Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 55

rn vrrwr rrryrr jtw'v rr rT nrr ry rrvs vt 'VTy t'T-tt vr rr VYvCT-Tf tr I (Chicago (Tribune i Friday, March 25, 1977 Section 4 play moves stein ser nterleagEe ft I 'Mm i if Lee MacPhail Tflbunt Drnrint tr Am Anxm Muhammad All testifies in U.S. District Court Thursday afternoon. Sports (briefing By Richard Dozer CMom Trthim Pim Mnlct TAMPA Major league baseball apparently can forget about the concept of three divisions in each league. That Idea died here Thursday st the major league meetings. But stOl alive in fact, becoming almost robust is the American League's pet project, lnterleague play.

The AL, which hatched the Idea of three divisions in each league last fall and nurtured it through the long winter, apparently found the scheduling problems too unwieldy. Thursday's vote on the issue was 9-5 against. AMERICAN LEAGUE owners can take heart, however, in the fact that their lnterleague scheme seems to be finding some interest among Natlonsl League brethren, who in other years have been adamant in their refusal even to discuss the In fact, John Fetzer, the Detroit owner who has been gaining stature In lnterleague matters, said be sensed a new inclination on the part of the National League to accept lnterleague play and the IMS league balance that could be legislated ss early as August, at the summer meetings. "It's a tremendous step for baseball," Fetzer said, "the first crack in the Kremlin wall." THE ALg ABRUPT taraabeot on the division came as a surprise aa the meetings sped through an agenda that contained only one real Issue: the "bush-hush" future of the day's only absentee: A's owner Charles 0. Finley.

Because the American League killed Its own baby and the National League "tabled" discussion of three divisions, Commissioner Bowie Kubn was able to steer the leagues into discussing what he and the AL want most: lUeam leagues. But, sb-b-h! Dont mention that Fin-ley's Oakland A's will go to Washington to make It possible. Kubn didn't Neither did Lee MacPhail nor Chub Feeoer, respectively the presidents of the AL and NL. SAD) MACPHAIL: "We there was sentiment against gimmickry, such as wild-card teams, so we voted against three divisions. But we found considerable interest in a IMS setup.

Yes, we w'Jyi- i Mood in both corners as Mi trial concludes i 01 1 1 In the wake of the news By David Condon Simon, Gourdine Joe Namath Strike threat by NBA refs wasnt as electric as anticipated. All said ha signed whatever papers were offered by Herbert Muhammad, without studying them, because "if I cant trust him, the leader of all the Muslim brothers in America, I can't trust no one." All got some laughs, too. Asked why he couldn't remember certain actions, the champ said: "If I'd known I was going to be in court today I'd have remembered." Asked if be wanted to see certain documents to Jog i. Cseilnued en page ceL 1 Chub Feeney would support it Immediately." Feeney, whose members are toss enthusiastic but apparently have left the door open a crack to embrace a transplanted AL team to Washington, declared: "Our league has an open mind." THE MEETINGS were highlighted by Contused en page eel NATIONAL Basketball AMtdatlM is Surging Bulls await roar of crowd, Knicks lacing a playoff strike by. Its fane officials unlets their demands (or nor money and a variety of other conditions are met The NBA already has placed 15 referees from the Eastern and Continental leagues on stand by, ottering them tsoo a game.

"We have been confronted, but not directly, by a strike threat," said Stee Candae. deputy commissioner. "With the officials seeking to bargain collectively on Individual contracts prior to the playoffs, we can envision the possibility of a work stoppage." NBA rets, though not yet unionized, are demanding overall salary increases, multi-year contracts, an arbitration board to review pro-testa by rets fired after five years in the league, pension credit for ex-ABA officials, and long-term disability. Reportedly, they also want the freedom to go to racetracks and casinos, a ban that exists even during the ott-eeason. -We aren't about to buckle if the strike does occur," said Gourdine.

"We plan to have the playoffs on time and have them manned by competent officials." THE MAIN EVENT went the limit, with bit of blood spilled and everyone groggy before Thursday's final belL Now heavyweight champion Muhammad All sweats out a decision, that, heads or tails, is certain to be disputed. Is All liable to New York's Madison Square Garden, which asks up to It million damages for All's failure to defend against Duans Bobick? Will All be enjoined from fighting for Don King, the -Imaginative independent promoter, instead of the The 'decision will be rendered about April 13 by Judge James P. who refereed the battle royal in Northern Illinois VS. District Court If AM loses, a rematch win determine the amount of damages to be paid. ALI HEADLINED the parade of witnesses testifying in Ks.

defense Tmirsday, but for once The Champ wasn't The Greatest His performance was bland compared to the fancy verbal footwork and parrying done by King, a surprise witness. Submitting to the legal technicality of establishing that he was the one and only Don King, the witness proclaimed himself promoter of such storied fights as "The Rumble In The Jungle," otherwise All vs. George. Foreman In Zaire, and "The ThriOah in Manila," which matched All against Joe Frailer. Then, with token modesty, King protested be certainly wasn't in the same league with that New York barracuda, MSG.

'Tm a very small fish In the sea," said King, "and the big fish eat the little fish." ALI DEFENSE HA8 beea that bis ceotnet to flffat Bobick wasn't valid because It wasnt signed by his manager, Herbert Muhammad, who also got in some licks Thursday. King testified that Herbert Muhammad indeed had to sign any fight contracts Involving All. Because, said King: "All marches to several drummers if you talk to Muhammad AIL be agrees to one thing, then he changes his mind." So, continued King, he always completed bis deals with Herbert Muhammad. "I never allow Herbert to escape," said King. And, the promoter continued, dealing with the manager Is standard procedure hi boxing "because the fighter is not oriented toward KING TESTDTXD THAT ha had tried to ptssaats the Norton title match but lost out to MSG.

"So I had to pack my bags and keep steppm'," be continued, eventually going Into details of his grandiose promotional dreams. Did King have any personal interest In the suit? No, "I got 'em (Herbert and All) locked In." Spouting on, King said: "ft goes without saying that Herbert Muhammad has gotten snore money for All than anyone has gotten for any ether fighter In the history of the ring. "Muhammad All doesn't read no contract Jm Just signs his name." is- 1 I If. Ford doubtful fU Tar. North Carolina's backcourt star, reinjared bis elbow practice Thursday and eoald miss Saturday's NCAA semifinal dash wU Nevada-Las Vegas.

was very painful," said Coach Dean taMk. "I dont have any idea whether hell he aUetopUy." Ford, who suffered a hyper-extended elbow the Tar Heels' regional victory over Notre Dame last week, was making a two-handed chest pass wbea be fett the pain again. By Bob Logan STRICKEN BY PLAYOFF fever. Balls' fsas are toe delirious to notice anything other than the headlong dash of their heroes toward the Money Derby. They csn be forgiven for a slight case of tunnel vision.

What the Bulls have done to the rest of the National Basketball Association the last few weeks makes Yale's i Frank MerriweU seem like a dx-D artist by contrast So another full house will pack the Stadium Friday night to challenge the decibel level of an O'Hare runway while the Cnkegoana seek their seventh straight victory against the New York Knicks. In the exefie-ment of the moment, tt will be easy to overlook the end of aa NBA era. THBJ WHX BE the tost Chicsge eescktog appearance for the Knicks' Red Hobanan. The dean of active NBA mentors has been benched by the Gulf at Western In case you hadn't noticed, the Bulls and Kansas City BOTH could make the playoffs at the expense of fading Detroit Rick taiiey's column, page 3. conglomerate that owns the Knicks, Arlington Park, and M-G-M Studios, among other things.

Hobanan comes here with Ml victories in 14 pre seasons, second only to Boston's Red Auerbach, who won S3S. Hobanan wu the toest of New York la 1070 and 73 when he steered the Knicks to NBA titles. Hobanan stressed team defense, hitting the open man, and subordinating individual egos. In the space of a few seasons, that kind of effort has gone out of style for many of pre basketball's wealthy pertonners. IT LOOKS THAT wsy to the Big Apple, at least.

Desperate tor a contender to fill Madison Square Garden's If ,004 seats, the Knicks spent a bundle to land Cental ted ea page eeL 1 Gcing, going Aer four meetings with the Rams to discuss contract lor Jce Naauta, his agent expects the Jet quarterback to be traded to Los Angeles. Tm convinced the Rams wffl do what OBoasary to acquire Joe," said attorney Urn-at Walsh. The Rama were mum, but Jets' CM Al Ward Indicated the clubs would work on a trade at the teania meetings next week in Phoenix. "We'd like players or draft choices or a com btoatloa of said Ward. QB James Harris has asked the Rams to trade him, and they reportedly are planning do so.

AFTER NOTING THAT "yea deal worry about having any other fighters as fang aa you have All," King said he had great future plana to star the champion, but "I havent quite figured out my agenda as to how I could fit Muhammad to." This taspired laughter from the crowd, which subsequently was reminded by Judge Crowley that aJthough King was funny, multimillion-dollar lawsuit was being tried. Obviously attempting to cast a shadow on King's reliabtixy as a witness, the Garden attorneys probed t. Kto aesJcipeted tUs'gaab and, wbea aefced what Snnr1 hlfL'ZtAr Bobby vs. Bean be dd prior to his as a Doxtng promoter, re- sponded: -Before I got out of Jail or afterwards? Ko wousOlthepouxaoo taoo. Hale Irwin hits the ball out of a aand trap at the ninth green en route to a 65 Thursday In the first round of the Heritage Qolf Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.

C. He shares the lead with Graham Marsh. Story on page 1. MUHAMMAD ALTS APPEARANCE oa the tweby Deugbas, though atfll a free agent Is expected to have a reunion with the Soldier Held bobirds whea the New Orleans Saints Jay the Bean fat an cxhfchMoa here Aug. f.

It would be Douglass' first meeting with his eld (pew since he was cut fai 173. The Bears also will host Ctocinnati Sept 10 to 2aax a aseagauie exhibit km slate that to-tiudes the Jets at Canton, Ohio (Hail of Fame rsme July SO; Raiders at Oakland Aug. is, Mora at Houston Aug. SO. Browns at Cteveiaad Aug.

St, and Cardinals at St Louis SeptS. Services set for ex-Bear Stydahar a Reggie cued 1 Reggie Jackson has beta hit with a SI million lanugo sutt. trwsi Weinglaaa, citing aa tod-lent outside a Baltimore restaurant tost Jirfv PfBJP) TrtfcfeW WW tvTwtCM BECKLEY, W. Vawaarsl services for former West Virginia and Chtoaxo Xaar star tacUe Joe Stydahar will be held Saturday at St Ana's Catholic Church CJanston.W.Va. Stydahar, a resident iof Hlshlaad Psrk, EL, died here Wednesday while on a business trip.

He wu Stydahar; bora March 17, ills, hi Kay-tor, grew up to Sblnnston. He wu employed by Southwest Forest Industries, a Bridgeview, container com- first, Stydahar was steered to the Mountaineers' campus In Morgsatown, and Coach Eerie "Greasy" Nesle hid Stydahar at a fraternity bouse until Pitt gave up looking for him. During lia-33, under Nealo and Charles Tallman sad with Stydahar aa rapUla durtns his senior year. WVU's record was 1S-U4. He played in the East-West Shrine Game and College All-Star Game hi ISM and was the Beers' No.

1 draft choice that year. Stydahar starred for the Bears during Cea Based ea page 4, eeL 1 football eccompuessnents, Joe Stydahar was a man of outstanding character and loyalty AO the things that made Joe a great football player ware reflected in tie successful business career. My coodoloBcea to his family and friends." RE BEGAN hie feetbal career at the University of Pittsburgh. Aa alumnus steered him to the school for a week of freshman workouts. Then, Stydahar' went home briefly.

He was wsttlag on a street comer for a car from Pitt to pick him up. A car from Weet Virginia showed up JUMBO JOE" (be was t-4 and MO pounds hi hie playing days also was a head coach In the National Football League, with the Los Angeles Rams during the issMI seasons and with the Chicago Cardinals during lsem "Joe was something special for me," George Halas, longtime owner aid coach of the Bears, said Thursday. "Football fans know him ss the' first' lineman drafted In the first round in ISM, as a true All-Pro, as a great football player, as one of the Bears' aU-Ums greets and aa a Hall of Famor. "But more important to any of the whea Jackson was wfth the Orioles, accused the i outfielder of aa unprovoked assault that onused him -severe, permanent and painful fcjurka" and "great public disgrace." Ed Stone Joe Stydahar.