The Times Recorder from Zanesville, Ohio • 13

THE TIMES RECORDER FRI. APR. 25. 1975 3-B In Tournament Of Champs for Vrf Colbert St Early Now That Took Alot Of Guts! HP'S? 1 v. "Si CARLSBAD, Calif.

(UPI) -Jim Colbert, who has missed he cut six times in 12 starts this year, came within a stroke of equalling the La Costa Country Club course record Thursday with a seven-underpar 65 for a two-shot lead in the opening w. 1 a v. Evans Takes Over Where Aaron Left Off AT, 4 arlshiid, Calif. Miller's shot from past the cup and then it took him sink the hall for a hogey-5. Johnny Miller, defending rhnnipion of the Mony Tournament of Champions, blasts from a sand trap on the sixth hole during the first round ATLANTA UPI Now that I lank Aaron is gone, Darrell Evans has become the inspirational leader of the Atlanta Braves.

The strapping third baseman may never become a superstar in the Aaron sense, but he's been making big plays at bat, the bas1? paths and in the field, and his intense desire seems to be firing up his teammates. Evans has come a long way is a baseball player in the past low years. When he first came to the As OVC Commissioner DietzelGets New Reins Says Astros' GM Houston's Gomez 'In No Trouble' BOWLING GREEN. Ky. (UPI) Paul Dietzel, former athletic director and head football coach at South Carolina, will become the new commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference July 1.

At a news conference al Western Kentucky University in which Dietzel's appointment was announced Thursday, Dietzel said he would move the headquarters of the OVC from Nashville, to Lexington, Ky. Dietzel, who also served as head football coach at LSU and Army, will succeed Arthur L. Guepe, who earlier this year requested that he not be considered for reappointment when his current term expires June 30th. "I will be conversing with the university presidents to find out what their wishes are about the conference before outlining my own plans," Dietzel told newsmen. He said he would be a "listening post" until he became more familiar with the conference and its problems.

Dietzel, who already has moved to Lexington, said he made the move even before considering the OVC post. "During my years as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky, my wife and I enjoyed living in Lexington the most," he said. The OVC headquarters had been in Nashville since Guepe took the job in 1963. Dietzel said he asked the league's university president if he could move the headquar- tournament, his 510 points will still probably be enough to get him in. That leaves Smith, Solomon and Ramirez battling for the other two places with Lutz having to win the River Oaks event to have any chance of making it to Dallas.

If Solomon and Ramirez win one more match each they will have combined to knock Smith out of the tournament he won two years ago. The critical matches Wednesday were Cox' loss to Eddie Dibbs, 7-6, 0-6. 6-2, and Stockton's fall to Kamiwazumi. "I'm sorry," said Dibbs to Cox after he beat the Britisher and threw his plans for Dallas into doubt. "What have you got to be sorry for?" asked Cox.

Stockton seemed to have a Dallas berth wrapped up until he aggravated a back injury last week in Tokyo. He spent last weekend in traction in a Dallas hospital and could not produce enough winning shots. "I just had no movement and no timing," said the disappointed Stockton. "Kamiwazumi played well, but he knew he didn't have to do anything special." yesterday in the trap went two putts to college experience, admitted he used the unorthodox entrance to the Colts' Tampa. camp last month because "I figured that was the only way." Plour a resident of this town of eight miles from Hartford he "just happened" be in Florida on vacation al he time and scaled the eight 10 foot fence wearing loafers.

"Two security guards came running after me but I was able to reach a coach, grabbed his arm and asked for five minutes of his time." The coach turned out to be Colts' General Manager Joe Thomas. "If you got guts like that, you can have a tryout." Plourd quoted Thomas. Plourd said he picked up a football and booted it 50 yards in his loafers. After a few more punts against a rushing line. Thomas told him to go in the field house for a preliminary checkup.

"It was a lucky kick, I could never do that again with loafers." said Plourd. who was later signed to a bonus contracl and told to report to the Colt camp in Baltimore in June. The rookie punter doesn't expect to stay with the Colts, however. "I expect to be traded. The Colts already have a place kicker, a punter, plus a ninth round draft choice who is a punter.

They can get more for me than they can for one of their own punters," Plourd said. Plourd, a Hartfofd Public High School graduate, who spends his time working out daily, said the Colt veterans were friendly towards him. "1 played little high school ball and none in college. They said 1 had guts. I thank them for thinking that, especially since they're professionals." Plourd said he was grateful to Thomas, whom he described as "rambunctious.

I could kiss the guy, after all, he gave me the shot of my life." Playing professional football is Plourd lone ambition in his young life. "My dad said don't worry about the rent, just work out. I've got no girl friends, no romantic interests, although maybe I wish I did. "I've worked hard, my whole life, just to play football," he said. Aqueduct Win NEW YORK (UPI) Sig-mund Sommer's Final Suit took the lead at the top of the stretch and went on to capture the $20,000 Athenia Purse at Aqueduct Thursday by 1U lengths.

TROPHIES Attention League Sponsors Secy's. See Us Before You Buy! If A lM I Billiard Supply 1255 Linden Ph. 452-4618 NEWINGTON, Conn. (UPI) Bobby Plourd had no credentials and only his determination to climb a fence and outrun two security guards landed him a professional football contract with the Baltimore Colts Plourd. 21, a kicking and punting specialist with no Foyt Tops Chase For $25,000 NEW YORK (UPI) The $25,000 check was made out Thursday, except for the payoff name, and thai will be decided this weekend in the World Series of Auto Racing at Trenton, N.J.

A J. Foyt. a perennial front-runner on the USAC championship circuit, leads the chase for this tidy sum by one point over Billy Vukovich after the opening phase of the series. The culmination, Sunday's 150-mile Indy car rare and a 150-mile late model stock car event, could provide Foyt's biggest purse between now and the Indianapolis 500 next month. Qualifying positions for each section will be decided Saturday.

"They call Foyt the 'King of the road, and at this point they're correct," says rival Wally Dallenbach, the Colorado ranchowner. "His cars seem to do all the right things for him." Dallenbach feels justified in staging this type of series, "even though the sceptics say that it's meaningless because racing in four different segments of the sport doesn't do justice to the driver. Some drivers haven't been in midget or sprint races in years. But A.J. keeps his hand in everything and he's good in everything he races.

Wally will be driving an Eagle Offy at Trenton, a car that has all the adjustments his mechanics can make to offer a competitive vehicle against' Foyt's Coyote in the championship class. "We tried the car in the Trenton 200, but had the wrong gear," said Dallenbach. "We should be in there this weekend and going all out in practice. We have five reserve engines in case one blows. We like to think that with the various manipulations we can produce more horsepower.

A.J. always seems to get the little extra he needs with his engine." Not all drivers will compete in both events. Bobby Unser, USAC's 1974 point champion, concentrates his efforts in the stock car division, as does Pancho Carter and Jimmy Caruthers. Entered in both races are Foyt, Dallenbach, 1974 Indy winner Johnny Rutherford, Roger McCIuskey, Bill Vukovich, Johnny Parsons, and Jim McElreath. Smith Sweats For WCT Finals ters and there was no objection.

The appointment of Dietzel, rumored for days, was finalized at the outset of the OVC's annual business meeting. Dietzel, who resigned at South Carolina following a 4-7 record last season, is a past president of the American Football Coaches Association and a former president of the Atlantic Coast Conference Athletic Directors. At South Carolina he was named ACC coach of the year after leading the Gamecocks to the league title and a Peach Bowl bid in 1969. At LSU, where his "Chinese Bandits" became synonymous with tough, defensive football, his team won the mythical national championship. His LSU teams played in the Sugar Bowl twice and the Orange Bowl once.

His career record for 20 years in university division football ranks is 109 wins, 95 losses, five ties. At South Carolina. Dietzel was credited with putting the program in the black after taking over a financially troubled athletic department in 1S66. Bengals Ink Clint Harris CINCINNATI (UPI) Third-round draft choice Clint "Bo" Harris, a 6-3, 230 pound linebacker from LSU, Thursday signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. "We are very impressed with Harris," said Mike Brown, Bengals assistant general manager.

"He comes from a solid football background and should give a good account of himself." Harris. 21. a native of Shreveport, was All-Southeastern Conference for two seasons at LSU. "Bo has that knack of being where the ball is," said LSU coach Charlie McClendon. "He has all the tools required of a linebacker.

weeks ago, snot a 70 while Johnny Miller, the tour's leading money winner with $149,476 in 1975 and the defending champion here, came in with a 74. Nicklaus beat Miller and Tom Weiskopf, who had a 71 Thursday by one shot at Augusta, Ga. "1 didn't make any bogeys today, and that's a good start," smiled the personable Colbert, who used only 26 putts in his round. "There's still a lot of golf left to be played, but it was nice to have a good round for a change." Colbert, whose best effort this year has been a tie for 12th at the Florida Citrus Open last month, took a four-month layoff from golf last September to December because his wife had to have an operation. "I've just been paying the price this year," he said when asked about his lackluster play in 1975.

"But my wife's fine now. She's completely recovered." Tied for third with 69s were Gene Littler and Tom Watson while Nicklaus was deadlocked for fifth along with U.S. Open Champion Hale Irwin, Bobby Nichols and Dave Hill. "I come here after the Masters with some letdown win or lose, but the letdown is more than usual this year," said Nicklaus. "I really haven't had my mind on golf." CARLSBAD, round scores Champions polf Calif (UPI) First in the Tournament of tournament 33 37 65 33 34--47 33 36 -69 34- 35.

-69 36 34-70 32-38 70 33 37-70 34 36 70 32 39 71 33 38- 71 36 35 71 35- 36-71 37 34 71 37 34-71 36- 35-71 36 36-72 37 35 -72 35 37 72 37 36 73 Jim Colbert Al Geioerqer Tom WMson Gene Littler Drive Hill Hale Irwin Bobby Nirtiols Jack NicKlaus Allen Miller Hubert Green Miller Barber Snead Larry Ziegler Tom Weiskopf Jerry McGee Gary Player Dave Stockton Lee Trevino Buddy All in Richie Karl Johnny Miller Pat Fitesimons Bob Murphy Rod Curt Bob Menrw1 Terry Diehl Gary Groh Victor Recjalado Forrest Feller Ed Sneed 37 36 73 38 36- 74 40 34 74 37 37 -74 38 37 75 35 40 75 36 39 75 36 39 75 40 38 78 38-40-78 40 39 79 Bulls Await Next Victim CHICAGO (UPI) The Chicago Bulls had a day of rest Thursday after winning their National Basketball Association conference semifinals over the Kansas City Kings Wednesday night. The Bulls beat the Kings, 101-889. to take the best-of-seven series, 4-2, and returned home Thursday morning to await decision on their next opponent Golden State meets Seattle Thursday night in the sixth game of their Western Conference semifinals and the Warriors could win the series with a victory. Bulls coach Dick Motta and assistant coach Ed Badger are scouting the Warriors-SuperSonics game. If Golden State wins the series, the Bulls would open the conference finals on the Warriors' court on a date to be determined.

If Seattle wins this game and the finale, Chicago will host the Sonics in that opener. 1 Sprint. stop. pivot. turn on a dime.

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$9.99 mm ALL round of the $200,000 MONY Tournament of Champions. Colbert, a 34-year-old former insurance agent from Wesley Chapel, had seven birdies and no bogeys in hi 33-32 round over the testing layout while Al Geiberger came majors, he was tabbed as a potential power hitter, but uncertain fielder. Much in the mold of a young Eddie Mathews. A lot of hard work later, he's become a complete baseball player. "I like to think that's what I was back in high school and in the low minors," said Evans.

"But. I got to believing what everyone was saying; that I couldn't handle ground balls and that those I did stop, I'd throw away. "It became a mental thing. I one of the major reasons he quit was because life is too short, and he wasn't overwhelmed by the prospect of spending the twilight of it straightening out Cesar Cedeno. In short, the 69-year-old Durocher found the 24-year-old Cedeno a little too much to take, and an understandable impasse between them merely grew and grew, Leo conveniently forgetting what he was like when he was 24 and Cesar not giving a a great deal of thought to how differently he'll feel about a lot of things when and if he ever gets to be 69.

Spec Richardson expresses surprise over Durocher's evaluation of Cedeno, but then you have to bear in mind this isn't the first time Spec Richardson has been surprised. "I think Cesar Cedeno is a real good boy," he says. "He doesn't cause problems. You know that thing that happened down in Cocoa this spring, the thing with the water cooler. Well, it just happened to be empty.

He was mad at himself because he popped the ball up, so he pushed the cooler and it just busted open. He's no problem. Everything he does gets played out of proportion in the papers." From a purely personal standpoint, I've generally found Cedeno to be pleasant and friendly, a ballplayer of extraordinary talents whom I certainly would like have on my team but wouldn't necessarily wish to manage. On the other side, I'm sure it isn't all sweet Betty in apple blossom time playing for Leo Durocher, so there you have it make your own assessment. One more thing: Durocher says Richardson was always around and the players could complain to him whenever they liked.

He adds that when he was leaving, Richardson asked him what he thought was wrong with the club. Durocher says as much as he likes Richardson, and as much as he did for him, he had to tell him honestly, "if you really want to know. Spec, it's you." Richardson doesn't remember it that way at all. "Leo must be mistaken," he says. "I can't recall anything like that ever being said.

Talk to Harry Walker or Preston Gomez. Both of 'em will tell you I don't ever go into the clubhouse." Richardson's private office always is open though. No reason in the world a ballplayer can't find his way there. Especially on a clear day. come a Military roli-ceman, clerk, mechanic, cook, supplyman.

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Ph. 453-5890 in at 33-34-67. Colbert, who won the American Golf Classic and $96,734 last year, was within one shot of tying the course record set by Frank Beard in 1970. Jack Nicklaus, who won his fifth Masters green coat two got into bad habits. I convinced myself that hitting was what was going to keep me in the majors.

I didn't seem to care about my fielding." Evans credits Mathews, his manager from mid 1972 until last July, with changing his thinking. "Eddie was not only my manager, he was my friend," said Evans. "He used to talk to me, pump into me that I had to do it. "I knew how to play when I grew up because I come from a family of baseball players. They never got down on me when I played poorly.

Instead, they'd explain what I'd done wrong and tell me how to correct it. "Once I made up my mind that I was going to play just as hard on defense as I always have on offense, things started falling into place. Fielding became fun again." Darrell Evans, 28 next month and apparently just coming into his prime as a baseball player, is off to his best start since he got his first taste of major league ball in Going into Thursday night's game here against Cincinnati, Evans led the majors in home runs with five, was tied with Jimmy Wynn of the Dodgers for the National League rbi lead with I5, and led the Braves with his .307 batting average. Evans had a fine year at bat in I973 when he had 4l home runs. I04 rbis and a .281 average.

But he almost became discouraged last season when he dropped down to 25 homers, 79 rbis and only .240. "A lot of things contributed to my poor showing last season," he said. "I had personal problems, some private things that were bothering me. Also, no one was carrying us like the year before when Hank, Davy (Johnson) and I all hit at least 40 home runs, and we were all pressing. "I couldn't seem to make myself swing.

I simply wasn't aggressive. I took too many pitches, that's why I walked 124 times. There was one spell of about three weeks when I had no idea about how I was swinging at the ball. "I know I can do it now," Evans continued. "I know the club is counting on me to be aggressive at the plate.

I'll have a lot less walks, but I'll take hits over walks any time. The Braves are counting on me to drive in runs, and that's what I'm determined to That aggressiveness is showing up in other ways. Like the other night when he was thrown out at home plate trying to stretch a triple into an inside-the-park home run. "I'd have made it, too, if I hadn't wasted a couple of steps waiting to see if the ball would be caught." Evans had three errors in his first 16 games, but they came on plays he wouldn't even have attempted several years ago. Now, he charges grounders, making one-handed scoops that turn apparent hits into outs.

"I'm more aware of what I have to do and so far it's paid off," he said. "I'm more comfortable out in the field, much more relaxed. "I've never had any trouble getting up for a game. I'd much rather plav before 50,000 in Los Angeles than a small crowd, even at home. The crowd fires me up, whether it's for me or against me." You can tell from the way he talks why Darrell Evans has taken over as the playing leader of the Atlanta Braves.

Open 9 A.M. 7 P.M. Zanesville. Ohio 7 NEW YORK (UPI Preston Gomez is in "no trouble at all. none whatsoever," and, naturally, words like these from your boss are supposed to reassure you, except that Preston Gomez has been waltzed around the block more than once now and recognizes that when your ball club is in last place and has the worst record in the majors, the man who's generally in trouble is you, the manager Spec Richardson, general manager of Houston's left-at-1he-gate Astros, says any rumors alxiut Gomez being on the way out are simply that, rumors, without the slightest possible foundation to them.

"I just got a phone call informing me somebody on TV said Preston Gomez is on 'thin Richardson said, with an i'dge in his voice. "That's absolutely untrue. He's not on thin ice or any other kind of ice." Preston Gomez shouldn't be tecause no manager in all baseball puts in more hours, works harder or is any more dedicated, but all that somehow has a way of being forgotten when a ball club isn't winning, and right now the Astros aren't doing that to any noticeable degree Before leaving the club last Fall. Leo Durocher recommended that the Cuban-born Gomez, who had been one of his coaches, be named Houston's tnew manager and that was the way it turned out In his forthcoming book, "Nice Guys finish Last," done with Ed and excerpts of which 'now are beine carried bv Snorts Illustrated, Durocher puts it III I.T "It was in my mind that if they asked me to recommend anybody which is exactly what did happen I would say 'No one but Gomez. You got an awful lot of Latin ballplayers on the club, good ones.

I think Gomez, will do as good a job as anyone in baseball." Richardson says the fact the Astros have a number of Latins did not influence him in hiring the bilingual Gomez. "That didn't enter into it at all." insists Houston's G.M. Durocher, in his book, says he never really could reach Cesar Cedeno although, personally, he liked the Astros' Dominican superstar. Durocher concedes Cedeno has natural talent to burn, but says -he's throwing it all away he's temperamental and given to being a 'hypochondriac. The former Houston fmanager goes so far as to say HOUSTON (UPI) The eight spots in the $100,000 World Championship Tennis finals are almost filled and the man sweating it the most is one-time WCT champ Stan Smith.

John Alexander became the latest player to clinch a spot in the finals, capturing his second round match in the River Oaks Classic Wednesday and wrapping up first place in the WCT's Red Group an achievement worth an extra $12,000. But Mark Cox, who came into the final Red Group tournament of the season, was bumped off in his second round match and Dick Stockton playing with the pain of a back injury lost to Japan's Jan Kamiwazumi in the first round. Smith had exited from the Red Group tournament in the first round as well. Going into today's play, therefore, Arthur Ashe and Bjorn Borg of the Green Group. Rod Laver and Roscoe Tanner from the Blue Group and John Alexander from the Reds had wrapped up a spot in the finals.

The top two plavers from each group plus the next two leading qualifiers make the tournament. The final three spots will be decided among Cox, Smith, Raul Ramirez (from the Blue Group), Harold Solomon (Red) and Bob Lutz (Red). Even though Cox was knocked out of the Houston i WE NEED YOU Earn Up To 1 500 Per Year Extra. OLD I yw ore prior service NEED or non-prior service we can train you to be- NEW SPORT twfm -uv FULL 4 PLY 1 P0LYESTER 1 TUBELESS I Am (( 111 Wit 1 tT 1 tax I I illll mmBiBMiili $21-95 160 )MyH F78.M $26.95 Mi G78-14 $25.95 2.55 BLACK prompt YOUR DUNLOP TIRE SAFETY SPECIALIST (JSS vtJ tire town irssc.li" open Daily 8 A.M. to 5:30 P.M., Saturday 8 A.M.

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