The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 11

8-C THE TAMPA TR'BUN'E, Friday, May 27, 1953 HEARTLAND FOLK Piurowski: Bandits' unknown soldier )- A 1 wrir ofte) in every game we play." he said. "Our ultimate goal is to get there. We just have to keep on winning. Chicago is right oa our heels and Michigan and Birmingham are there, too." Whetber the Bandits make the playoffs, if been a fun year for Piurowski. whose last brush with pro football saw him cut by the Dallas Cowboys in 1980.

"It reminds me of my years at FSU; they were good years because we were winning," he said. "I cant get over the support of the community for this team. I wish there was something we could do to show how much we appreciate them. I have no gripes at alL" Not even about a certain lack of attention for one inside linebacker. Kollar waived by Bucs after failing physical By JIM SELMAN Assistant Spwts Editor Defensive end Bin Kollar has become the second veteran Buccaneer within a week to be waived for failing to pass his physical.

The Bucs announced their decision Thursday on Kollar. John McKay had said Saturday the results of more tests were being awaited, but he did not have much hope for Kollar. Running back Jerry Eckwood, who underwent back surgery during the 1982 training camp, also failed his physical and was waived Friday. Kollar had not played since injuring his knee against Green Bay in November of 1981. He underwent surgery twice.

Dave Stalls, now asking to be traded to Denver, became his replacement Kollar, a first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals out of Montana State in 1974, was purchased from the Bengals in 1977 and moved into the starting lineup after overcoming an injured foot He started the first 12 games at left end in 1981 and had 53 tackles and a sack before the injury. For the Bucs, Kollar started 35 games and played in 72. He registered 229 tackles, seven sacks, 100 quarterback pressures, helped cause four fumbles and recovered 10 fumbles. Kollar played with a broken hand for much of the 1980 season. "I think Bill was well aware that his playing days were over," said Phil Krueger, aide to the owner.

"He is interested in By NICK PL'CLIESE Tribune Spent Writer The defensive linemen get the sacks, the outside linebackers get the blitzes and the defensive backs get the interceptions. The only thing left for the inside linebackers is tackles, and Paul Piurowski of the Bandits has made plenty of them this season, a team-leading 91 He also has 51 assists and has sacked the quarterback a couple of times. However, while the average fan gets excited about sacks, blitzes and interceptions, tackles mostly are taken for granted. Even stadium public address announcers often fail to recognize who made the tackle, but always hail the conquering hero who picked off the pass or recovered the fumble. Piurowski, one of only four players on defense to start every game (end James Ramey and backs Glen Edwards and Jeff George are the others), said he doesn't mind being Tampa Bay's unknown soldier.

"When people expect you to make a dozen or 15 tackles, it's no big deal when you do," Piurowski said. "Then when you don't have a good game, people notice it right away. I guess it's kind of an incentive to always give it your best shot "I'm never satisfied. I'm always looking for the perfect game. I'll be going good and find someway to mess up, blow a pass coverage or be in the wrong place." Piurowski, a four-year letterman at Florida State University, is the first to admit he also leads the defense in minuses.

Nonetheless, no one on the Tampa Bay coaching staff will complain about his line-backing and there are those who'll tell you he's the key that unlocks the Bandits' defense. That defense may have peaked the last two weeks in victories over vaders made Piurowskfs bearded face break into a gna. "Sometimes, the coaches surprise me with what they come tip with," he said. "We've done a good job adjusting on defense to all those changes and new things." Two of the team's injuries have' hit dose to home for Piurowski, those of fellow inside linebacker Kelly Kirchbaum (knee) and quarterback Jimmy Jordan (shoulder), who happens to be his roommate as well as a fellow Seminole. "Taking nothing away from our other backers, but there's been a lot more pressure on me with Kelly out" he said.

"I find myself being a little more the teacher. With Kelly, you didnt have to do that He knew his job. The other guys have to concentrate on their job more. "I just kind of left Jimmy alone. He did more rehabilitation than anybody I've ever seen.

He was here working out all the time. I just helped him get dressed and tie his shoes, just like any good roommate." The Bandits, 9-3, begin a tough three-game Central Division swing with a game Monday night at Michigan, and Piurowski expects a scrap from the Panthers. "They have a whole new line and big, strong backs and I expect them to ram the ball down our throats," he said. "It'll be a little tough adjusting after playing two passing teams. Of course, they can throw the ball to Anthony Carter anytime they want to.

"We'd rather force them to throw the ball; then our defensive linemen can get after them like raw meat" Playoff talk hangs heavy like the muggy air these days around the Bandits Hideout Piurowski and his teammates still want to be playing when the first round of post-season action arrives. "We're reminded of it (the play- 1 I I 1 i Paul Piurowski leads the Bandits in tackles this season. Arizona and Oakland, and sits third overall in the United States Football League, behind Chicago and Birmingham. "I don't know if our success has come all of a sudden," said Piurowski, a 6-3, 232-pounder. "I just think we're a little more confident with the players we have in there.

We started out great hit a lull and had a lot of injured players. Now, we've gotten a lot of the injured players back and we're confident that the guys we have in there can do the job. "I found myself stopping and worrying about the other guys a couple of weeks ago. Now, I only worry about myself. Confidence has been the big key.

It really turns you loose." The defensive game plan for the victories over the Wranglers and In Dennis Mclain "They have shown me so much on Channel 8 1 should get a degree in broadcasting. "The shot? Taken at the Lakeland clinic about a month and a half ago. I knew they were out there. Someone came in with a sick man in the car. The doctor on duty told me eo see how badhe was.

I went out IlsUTDDdsea la leave him there kV gotmypictafl i i I saw the man and sent him ort to thej hospital McLain and a doctor opened a clinic in Plant City. It didn't work. The doctor pulled out because of personal problems, McLain said. "So I packed up the equipment and moved to Lakeland and opened one there. We got the people, including doctors, and it has been doing well.

Very well." Channel 8's series quoted two ex-employes who said they saw McLain in a white coat examining the back of a patient "Big deal. We all do things around the clinic. It's not illegal. Sure I had a white coat." He said he was now withdrawn from the clinic rather than be a center of attention "with this publicity." Neither publicity nor strife are new to Dennis McLain, the last man to win 30 games in the major leagues. Two of his homes have burned down.

Six years ago he was on the ropes, filing for bankruptcy in Memphis. After baseball, his nightclub act fell on hard times. But he has managed to bounce back each time and he has a fine family, a new home hereabouts and he does have grit and wile. He has made a buck countless ways, including on the golf course where he is a fine, bold player. Heavy trouble fell upon him suddenly late in 1982, after he had moved to the Tampa area.

"I was the manager of the Tampa office of First Fidelity, a mortgage house. There were five or six offices around the state. We were doing fine. Barry Nelson of Miami owned it In two to three years we never missed a payment of any kind. But the state accused us of bookkeeping errors.

They shut us down in March of 1982. It was a 45-page suit All of us were mentioned In it They closed us down one week after they had given us a clean bill." 1 McLain said the action came, he felt because the company did not fully make illegal contributions sought He said the FBI has investigated such activities and that he cooperated with that investigation. "I believe," he said, "it is still going on." Among his loans was one of $145,000 to Alton Dale Sparks of Se-bring, who owned a downtown disco. Sparks and wife have sued McLain, declaring he wanted 180 percent, that he threatened bodily harm If payments were not made. 'I have never been served in that case," said McLain, of the civil action.

"I don't know whether he has or not," said North. "But the open case Jk BiO Kollar becoming an assistant coach in college football and Coach McKay and I will do what we can to help him." Krueger said he has had no further contact with Jimmy Walsh, the attorney for unsigned quarterback Doug Williams, since the team's contract offer was rejected. Owner Hugh Culverhouse announced that the team had offered Williams a contract that would have placed him among the five highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, based on 1982 salary figures. Apparently, that means Williams has turned down at least $400,000 a year. "I'm sure I will be talking with Jimmy Walsh again soon," Krueger said.

"I am in the process of answering the letter from Charley Hannah's agent (Howard Slusher) and I will be talking with Mike Washington's agent Friday." Williams, Hannah, Washington and punter Larry Swider are among nine unsigned veterans. Krueger said he is not ready to for an announcement, but all but two of the 12 draftees have been signed and some of the unsigned veterans have agreed to terms. He didn't identify them. uneventful went by that slower car like it was standing still." Cogan, who was replaced on the Roger Penske team by Al Unser Sr. prior to this season, was pleased with the ride his car, loaded with fuel, gave him.

"Today was one of the key days," said Cogan, who qualified 22nd for the 500 at a speed of 201.528 mph. He was placed well back in the field because he didn't participate in time trials until much later than many drivers; five blown engines caused the delay. "Everybody out there (Thursday) had their race-day setup," he added. "They were going flat-out, which means what they did is about what they're going to do on race day. "I could have gone faster, even with full tanks, but I wasn't able to because I got tied up in traffic." The consistently fast speeds, which are attributed to ground-effects technology, may perk the public's interest in the 500, but Sneva feels it diminishes the need for talented drivers.

"This is the first year I've run the whole course without lifting the accelerator off the floor," said the man who, in 1978, became the first driver to qualify at over 200 mph here. "They could have plugged anybody into the cockpit and they'd have done the same thing. "We've got to do something to get the driver to be a factor again. "People want to see wheel-to-wheel racing and they don't care about the speeds. "People don't know what speed car is running, unless they hear the track announcer or they're holding a stopwatch." The crackling of the P.A.

system and the clicking of watches will be silent until Sunday. probably something that would never again have been duplicated." Still, despite the obvious bonds, there is probably little chance the Unsers will ever be members of the same racing team. "Bobby and I always stayed apart, and that's the way it has to be," said Unser. "You can't mix the same blood; you have to race each other. "There comes a point where you have to cut off your association." Though bis road to Indy Is In stark contrast to the path taken by his father, who wrestled unruly Sprint Cars for years before making it, Unser Jr.

appreciates the ability he's been able to witness from close up. "I hope I can have the style of my father," he said. "He's so smooth and consistent, yet so aggressive and safe. If you've ever seen my dad run a champ dirt car it's just magic." Unser Jr. also considers his father's name a plus; he doesn't feel he had to live up to anything.

"There were never any pressures when I was growing up," he said. "I was just a regular kind of kid. I went to a public school and all. "I might have had some razzing in school, but not so much because of my name. It was probably because I was messing around with somebody's girlfriend or something." Spoken like a true country boy, which Is what Little Al Unser, of Al-buqurque, N.M., is, despite the aura that surrounds him at Indy.

Gold trades for receiver DENVER (AP) The Denver Gold has traded linebacker John Barefield to the Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League for wide receiver Kevin Williams and rights to quarterback Tom Owen of Wichita State, the club announced Thursday. Williams was a first-team All-PAC 10 Conference choice as a junior at Southern California, where he caught a school-record 25 touchdown passes. He pulled down 71 passes for 1,358 yards during his college career, and ranks No. 9 on the Trojans' career reception chart Williams, a 5-9, 178-pounder, was picked in the seventh round by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 National Football League draft He was released by the Saints on the final cut, but signed by Baltimore where he played five games averaging 20 yards per kickoff return. Pro Football Rozelle wishes Schlichter luck Tribune Staff and Wires WESLEY CHAPEL Before ad-jouring the National Football League owners meetings at Saddlebrook Thursday, Commissioner Pete Rozelle extended good luck wishes to suspended Baltimore Colts quarterback Art Schlichter, who is being treated for compulsive gambling.

Rozelle suspended Schlichter indefinitely in the aftermath of Schlichter's admission he had gambled away $389,000. The commissioner had no comment on a Sports Illustrated story which tells that Schlichter had incurred almost double the amount of debts that he had reported. Rozelle said the Colts will be permitted to maintain contact with Schlichter during his hospitalization and suspension. "There is no prohibition against that," he said. "We will monitor him during the course of the next year and see how he does.

I wish him good luck." The owners adjourned following morning sessions, which included a brief report on pro-college relations and the continued opening of training camps to black college coaching staffs. Rozelle said he again did not know why Edward DeBartolo president of the San Francisco 49ers, failed to attend the meeting, adding several other owners also missed it Since Edward DeBartolo has been awarded the USFL franchise in Pittsburgh, the possibility of a conflict of interest involving that family came under heavy discussion. Rozelle named a 3-man committee to make a report at the October owners meeting in New York. In the meantime, Rozelle said he was certain he would be in contact with the young DeBartolo. Bledsoe to Federals PHOENIX, Ariz.

The Arizona Wranglers have traded reserve running back Curtis Bledsoe to the Washington Federals for an undisclosed draft choice. Roth takes duties DENVER Bill Roth, vice president of the Denver Gold of the USFL, has taken over the additional duties as the club's general manager, owner Ron Blanding announced Thursday. Scott to Blitz EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. The New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League traded beleaguered quarterback Bobby Scott to the Chicago Blitz for tackle Karl Yli-Renko and an undisclosed 1984 draft pick. Scott, who backed up Archie Manning for 10 years with the NFL's New Orleans Saints, completed 56.4 percent of his passes with the Generals this season, but suffered a league-high 16 interceptions as New Jersey won just three of its first 12 games.

He has been booed loudly on several occasions at Giants Stadium this season. Jeff Knapple, signed three weeks ago, is expected to start at quarterback for New Jersey Sunday. lies there in Highlands County." That it does. It is, however, but a suit so far, one previously reported by the news media. McLain said it was a bad loan.

"The place became a dive and the city closed it down. I guess I got mad when I loaned him $1,000 of my i personal money so he could sue the to reopen and give us time, perhaps, to sell the property. The city said thanks but no thanks and I get that $1,000 back either. "Bodily harm? Well, no. But, I have have sounded angry.

I had lost a lot of money." The case is there and open. "Mr. McLain says he has not been served and I have no reason to doubt that," said his attorney. As for the drug conspiracy charge, McLain said this: "I'm no saint but I'm no dope d6cili "A Mr. Earl Hunt of the Cleveland area suggested that I and another fpllmv Fplil BAxhirrl.

en to- geer to lease an aane in the kuicx iu kcuc on aiituii miu aeVeiand area. He said he could it out and we could make $5,000 or $6,000 a month. The deal was we would pay the first month's payment and he the second. This was September of last year. We paid the first installment but received notice the second had not been paid.

I began trying to find Hunt by phone. He never returned the call. I wrote a letter for us to end the thing but the next thing I know he is arrested and the plane confiscated in Louisiana with marijuana on it I guess he got in the business of marijuana. "I think he served some time and is out now. I was never charged with any wrong doing.

I think the TV show said that under its breath. The plane is in Pensacola. The authorities have it." North rebutted: "We said he had not been charged. But, Mr. McLain can think he is cleared all he wants but I have but I have a tape of an undercover dectective who says he is dirty far from clean.

He alleges he was not involved in such deals but the detective told me he is; He can tell the big lie but he cannot fool Bob Merckle." "But, I repeat," said McLain. "I have not been charged and I don't understand how they can make claims like that, make statements like that and put my picture with Mr. Trafficante." "My reputation is on the line," said North. "I stand by it. I have that tape from the dectective saying he is not clear." North said he had checked out the charge by McLain that he (North) was fed derogatory information about McLain from a high official In Tallahassee.

This, dealing with McLain's allegation that additional illegal campaign contributions were requested of him, declined, and caused the official to seek to defame him. "Hard to be fed information from someone you do not know," North retorted. "I stand by this series. We have the triumvirate the drug conspiracy which the task force is looking into, the probe by the grand jury, and the open case in Highlands County that says he Is a loan shark." McLain counter-charged: "I can't win a shouting match with TV. But they will have their chances to bring their sources to court.

What they are saying about me is more serious than saying I threw the wrong pitch or walked a guy when I should not have. They are dealing with my life and my family. It's time to fight back. And I'm a fighter." A heavyweight, at that But so is TV. Morning After "Look, I am guilty of many things, bad judgement bad investments, being a little rowdy maybe," McLain freely admitted.

"Like I said, I'm no angel, but I am not guilty of any of the charges that TV station has made." McLain called and offered himself for interview we are long acquainted because, "It is time to speak out, to fight back. But, I won't get in a shouting match with a TV station. Can't win with the eletronic media. They cut you in, cut you off, clip, slice, suggest, hint, and pfft, it's gone, without verification. "I have four kids.

They are in school. The 10-year-old came home crying. I am speaking out in large part because of them. I am not a bum, not a crook, not a dope dier. I don't pretend to be a di course I've taken a thousand blood pressure tests.

That against the law? That medical bit is nonsense. But the other charges of usury and of drug trafficking are serious. "I have done two things about it, aside from speaking to you now. I have sent a telegram to Mr. Merkle (U.S.

Attorney) saying I am available to him or any of his people for questioning. I have things to say. And, I plan to talk soon with a fine attorney and pursue a law suit against the station. I just may own one, soon." A high Channel 8 executive says its lawyers were consulted before the series was aired and OK'd it U.S. Attorney Merkle reaffirmed he could not discuss such matters.

Asked if McLain had sent him a telegram making himself available, the attorney said, "I am sure Mr. McLain can confirm anything he claims." Mike Martin of Lakeland, McLain's personal attorney, said McLain "told me quite matter-of-factly that he had tried to call Mr. Merkle but he was in trial with your (Hillsborough County) commissioners so he sent him a telegram. I have no reason to doubt that" "I have become a mini-series," said McLain, "and I don't know why? Why me? Who have I hurt? They are being judge and jury." He laughed. "They keep showing me walking through that parking lot, the same shot every time they tease the series or start it If I had walked that much I wouldn't look the way I do." McLain is not underweight Bodine, Petty lead qualifying HARRISBURG.

N.C (AP) Geoff Bodine and Richard Petty led 15 qualifiers Thursday, boosting the field for Sunday's $478,010 World 600 NASCAR event to 30. Bodine and Petty had suffered misfortunes In Wednesday's Pole Day trials, Bodine aborting his attempt because of mechanical problems and Petty qualifying but then becoming the final driver bumped from the lineup. Bodine qualified his Pontiac at 161.788 mph while Petty, also in a Pontiac, was timed at 161.021 mph. Bodine will start on the eighth row with Terry Labonte, while Petty will be In row nine with Ken Ragan, whose Bulck was clocked at 160.835 mph. Final practice By TOM FORD Tribune Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS Indy drivers breezed through an uneventful final practice session Thursday, setting up cars under race-ready conditions in preparation for Sunday's 500-mile event Four drivers topped 200 mph in the two-hour practice.

There were few surprises. Italian Teo Fabi, the record-setting rookie pole-sitter with a 207.395 qualifying speed, turned the fastest lap at 201.795 mph. Another Indy rookie, Derek Daly of Ireland, hit 200.637, which was 3 mph quicker than his time-trial performance; Bobby Rahal was clocked at 200.522, and Kevin Cogan, considered the culprit in a multi-car crash on the pace lap of last year's race, recorded a circuit of 200.490. Defending champion Gordon Johncock's best lap was 197.715; four-time winner A.J. Foyt, one of the last drivers on the track, posted a fast lap of 198.631, and Tom Sneva, a second-place 500 finisher three times, traveled the 2-mile oval at 198.281 mph.

Uneventful. But that's how the 33 drivers entered in Sunday's race wanted it However, there was at least one close call. "I had just done 200 and the next lap, through the first three turns, was quicker," said Cogan. "But as I went into turn four, somebody I don't know who it was in a slower car came up off the track apron and into my line. "I dove down on the apron, hit a bump and said to myself, 'Oh, no, this is it I'm going to wreck on car-buretion "But the car responded and I Unsers From Page 1C When Unser brother Bobby, who has retired, sat out of the 1982 Indy 500, it broke a string of 13 straight years in which there were two Unser family members in the race.

Al and Bobby each won three times at Indy. Having his brother on the track with him all those years will make it easier for Unser to accept his son's presence Sunday. "I was fortunate to have raced with my brother for so long," he said. "It got to where it was an everyday occurence. "Besides, I won't be able to have many thoughts about what Al's doing on the track because my mind will be too occupied with racing." However, before the roar of engines infiltrates his consciousness, he can relish the knowledge that his son will be just several feet ahead of him on the grid.

"When they finally dropped the checkered flag on me in qualifying and I knew we had both made the race, I was as high emotionally as I've ever been here and that includes the times I've won. It's the greatest feeling a man can have for his son to join in competition with you in something you love." But there are regrets, now that Bobby is gone. "I thought it would really be neat to have Al here and even more-so to have bis uncle here with us. That's HEARTLAND PflSLlt.