Lansing State Journal from Lansing, Michigan • Page 30

C-2 THE STATE JOURNAL July 20, 1974 Falcons Defend Ken Reaves Trade to Saints thing around for some time," North said. When North became head coach at mid-season last year, he took Smith out of the lineup. "I'M NOT trying to come down on Smith," he said, "I think he'll make a good football player, but I feel we've got to help our defensive line." Reaves and his teammates who set up the picket line on the opening day of the added to the deal. "Trades are not fun, not easy to accept. They are a blow to your pride.

I know. I've been traded before. I explained to him (Reaves) he was the key guy in the trade." At the Saints' camp in Vero Beach, Coach John North said the Falcons initiated the trade discussions involving Reaves. "WE'VE BEEN kicking this "This may be a rallying point for the players. Yes, it's always somewhat of a shock.

Yes, I think there's always an inkling of a trade in the works." VAN BROCKLIN said the Saints had insisted on a two-for-one trade with Reaves involved. "We finally capitulated," he said, "but told them we had to have another player, too. So Palmer was year in the NFL, returned about an hour later and told his teammates he had been traded. He picked up a picket sign and carried it for a few minutes then left, saying he had to make some telephone calls. He returned at midafternoon and told newsmen: "I was full of mixed emotions.

I guess I knew when I took the job as player representative that the job was hazard. line at 10:20 a.m. EDT. All rookies, free agents and veterans were due to report to camp by 6 p.m. The Falcons expected at least 49 rookies and free agents to arrive, but only 10 were in camp when Reaves group showed up.

A handful of others had reported by midafternoon. AMONG THOSE in camp was second-year tackle Chris Stetcher, a member of the NFLPA, who was on the taxi squad last year. Shortly after his arrival, Reaves was approached by an assistant coach. He left moments later to meet with Van Brocklin. THE CORNERBACK, who had been, along with linebacker Tommy Nobis the only remaining members of Atlanta's 1966 team, their first This Is Why They're Striking: Wife Falcons' camp, seemed unsure themselves but finally picked up signs and strolled around the gate area, chatting with reporters and photographers.

"This is a relatively new experience for everybody," said Reaves, who represents the Falcons in the NFLPA which struck the league July 1, mainly over freedom issues. "We don't know how to act. We're up here with peace in our hearts and we hope this thing can be settled soon." TWO PLAYERS, rookie Maurice Spencer and free agent Leonard Walker, crossed the picket line without incident. Gerald Tinker, the club's top draft choice, arrived in camp Thursday and was given permission to return to his home in Miami until Saturday. The players were scheduled to undergo physical examinations Saturday with first formal workout scheduled for Sunday.

The team begins two-a-day drills Monday. Other veteran players picketing were John Zook, Dave Hampton, Ken Burrow, George Kunz, Ted Fritsch, Nick Bebout, Al Dodd, Larry Mialik, Preston Riley, Mike Lewis and Tony Plummer. GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) Veteran cornerback Ken Reaves, a leading force in the Atlanta Falcons' phase of the National Football League Players Association, helped set up a picket line outside the team's training camp Friday then learned he had been traded. Reaves and guard Andy Maurer were sent to the New Orleans Saints for guard Royce Smith and linebacker Dick Palmer.

THE TRADE brought immediate criticism from Ed Garvey, executive director of the NFLPA, who issued a statement in Washington. ''Reaves was traded because of his labor activities as the player representative," Garvey said. "He stood up to (Falcon Coach Norm) Van Brocklin, so he had to go. It's outrageous." 'The timing looks bad." said Van Brocklin. "It looks like a hatchet job.

But I assure you it is not intended that way and is totally unrelated to the labor movement. It has been i the works for several months." REAVES AND nine other Falcon veterans arrived outside a remote gate at Furman University and set up a picket She cited the continued use of artifical turf, a sore point with many players who contend it causes more injuries. "They're always talking about the loyalty players should have toward the team," said Mrs. Reaves, "but it ought to be a mutual thing." REAVES HAS been team captain since the Falcons came into existence in 1966, his wife said, "but that's not usually mentioned; just that he's the player representative in the strike." She said her husband "didn't sound too surprised" when he called her about the trade. "But he was disappointed," she said.

"However, we have no animosity toward the team. "HE LOVES Atlanta and he's been with the Falcons since they started. I just wonder who they're going to put in that left corner. Ken's been there eight years." ATLANTA (AP) "This is why they're striking," said Jo Ann Reaves Friday alter learning that her husband. Ken Reaves of the Atlanta Falcons, had been traded to the New Orleans Saints in a four-player National Football League swap.

Reaves, the Falcons' representative to the NFL Players' Association which struck July 1, led 10 veteran Atlanta players in setting up a picket line Friday morning at the team's training camp at Greenville, S.C. Shortly afterwards, he was informed he had been traded with guard Andy Maurer to the Saints for linebacker Dick Palmer and guard Royce Smith. "WHAT THE players are asking for is right and just," said Mrs. Reaves, a secretary at an Atlanta motel, in this day and time. This is not a players' strike; it's a strike for the players' families." The" Reaves, who just bought a house at Fairburn, have no children.

"But if we did," said Mrs. Reares, "we would just have to pull up stakes and leave. The players are treated just like cattle, and there are no benefits for the kids of deceased players." SHE COMPLAINED that the average fan doesn't understand the issues involved in the players' strike. "If my husband collects one of his pension checks after he retires and then dies, his pension is shut off and goes back into the general pension funds," said Mrs. Reaves.

The defensive back and his wife met six years ago when she was a student at Spelman College in Atlanta. They were married two years later. "I DIDN'T really get into football until I met him," said Mrs. Reaves, "but when he became player representative, I really learned about the injustices to the players." Legal Action Threatened S.i i Pontiac Stadium Hits Snag it is legal to appropriate money retroactively. "I'M ASKING the governor to veto these bills not only because of their illegality, but also because I believe the overwhelming majority of taxpayers are opposed to the use of the tax dollars for building a stadium to be used by a privately owned athletic team whose principal owner is a multi-millionaire," Hertel said.

Gov. William G. Milliken has not indicated what action he would take on the stadium funding. The bonding law limits appropriations to 2 per cent of the issued bonds. Some $40 million in bonds have been issued for the stadium, which would appear to set that limit this case at $800,000.

IN ADDITION, half of the $1.6 million is to pay stadium rental for the fiscal year which Detroit Lions' new home in Pontiac is moving right along toward its scheduled completion in time for 75 season. Dodgers Remember '73 Homer Helps Top Angels recommend that the City of Pontiac sue the state unless the final grant was okayed. THE FINAL $800,000 grant was inserted in an appropriations bill by the House and sent to the Senate, where the Appropriations Committee killed it. The full Senate agreed with the appropriations panel and left it out and sent it back to the House. The House reinserted the money and the Senate agreed during debate in the early morning hours of July 13 just before adjournment.

Lodge contended the state agreed to back the stadium project with cash three years ago by earmarking a percentage of race track income for stadium development. And even though the attorney general ruled the race track money diversion was unlawful, the state's obligation remained, Lodge said. Hometown Folk Will Miss Diz WIGGINS, Miss. (AP) "We just took him for granted because we loved him, I guess," said a waitress at a truck stop in this sleepy little Mississippi town paying its formal respects to baseball immortal Dizzy Dean. Christine Henze, the waitress, was unable to join the line to pay respects to Dean's family at the local funeral home because she was working.

But scores of others, including tourists passing by, filed through the chapel. FLOWERS FROM all parts of the nation, from the well-known and from the common, filled the chapel. Most of the people passing Dean's open casket Friday were from Wiggins, the town of about 3.000 which Dean adopted as his home. Dean died Wednesday in a hospital at Reno, after a heart attack. "I DON'T think the people around here are going to realize what they had in old Diz for a year or so," said Dan E.

Vernon, a highway patrolman who lives in Wiggins. "Any time you would get out of town and people found out you were from Wiggins, they would grab you and say, 'Do you know Dizzy But around here he was just Dizzy. Our children grew up knowing ended June 30. Hertel questioned the legality of a retroactive appropriation. Hertel questioned paying rent on a construction project not due for completion until 1977.

"How can you spend $800,000 for a hole in the ground? That's the grossest form of inflation," he said. THE LEGISLATURE approved the state funds for stadium rental in two separate bills. Half of the money was approved early in July as a supplemental bill for the old fiscal year that ended June 30. The remainder got the legislative okay in the closing hours before summer recess last weekend. Hertel voted against both appropriations.

They were favored by Pontiac area state Sen. L. Harvey Lodge, R-Waterford. Lodge threatened to before Otis parked his seventh home run of the season over the left field fence. Mayberry then drilled his 19th into the right field bullpen.

The Royals added a run in the ninth on Fran Healy's sin-g 1 Patek's double and Wohlford infield hit. hits, including two each by Nylander and Miller, while the Flint team accounted for four safeties. Sober fanned 11 as Gordon rolled up the team's 32nd win against 14 losses so far this year. GORDON IS Lansing's only entry in the 10-team double elimination schedule that features 12 games today at Ranney and Elm parks. Semi-final and final games are slated for Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.

at Raney. I another Friday night game, Flint AUL came from behind ith a two-run rally in the seventh to down Ann Arbor Tool, 3-2. A Detroit legislator asked the governor Friday to veto a $1.6 million state appropriation earmarked for rental of the still uncompleted Pontiac Stadium. "THESE ARE public funds for a team (the Detroit Lions) owned by a millionaire (William Clay Ford)," said state Sen. John Hertel, D-Detroit.

Hertel contended the appropriation is illegal on two counts "and if the governor doesn't veto it, I may take legal action." The appropriation would be paid to the City of Pontiac which will rent the stadium from the Pontiac Stadium Authority. The city eventually will rent the stadium to the Detroit Lions. The senator asked Atty. Gen. Frank Kelley whether the appropriation would violate provisions of the state bonding law and whether Baylor Orioles BALTIMORE (AP) Don Baylor powered a 2-2 pitch from Skip Lockwood into the Tleft-field stands in the bottom the 10th inning Friday night, giving the Baltimore Orioles a 5-4 triumph over the California Angels.

Baylor's third hit of the game he had singled in the first and seventh lifted Baltimore to only its second victory in the last eight games. THE ORIOLES pulled to a lead after three innings, but the Angels tied the Igame with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. A sacrifice fly by Tommy Davis and a single by Baylor in. the first inning accounted for two runs and California starter Dick Lange was driven from the mound in the third when run-scoring singles by Brooks Robinson and Earl Williams put the Orioles ahead 4-L Rovals 5, Yanks 4 NEW YORK (AP) Amos Otis slammed a three-run homer with two out in the fifth inning and John Mayberry "followed with a solo shot, powering the Kansas City Royals to a 54 victory over the New York Yankees Friday 'night. NEW YORK starter Sam I McDowell, 1-4, allowed only two hits over the first four Sabres in i American League innings but walked Fred Patek with two out in the fifth.

Jim Wohlford grounded a single to left field and Patek just beat Lou Piniella's throw to third LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost the pitcher who leads the club in victories and much of a lO'i-game lead this week. Last year's best pitcher on the staff hasn't won in 14 starts, and the torrid hitting that matched the National League's most effective pitching staff cooled off in June. A YEAR ago, the Dodgers led Cincinnati by 1114 games in June, at the All-Star break and finished Vi games behind in second place. Will history repeat? Are the Dodgers going to fail again to bring their first pennant home since 1966? The hitting perked up earlier this week, but left-hander Tommy John ruptured a ligament in his elbow Wednesday night and took his 13-3 re-'cord to the disabled list for at least 21 days. DON SUTTON, 18-10 last year but 6-7 this season, starts Gordon Personnel 5-2 Victor in Tournament Saturday night against Philadelphia at Dodger Stadium.

With John sidelined, Sutton's future showings could be crucial. The Dodgers turn to their farm system. They called up 20-year-old right-hander Rex Hudson, who was 13-3 at Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League. Next week they'll probably call up another hurler to replace reliefer Jim Brewer, whom General Manager Al Campanis said is going on the disabled list with a back injury. ''We can't ostrich the situation, bury our heads in the sand," said Campanis, who also said "there's no cause for alarm.

"THIS IS the reason we have benches 25 players on a team, and. minor league players. I've had calls from a couple of clubs who indicate we could have so-and-so. But they want something back, too. Pittsburgh Braves 2-0.

Pirates past the National League Brett, Giusti Combine to Throw Five-Hit Shutout for Pittsburgh Montreal 7-5 Thursday night, when Andy Messersmith won his 11th game in 13 decisions. THAT PUT them 6'i games ahead of Cincinnati as they opened the weekend series Friday night against the Phillies. Manager Walt Alston told the team before Thursday night's game that players had to "kick yourselves. up the slack instead of feeling sorry for yourselves." "I was really proud of the way we came back after hearing the news about John," Camoanis said. "That's what we have to do, just carry the load." ALSTON AND Campanis both drew comparisons to other years, but neither referred to last season.

"I recall in 1955." Alston said. "We suddenly had Podres. Newcombe and Er-skine hurt. We called up Rosrer Criag and Don Bessent, then won seven of nine games in which they apneared as well a Brooklyn's first world championship." "Tommy Davis in 1955 suffered a broVpn leg and we brought up a fella named Lou Johnson, won the nennant and the World Series," said Campanis. Kent Sharp In Laurels' 1-0 Victory HOUSTON.

Tex. Pitcher Debbie Kent tossed a four-hitter Friday as the Lansing Laurels blanked Richardson, Texas, 1-0 in opening the 32-team Houston Women's Invitational Fastpitch Tournament More than 3,000 fans in 96 degree weather watched Dawn Knauf score from second in the bottom of the sixth inning on Carol Hutchins' pinch hit single. Knauf got on by a walk and was sacrificed to second by Kathy Strahan. MARY NUTTER and manager Kay Purves each accounted for two hits in the Laurels eight-hit attack. Kent struck out five in gaining her 19th win against five tosses so far this year.

The Laurels, now with a 33-19 season record, are slated to play again at noon today against the winner of a game between Birmingham, Ala. and the host Houston team. The tourney continues through Sunday. We'll go with our best pitchers in the minor leagues rather than take someone else's." Campanis said the injuries to the pitching staff mean that Mike Marshall, who has appeared in 63 games already, will have to carry an even bigger burden in the bullpen. "With Marshall's big shoulders, he can carry the load," the general manager added.

"Losing John, a 13-game winner, hurts. We hope he can come back this season but we'll just play it by ear. In the meantime, we're hopeful young Hudson can do a job." IT IS not known whether John's ailment will require surgery. If it does, he'll be lost for the season. "Time is our ally," said Campanis, referring to the three-day All-Star game break next week.

"We do plan to bring up another pitcher, but we're not rushing for a replacement." The Dodgers had lost three straight games before beating Brett, 12-6. pitched the Pirates to their sixth consecutive victory. All the Atlanta hits were singles and only in the sixth and ninth innings did a Braves runner reach second. Astros 5, Cards 1 ST. LOUIS (AP) Lee May drove in three runs with a homer and single and Tom Griffin scattered six hits, leading the Houston Astros to a 5-1 victory over the reeling St.

Louis Cardinals Friday night. Reds 4, Cubs 1 CINCINNATI (AP) George Foster's bases-loaded single drove in two runs and Jack Billingham beat Chicago for the fourth time this season as Cincinnati downed the Cubs 4-1 Friday night. The Cubs tapped Billingham for a run in the top of the fourth, only to see the Reds score three times in their half of the inning and knock out Dave LaRoche, 1-3. JOE MORGAN led off Cincinnati's fourth with a walk and stole second for his 40th stolen base of the season. With pitcher Jim Sober hitting a key triple in the eighth, Gordon Personnel won an extra inning game, 5-2, Friday night over Flint Day Sanitary Cleaners at Ranney Park to open the Frank Palamara Memorial fastpitch softball tournament.

Gordon's took a 2-0 lead Jn the fourth inning when Bruce. Miller homered after J. Lee Nylander doubled. BUT FLINT tied the score in the seventh to send the tourney opener into the extra inning. Then, Gordon playing as the home team, scored three runs on two hits, Sober's triple and a single by Nylander.

In all, the winner's had six Have ATLANTA (AP) Lefthander Ken Brett held Atlanta to five hits and drove home Frank Taveras with a fifth-inning sacrifice fly Friday night, then got ninth-inning relief help from Dave Giusti to lead the Look of a Real Powerhouse return to the Lansing lineup. He and Wilson were former teammates at Olivet College. That leaves only Braci-szewski's status in doubt. His situation appears to be somewhat different than that of the others. He claims he was never paid for service rendered in 1973, thus is not obligated to Lansing.

The All Stars maintain that they paid him. "I'm sure there's a little bad blood developing between our two teams over this. I know our guys are a little upset by it all," Kauffman said. MAYOR GERRY Graves has proclaimed today "All Star Day" in honor of the team's home debut. I've got a job to do.

I've been reminding my people that Lansing is a much better football team than the one that got beat last week by Pontiac (24-0). We certainly don't know how good Pontiac is. Lansing has some good players, and they're bringing in new players every day. We'll just have to be ready." The Sabres, 20-3 victors in the season opener last week at Youngstown, Ohio, won't need much incentive to get up for the All Stars. KAUFFMAN HAS the makings of another MFL powerhouse, unyielding on defense and overpowering on offense.

Holding Youngstown to three points was an accomplishment of exceptional stat There also is bound to be some bad feeling between the two teams since all the mix up over the five players, under contract to the All Stars, but on the Flint roster. Midwest Football Commissioner Ted Puascik told Flint that guard Conti, tackle Gary VanElst, linebacker Chris King and receivers Pat Howard and Mark Braciszewski still are under contract to the All Stars and deals must be arranged between the two teams, or none will be able to play for Flint. THE ALL Stars agreed to accept $300 apiece for Conti and VanElst, and have taken runningback Carl Wilson in trade for King. Howard will ure. The Hardhats had never scored less than 20 points in any game in two years.

The tough Flint defense, anchored by ex-Notre Dame linebacker Bob Olson, and former Michigan State and Detroit Lion linebacker Ron Goovert, who also played for the All Stars, held Youngstown to 55 yards rushing and only 31 passing. Meanwhile, former All-Stars Toriy Conti and Jerry West were singled out by Kauffman for "really opening up some holes and providing experienced leadership." ALL THIS would seem to indicate the All Stars, who managed only seven yards net rushing in losing to Pontiac, are in for a particularly rough evening in their home opener. By ED SENYCZKO Executive Sports Editor Robert "Turf" Kauffman, who coached the Lansing All Stars in their most illustrious years, says, "Sure, it's going to feel funny standing on the other side of "the field tonight." Kauffman is the new head coach of the Flint Sabres and his unbeaten Midwest Football League team invades Lansing at 7:30 p.m. tonight to take on the All Stars at Everett High's Centennial Field. UNDER KAUFFMAN'S direction the All Stars (1967-70) won 44 games, lost four and tied two, claiming three MFL championships.

The Michigan State University graduate quickly insists, "It's another football game,.