Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 39

Randle's punches break Ranger manager's cheek Associated Press ORLANDO. Fla. Lenny Randle, frustrated and angered after losing his regular second base position to rookie Bump Wills, sent Texas Rangers manager Frank Lucchesi to the hospital Monday after hitting him three times. Rangers' officials immediately ordered Handle's suspension. The incident was the eruption of a storm that began to brew when Lucchesi publicly referred to Randle as a "punk" last week in answer to Randle's demands that he be given a chance to play regularly or traded to another baseball team.

Lucchesi a admitted to Mercy Hospital here and doctors said lie had a fracture of the right facial bone under the eye. r. Jack Sneddon, the emergency room doctor at the hospital, said Lucchcsi's condition was good, but he could not talk lo anyone. The doctor said Lucchesi's "bones under the right eye were only minimally displaced." He said a plastic surgeon would examine the Rangers' manager later to determine if surgery was needed. FRANK CIANELU Derby displays plenty Bass savvy MAD DOGS, and Englishmen, go out in the noonday sun.

So what kind of conclusion are you "supposed to draw from THAT? And, by the same token, make judgment abcut a couple hundred bass fishermen voting solid "aye" to go fish killing at Roosevelt Lake In the midst of a snow and rainstorm with the wind so chill it could have killed scent of a limberger and onion lunch. That's the scene from Saturday when the Civitan Bass Derby chance to fish with a pro for $75 donation to the Valley of the Sun School for Children was beset by an overload of weather misery. Nobody dropped out. And did they haul fish! It was good fortune of "01' Grouchy" here to be paired with Fred Ward, Western State Pro champion, a fish-taker supreme who swiftly convinces there's no such, thine as "fisherman's luck." Fisherman's "skill," yes. But luck plays no part as Ward swiftly proved when we kept two limits out of belter than 40 bigmouths hooked and netted including a six-pounder that missed by 11 ounces of being best of the day, and left us second, overall, for total weight of the five heftiest, two dunces under 15 pounds.

All the time fishing amid other boats taking just a couple of fish all day. Ward even playfully invoked the "supreme sacrilege" of flipping a lure under a nearby pulling a fish from beneath his buddy. This was the second time I'd had the delight of fishing with Ward. And he has us convinced that to succeed, you need, besides a rod, reel and license, a lot of savvy and a heap of help. Ward's bass boat represents an $8,000 let the prop ding the rocks, it costs $350." The big black Merc packs 150 horsepower.

There's a depth scanner, electric bow motor, four Lew Childre rods costing $65 each, plus reels equally priced, and boxes and boxes of lures, though Ward relied mostly on the new bubble-emitting worms and a horrible appearing jig that must have looked like strawberry sundae to bass. At one "honey hole," Ward took four fish in as many casts. He talks to fish. "Ooh. one right now, he's gonna hit and swish went the pole as Ward sunk the hook.

"Gotta cross his eyes," he explained. "These new graphite rods, they call 'em speedsticks, are really something," says Ward. "You can feel a fish swim before he hits." Ward was a housing contractor when he took up fishing seriously some five years ago. A year and a half ago he set up as a fulltime guide. "I don't come cheap.

But I'm the best there is," he admits with open immodesty. "But I do more than just park you over a fishing hole. I teach you to fish, how to read a meter, how to find where the fish are in a lake. I bring a client up to date with information on how to use all baits and techniques it's taken me years to master. An individual on his own couldn't do it in 10 years and 100 trips.

I show the client how to limit out that day and any future day he goes fishing. Ward is one of about 100 professionals in the state sharing a common gripe that they don't get enough exposure, don't have sponsors, and could use the publicity to further promote the sport. "I spend thousands of dollars a year on equipment and expenses," he said. "So do other fishermen to lesser degree. It's a big business.

There are some 300,000 fishing licenses sold in Arizona each year. Fishing has a great audience which, in turn, benefits service stations, resort and motel operators, sporting good stores. If pros could gain greater recognition everybody would benefit." The proof that one man's versatility can produce such fishing success has to fuel every angler's basic ambition: Limit out every time like Fred. Calgary has late goal to edge Runners, 5-4 Special to The Republic CALGARY, Alta. Can.

Calgary's Cowboys maintained seasonal dominance of Phoenix' luckless Roadrunners, scoring with 27 seconds remaining to play for 5-4 World Hockey Association conquest here Sunday night. The Cowboys now are 6-0-1 with Phce- nix whose struggle to make the West Division playoffs nearly has vaporized. The Runners never trailed until Warren Miller's point shot deflected off teammate Lynn Powis and arced over goalie Gary Kurt and into the net. Miller a killer against Phoenix all season had scored the tieup goal barely a minute earlier capitalizing on a miscue by Ron Huston, dropped back to play defense for the injury-weakened Runners. Suns rap Sonics SEATTLE Phoenix' Suns may be forgotten in the National Basketball As.

sociation's Pacific Division race. But they're not gone. Reduced by injuries to a nine-member unit, the Suns rose up to smash playoff- contehding Seattle, 121-100, Sunday night. PHOENIX (121) Phoenix Calgary First Period 1, Phoenix, Hughes (26) (Ftorek, Rautakalllo), 4:56. 2, Caloarv, Morrison 18) (Ketola Ward), 5:38 3.

Phoenix, Mono Morrison nonen (17) Ftorek (4 ononen (Hobn, dlngton), 16:16. 4, Phoenix. Ftorek (44) (Hughes, Raytakai io), 19:18. Penalties Beaudoin, Pho, Chlpperf eld, Ca Beaudoln. Pho, 16:56 Second Period -5, Calgary, Ward (21) (Mlszuk) 9:57.

6, Calgary, Powls (27) (Kryskow, Terbenche), 14:19. Penalties Deadmarsh, Cal. Hughes Beaudoln, Pho, Coac'h Connie Ryan was placed in charged of the team for the exhibition game with the Minnesota Twins. "All I wanted to do was talk to him," Randle said after the incident. "I never thought it would come to this, but I guess these things happen in life sometimes." Randle said he approached Lucchesi along the third base line to talk to him and Lucchesi told him: "What do you got to say, punk?" At that time, Randle said, "I just ran out of cheek.

They just told me to get dressed and try to cool off. I hate that this had to happen, but I guess he took my passive-ness for granted. All a man wants is respect. It was just I'm not Judas and he's not Jesus Christ." Witnesses said Randle hit Lucchesi three times in the face with a left, a right and another left. Lucchesi fell to the ground and Randle started to hit him again when shortstop Bert Campan- eris jumped in a pushed Randle away.

Outfielder Ken Henderson then had to be restrained by teammates when he tried to go after Randle. Randle, 28, is 5-feet-10 and weights 175. Lucchesi. who will be 51 next month, is 5-8 and 175. Rangers' owner Brad Corbett said: "It's the worst thing I've ever heard.

I want to hear both sides, but for now, as far as I am concerned, he (Randle) is suspended." Corbett said he was very upset with executive vice president Eddie Robinson and General Manager Danny O'Brien. "I told them I wanted to get rid of Randle. I knew there was a boiling point: I think we made a terrible mistake." Corbett said he would call American Leapup president Lee MacPhail to discuss the suspension and then would try to trade Randle as soon as possible. Randle. on a four-year contract at a reported $80.000 a year, was the.

Rangers' regular second baseman last year when he hit .228. Rangers officials nn- noimced before spring training that Wills would be the team's regular second baseman this year. During spring training Wills flayed more than twice as much as Randle at 4 second base and Randle complained lo team officials and demanded to be traded. Marquette champs, 67-59 THE ARIZONA. REPOBUD Tuesday, March 29,1977 (Section B) Page 4 Milwaukee hosts Suns Special to The Republic MILWAUKEE Neither team wall have an opportunity to dip into the National Basketball Association's record $1.15 million playoff pool 1 this season.

But Phoenix and Milwaukee, who play here tonight, can get in on the riches at the other end of pro basketball's college draft. This losingest clubs in both NBA conferences flip for the No. 1 pick, and both the Suns and Bucks are in the race for the Western flip berth. Milwaukee, with a 27-49 record and .355 percentage, owns a three-game "lead" over the Suns, 29-45 and .392, in the flip derby. Milwaukee) has six games remaining and Phoenix eight.

Coninued on Page B-5 Associated Press Butch Lee (15) of Marquette goes high for a score during first half of championship action in Atlanta Monday. North Carolina's Tom Zaliagiris (32), left, attempts to stop Lee. Death claims ike Casteel ma Pho, ma or Pho se ed Third 'Period 7, Phoenix, Mononen (18) (Hobin, Repo), 15:25. 8, Calgary, Ml her (22) (Powls. kow), 18:08.

9, Calgary, Powls (28) (Miller, Ml? gary, Powls Miller, iuk)V Penalty -MfllirY Cat on ooal Phoenix Calgary 12-14- 3 Goalies Phoenix, Kurt. Calgary, McLeod. A Miles Webster (Mike) Casteel, University of Arizona football coach for 10 years and who served 23 years as director of the Arizona State University Sun Angel Foundation, died Sunday, He was 81. The information sheet from the mortuary stated, "He had no survivors," Which is Mike Casteel had a legion of friends, solid companionship through lifelong associations with athletics. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m.

Wednesday at. A. L. Moore Sons. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m.

today. In earning his niche in the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Mike Casteel built stature for the UofA, where he never had a losing season in 10 to he built respectability and confidence at ASU as Sun Angel Foundation director from 1950 through 1973. Said Jim Coles, now a San Diego resident, who was president of the Foundation at the time Casteel was hired: "We were stumbling along like a batch of amateurs. Mike kept us on the Continued on Page B-5 Namath-to-Rams chatter echoes in Biltmore halls By GREG LOGAN Te Ad Jrre'll Westphal D. VanAr 'TVyanAn spoon SEATTLE (100) M' EX 8 8 8 totjj fouls Phoenix 2S, Seattle 30 Fouled out fi 1 1 Phoenix Mike Casteel at trophy time There's plenty of talk about a possible trade of celebrated New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath to the Los Angeles Rams at this week's National Football League meetings at the Arizona Biltmore.

The writers covering this gathering are talking. And both Rams and Jets officials say they have talked, are talking and will continue to talk about a trade the rest of this week. But typically, nobody's talking. Not about details, anyway. It was widely reported last week that a trade of Namath to the Rams was imminent.

There was similar talk the previous two years, but it was just that. "This is the first year we've actually talked with the Jets," Rams president Steve Rosenbloom, son of Los Angeles owner Carroll Rosenbloom, said n- day. "The other times were just rumors that came out of New York. But all we've done is look at films to see if the coaches are interested." "For the first time, everybody lias said they're interested in seeing something done," adds Jets general manager Al Ward, who is negotiating with his counterpart from the Rams, Don Klosterman, as well as Steve Rosenbloom. 1 Perhaps the bargaining position of the two clubs is best deduced not from the substance of the talk but from the tone.

The Jets' Ward talks in terms of "getting something done." His team has been a consistent loser in recent seasons, no longer able to give Namath the protection his fragile knees require and unable to provide a running attack sufficient to relieve the pressure on the passing game. "We've got a young club, the turnover (in personnel) will continue this year, and we hope to complete it by next season," Ward explains. "We've m- mitted ourselves to going with our young quarterback Richard Todd." Although Ward says the size of Na- matli's contract "has never bothered us," the. Jets are not anxious to pick up their option to renew the high-priced quarterback's contract, which ran out at the end of last season. If the Jets don't exercise their option by Friday, Namath will be placed on waivers, giving every NFL club a chance to pick him up but only at the same phenomenal salary (a reported $450,000 per year) Namath was paid the last two seasons.

So, the only way the Rams can get Namath for less than he's now being paid is for the Jets to renew their option, make the trade and then let the Rams and Namath renegotiate for a lower figure. "We could not bring Joe in and pay i w.hal his current contract is," Kosenbloom states. "If that were the case, a 11 discussions would have to stop." All of which strengthens Bosenbloom's bargaining position and helps explain why he is so vague as to whether or not there will be a trade at all. "We're just looking at him like anybody else," Rosenbloom claims. "We would want to get things straight on his salary and physical condition before we do anything.

And it doesn't mean he's No. 1 if we acquire him. We have tw6 fine quarterbacks in Pat Haden and James Harris." However, those quarterbacks, along with now-traded Ron Jaworski, were the subject of considerable controversy last season as they revolved In and out of the Rams' lineup. Rosenbloom says he would like to see the situation settle, but he won't comment directly on whether improving the quarterback spot Is the team's No. 1 priority or on whether he thinks Namath still is capbale of leading L.A.

to the Super Bowl with the help of their strong running game and offensive line and excellent wide receivers. "One man doesn't make a team," Rosenbloom says. "But if you have a good situation with a balanced team and a lot of talent, then perhaps one player can come in and improve it." What will it take to complete the deal? "There are a lot of complications because of the no-cut, no-trade clause in Namath's contract and because he's coming into his option year," says the Jets' Ward. "But we wouldn't want cash, We want either players, draft choices or a combination." Undoubtedly, that will take a lot more talk. NFL NOTES -r- In the malor business completed Monday, the NFL approved the sale of the San l-ranclsco 4'ers to shopping center developer Edward J.

DeBartolo Jr. although the terms of sale have not been finalized. A new formula for distribution of Super Bowl tickets was approved, and coin flips to determine draft order were completed, alving Kansas Cltv the 10th choice In the first round and Houston the illh and giving New England 25th and Baltimore 26th. Those teams will allernate In suc- McG final uire in game Associated Press ATLANTA The Marquelle Warriors blew a 12-point halftime lead, then scrambled like street fighters in the closing two minutes to give retiring coach AI McGuire his first ketball championship with a 67-59'vicjo- ry over North Carolina Monday n'igh'C The Warriors broke a 47-47 tie with a Mttlei more than six minutes remaining on a pair of free throws by Butch Lee; a star last summer for the Puerto Rican Olympic team. North Carolina never was able to catch up as the Warriors went to the free throw line repeatedly in the final two minutes; hitting 14 foul shots to preserve the triumph.

North Carolina appeared to be back- in contention during a state of'Confusion with 1:45 left in the game. Officials called a flagrant technical foul on Marquette's Bernard Toone, who also was fouled on the play. Toone missed his foul shot, and Olympian Walter Davis coverted twice for the fur Heels, cutting the lead to 53-51. The confusion arose when some thought North Carolina should also have possession 1 but apparently it was a dead ball foul on Toone, forcing a jump ball at center court after the free throws. Marquette controlled that tip and Toone missed a layup, wild scramble for possession that had-bodies falling all over the floor before flufoul 'finally was called.

That Jim Boylan to the line. Boylart calmly sank both shots, then Bo Ellis hit four in a row and the victory was secure with a 59-53 lead with 62 seconds left. McGuire, ending a 20-year coaching career with his 404th victory, began lo weep on his bench with six seconds left in the. game as Gary Rosenberger hit the final two free throws. When Uie buzzer sounded, he remained seated on the bench, his head slightly bowed and tears streaming down his face.

The victory left Marquette with a 25-7 record, most defeats ever for a national college basketball champion. It removed the 1958 Kentucky team, which had gone 23-6, from the record books with -that distinction. And ironically, McGuire who started his career in North Carolina at tiny Belmont Abbey College recorded his last three victories over North Carolina teams. The Warriors defeated Wake Forest in the Midwest Regional finals nine days ago and stopped North Carolina-Charlotte in Saturday's semifinals. NORTH CAROLINA Davis 8-10 20, O'Koren 6 2-4 14, Yonakor 3 0-0 6, Ford 3'0-0 6.

1-2 5, Krafclsln 1 Zal aolrls 20-04, Bradley 1 0-0 2, Buckley 0 0-0 0, Wolf 00-0 0, Colescott 0 (H) o. Colev 0 0-0 0, Douoh- ton 0 0-0 0, Vir9M 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 11-16 59. MARQUETTE Ellis 5 4-5 14, Nearv 0 0-0 0, 8, Lee 6 7-7. 19, Boylan 4-4 14, Rosenberger 1 6, Toone 3 0-1 6.

Totals 22 23-25 67. 39, North Carolina 27. Fouled Kuesler Total 24, Marquetle 13, Eddie Owens and Reggie Theus combined for 58 points and led high-scoring Nevada-Las Vegas to a 106-94 victory over North Carolina-Charlotte in the consolidation game. Owens scored 34 points and Theus added 24 as Las Vegas closed its season with a 29-3 record. Cedru 1 (Cornbread) Maxwell a freshman Chad Kinch each had 30 points for the 49ers, who finished 28-5.

The 106 points gave Nevada-Las Vegas 505 during the tournament, an average of 101 a game, breaking the record 'of 100 a game set by UCLA in four games in 1965. NEVADA-LAS VEGAS (1M) Owens 14 6-8 34, Gondrezlck 3 1-2 7. Moffett 6 0-0 12, R. Smith 2-2 liS, S. Smith i 0-0 10, Theus, 11 2-5 24, Smith 1 0-0 2, Brown 3 1-1 7.

Totals 47 ONC-CHARLOTTB Massev 11 0-0 22, Klnq 1 0-2 2, Maxwell 9 12-13 30, Klnch 11 8-8 30, Watklns 1 2, Scott 2 0-0 4. Gruber 1 2, Angel 0 2-3 2, Whltfleld 0 04 0, Crctvlev 0 6, Hester 0 o-O 0, Winston 0 0. Totals 36 22-26 94. HaWlme UNC-CharlotteH, N.veda-Us Veoaj 50. Fouled Klnch.

Total Las Vegas 22. 18. Warriors' Dickey set for surgery 011 ankle OAKLAND (AP) Derrek Dickey, reserve forward for the Golden State Warriors, will undergo surgery Thursday for removal of bone chips from an ankle, the National Basketball Association team announced Monday..