Star-Gazette from Elmira, New York • 17

vt Kuhn says checkbook competition endangers baseball 4 'Mril 4 ft By HAL BOCK NEW YORK (AP) Despite the most successful year in baseball's history. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn foresees storm clouds on the sport's horizon because of the checkbook competition produced by the free agent draft. "It is clearly a source of concern for te business side of baseball," Kuhn said Thursday. Specifically, the commissioner said, baseball's' competitive balance could be endangered. 'The stronger teams are the teams with more financial resources and if they become even stronger through this system, what happens to competive balance?" Kuhn asked.

"If you lose competitive balance, the attractiveness of the game is affected. That's the side that worries me." The commissioner said he doubted that either management or the players anticipated the kind of huge contracts free agents have been able to secure. Thursday, for example, Ron Blomberg, sidelined by injuries for the past two seasons, reached a $600,000 agreement with the Chicago White Sox, and Lyman Bostock was sorting through offers in the neighborhood of $3 million. "If you look at salaries as an expense of the business, it wasn't all that much a few years ago, perhaps 20-25 percent," Kuhn said. "They have moved up rapidly upwards of a 50 percent increase since this began.

I think that's a bearable level. But if it keeps going up, then I think there will be more problems." Clubsof course, can control the wild spending and some have done that by refusing to enter high stakes bidding and restricting their free agent acquisitions to less expensive players. "Certainly, our teams can control this thing selves, but they are so competitive and the will to win and please local fans is so great that they move into upper financial regions under that pressure," Kuhn said. "They say, 'Let year take care of itself. We've got to win now." Then, if they over-extend themselves through long term contracts, they're faced with paving the piper." The commissioner said the controversy and excitement of the free agent marketplace are positive factors for baseball but the notoriety surrounding some of the contracts could backfire.

"I am disturbed over what I see developing after two years," the commissioner said. "I'm worried about a negative reaction from the fans. The signs are there that people are becoming concerned. You get a feel of that from the media. The Reggie Jackson situation was one example." Jackson won the highest contract in last season's free agent derby, signing with the New York Yankees for $2.9 million.

But he often was booed by Yankee fans and suffered through a difficult year. But Jackson's difficult year was quite a successful one for baseball. The major leagues attracted a record 38,709,781 fans last season. "I don't want to lose the bloom off that peach," the commissioner said. "We're doing a lot that's right in this business.

But I'd hate to see the system erode. I am troubled by what I see and I think many owners share that This is a problem we're going to have to solve." Bowie Kuhn Reggie JacJcson "Fmfmtt. 1 i innw gnat ir I -w-r- mm xjm wt Isles gain 4-4 tie on Trottier's goal PHILADELPHIA (AP) If all Nation V- i al Hockey League games were like the matchups between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers, the league wouldn't be struggling for a national television contract. The final score Thursday night was 4-4, but it doesn't indicate the suspense of the struggle on the ice. -if.

star-Gazette Sports Elmira, N.Y., Fit, Nov. 18, 1977 PAGE 18 I RESOI DEFENDS New York Islanders goalie Glenn Resch deflects the puck away from his net on a shot by Flyers' Don Saleski in first period of Thursday night's game in Philadelphia. The teams played to a 4-4 tie. (AP Wirephoto). Army's interest in bowl could hurt Colgate chances The Flyers' Gary Dornhoefer was assessed a game misconduct penalty in the second period after apparently taking a swing at a linesman.

And probably the only man in the Spectrum who saw the Islanders' game-tying goal with 10 seconds left to play was the goal judge. The equalizer by Bryan Trottier came out of a crush of II bodies around goalie Bernie Parent. The sellout crowd was on its feet screaming as the clock wound down. Suddenly, the red light was on. "I didn't see it," said Parent.

"I don't know where the thing was. It looked like 500 people in front of me. It was like we all were in a room and the lights went out." Trottier, who scored the goal, said he thought Denis Potvin had scored a moment earlier. "I was leaping up with my arms in the air, then I looked down and the puck was there," Trottier said. I just pushed and poked at it, and somehow it went in." The Flyers' Bill Barber, who several minutes earlier had capped a sensational Flyers' final-period, four-goal rally from a deficit, said Parent had control of the puck, and there should have been a whistle.

Just seconds earlier, the Flyers' Reggie Leach, who scored the team's' first goal, missed an empty-net goal after firing the puck the length of the ice. After Ross Lonsberry made it 3-2, Bobby Clarke deflected a shot past Resch and the game was tied. Bob Nystrom drew a penalty for New York, and 10 seconds later, Bill Barber drilled the fourth goal of the period and the Flyers led for the first time. The Islanders built their 34) lead on two goals by rookie Mike Bossy and Trottier's first of the game. The goals boosted the Isles' line of Bossy, Trottier and Clark Gilles ahead of Montreal's trio of Guy Lafleur, Jacques Lemaire and Steve Shutt as the NHL's highest scoring line.

Bossy now has 14 goals, high for a rookie this season. Trottier increased his point total to 29 two goals and an assist tops in the league. In other NHL games, Vancouver and Boston tied 44 and Toronto nipped Buffalo 2-1. Stan Jonathan and Jean Ratelle scored 10 seconds apart with less than two minutes remaining as Boston tied Vancouver. Pat Boutette and Ron Ellis scored first-period goals for Toronto and the Maple Leafs held on.

The Maple Leafs' victory tied them for first place with the Sabres in the NHL's Adams Division. Blomberg signsffbr CHICAGO (AP) "The Chicago White Sox made it off icial" Thursday by an-, nouncing they have signed first baseman-outfielder Ron Blomberg as a free agent from the New York Yankees. The White Sox also announced the signing of pitchers Ron Schueler and Jim Hughes, both from the Minnesota' Twins. Schueler had an 8-7 record with the Twins last season and Hughes spent most of 1977 in the' minor leagues with! Tacoma, where he had a 9-10 record. i It was learned that Blomberg, 29, had signed a four-year package for $600,000.

No guesses were made on Hughes or Schueler. Blomberg has played in only one game in the last two seasons because of uijii ries. He was placed "on the disabled hi last April 1 and did not appear in ari games for the New Yort Yankees. Blomberg has .302 major leatile batting average with- -highs of .322 in 1 1971, .329 in 1973, and Jill in 1974. Bill Veeck, president of the White Sox.

said, "We think we have improved our club, and when this strange period -over we'll improve it more. "We had reports last spring that Blomberg was the best hitter in Florida, and we filed that" in the back of our; heads," said Veeck. "An injury or tm doesn't make that much difference. Vii have examples in 'Eric Soderholm ani Steve Stone. If we had not lost Rich Zisk and Oscar Gamble, we still would' have had Blomberg high on our list.

"i I "He hasn't scratched his potential as hitter yet in his enthusiasm is something you'll rarely see," Veci-said. Veeck refused to "announce contr matters and said, "Negotiations arfe i private. The important thing is hitting; and pitching, not dollars. They're sati fied and so am t' Backus fights Azevedo in comeback bout SYRACUSE (AP) Everaldp Azevedo, who clailns to be the Italiai welterweight boxing champion, Saturday 1 will fight Billy Backus, who once held the world title briefly and is trying a comeback. Backus will take a 10-bout winning streak into the Wacilemorial ring here against Azevedo, who lost his last igh to Carlos Palomino, the World Boxing i Council's welterwelKlUxbampion.

Backus has donej-wll at the War Me-: mortal, where he "took the world title away from Jose Nayules seven years ago befure giving it "batlt to Napoles six months later in LoAnReles. I Backus, 33, has, "1:48.194 record. IBs! last loss was two years ago to Roclto i Mattioli, currently the WBC's junior middleweight champion. Mattioli and Azevedo are both -managed by I'mberto Branchini. 1 Maravich assists Jazz to victory Associated Press You have to hand it to Pete Maravich.

handing it to his teammates. The New Orleans guard usually does most of the shooting for the Jazz, but Thursday night let his teammates pull the trigger. Maravich wound up with 15 assists arid the Jazz wound up with a 127-116 National Basketball Association victory over the Seattle SuperSonics. "We moved the ball on offense tonight," said New Orleans Coach Elgin Baylor. "That's an important ingredient moving the ball in getting the open shot.

We did that tonight." Notified that Maravich had taken only five shots all night, a figure he sometimes reaches before the game is a couple of minutes old, Baylor responded: "I did not tell anyone not to shoot. Pete Maravich or anyone else on this team can shoot anytime they have an open shot." In the night's only other NBA game, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Buffalo Braves 111-108. Spurs 111, Braves 108 Allan Bristow, playing guard because of injuries that have decimated San Antonio's backcourt corps, connected on two free throws in the final 14 seconds to pace the Spurs over Buffalo. The Braves led 106-105 with 26 seconds remaining when Bristow hit the pair of free throws after being fouled by Billy Knight. ROCHESTER (AP) Overtures by Army to play in the Independence Bowl football game at Shreveport, may shortcircuit hopes for unbeaten Colgate to get into that bowl game.

A bowl appearance would be a first for either team. Calhoun Allen, Shrcveport's mayor, was quoted by Larry Bump in today's Rochester Democrat Chronicle as confirming that Army "made indirect contact with the bowl crowd." Allen said, "Army would be quite an attraction, especially if Army beats Navy. And I'm a Navy man." The Cadets, with a 64 record, were said to be under serious consideration for the Dec. 17 game at Shreveport, which is near Fort Polk and the Barksdale Air Force Base. Others in the running were said to be Colgate, 10-0; East Carolina, 8-3; Louisiana Tech, 7-0-2, and Louisville, 6-3-1.

An Army spokesman at West Point said, "We have heard nothing about it." Maryland was the bowl committee's first pick, but Maryland will play in the new Hall of Fame Classic Dec. 22 in Birmingham, Ala. Colgate plays Delaware on Saturday, while Army will be idle until it plays Navy Nov. 26 in Philadelphia. An unnamed member of the Independence Bowl committee was quoted as saying, "As far as I'm concerned, Colgate is the No.

1 choice. There are at least two, and possibly three, on the committee who would vote for Colgate if they won (Saturday.) "I think it would be quite an attraction the No. 1 offensive team (Colgate) against the No. 1 defensive team (Louisiana A committee member said East Carolina's record "of carrying people on the road" would have to lie considered. He said, "They carry 12,000 or 15,000 people with them.

Nothing was ever said about how many Colgate could bring, but packing up and heading 2,500 miles for a football game is something rare." Colgate would be at a special disadvantage if drawing capacity were a major factor. With an enrollment of and an average attendance of 6,500 at its last two home games, Colgate would lose out to almost any traditionl major football powers. Colgate, however, could survive in the television competition since it is near lucrative television markets, which would be expected to seek to carry the bowl game if Colgate were invited. White keeps Raiders on move HAMILTON (AP) Last year Henry White ran for 172 yards and never had the experience of scoring a touchdown '38 Heisman winner O'Brien dies for the Colgate University football team. This season the same Henry White has slowed down, scored 10 touchdowns and is on the verge of having the greatest season of any running back in Colgate's 87-year grid history.

White is teamed up with running back Pat Healy and savvy quarterback Bob Relph in college football's top offensive unit, which has been averaging 501 yards a game while Colgate has rolled up a 10-0 record. White is the game breaker. In last Saturday's victory over Northeastern, White was held to 37 yards rushing. But he ran back one kick 97 yards for a touchdown and took a Relph pass 67 yards, for another score. White has run from Colgate's Wing-T offease for 957 yards, averaging more than eight yards a carry.

That leaves him 127 yards short of gaining more yardage than any Colgate running back. He is the nation's leading all-purpose runner with 1,719 yards rushing, pass receiving and returning punts and kickoffs. FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Davey O'Brien, the tiny quarterback who led Texas Christian to a national championship in 1938 while winning the. Heisman Trophy for himself in the process, died today. He was 60.

O'Brien, whose name is still sprinkled throughout the TCU record book, had been hospitalized since June. Utilizing every ounce and inch of his 5-foot-7, 155-pound frame, O'Brien guided the Horned Frogs to an undefeated, untied 1938 season that was capped with a 15-7 victory over Carnegie Tech in the Sugar Bowl. "He was everything," said O'Brien's coach, L.R. "Dutch" Meyer, who directed TCU teams for 19 years. "He was the best play selector, the greatest field general I ever saw." He was the fourth player to win the Heisman award and the first player in the Southwest Conference and Texas to do so.

After college, O'Brien received a $12,000 bonus for signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. His two-year contract also included a percentage of the gate receipts. He responded by being named as quarterback of the National Football League All-Star team his rookie year in 1939. His coach, Bert Bell, said, "Davey was worth his weight in gold." Former TCU Coach Meyer praised O'Brien's durability. "When he started to run with the ball, I thought he would get killed," Meyer said.

"But, you know, every time he got hit he bounced up like a rubber ball and started helping big guys to their feet. "A 155-poundcr helping 250-pound tacklers get up man, 1 loved that." O'Brien, a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, was an FBI agent after his professional football career ended. O'Brien is survived by his mother, a brother, two sons and a daughter. Azevedo, 33, of Milan, Italy, has an 84- i in in 1 itf n.voru. Elmira, icers to play at Domes Michigan-Ohio State will fill coffers Henry White On top of that, he can block as well, says Colgate Coach Fred Dunlap.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior gets his chance Saturday to break Mark van Eeghen's single-season rushing mark when the undefeated Red Raiders close out their regular season at Delaware. Dunlap credits White dramatic turnaround to his running back slowing down to allow the blockers to clear holes for him. "Henry kind of rushed things last year. I think he lacked confidence In the system. Now he has slowed down and k'ts the plays develop," Dunlap said.

"Henry is one of the real great running backs I've ever been associated with as a runner, pass receiver and blocker," Dunlap said. "He's a very modest individual. He has great humility. 1 don't think he realizes just how great a player he really is," Dunlap said of White. White runs with fast company.

Healy has already broken van Eeghen's school career rushing record and has gained 847 yards this season, scoring 11 (ouch-downs. Van Eeghen has gone on to become a leading runner with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. For the third straight year, the Twin Tiers Amateur Hockey Association will host three youth teams of a group from Elmira, Ontario, Canada. A Pre Wee division (age 11-12) game will kick off the Murray Center triple-header Saturday at 1 p.m. At 30, the Bantams (13-14) will face-off, followed by a Squirt (9-10) game at 5.

The local youth teams will travel to Elmira, Ont. in April. Edison girls win 2nd in volley ball The Edtson girls volleyball team ran Its Interscholastlc Athletic record to 2-0 Thursday with a 15-11, 154 triumph over Candor. Tammi Farwell was the top server for the Spartans with Jive points, while Zoe i Ewsuk turned in Insets. Wendy Watkins and Birnda PaukT were Edison's bes' spikers, with four each.

Candor's record fill to l. Edison was aNo-victorious in squad action. ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Saturday, the annual Bo-against-Woody, good guys-against-bad guys, good-against-evil showdown will be staged before more than 104,000 persons and a national TV audience. It will be the University of Michigan against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium Saturday tor the Rose Bowl ticket to the victor, the Sugar Bowl to the loser.

Millions of words have been written depicting the strengths and weaknesses of both sides. A hundred times that many words are being used by fans in pre-game anticipation. In the end, only the 60 minutes on the field will count. It is truly amazing, however, what those 60 minutes of football will produce in revenue for both schools. "This will be the biggest money game ever at Michigan," Athletic Director Don Canham said proudly.

He should be proud. He personally worked tirelessly to make it that. And the numbers are staggering. Conservatively speaking, from ticket receipts, TV rights, parking, concession and program fees, Michigan will make about $515,000 for banging helmets with the Buckeyes. The merchants of Ann Arbor will make even more.

Ohio State's cut totals approximately $322,000. "We'll put the bands on the field for this one (normally they sit in the stands)," Canham said. "We're putting some extra seats around the field and we'll use even the bad seats in the stands." Those are the ones directly behind the team benches. Bo and Woody's game plans can be dissected after Saturday's extravaganza. But the number breakdown goes like this: $244,000 for each school through a split of 61,000 tickets at each.

$44,000 for Michigan and $4,000 for Ohio Slate for 8,000 faculty tickets at $6 each. Michigan got $5.50 for each and Ohio States get 50 cents. $112,000 for Michigan and $16,000 for Ohio Slate for 32,000 student tickets at $4 each. Michigan gets $3.50 for each and Ohio State gets 50 cents. $58,000 each for TV rights.

Each of the other Big Ten schools also gets the same cut for the telecast. Michigan gels an extra $15,000 because the game is at Ann Arbor. $20,000 in concessions all for Michigan. $12,000 in programs all tor Michigan. $10,000 in parking all for Michigan.

Those are Canhams's "conservative" projections. They arc based on a 104,000 crowd and extrcmey low concession figures. Why do so many alumni, fans, friends and students pack into Michigan Stadium for the game when they could watch it on TV? "It's the pagentry," according to Canham. I guess you might say there is a little more spirit and enthusiasm involved with this game." That's speaking conservatively. like those concession, program and parking numbers..