News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 57

Fort Myers News-Press, Sunday, April 22, 1979 11C Like father, like son, this Frazier unch ing for gold edal cr TP By RED SMITH N.Y. Times News Service NEW YORK Marvis Frazier, Eddie Harrell and another friend were watching "The Brady Bunch" on television in the sitting room of the hotel suite. At six-feet-one or better, Marvis is more than two inches taller than his thickset father, with a chassis that could carry substantially more than his 192 pounds. He wore a three-piece suit and a one-piece mustache and from time to time he put on eyeglasses that gave him a gravely studious look. Meeting him for the first time, one is likely to be struck immediately by his politeness, a quality that fits him as naturally and comfortably as his skin.

In a moment Joe Frazier came out of a bedroom, his smile of welcome framed by a Silas Marner fringe of whiskers. The shrubbery did not disguise the strong facial resemblance of father and son, a resemblance that probably is emphasized by their physical dissimiliarities. The former heavyweight champion and current singing star of the 18-member Smokin' Joe Frazier Review wore brown trousers and nothing above the waist except brown suspenders. "My tux didn't come," Joe said. They had come to New York so Joe could go on TV with Dick Schaap plugging National Broadcasting Company's "Olympathon," a seven-hour talk show out of Las Vegas Saturday night to raise funds for the United States Olympic teams.

Joe planned also to attend a dinner-dance for the Jackie Robinson Foundation but the dinner jacket fitted for him in Philadelphia had not come over in the car. "It's not strictly black tie," Eddie Harrell said. "You can go in a tux or not in a tux. That suit is all right." Joe glanced down at the brown trousers. "I didn't bring no coat," he said.

"I won't go. They'll understand." Harrell and others started making phone Joe Frazier won the Olympic heavyweight title in 1964 when he was a 20-year-old sweating in a Philadelphia slaughterhouse; he turned pro in 1965 and earned gross purses of $10 million in 36 fights. Marvis is 18 and a senior at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School; he has won 30 amateur bouts, 17 by knockout, without defeat; in Indianapolis recently he beat 25 year-old Phil Brown of Lafayette, for the national Golden Gloves championship; he hopes to meet and beat Cuba's Teofilo Stevenson in the Pan-American Games in July and his goal is a gold medal in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The inevitable question: haw does a father who body on TV," Joe said. To him, Muhammad Ali is still Cassius Clay.

"Our team are all from our gym in Philadelphia. Clay's got 'em from California and all over." There was a hint of disdain in his tone. Winning and losing, Joe was the best fighter Ali ever met "it was next to death," Ali said of their last battle yet Ali still takes the bows and gets the acclaim. Makes a man tired. (.

Somebody hung up the phone and said, "the tux is up on 86th Street." He didn't explain. By this time Joe had pulled on a collarless shirt and a vest. He was still undecided about the dinner-dance. "With your parents opposed," a visitor said to Marvis, "why did you want so much to be a fighter?" "It wasn't wanting it so much," he said. "It was more the way it happened.

In Whitemarsh Junior High I played all sports basketball, baseball. I was Junior Olympic wrestling champion two years straight. I was chosen the most improved baseball player and the most outstanding football player. I played tackle on defense and half-back on offense. But my marks weren't so good so I went to Wyncote Academy.

That was Dad's idea to get my grades together. They didn't have any academic sports at Wyncote so I started going to a gym to work out and that's how I started boxing. When I left Wyncote to go to public high school, I didn't go back to the other sports but just kept on with boxing." "Has it been fun?" "I love it," he said. "It's a great sport." "Any idea of turning pro?" "It's not in my mind at all. After the 1980 Olympics I want to study business.

I want to be able to take over whatever business Dad has." "There's some company in Delaware," Joe said, "that's coming out with a Smokin Joe Sausage." "So now you've come full-circle," a visitor said. "Back to the meat-packing business." "Yes," Joe said. "This your book, Joey?" He asked Joey Goldstein. "Mine," Marvis said. His father had picked up a text entitled, "Understanding Business Law." Joe turned pages idly and set the book down.

He said that when Marvis was settled down with his boxing and he himself was settled down with his music, he'd like to go down to his plantation in Beaufort, S. and see his mom. "You know I ain't had a vacation since 1972?" he said. "But first I got to have a hit record." Eddie Harrell was rounding everyone up, presumably to go up to 86th Street for the tux. They were all staying overnight except Marvis.

NBC was furnish- ing a limousine for him so he would be back in in the morning. NEVER HAS A FATHER-SON TEAM CAPTURED OLYMPIC BOXING GOLD MEDALS but Joe Frazier (left) won gold in the '64 Games and Marvis is hoping for the same result in 1980 has been there feel about a son in the ring? "In our family," Joe said, "we don't keep nobody from doing something so long's it don't hurt anybody else us, maybe, but nobody else. I tried to discourage him. I told him about the stamina boxing took and the sacrifices and work and how there ain't no shortcuts. He said, 'I can handle So Joe spread his hands.

"He can fight," the old champion said. "He's good on defense, likes to stick and move, but if he has to take a guy out in a hurry he can do it. I guess he had to do it in, uh, Minneapolis was it?" "Indianapolis," Eddie Harrell said. "I'm more erect than Dad," Marvis said of the style he has learned in his father's gym from his father's friend, George Benton, a highly-respected teacher who boxed as a middleweight. "Dad was more of a croucher, bobbing and weaving.

I can bob and weave, too. If I'm against somebody taller than me and I'm having trouble reaching him, I'd bob and weave inside." There is an amateur heavyweight in California named Tony Tubbs who is 26 years-old and highly esteemed. "I'm fighting him next month in Atlantic City," Marvis said. "It's Joe Frazier's team against Muhammad Ali's team. We know we got a better team and this'll give us a chance for some exposure so we can come out of the shadow." "Clay's team keeps fighting the Irish and every Tennis Higueras pulls upset over Tanner in WCT 7-5, 6-3, and will meet the winner of the McEnroe-Fleming vs.

Saschi Menon-Ove Bengtson match in the final. By Tht Associated Prtsi HOUSTON Seventh-seeded Jose Higueras of Spain dismantled Roscoe Tanner's blazing serve and reeled off an easy 6-2, 6-2 victory Saturday to gain the finals in the $175,000 World Championship Tennis tournament. Gene Mayer of the U.S. took advantage of a rusty performance by Spain's Manuel Orantes for a 7-6, 6-3 victory in the other semifinals The winners meet today for the $30,200 first prize in the final WCT event prior to the WCT Championship Finals April 30-May 6 at Dallas. Mayer, who defeated top-seeded Harold Solomon in the first round, was the giant killer again, keeping pressure on Orantes throughout the match.

Mayer fought off three set points in the 10th game of the first set, broke Orantes in the 11th game and then won a tie-breaker game 7-1. Higueras completely mastered Tanner from the start, losing only one point on his serve the first set. Higueras broke Tanner in the first and fifth games of the opening set. SAN JOSE GRAND PRIX -Top-seeded John McEnroe gained his fourth straight tournament final by defeating fifth-seeded Butch Walts 6-4, 6-4 in the $50,000 Grand Prix tennis tournament in San Jose, Calif. McEnroe, of Douglaston, N.Y., will face his doubles partner, second-seeded Peter Fleming, for the $8,500 first prize today.

Fleming defeated Nick Saviano 6-4, 6-3 and will be aiming for his second Grand Prix tournament victory since turning professional in the summer of 1976. McEnroe was facing the man who some feel has the best serve in the world in Walts, but Walts, a Phoenix, resident, could never break McEnroe's serve, while the feisty lefthander got to him for service breaks in the seventh game jof the first set, and ninth game of the second set. Tourney From Page JC Carney scored on another error in right field, this time by Nick Sanchez. Stephens singled sharply to, right, but Sanchez couldn't field the ball in time, allowing the runs to score. I DeVries had reached base on Chrysler's third error of the game when the Riverdale infielder dropped a high pop up, the ball nicking the edge of his glove and falling harmlessly to the ground, i The Tarpons took the first lead of the game in the second inning as 4 Decker led off with a stand up double and DeVries singled to drive him in.

Catcher Taber misjudged the throw at the plate and Decker scored while Taber was trying find the handle. i Riverdale rallied in the third inning, however and tied the game 1-1. Schneider singled, moved to third on a Charlotte throwing error and scored when Kibbie Jones stole second base. Jones then tried to score from third base after being sacrificed but Ward Tanner missed the squeeze bunt and Jones ran right in to the waiting arms of Decker. The Raiders took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Tanner's RBI double, which scored Jones, who had singled and gone to second on an error.

While the Raiders were having difficulty holding onto the ball, the Tarpons were making some remarkable defensive plays. In the sixth leftfielder Phil Carter stole a hit from Riverdale's Mike Taylor by making a diving catch and centerfielder Curt Roun-tree followed that with a long run in getting a short fly by Nick Spiller. Charlotte starting pitcher Scott Melton tired in the fourth inning and Stephens came on in relief to handcuff the Raiders the rest of the way and collect the win. -v Schneider was pitching effective-'; ly but as Pigott didn't do a bad job. There was no support for him.

Take away those errors and you have a different game." "Scott Melton started but Scott's not real strong," Bohlander said. He's not a big kid. John came on and did it." Charlotte now has a 15-17 record while Riverdale has a 13-12 record. i IP ATLANTA'S PAT MCMAHON (15) MAKES A QUICK STEAL Detroit's Brian Tinnion is the victim on this play HOUSTON GRAND PRIX Second-seeded Peter Fleming de- feated Nick Saviano 6-4, 6-fr to reach the finals of the $50,000 Grand Prix tennis tournament in Houston. CARTE BLANCHE Rod Laver outlasted Fred Stolle 6-3, 6-4, to gain the singles finals in a $25,000 pro tennis tournament at the Turn-berry Isle Yacht and Racquet Club in Miami.

Soccer Undefeated Rowdies clip Fury Fleming, who now lives in Seabrook Isle, S.C... will face the winner of the John McEnroe-Butch Walts match in today's final. McEnroe is the seeded first, and Walts is seeded fifth. In an earlier semifinals match, Ken Rosewall defeated Cliff Drys-dale 6-2, 6-4 to face Laver in today's final matchup. Both Laver and Stolle had their games thrown off by sporadic gusts of wind, and Laver credited his victory to being able to adjust to the wind.

In semifinals doubles, Hank Pfister and Brad Rowe defeated Bernie Mitton and Eric van Dillen seconds left in regulation time before a crowd of 7,023 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Charbonneau's goal, which came on an assist from midfielder Nicky Megaloudis was a 35-yard kick that caught Houska almost flatfooted in the net. In overtime, neither Houston or the Rogues were able to pose a serious threat until Schuberth's penalty kick. Memphis took 20 nots on goal to the Hurricane's 14. Houska was credited with four saves, while the Hurricane's Paul Hammond racked up six.

i Leonard halts Viruet; remains undefeated Westfall, Shortridge in pro finals free kick with 2:30 left in overtime Saturday night to give the Detroit Express a 1-0 North American Soccer League victory over Atlanta. The free kick was set up when Chiefs' defender Greg Makowski was called for a hand ball. David Bradford nudged the ball to Furphy, who sent a low kick past goalie Tad Delorm from 23 yards out. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the winless Chiefs, who have played three straight overtime contests. Detroit is now 2-2.

Exwress goalie Jim Brown, who recorded his second consecutive shutout, kept Detroit in the game when he made a spectacular, leaping save on a shot by Atlanta's Jeff Bourne with just seconds left in the first overtime period. A crowd of 14,384 watched the game at Pontiac Silverdome and saw the Express win its ninth-straight game at home. Detroit hasn't lost at the Silver-dome since June 28, 1978. Hurricane 2. Rogues 1 MEMPHIS, Tenn.

Midfielder Walter Schuberth slammed a penalty kick past goalkeeper John Houska with 31 seconds left in the first overtime to give Houston a 2-1 North Amercian Soccer League victory over Memphis Saturday night. The victory gave the Houston Hurricane a 5-0 record In the NASL's central division, while Memphis dropped to 1-4. Memphis appeared to have the game locked up on Bobby Thomson's goal at 73:45 when Houston's Howie Charbonneau scored with 11 By The Associated Press TAMPA In a game marked by heavy penalties, Rowdies co-captains Rodney Marsh 'and forward Jan Var1 Der Veen each scored a goal as Tampa Bay beat the Philadelphia Fury 2-1 in a North Ameri- can Soccer League game played here Saturday night. Van Der Veen scored the game's first goal at 14:17 on a pass from Wes McLeod following a Steve Wegerle corner kick. Van Der Veen slammed the ball into the upper left corner of the goal from 35 yards out.

Former Rowdie David Robb, the Fury's captain, tied the score at 1-1 at 64: 53 on a backward header. The final goal came at 79:50 when McLeod sent a perfect pass to Marsh, who dove forward and headed the ball into the goal making it 2-1. The first half was marred by five yellow caution cards and numerous complaints about referee Robert Evans. The official called back two Fury scores in the closing moments of the first period and ordered the club to retake an indirect free kick three times within the Rowdies' penalty box. The victory brings the Rowdies' record to 4-0, the best start in the club's five-year history, assuring its 33 point lead in the NASL American Conference Eastern Division.

The Fury's record now is 2-3. Express 1, Chiefs 0 PONTIAC, Mich. Forward Keith Furphy scored off a direct round and weathered the tenth when Leonard tried desperately for the knockout. The closest judges card was Art Lurie's, who had it 47-44. Hal Miller scored it 48-42 and Dwayne Ford scored it 47-42.

Viruet, now 17-4, was warned twice for low blows and once each for holding and elbowing. Kemp wins AAU title JACKSONVILLE Without even slapping on a pair of gloves, Fort Myers Terry Kemp captured the 126-pound title in the state AAU boxing tournament Saturday in Jacksonville. Kemp, who fights for Wes Young's Suncoast Boxing Club, was scheduled to settle matters in the final with Charles Williams of Jacksonville. Only Williams decided he'd rather not punch it out with Kemp and didn't appear for the fight. Kemp, who is now 7-4, moves on to Atlanta for next weekend's Region 5 tournament.

Bv Tht Associated Press A LAS VEGAS, Nev. "He wasn't the toughest fighter I've faced, but he was one of the most determined," said undefeated' welterweight Sugar Ray Leonard after his unanimous decision over Adolfo Viruet Saturday on national television. i Now 21-0, the former 139-pound Olympic gold medalist at Montreal spent the early rounds solving Viruet's unorthodox style before taking command of the fight. Giving up three inches in reach and three pounds, Leonard used his swarming offense to build a big lead in the 10-round welterweight battle. Leonard floored the 27-year-old Viruet for an eight-count in the fourth round but couldn't put him away.

Leonard, who weighed 14416, earned $200,000 for the wel-Terweight victory while Viruet, who had never been off his feet in 20 previous pro fights, got $40,000. Viruet rallied to win the ninth McMahon 6-1, 6-1 and Lorentz stopped Buc teammate Jim Kridle 6-3, 6-3 to move into the finals. Mary Silva downed Cynthia Jeffcott 6-2, 6-3 and Laura Muzio defeated Lea Snow 6-1, 6-2 to gain the finals of the women's open singles. In the open singles top seed Kirt Douglas downed John Henderson 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Douglas will meet Steve Gibbard, a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 winner over Bill Soil, in the semifinals.

In the other semifinal match, Scott Joiner will take on Joe Perez. Joiner downed Mike Blue 1-6, 7-6, 6-0 and Perez defeated Dave Lageschultz 6-1, 6-4. More than 250 players are competing in the tournament. Results i 2C Roger Westfall and Steve Shortridge advanced to the finals of the First Commercial Tennis Classic 16-man pro invitational today at 10 a.m. at the Landings Racquet Club.

Westfall, the pro at the Fort Myers Racquet Club, defeated Sam Stovall 7-6, 6-2 Saturday. Shortridge downed Estero Beach Racquet Club's Lanny Kalpin 6-2, 6-2. In the only final of the day, Edison Community College's Joel Mar-tineau defeated teammate Karl Lorentz in the men's open singles. Martineau downed his doubles partner on the ECC team 6-1, 6-1. Martineau downed Bob.