The Odessa American from Odessa, Texas • 11

Fhe Odessa American Monday, July 31, 1978 a Kin nnA Port Neches-Groves boss iur pnor ivou sees lightning strike 17 fee Yqdh 8 HOUSTON (AP) Piano's M. Pier and not lightning struck Port Neches-Groves Coach Doug Ethridge twice and he hopes this is the last time. Pier helped Piano defeat ETthridge's Indians in the Class 4A state finals last season. Saturday night it was Pier's 23-yard interception return that set up a 7-6 North victory over Ethridge's South squad in the Texas High School Coaches Ass a i i All-Star football game. Ethridge, tongue fixed firmly in cheek, called Pier "a good football player and a class young man.

He came out to shake my hand and I told him I hated him. Of course, I was only kidding." And Port Neches-Groves Ted Brack, who played for the losing South team, said in true i-Tough" fashion, "I wouldn't mind linebacking with David Bethel of Barbers Hill pounced on a fumble by Willie Wright of El Paso Burges at the North's nine-yard line and set up a one-yard dive by Blooming Grove's Milton Collins. Seguin's Lawrence Sampleton then missed the extra point. Neither team lived up to the offensive show that had been predicted throughout the week. The south couldn't get on the scoreboard until late in the third quarter despite such talented players as Dickinson's Donnie Little, who gained 3,194 yards rushing and passing last season, and Collins, who rushed 4,955 yards during his schoolboy career.

Ethridge really thinks his relationship with Pier will have a happy ending. Pier is headed for Texas Tech this fall where Ethridge's son Ricky already is in residence as a quarterback for the Red Raiders. Pier. The sonuvagun's a flat good player." A dislike for Pier would certainly be understandable. The South was nursing a 6-0 leaed early in the fourth quarter when Pier, who earned the game's outstanding defensive player honors, intercepted a pass by South quarterback Mike Brannan of Brazoswood and returned it 23 yards to the South 2-yard line.

Temple Aday of Arlington leaped into the end zone on the first play and Lubbock Monterey's Don Reeves kicked the winning extra point with 11:48 left in the game. "I was reading the quarterback's eyes," Pier said of his decisive interception. "He tipped me off where he was gonna throw it." The South, which now trails the series 23-15-4, also got its touchdown on an outstanding defensive play. NEW YORK AP) Saturday was Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium, a day for nostalgia and the fond remembrance of old heroes. But the cheers of the 46,000 fans turned to boos when Al Rosen, president of the New York Yankees, was introduced.

After all, Rosen once was a hated member of the Cleveland Indians who battled the Yankees tooth-and-nail during the pennant races in the 1950s. Now, as second-in-command to owner George Steinbrenner, he had played a large and villainous part in forcing the resignation last Monday of Billy Martin, the Yankees' extremely popular manager. The crowd began to chant: "We want Billy, we want Billy." Rosen stood there amist the other former baseball greats and took it, a knowing smile on his face. Then, the public address system intoned that Hall of Famer Bob Lemon, who replaced Martin last Tuesday, would "continue as manager of the Yankees through the 1978 and 1979 seasons." Lemon came out and the booing grew louder. But P.A.

announcer BobSheppard finally drowned out the hecklers. "And the Yankees would like to announce at this time, introduce and announce at the same moment that the manager for the 1980 season and hopefully for many years after that, will be No. 1 Billy Martin." And from out of the Yankee dugout, wearing the pinstripes with the numeral 1 on the back, trotted none other than Alfred Manuel Martin. The crowd went wild. "Unbelievable!" said former Yankee great Joe DiMaggio.

Billy the Kid was back. In a stunning, shocking turn of events that overshadowed all the Yankee looniness of the past two years, owner George Steinbrenner welcomed Battling Billy back as manager, beginning with the 1980 season after IVi years of rest and recuperation to correct a liver condition. During that stretch, Martin will work as a consultant, evaluating talent in the organization. He also must give up drinking, except for beer. It was a bizarre but fitting end to a grotesque week that began with Martin verbally blasting outfielder Reggie Jackson and Steinbrenner at a Chicago airport last Sunday "They deserve each other," he said.

"One's a born liar and the other's convicted" and then submitting his resignation a day later at a tearful news conference in Kansas City. The Yankees also announced that Lemon, who took over as. manager last Tuesday, would become general manager in 1980. "I am probably going to be ripped a little for being soft maybe or being stupid," said Steinbrenner, "but let me tell you this there are times in life when you should be tough and times when you have to be rigid, and there are times when you have to be understanding and have compassion. "And I am not trying to sound corny.

I am trying to tell you exactly what happened. Al and I discussed this at Bud Wilkinson says players are the same length and I told him my feelings. I told him that in my gut, as much had gone on both ways, that I didn't feel what had happened was right. "Well, I've always thought better with my gut than my heart, and if being compassionate toward a man who has the courage to admit that he has a concern for his health and emotional well-being, and who came to me after his resignation when he had nothing really to gain and said he was sorry for what he had said and admitted that he committed an indiscretion in denying it if caring about wanting to work with and help that man is a sign of softness, then I'd a helluva rather be called soft and stupid than a rock and brilliant Noting that his conviction for making illegal contributions to the campaign of former President Richard M. Nixon was a matter of public record, Steinbrenner called Martin airport remarks "a small mistake in the total picture." For his part, a contrite Martin finally admitted that he made the remarks attributed to hi concerning Jackson and Steinbrenner, although he denied it in his resignation speech last Monday.

"When I quit the other day, I called George and told him I apologized for what was said," Martin said. "I did say it. I don't know why I said it. I was angered at the time. I had no reason to say it and I feel very bad about it.

"This is the home where I want to be more than anything else. This is the only managing job I've ever wanted. Now I have a second chance, thanks to George. I know what my problems are and I'm going to lick them. The challenge is there for me.

I'm going to work twice as hard at it in other fields, fields that I have never done before." And what about Jackson, who precipitated Martin's latest crisis by ignoring the manager's verbal instructions to swing away in a July 17 game against Kansas City and bunted three times instead? "I have no comment," Jackson said when asked about the rehiring of Martin. "I'm of all this stuff. I just hope someone is capable of analyzing the situation and putting it in print." Jackson, who was suspended for five days after the bunting incident, was asked how he analyzed the day's events. "Haven't you figured out by now that every answer of mine is nebulous and you're wasting your time talking to me?" he said. Will Jackson, whose contract runs through 1981, be around when Martin returns in 1980? "I get paid through 1992, all right?" Does Jackson want to remain with the Yankees? "It's really been exciting here lately.

It's been thrilling for me the last year-and-a-half," said the slugger, who has been rumored going to the California Angels. "I don't know if I'm going to here the whole season. There's 50-50 chance I won't be here at the end of the season. I think that's very real. That's just my thinking." Financial plan may save Games for Los Angeles i pi 1 I.

By HAL BOCK AP Sports Writer Except for the snapped Achilles tendon that has ended tight end J. V. Cain's National Football League season suddenly and sadly, the first two weeks of their training camp have been refreshingly tranquil for the St. Louis Cardinals. And much of the credit belongs to Coach Bud Wilkinson.

Pictured as a team in turmoil, the Cardinals stunned the NFL last winter when they reached into the dim, dark past An AP Sports Analysis of collegiate football for their new coach, hiring Wilkinson. He was a legend, as a coach at Oklahoma from 1947 through 1963, but Wilkinson had not had a whistle around his neck for 15 years. That produced some legitimate questions over whether he could bridge the gap of time. When you mention that problem now. Wilkinson smiles it away.

"The players are the same today as I remember them being when I coached before," he said. "I don't believe that on the field athletes have changed at all. Off the field sure, they're different. Lifestyles have changed but not football." It is football that is the constant here. "To play this game," Wilkinson said, "an individual has to be highly motivated an disciplined.

That was true 15 years ago and it's still true now." That was part of the reason Wilkinson decided to return to football. That and the emptiness he felt from being away from the profession. "There is an excitement about coaching." he said. "It's truly enjoyable. There is nothing quite like an athletic season, the strong emotions and the closeness among the players on a team that it generates.

That's the one thing that makes sports so very unique." And so, even though the men had never Montreal accrued a deficit of almost $1 billion in the 1976 Games has arousr demcoconcern of Los Angeles taxpayers and city council. Simon, noted that more than $1 billion was spent by Montreal in capital expenditures, as opposed to a planned $33.4 million for Los Angeles. He said he is convinced that the Los Angeles Games could be operated at a profit, perhaps $100 million. Kane said he was "not prepared to predict how the IOC will react" to the plan that now goes to them for approval, but added: "I believe we have the basis for agreement." When and if the IOC approves, the plan then must receive the endorsement of the U.S. Olympic Committee Executive Board and then go to Mayor Bradley for presentation to his City Council.

Rejection at any step of the proceedings, Kane said, would result in the Games not being held in Los Angeles. met before this training camp began, there was a genuine sadness in the coach's voice as he described Cain's injury, which will deprive the Cardinals of one of the NFL's top tight ends. "He's gone for the season," said Wilkinson. "It's a terrible thing, so unfortunate, for him and the team. There's no way we'll be able to get anyone comparable to replace him at this stage." Evenbefore Cain's mishap, Wilkinson was stepping into a difficult situation with the Cardinals.

They finished third in the National Football Conference East on a 7-7 record last season with multipurpose running back Terry Metcalf keying their offense. But Metcalf did an end run to Canada last spring and now does his ball carrying for the Toronto Argonauts, complicating the Cardinal picture even more. Four of last season's losses came in a row at the end of the year as the club did a sudden swoon from contention to chaos in almost no time flat. Here was a team that had stopped Dallas' eight-game winning streak in mid-season and then finished its year by losing to lowly Tampa Bay. They were enigmatic to say the least.

"Last year's gone," said Wilkinson. "Don't ask me about it. I wasn't here then. I'm starting fresh now." When he left the University of Oklahoma to run for the United States Senate in 1963, Wilkinson departed not because he had tired of coaching but rather because of a decision to try something else. "I never was unhappy coaching," he said, "Oh sure, it has its ups and downs.

But that comes with the territory." And being away from his profession was never very comfortable for him. "I missed coaching very much." Wilkinson said. So, at age 62, he has returned to it. this time in the pros where he's never worked before. total of 264, or 20-underpar.

"This just pays for the barn." Funseth also tied the record for the lowest score on the front nine on Thursday when he shot a 6-under-par 29. He ended the first round with a 65, and then fell back to fifth with a 67. The curly-haired golfer's 68 on Saturday gave him a 54 hole total of 200. Funseth was 1 stroke behind the leaders going into Sunday's final round at the 6.534-yard, par-71 Wethersfield Country Club course. He recorded five birdies on the front nine, including a 25-foot putt and a 20foot chip-in.

The 45-year-old Funseth was never headed from that point on. Terry 0eni, Al Geitwrger, ll.itl Hubert Green, 141 Gary Kocn, UI Bill Roger ll.itl Lou .00 1401 Skeeter Mtatn. 01 Le5M.kltl, 1901 Caim Peet. lol dm Simoni, 1901 Wally Armttrong, 1735 Brad Bryant, 1735 Ray Floyd, 1735 Stiomero Blancol 1554 Jerry Heard, 1551 loe Kunev mil Mark Lyt, 55 Orviiie Woody, 1551 BoO Murphy, 155 Gen Littler, 14 Jim Neitord, 1447 Tom Storey. Mil Barney Thompson, 1447 Bob Zender, Hi) G'bby GngOrl, 1414 Hoaet Maitbif, 1414 Ed 5 bo, 1414 A Weibrlna, 1414 George John ion, 1171 (SOHN Mahadey, 1177 Graham Mrtft, U72 'Mike Money 1172 nm tnancey, IJ30 tGatf McCord, 1330 Greg Pitiw, M30 Larry Zieglef, Don Bit! 70-70 41-47 -271 70-445-72-275 44- 444-44-275 70-41-44-41-275 70 704I 47 27J GB 4 7fr7? l-274 70 5 71-70 274 4-47 72 27 47 12 70-71-274 41 12 71 70- 44-47-71-777 71- 47-71 M-777 44 70 70-277 -70 44 70-271 c-4 70 71-771 72- 47 72 47 271 7 -71 45 71 M4 7i.7f.J71' 47 704173 27 nue-zigif 44 (4) 77 71-27 4 71 -70-70 -77 71 HH-7J-J7 70 44-71 77 71 471 70-7M 44 72 71-210 71-7 7 77 20 714771 740 7I7 71-711 TO 71-211 72-7 73--2ll 7, 17 473-211 71 4 -75-77 7t 47-71 71-712 70 4 77 72-242 44 47 73 74-71J 74774-211 AP Wircphoto) ROD FUNSETH winner It was his third victory since joining the PGA tour in 1961 and the first-place money more than doubled his 1978 winnings to a total of $80,672.

Three golfers were tied for second place, earning $16,240 each. Shooting 16-under-par 268 were Dale Douglass, defending champion Bill Kratzert and Lee Elder. Rod Funseth ties record in winning Hartford Open COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -A last-ditch financial plan to salvage the 1984 Olympic Games for Los Angeles now goes to the International Olympic Committee. "This is the last go-round," said Robert Kane, president of the U.S.

Olympic Committee, which has offered to help secure the financial responsibility of the "If the plan is not acceptable to the IOC, it's dead," he said Sunday after a lengthy meeting with Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Kane and Bradley noted they're working against an Aug. 21 deadline for contractural agreement with the IOC. If the contracts aren't signed by that time, Kane said, the 1984 Games will not be held in Los Angeles. And if the IOC turns thumbs down on the current plan, there would be no more time in which to make other arrangements.

Details of the plan were not revealed. "It is not proper to divulge details before it being discussed with the IOC. That's just common decency," Kane said. Late last week, however, Kane and USOC treasurer William Simon, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, discussed at length the plan they said they would present to Bradley.

Under the plan, the city of Los Angeles would sign the contract for the 1984 Games and as the IOC insists it must assume financial responsibility. The USOC proposed, however, that it and the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee jointly ha ve a separate agreement with the city, underwriting any debts that may occur. "It is a very good proposal and contains the basis of agreement from all parties," Bradley said. If the plan is approved by the IOC, Bradley said he would enthusiastically recommend its approval to the Los Angeles City Council. While the details were not announced, Bradley said under questioning that relief from any financial responsibility on the part of the city of Los Angeles "was part of the plan presented to us." The possible debts that could arise from the conduct of the Games Martinez will fight a 10-roundcr in the main event against Houston's Enrique Muniz (23-3).

Martinez is the No. 1 super bantamweight contender and a nationally ranked featherweight with a 37-5 record. Alvin Dominey of Odessa will put his 5-1 record on the line with Berry Smith ol Dallas as his opponent in a six-rounder. Smith has a 10-2 standing. In a featherweight eight-rounder, Alfonso Dominguez of Odessa will carry a 7-2 record against another Houston pugilist.

Alex Barrera. 7-3. Plenty of general admission tickets art still available for tonight's professional boxing iprd. Boxing program set here toniaht WETHERSFIELD. Conn.

(AP) -Rod Funseth has constructed a victory in the Sammy Davis Hartford Open that is as solid as the barn he constructed last month near his home in Napa. Calif. And the $42,000 first prize money Funseth earned will be used to pay bills for the barn that houses his two Arabian horses and to repay his daughter, from whose bank account Funseth had to borrow money for the building. "Like my wife said the other day, we had some bills building the barn and we had to borrow some money," he said after tying a GHO record with a 72hole WET'heVsf'iELD. Conn.

(AP) Final round KtfM (nd winnings Sunday innvae 4710 000 Sammy DaH Jf -Greetef Marl- lord Open at the 4.5J4 yard, par" Welh-erifitld Country Club Rod Funietri, 142,000 Don Oougiait. Let Eider. 11240 Bill Kratierl, H4.740 Rei Caldwell, 11015 Howard Twltty, I Joe Inman, 1457 Oil Morgan, it.Vt Hod Curl, M1S7 Bob EaUwood, 357 Launt 14,357 itan Lee U.iil Larry Nelwn. Orwr JopiO mW Vic toe Regaido, 157 Bobby Wslel, 14 357 M.tcn Adcock, 12,730 iim Colbert, 12,730 Ced Graham, 17 730 Mark Hsyet, 12,730 futiy Zoeiler, 12.730 Tommy Aaron, 11,715 lay Han, 11.71$ pnil Hancock, 11,715 Barry Pat MtGonwn, JI.715 Artie McNicme, M.ke Re'd 7IJ 5-67 4IM-7M 47 -il ti-H-H 67-2l 6 47 a a-Jl Mt 70 M-370 70M--7l-J70 -62-73 M-67 -271 t70-eS-M-I7J M67M-IJ-J7J 70 47 W-77J 41 47 4-71 -272 44- 47-TO-71-272 70 44 41-M-272 73 47 41-777 73-43 45 71-272 71 4J 45 72 -271 45- 71-70-47 271 71-45-41 4-773 73-45 47 4I-27J M-4 70 274 47 4t 41-71-274 44 44 71-75-274 72 44-44 70-274 44 64 44-274 45-71-71 7 174' tut-tt-n-vt- -l4 47 70 4I M-774 44 4 72 40-275 44 47 41-71-275 Tim Simpwn, II.71J tnonard Hhompwn, Gcor Archer, II 11 Ororge 6vm, ll.itl 117 (Stiff PtMto, Six bouts will be on tonight's professional boxing card at the Pan American Ballroom. 2215 E.

Murphy. The action, promoted by George Dennard. will get underway at o'clock. Two Odessans will clash in the first fight. Danny Lopez 10-1 will go against Hurricane Lacy (0-1) in a middleweight fracas.

A second middleweight tussle will pit Odessan Marcario Estorga (1-1) against Ricky Rios (1-0) of Lubbock. Featherweights James Martinez and Jose Larrocha will be featured. In the semi main event, Larrocha, with a 150-25 record, will take on Robert Quintanila of Houston. Quintanilla has a 24-2 mark. ODtSSAN AMES MARTINEZ Featherweight fhfs tonight.