The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • 37

THE EVENING SIIN, SPORT Section PAGE CI PAGE I BALTIMORE, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 31, 1973 ff Middleton ek lyk, Pay ysZs sentence, he loves everything about fighting, the money, the notoriety, the way it helped him escape the Denver ghettos. "Fighting has helped me develop self-respect," he said "and that's all I want out of it people to respect me as a man. It has helped me to become my own man, helped me determine my own destiny. And it's a way to make an honest living." He's Tied To The Ring As long as the championship eludes him, Lyle says he'll never quit the ring.

"Look, all fighters have the same goals," he implored. "We all want to become the champion. I'd love to fight until I'm GO, well, maybe until I'm 35 or 40 if things don't go right. Good fighters don't get old; they get bored." Chances are, the winner of tonight's scheduled 10 rounder won't get bored for some time, at least not so long as cash is the primary barometer of significant achievement. Cash, or the heavyweight title.

What else is there? oo The underrard, which begins at 8.30, features two other heavyweight bouts: Johnny Berry vs. Harold Darlington, 6 rounds and Ira Martin vs. Wilbert Williams, 4. Lightheavy-weights Johnny Giroski and Reggie Fleming go at it for 6, same as Paul Minor and Roy Ingram. Leo Saenz meets Johnny Simpson in a six-round middleweight clash, and Mike Rossman faces Larry Parker in four.

"Unless you're- a fighter," he claims, you have no idea how hard this game is. I don't like fighting. I'm a gentle man. I've always thought boxing was stupid, but it's still a good way to make some money." Middleton. currently seeded ninth among the world's heavyweights, just last year began fattening his bank account significantly.

Before, he battled for gas money. You Can't Have The Good Times Against Tony Doyle, Danny McAlinden and Bob Stall-ings, he made $3,000 a night. For the Quarry match he got $25,000, and to lose to Lyle, $12,000. And those figures are the quintessential Middleton. "People have no idea what sacrifices a fighter has to make," said Middleton.

"For instance, nobody gets up to run at 5 in the morning with me; nobody gets busted in the nose with me during a sparring session. And I can't do things like go to parties, stay out late having a good time. I gotta keep in condition all the time." Middleton finds, too, his unusual routine wears on his family. He spends less time with his wife and kids, more time with the fight and its peripheral activities. Lyle Digs His 'Escape' Route "I remember back before the first fight with Lyle," he said, "I was out in Dever talking with the press.

They found out I had made a drawing of Lyle lying on the canvas. Hell, that wasn't my idea. His PR man, Mike Hayes, found out I was an artist and asked me to do it." Lyle's approach is somewhat different. An ex-con who spent Vi of his 31 years serving a second-degree murder By Mike Janofsky For the winner, there is undoubtedly the biggest money fight of his career around the corner. At best, he might get Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jerry Quarry or the champion himself, Gaorge Foreman.

At worst, he'll be mentioned in the same breath with them. For the loser, there is nothing, a loss which will ring hollow in the vacuous months ahead. While he's preparing for Cookie Wallace or Charlie Polite or Phil Paris or any of a hundred other unknown heavies, he'll remember tonight. Nobody Plans To Lose Neither of the protagonists Larry Middleton or Ronnie Lyle has plans for losing. Since when does a fighter figure he'll lose? Middleton, the local draftsman who hasn't fought since Lyle bounced him out of Denver last December, has assuredly reached the turning point of his eight years in boxing.

In 25 fights he's won 23, 12 by knockout, losing only to Lyle and Jerry Quarry seven months before. Another loss to Lyle would be fatal to his career, not so much for the ignominy of it all, but more so for the motivational problems which may result. Time and again Middleton says he boxes for the money, nothing more. The fame you can have. Give him the fortune.

Truth is, he hates fighting. LARRY MIDDLETON He dislikes violence RON LYLE An opposing viewpoint Eager To Face Colts Hinton Is No Starter At Houston Either SPORTS -EDITOR i 1 Wk I It's been almost two months since Eddie Hinton skipped' town. He put his son in a 1 private school, his St. Bernard in a kennel and flew halfway across the country to play football. When the Colts cut Houston claimed him and Fast By Mike Klingaman "There must be some reason I'm here," he said philosophically.

"We've got problems everywhere, but something's gotta fall in place eventually. I guess some things just arent meant for us now. Little by little, each game, you see more empty seats but sooner or later we've got to win. "Tell you what, we may be losing but we go first-class everything. We've got three pairs of shoes here, only had two in Baltimore.

And two types of uniforms. And we fly planes so big there's an empty seat between each player." When you're 0-7, that means a lot. Waiting For Break How has Hinton been affected by the hapless Houston situation? "I'll never lose confidence," he said stoically. "I'm just goin' through changes. This is part of the business, you can't let yourself get down.

That's what ruins you in the professional game. "I'll just keep waiting, staying in shape 'til my break comes. I'm hoping I can give 'em the same thing here that I gave the Colts that Super Bowl season." Caught 47 Passes That year, Hinton nabbed 47 balls, second best in the conference. He contracted a case of the dropsies soon after and fell into disfavor with the new Colt regime, "The pressure was building up in Baltimore and I guess it was time for me to leave," he said. "It was time to get away.

Heck, yeah, I'd love to have a good game against the Colts, but it's no big grudge match. Likes Atmosphere "All I want is to prove to Houston I'm a good receiver, that I should be their No. 1 man. Really, I like the atmosphere here. I came down pretty negative, thinking the Continued on Page 3, Col.

4 Eddie lit out for Texas fast. Recovered Fast What was his hurry? The Oilers have been zapped seven straight times, the lone winless team left in the league. But don't blame Hinton, he's not even starting. The first six games, he didn't; last week, he couldn't, saddled with a bad thigh. He recovered fast, Sunday's Colt game serving as the catalyst.

Hinton's straining to play this one, though less intimidating in his pre-game spiel than Bubba Smith, the last Ex-Colt-Of The Week who left mortified. "I'm just coming up there to play well," said Hinton, managing six receptions and a touchdown to date. "If I play, my job's to catch the football and block, if it comes to that." Problems Everywhere Nostalgic Colt fans hope he plays, too, since Hinton's a happy reminder of Super Bowl days and of John Unitas' last Colt touchdown pass. They're fond memories for Hinton, too, the former No. 1 draftee fighting for job on a wretched club.

3 IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME Minnesota Vikings Bob Lurtsema (left) and Bob Bryant brought Karl Kassulke to practice yesterday. It was the first time Kassulke had visited bis former teammates since he was paralyzed in motorcycle accident back in July. EDDIE HINTON Ex-Colt receiver with Oilers Middleton Confident Despite Underdog Role At the weigh-in for tonight's big heavyweight fight at the Civic Center the principals, Larry Middleton and Pvon Lyle, were going through the usual ritual. Middleton, the Baltimorean who is ranked No. 9 in the world, kept his eyes on the floor, avoiding the sight of the powerfully built Lyle.

"Two-oh-seven for Middleton," said the commission doctor. Then Lyle, who is ranked No. 5, stepped up. "Two sixteen for Lyle," the doctor said. Eli Hanover, the promoter, bounced around the room, shaking hands with various people, smiling, politicking, selling tickets hustling space in various papers for what he calls "the biggest fight we've had in Baltimore since Joe Louis fought Jimmy Bivins at the Stadium in 1951." Hanover's white teeth glistened as he watched Lyle get off the scale.

"Everything all right, Baby?" asked Hanover. Lyle glared at Eli. "My name is not Baby," he said coldly. "My name is Ron. My first name is Ron and my last name is Lyle." For the first time in weeks; Hanover stopped smiling.

There was even a trace of a gulp from the bouncy little promoter. Plans To Outmaneuver Lyle This is Ron Lyle, the Denver man who is favored in tonight's scheduled ten-rounder. He has an icy personality, prompting those who have been around him since he came to town a week ago to refer to him as "a cold turkey" or "an animal." Lyle acts like a guy who has been scarred by life, and, indeed, he has been. He spent years in prison for second degree murder. Now Lyle, at 31, is in a hurry.

He is trying to make up for lost. time and his goal is the heavyweight championship of the world. He appeared to be well on his way until he was beaten earlier this year by Jerry Quarry. Quarry has also won a close decision over Middleton. Last December Lyle knocked out Middleton in the third round in Denver.

Larry hasn't fought since so there's no way he can be anything but an underdog tonight. One might think all this would have a chilling effect on Larry the memory of being knocked out, the prospect of another battle with this animalistic ex-convict; It doesn't. "I'm completely confident," Larry says. "I don get nervous before any fight any more, and I'm not nervous about this one. I honestly think I'm a better fighter than Lyle, and I plan to do some things tonight that he won't be able to handle." Lyle May Be Overconfident "Styles make fights," says Hanover, and he says it over and over, which is the way he says most things, "and Middleton has the style that can beat a guy like Lyle.

"Larry is a pretty fair left hooker, he can outreach this guy and he's got a bigger jab." Throughout sports styles are an offsetting and an often overlooked factor. A good hitter in baseball can't buy a hit off a junk pitcher that everybody else murders. A basketball guard who can stop anybody gives Jerry West trouble. This sort of thing does happen, and if tonight's fight, goes long enough six or seven rounds, at least Mid-' dleton's style may prove perplexing to Lyle. It certainly didn't the first time these two met.

Lyle nailed Middleton in the second round and put him away in the third. No one mentioned the word "styles" for months thereafter. No need to. A right hand to the jaw is self-explanatory. This is the most critical night of Middleton career.

If he loses he'll probably retire. He's a bright, articulate and warm young man with artistic talent. He is a draftsman, and he fights for only one reason money. It stands to reason that Lyle took this fight for essentially the same reason but Lyle must think it'll be an easy paycheck. If he is overconfident, and he has reason to be, that could get him in trouble.

If Lyle has not prepared properly for this, Middleton could surprise. Larry has worked hard. He is ready. For Larry Middleton, everything is on the line tonight. Jerp Rushing Leader Can Pass, Too Carter threw his first strike By Bob Ibach I week.

It stunned everyone but Maryland. I knew it wasn't for they called the varisity red- year, one for a touchdown. starr correspondent tne man himself. At Arundel my arm." shirts," said Carter. "But as Last year he went 1 for 7, College Park It was enough iuinu fA11P onn rartori iw tnr his Ipcis tint in thp soon as all the freshman re- suffprine his onlv intercpntion.

jvci.j vi. i.v. -o 1 -r "Yeah, he missed Frank "Yeah, he missed 10 mase jerry wdiuume haH rpnufatinn fftr ion0 dis. beeinning anyhow. When Lou ported tor summer pract.ce, Tht What man p.

for ta" Proles. I broke in 88 3 baby Thats what a man gets for Avellini was quarterbacking looking too long at Penn State "I wouldn say I exactly rf did th football statistics. overworked my arm," grinned h.llk nf fhp runnjn2 Carter9 was put at defensive DacK. Kusseii ny a mile against When Franklin got hurt, they Duke," added Claiborne, not moved me to running back." panting his ace to get a Once in a while, Lou would swelled arm. "Would've won crank up the old arm and let the game, but he threw it 10 one fly to keep the rust away, yards over his head and five He completed 2 of 7 that first yards out of bounds." Prior to his annual pep talk the former schoolboy quarter- He was a defensive back.

with the press yesterday, the back. "I ran a lot of end "I played quarterback Maryland head coach was dili-; sweepS there. When I came to against the Zingos, that's what agajist North Carolina State three games ago before tossing TDs of 21 and 25 yards to Walter White and Kenny Roy last Saturday. Penn State will be ready for such shenanigans, a fact Carter fee's will help the Terps. "Now their defensive backs won't come up as fast.

It should open up some of our running," Lou pointed out. "N.C. State's backs came up on the line fast. Maybe we should've used it more against llicm." For Penn Stale, it's food for ihought. Steelers Don't Want gentry trying to uigeM ueei and numbers at the same time.

Both proved tough. "Just look at those figures," Claiborne mumbled, pointing to a column of digits marked receiving. "Six guys and they all average over 18 yards a catch Unitas Quick Strikers It confirmed what seven, opponents already know. Penn State, Maryland's unbeaten (7-0) and sixth-ranked guest this Saturday, scores suddenly. Quarterback Tom Shuman may not throw often (95 attempts) but seldom does he throw to the enemy (three in terceptions).

III sz 'h-rr X4'' VkK ft IV V. 4 Y- ly 'rViA, fYc Again, Claiborne drooled. Apparently he had overlooked his own man, Lou Carter. Maybe it was the other wav around. Perhaps he wanted Fenn State to foreget.

Pittsburgh i The Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed today that the San Diego Chargers have offered them quarterback Johnny Unitas for a straight contract absorbtion deal. "They (the Chargers i called us with the offer, but we told them we're not interested," said a Sfeeler spokesman. The give-away deal offered by the Chargers required only that the Steelers pick up the former Baltimore Colts star's current two-year contract, estL mated at $250,000 per season. Rumors spread that the Steelers were quarterback hunting following an injury to starter i Terry Bradshaw in last week's game against Cincinnati. Lou Carter.

Lou Can Throw Carter, as every Terrapin fan knows, leads the team in rushing with 541 yards. What has been overlooked or underestimatedis Lou's right arm. Statistically, the junior tailback is perfect 3 for 3, 61 yards and two touchdowns, both coming against Duke last stewards protested, saying second-pldi-e hiiise shuuld be winner, but judges decided on Hot Chestnut. ONE WAY TO WIN A RACE-Ray Sclkrij hangs on as Hot Chestnut finishes race in Sydney, Australia. Race.