Rocky Mount Telegram from Rocky Mount, North Carolina • 39

Walton, Bird, "Magic" Rocky Mount, N.C. Telegram MA SV awaav SMaYal Mean NBAfcxcitemenT By ALEX SA CHARE AP Sports Writer and the four division winners getting first-round byes. The regular season is still 82 games, but the schedule has been seasons, has finally ascended to the throne. Walton was one of many prominent free agents to switch teams over the summer. Two- time assists -chamDieir KevurTShe week earlier than last v.

I I mm exciting sport around. I think that this year, with the return of Walton and the addition of Magic and Bird, things will pick up again." All three of the Big attractions will be in action Friday night when the NBA opens its 34th season, and two of them will be on display before a nationwide audience. CBS plans to show Los Angeles' game at San Diego (8:30 p.m., PDT), which features: the professional debut of Johnson, the 6-foot-8 guard whose passing fancy led Michigan State to the NCAA title last winter and whom the Lakers made the first choice in thtfNBA draft, and, the return to action of Walton, the 1978 NBA Most Valuable Player who led Portland to the league title three years ago and this summer jumped to Sot Diego as a free agent for a reported $1 million a year. compressed so that it will end season. This was made possible by the change from last year's balanced schedule to one where each club faces its conference rivals six times each and plays opponents from the other conference twice apiece.

In a realignment, Utah has been placed in the Midwest Division and Indiana has moved to the Central. Seattle, which won its first NBA title last season by beating Washington in five games in the playoff finals, is seeking to become the league's first repeat champion since the Boston Celtics of other defending division titlists are Kansas City, San Antonio and Washington. amu nuwu uaui aim Bird and Magic Johnson have arnvea, onnging mui mem an air of excitement and anticipation as pro basketball, the self-styled "Sport of the Seventies," heads into the 1980s: The past two seasons have not been kind ones for the National Basketball Association, which had entered the 1970s on the upbeat and had been hopeful of following pro football's stunning growth. NBA attendance has leveled off, television ratings have dropped and the league- has gone through a painful tran-' sjuuii as uie oauuice ui power shifted from East to West, from tradition-steeped franchises like New York and Boston to expansion cities like Seattle, Portland and Phoenix. But all that is about to change, say the experts.

"There's nothing fun-" Meanwhile, in Boston, Celtics fans will be treated to the unveiling of the most heralded rookie to join the NBA in several seasons Bird, the 6-9 forward who carried Indiana State to national prominence. Bird; "whose- ball-handling brilliance brought him the highest contract ever for a rookie reportedly $650,000 a year for five years will lead the Celtics against the Houston Rockets. But the NBA isn't putting all its eggs in those three baskets. In an effort to spark interest and add excitement, particularly in the final minutes of close games, the league has adopted on a one-year trial -basis the three-point field goal. It's the same rule used in the old American Basketball Association, with three points being awarded for field goals made from beyond an arc on the floor roughly 22 feet from the basket Two other major changes have been made.

The New Orleans Jazz has moved to Utah, primarily because it was unable to obtain the playing dates it wanted in the Louisiana Superdome, and the league has gone back -to two referees per McEnroe Behaves In Davis Cup Win Danny White, 27. Talented voting cu.irterhiik working hnrj to make it big in the NFL Danny and his wife. JiiTvnn. havelBreechil Jren. Larry Bird tit irgmia tor him at this time in his life Virginia can keep it right as A By PETCR O'LOUGHLIN Associated Press Writer STONEYrTfastralia tapt-John McEnroe was on his best behavior Saturday as he defeated Australia's John Alexander to give the United States a 2-0 lead in the interzone semifinal of the Da vis Cup.

The hot-tempered antics of McEnroe, the world's third-ranked singles "player, have earned him the nickname Superbrat. But Saturday, he won applause if not affection from the 6,000 spectators at White City Tennis Gub as he Bill Walton Del Harris at Houston and Stan Albeck at Cleveland. Two head coaches have switched team Tom Nissalke going from Houston to Utah and Bill Fitch. moving from Cleveland to Boston. Donnie Walsh, who finished last, season as the interim coach at Denver, has the post on a permanent basis now, and Jerry Sloan, the heir apparent at Chicago for several I by Life His insurance is right and career.

And Life of Pannv needs change. 'C LircV. I) Concord's Smith Helped Build Charlotte Speedway Vote I I For Sfs LYNDA Mrf HOMES if Gty Council At Large October 9f 1979 Paid political advertising by ConwiitlH ts elect lynda Homes, Mary Baldwin, Treasurer. since Wimbledon in June, completely outclassed the No; 1 ranked Australian, who was unable to return service for- most of the match. McEnroe served eight love games and dropped only 17 points on his service games while making Alexander struggle to hold service.

The 28-year-old Australian double-faulted, netted McEnroe's return of service and was left stranded by a deft lob in the 15th game of the first set to give the American the break. believable ability to sense future trends and directions. "It's like he's aware of the future and he plans his moves to be prepared to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that arise," says Wheeler. And Smith admits (hat he "does a lot of thinking and planning" but notes that he just observes the trends and attempts to be ready for the opportunities when they come along. In the field of auto racing.

Smith has "guessed right" a number of times and he believes that he's still guessing right insofar as Charlotte Motor Speedway is concerned. We've spent a lot of money on this facility providing not only a good race track, but a good arena for race fans to view their favorite, sport. "We've spent over $6 million here in recent years and we're not nearly finished," Smith proudly commented. "We're just catching up with the growth in this part of the country and as the economy and the population expand, we want to be expanding with it to provide the finest stockar racing facility in the world," he continued. The board of directors of Charlotte Motor Speedway met on Thursday to discuss future plans at the facility and chances Porter moved from Detroit to Washington, where he replaces Tom Henderson, who moved to Houston as a free agent.

M.L. Carr went from Detroit to Boston, Mickey Johnson jumped from Chicago to Indiana and James McElroy moved from Utah to Detroit Other name players wearing new uniforms as a result of trades or free agent compensation agreements are Bob McAdoo of Detroit, Spencer Haywood of Los Angeles, Adrian Dantley and Bernard King of Utah, Rich Kelley of New Jersey, Randy Smith of Cleveland, Ricky Sobers of Chicago and Kermit Washington of Portland. While the rookie spotlight has focused on Bird and Johnson, several other first-year men figure to make their presence felt Among them are center Bill Cartwright of New York, forwards Greg Kelser and Phil Hubbard of Ds trait, David Greenwood of Chicago, Reggie King of Kansas City, James Bailey of Seattle and Calvin Natt and Cliff Robinson of New Jersey, and guards Sidney Moncreif of Milwaukee, Vinnie Johnson of Seattle, Roy Hamilton of Detroit, Jimmy Paxson of- Portland, Brad Holland of Los Angeles, Dudley Bradley of Indiana and Jim Spanarkel of Philadelphia. The playoff system is the same, with 12 of 22 teams qualifying for postseason play KALINGA Model 401 OVER 25 MODELS FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE PRICED FROM Thome's 41 W. SOUTH ST.

PHONE 132-4633 RALEIGH, N.C. as ts aiBsrsanai I r.l Ir.i ciin Jo tlic Ninii" tor ou wiili hnvij mime ot moji-rn priliiii Ji-muih-J lonvct our ch.inuini: ilivd- Lite ol irmi.i i.m proi iJc itwir.mic proteition tor you ih.it nuht trom the lust import, int. rmht tor the loni; run "BUCK KNIFE'S 0w P. Biwiii j. MwWt Irm Rocky Mount Harold Prttmon, ClU Magic Johnson damentally wrong with our game," declared Red Auer-bach, president of the Boston Celtics.

"It's still the most Alexander 9-7, 6-2, 9-7. On Friday, American Vitas Gerulaitis defeated Mark XT rlrTT a rt a fji I 1 A XiUIIlUiiUSUil VI AUalrttna WO, IT" 16, 10-8, 6-3, 6-3, staving off three third-set match points. With the McEnroe's victory. Saturday, the U.S. tally became 2-1.

The United States, defending champions in the Cup competition, could clinch the series Sunday in the doubles. "I thought the crowd was very fair," said McEnroe after the game. "They applauded good shots." The 20-year-old McEnroe, who had' not played on grass Charlotte Motor Speedway was the brainchild of Smith and the late Curtis Turner, but Smith said this week that "I once thought that building Charlotte Motor Speedway was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. "First I was loo young I wasn't dry behind the ears and I had some poor advice when we first started this speedway," he commented as he gazed across the massive one and one-half mile tract. Built in the early 1960s, Charlotte Motor Speedway suffered some severe setbacks, and Smith admits that he personally lost $150,000 on the speedway during those first years.

Built in the early 1960s, Charlotte Motor Speedway suffered some severe setbacks, and Smith adnuts that he personally lost $150,000 on the speedway. But he's quick to point out that it was he, not anyone else, that brought about those early failures. He also notes that "I was also the one who decided to put the speedway under the direction of the court when it was almost bankrupt "I made some mistakes," he commented, "but I also made some good decisions and one of them was when we sought the help of the court in saving this speedway." Smith got out of the speedway business in 1963 and four years later he left his native Tar Heel state for a position with an automobile dealership in Colorado. "from there he moved to Rock ford. 111., where he began in earnest building his empire, which today is worth millions and continues to grow.

In Rockford he opened Ford dealership and became in volved in an insurance company. Success came quickly, and within a few short years, he had added other dealerships, in cluding two in Charlotte. ilis name began surf; facing iuUi wortr again in the world of racing about 1972 as leaked out that he was purchasing large blocks of stock in Charlotte Motor Speedway. Within a few more years. Smith was back at the helm of the speedway and things have never been the same ance that tune.

It's no secret among those who know South that he is a hard worker, and wrale his financial dealings have been the center of ancompumemary rumors for many years, those whs know bun best say he's "the world's best boss. "My greatest asset is people." Smith proudly says. "I re learned a great deal in the last or 14 years and while I'm a great believer hard work. I know that the moat anparunt secret la success is to surround yourself with good people. "That's any greatest asart that cares a lot at ameau.

When yea hare good people workaif for roa and yoa after them a challenge, thea success your." Smta cuntawMd. AI Charlotte Motor Speedway today. SnU and las people arc rijiaws we aaf aar aare anav aad Cram adr rsoce bcket sates. appears Bat Qasiza and hupeop w-JI araefl the tracrmcc af Speedway General atsnarer RA. Vheeler says SemM aas "is aaraaay atmast a LIFE VCD VIRGINIA.

fnwn th- Mart game, dropping-the three referee system after one season because the owners felt the extra official did not justify the extra cost (estimated at $30,000 per team, the same as the minimum player salary). Seven teams start the season with different coaches than they had a year ago. Three highly regarded assistants are getting their first NBA head coaching jobs Jack McKinney at Los Angeles, are they talked at length a bout a time schedule for future track expansion. Bruton Smith's role in this attitude change has not been a small one for he adnuts to working 16 and 18 hours per day to insure the success of his many enterprises, not the least of which is auto racing and Charlotte Motor Speedway. FOLDING HUNTER MoOel 1 10 RANGER Model 1(2 8KINNER Model 103 STECIAl Model 119 PERS0NU MndH 118 Thome's 301 BYPASS SOUTH PHONE 442-0041 ROCKY MOUNT.

N.C. (obdoyah C0RDYGLAS 2 PIT POLYESTER C0R0 a 2 F1IER6LASS IELTJ WHITEWALL TIRES 7MJI 21 ISl C7M4I 11 I.Tlli mM UK' fJt J4 Wl MIS' gn I nn' linul ww iiwiww ALL FOR 88 Ml itiHorra tann. il Pitt man Agency Manager- 446-3336 4 FRAM OIL FILTER AIR FILTER hlliVfiiilUNTil'l tfi I i HWi I I illlLJIiiJIV By JOHN W. KENNEDY The Concord Tribune CONCORD (AP) Meet Bruton Smith, Oakboro, North Carolina's most renowned native. He's intelligent, handsome, witty, sometimes controversial and always rich.

But more important than all of those, he's human. In Concord and Cabarrus County, especially among the natives over 40, the name Bruton Smith needs no special explanation. Few people call him Mr. Smith he's just plain Bruton to most but even on a first name basis, he demands respect. Somehow you Just don't expect a fellow driving Mercedes there's only 20 cars like it in the country to sit down to a box lunch of Cabarrus County barbecue, trench fries and diet Sun Drop, but Bruton admits he likes it.

A son of Mullie Smith of Concord and the late James Smith, he exhibits great pride in his home community but readily admits that with his vast holdings and his business schedule, it's more convenient and probably more profitable to live near the action. At 48 years of age. Smith is probably one uf the nation's greatest "rags to riches" success stones, although to hear him tell it. he's just one of the boys who has had a few good breaks. But it lakes mure than breaks to amass millions of dollars, and no one would argue that Bruton Smith is worth millions of dollars.

Automobiles have long played a major role in the life of Bruton Smith and from the time he graduated from Oakboro High School in the mid-1940s (he has no coHege degree until today, he's used his keen mind and America's dependence on and interest in fine cars to produce the kind of success most of us only dream about But Smith is no dreamer, far from it, he's a man of actum. From that day in 1948 when he opened a used car lot on Church Street at Hotly Lane in downtown Concord to the present time, he has always been on the move. Today, little more than years later. Smith is still in the car business but in a much btcger way. Sure, he's still setiing used cars, but not from an onpavrd lot on Church Street Concord Snath's empire includes inn arwar dealerships located In ore stales and he aim awns two uvursnre companies.

More than l.COt people are employed i Smith's enterprises. But Concord and Cabarrus County, South is not famous for las surras ta the automata! bussness or the insurance av dustry. Here. Burtoa Santa nm tw things stork car racv and the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stock car raring bega fast popularity la ttsa area af Sorts Carolina the tarty a and lfts, and the snaa who was Bramoting those aid bew4 events at ktufiand and User at a CharkSla rauxrvands was iiM itTMina flfTMTlt Ht aba piauMtd dut-trark at caarara aowea-aad A was darvtaj rears at Caarwrd Btat he atodfd la bav)d asper Norta HMSvf AUTO I awawajajpaj I LANCER Model 305 CADET Model 303 MJSXRAT Model 313 YOUR HUNTING AND FISHING SUPPLIERS tin srr at aerw traass IEMANUFACTUREO ALTERNATORS ONE mum waw asi UlATI OUTT SHOCKS Ht LOW PUC1 fSm VOCV FRED iwwawawawawawawawaBB -TTO; NEW TREAD 7 retread A SAFETY DESIGN lrs- UMIT 1 ETivnnn I LJ JlrUUU wlSM rji 1 1 LJ wawanvaiawaaBBjawvi I mmtrTcEnk I "'iSVn I ifflf mm full to mis.

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