 V-foot putt Hubert Green needed to force a Masters sudden death playoff with Gary Player would have been a "gim-mee." But in Augusta, the grass is glass, the nerves are Jello and the stakes are high. No one said, "Pick it up, Hubert." And Green, unnerved by from a radio booth missed the putt. Green had company in the could-have-been land of Masters runners-up. With him at 10 under were Tom Watson and Rod Funseth, each of whom had at least one wrist up the sleeve of the green coat during the final round. But the jacket went to Player, the 42-year-old horse-rancher from Johannesburg, South Africa, for his third Masters victory.

In one of the most thrilling finishes in the tournament as old and as resourceful as its winner as many as five players were scrambling for the lead. AT ONE POINT, Green, Funseth and Player were each 9 under par, Watson was at 8 under and Jack Nicklaus had just birdied to go 7 under. Then Watson eagled to go 10 under. Green, in the next twosome, missed his eagle but birdied to go 10 under, as did Funseth. Ahead, Player sank another of his eight birdie putts to go 10 under.

MASTERS Turn to Page 12B -A FUTURE SOCCER CENTER? DENVER Two years ago, when Freddie Goodwin first came to the Kicks as coach, he considered the North American Soccer League "a bit of a gamble." But there no longer is a question of whether the league "will make it," he said yesterday, and NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam took it a step further. Within five years, said Woosnam, the NASL will be the "center of world soccer," with a champion team competing in world pro playoffs. "We would have to compete with teams from South America, Central America and the Caribbean," he said, "and their seasons end at a different time. But when we are the center of world soccer with network television, that will be worked out." Two years ago the NASL lost a network TV contract, and TVS network will do only nine games this year. But locally televised games are up from 35 last year to 152 this year, he said, and ABC, CBS and NBC are all bidding for next year.

"The credit goes to Pele more than anyone," he said. "The success of the Kicks in 1976 and the success of the New York Cosmos last year turned it around. Another big factor is the league balance. Of 234 games last year, only four had no bearing on which teams would be In the playoffs. Almost every game meant something.

So interest is rising all over the NASL ATTENDANCE reflects the rising interest, he said. It reached 3.5 million last year and may to reach 5.5 million this year with six new clubs and and average game attendance expected to rise from 13,500 to 16,500. The Cosmos, with Pele no longer playing, drew 44,000 for their first home game. "Everyone wondered if the Cosmos would draw without Pele, and they did," he said. He pointed to opening day crowds of 32,000 at Oakland, 29,000 at Seattle, 26,000 at Tampa Bay, 15.000 for a new club in Houston, 17,000 for a new club in Memphis and 18.000 for a new club in Philadelphia.

THE NEXT STEP may be to extend the season from 30 to 36 games, from April through September, including playoffs. That's a month longer than now. That would end the practice of borrowing players from other countries, said Goodwin, because they must be back with their teams by September. The Kicks will have four borrowed players this year, but some teams already own all their own players, said Woosnam. current system of breaking ties with penalty kicks will continue, he said, because fans seem to like It.

THE WOBD IN DENVER Is that Marvin Davis is still working quietly to bring the A's baseball club from Oakland to Denver by April 24, when the A's begin their second home stand of the year. negotiations got to be a public poker game with A's owner Charley the minneapolis star April 10, 1978 9B Is Gary best in the world? By RALPH THORNTON Minneapolis Star Staff Writer AUGUSTA A feisty Gary Player, whose clenched fist after birdies on the 13th, 16th and 18th holes showed his determination to win his third Masters title, took Americans to task for not recognizing his international record. "I've won a lot of tournaments from seven shots back," he recalled after Arnold Palmer said In a television interview that Player was "out of the tourna- ment" before yesterday's scorching finish. "In 1962 Arnie was six shots ahead of me on the third hole and 1 was three shots ahead of him by the J2th," recalled Player, arrayed in his third green. "I won that Masters, too." "I CAN COMMISERATE with the fellows who were runners-up today," he continued.

"I've been runner-up here three times. But I played not one stroke better than I did the day before. I missed one green today, same as then. But I putted very well. PLAYER Turn to Page 12B v.

v'- Associated Press Gary Player clinched his fist after his birdie putt at No. 18 dropped for course-tying record 64 Twins haven't convinced Mauch "We got three well-pitched games from our starters," he continued, referring to Dave Goltz, Roger Erickson and Paul Thormodsgard. "And we got one excellent relief effort when we needed it." HE WAS referring to Gary Serum. And the team's youngest member he won't be 22 until October certainly did spell relief at the right time yesterday. The Twins scored twice in the third against left-hander Tom House on RBI singles by Rivera and Rod Carew.

They got two more in the fourth on an error by third baseman Bill Stein and Norwood's sacrifice fly. And they added three more in the fifth on Roy Smalley's sacrifice fly, Bobby Randall's grounder and another Seattle error. TWINS Turn to Page 1 IB Bbmbo Rivera in the outfield, every fly ball is an adventure. They provide intrigue and humor, but not especially in that order. THEY HAVE shown great speed and determination, but as Mauch put it, "Someday they might all converge on the same ball at the same spot." Even more exciting, or humorous, is the base running.

At times the Twins resemble the Keystone Kops. Yesterday Norwood, one of the team's best base runners, stopped between second and third, started toward third, hesitated again and was tossed out easily. Third base coach Karl Kuehl just looked at the artificial turf and shook his head. Mauch had some other opinions after his team's first five games. "We'll hit and score runs," he said.

"But the most encouraging thing about this series was the pitching. By BOB FOWLER Minneapolis Slur Staff Writer ANAHEIM Before yesterday game in Seattle, Twins' manager Gene Mauch said, "These young players have proven to me that they can play. Now, they must prove that to themselves." After the Twins captured an 8-6 decision from Seattle, enabling them to win the five-game series 3-2, Mauch was asked if his young players had gained enough confidence to become contenders in the American League West. "No," he answered. "Oh, winning the last two games of the series after losing two of the first three was sweet.

But Willie Norwood didn't play as well as he's capable of playing. Hosken Powell didn't, either." If winning the series didn't impress the manager, there were some features that had to be downright depressing. For example, with Norwood, Dan Ford and Powell or NO GIMMICKS NO DOUBLE TALK Everyday low prices Come in and see why we are again the largest volume Chrysler Plymouth dealer in the Upper Midwest. Finley holding up American League owners for an extra $1 million, and Bowie Kuhn demanding an end to Finley's suits, while Oakland and San Francisco protected stadium contracts. Davis feels negotiations must be resumed quietly so no one loses face in making concessions.

THE COLORADO ROCKIES lost $2 million while making the NHL playoffs, though income was up 40 percent to $1.7 says Ray Mlron, Rockies general manager. future is uncertain. "I'm an oil man, and I don't drill dry' holes twice," Jack Vickers, Rockies owner, once said. Houston club of the WHA has applied for an NHL franchise, according to Houston owners, and that could enter into the picture. Houston fans must purchase 7,000 season tickets within 30 days for Houston owners to continue in that city.

BRONCOMANIA has not been extended by Colorado fans from the Denver Broncos of the NFL to the Nuggets of the NBA or to the Rockies and the soccer Caribous so far. Nuggets coach Larry Brown has been complaining because his division champions, led by All-Star guard David Thompson, have not received support. No one met them at the airport after their tit'e victory. the Nuggets' fourth division title, and it's old hat. same thing will happen to the Broncos, just as it did to the Twins and then the Vikings in Minnesota.

Fans go wild when they first win, but then they get to expect It. NICHOLS WORTH Thompson will be a free agent after the NBA season and says money is not the chief factor. He wants to play for a team that can win the NBA crown. all say that until someone offers them $3 million. Remember Larry Hlsle? "I won't ask for a nickel more than I asked from Calvin Griffith," he said last summer.

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as low as delivered MpU. pfvt license A ttoto tax North Stars win No. 1 draft pick Special to The Minneapolis Star PHILADELPHIA The Minnesota North Stars beat Philadelphia 3-1 last night but still claimed the National Hockey League's consolation prize first choice in June's amateur draft. Despite the victory making Minnesota the only team to beat the Flyers twice in Philadelphia this year the North Stars still ended up with the worst record in the NHL. Minnesota managed only a club record low 45 points.

The Stars also set a club mark for most losses in a season with 53. The North Stars are expected to select Ottawa 67s center Bob Smith with their No. 1 pick. Glen Sharpley led the North Star offense with a goal and two assists, setting up Tom Younghans for his 10th goal just 22 seconds in the game. Sharpley scored his 22nd of the season to give Minnesota a 2-0 first period lead.

The Flyers' Gary Dornhoefer, honored In pregame ceremonies because he is retiring, scored in the second period. It was the only one of 20 shots Star goalie Paul Harrison didn't stop. Per-Olov Brasar got Minneosta's other goal, giving him 20. Tomorrow night the preliminary round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begins with best of three series matching Colorado at Philadelphia, the New York Rangers at Buffalo, Los Angeles at Toronto end Detroit at Atlanta. Division champs Montreal, the New York Islanders, Boston and Chicago have first round byes.

In other season ending games, Detroit blanked Montreal 4-0. It was the first time in 23 games the Red Wings had beaten the Canadiens. Washington beat Atlanta 4-2 after beating Pittsburgh 6-4 Sturday. Those victories gave the Caps four victories and two ties in its final seven games. 1 YEARS OF QUALITY DEALING Chrysler-Plymouth 5101 W.

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