Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 67

Chicago Tribune, Thursday, April 1, 1976 Section 4 North: Image of swingin9 A's distorted Robert Markus i I I a CMcete Trleune Prtu tentce MESA. Aril Tinner wis standing on the top step of the dugout one day last week when the Oakland A trainer came out of the clubhouse and said, "I've got good news for you. Bill North is here. Now for the bad news. Bill North is here." Tanner laughed because like everyone else he knows the reputation of the center fielder he inherited when he became manager of Charlie Finley's funny farm.

They're not called the swingin' A's for nothing, you know. And North for some reason has always been thought of as being at the center of the maelstrom. Actually, North is one of the few A's who has more fights with opponents than with his teammates. But the memory of his battle with Reggie Jackson two years ago, when catcher Ray Fosse was injured in his role as pacifier, does not fade away. BILL SAYS he thinks the A's image is nized as such.

"But, when you do something for the team, it's sometimes at the expense of your own statistics. Nobody on this team ever hesitate to do that. We play the game right." As an example, North offers: "When I'm batting second and Campaneris is on base, I know it's my job to move him over. I may bunt or hit the ball to the right side. If he's stealing I may let pitch go even though it's right over the middle.

If I have a 2-0 count or 3-0, I'll let a pitch go even if it's a perfect strike. "BECAUSE I'M SUPPOSED to get en base. Like last year, I only hit .273 but I had 90 On other teams, where guys are playing for themselves, when they see a pitch down the middle they hit. it. But our philosophy is to play for one run because then you have to get two runs to beat us." North continues: "When I'm on base in front of Reggie Jackson and Sal do, I cant steel as freely.

1 cant take i chance being thrown out with guys like that waiting to drive me in. I particularly can't try to steal third." And lest you get the idea that only Bill North is paragon of self-sacrificing virtue, North adds: "When I'm on base, Claudell Washington has to do the same things I do when Campy't on. Everybody plays this way, all nine guys. Nobody has to tell us when there's a guy on second that it's our job to get him to third. That's just the way the game is played." The A's don't need a manager to tell them how to play the game, either, says North.

Tanner is the third in four years and North emphasizes, "the only thing a manager has to do with this team is to keep from messing it up. "THERE'S SO much talent here and the guys all know what they're doing. It would be silly for a manager to come in here and make a lot of changes. So far Chuck Tanner doesn't look like the kind of guy who'd do that." But for all that talent, North says he doesn't think the A's, as constituted, can win back the world championship they surrendered a year ago. "We.

have to have another pitcher," he says. "We can't win it without one. Oh, we'll win the division all right. I have to laugh at all the people who are picking us for second. You've got to go with us because done it many times.

"But when you get to the playoffs, that short series, we need another pitcher. Last year we went into Boston with nothing but left handers who'd had only one win in Fenway Park last year." Maybe it's blunt talk like that that gives Bill North his reputation. Tanner certainly has found him to be nothing but good news. "Fights? I don't have to break up any fights here," says Tanner. "The only fights I know about are the ones I hear the Cubs are having." overdrawn.

"We've been world champions so we're always in the spotlight," he says. "Actually, when I was with the Cubs, there was more bickering between the players than what we have with the A's. The whole thing is overemphasized. We're a very closeknit team, really. We play this game as a team, not as individuals." In fact, North says he believes the A's individual reputations are offered on the altar of self-sacrifice.

"There are some great players on this team," he insists. "Not just good but great. If they played on another team, they would be recog- Bill North 'Old Scout' does talking for Sox' Orta Touching all bases mm 4 1 a ru3 In the wake jUi' of the news By David Condon "Now Orta is very smart and he can speak the. English lingo like Hubert Humphrey. Only Orta just seldom turns it on.

"You can call it humility, or whatever you want. But it is a trait with those people, practically part of their religion, to be very humble and shy. They are very modest, embarrased to talk about themselves don't want to seem bragging even if they can play ball as good as this Orta can." THE OLD SCOUT spat tobaccy and continued: "I told you that Orta wouldn't say he'll be the greatest third baseman since Buck Weaver but I promise you a suggestion that'll shake up White Sox fans, particularly all your Latino friends. "I was over to Maimi and run into the greatest White Sox of 'em all. That's little Luis Aparicio, who at one time should have been manager of this White Sox club.

"Aparicio lives in Venezuela but he's eating his heart out to be back in big-time baseball. "Now," the Scout concluded, "my suggestion is that you write Bill Veeck should hire Lou Aparicio back in the White Sox organization. Learn Looey a bit about managing in the minor leaeues and maybe someday Lou Aparico will be White Sox manager. How's that for a suggestion?" I told the Old Scout I'd heard a helluva lot worse. Really, he may have something.

viz 1 A "Yes, you heard a heiluua lot worse suggestions." The Old Scout. Chicago Tribune Press Service SARASOTA, Fla. The Old Scout, his skin leathery from countless afternoons in the bleachers, squinted at the big man wearing White Sox uniform No. 6. The Old Scout shook his head: "You can talk to that Jorge Orta, and then I will give you an idea for your article.

Because you are going to get no story from Jorge, as Orta is not exactly a Harry Caray when it comes to talking about hisself." The Old Scout spat some tobaccy and went on: "I will go with you to talk to Orta. Later, I will give you a suggestion for your article. "Don't count on Orta. He has played in the U. S.

A. since 1972, mostly with the White Sox, but he sure ain't no Paul Richards when it comes to talking about hisself ORTA, A .304 hitter as the White Sox second baseman last season, fidgeted with his glove while manager Richards proclaimed again that Jorge just turned 25 is going to be this year's regular third baseman. "Ask Orta how he likes that," suggested The Old Scout. Jorge shrugged. "I have to get used to play third base," Orta responded.

"I do not yet feel comfortable. I have to learn how to move around third base." "Ask Orta where he'd like to play. Have they talked about putting him in the suggested The Old Scout. Jorge Orta was asked. He shrugged and relied: "I PLAY ANYWHERE.

I know I can play second." Jorge stared at his glove again, and then glanced out toward the diamond where his mates were taking infield practice. He acted uncomfortable under interrogation. The bright White Sox infielder would have preferred to be out throwing the ball. "Orta ain't no Cafe Bohemia Jim Janek when it comes to talking about hisself," said The Old Scout. "Ask if jhe tried switch-hitting in winter ball, like he said he would.

"I hit left-handed," said Orta! don't think, I could Michigan selects i r'Tf88 hit right-handed. What good would it be to me?" He shrugged, and tapped his glove. The Old Scout said: "Ask Orta how much he'll hit this year." JORGE ORTA shrugged: "You never know, every season is different. Maybe one year you are lucky and the average goes way up. "I can't promise I hit .350.

I ean't promise I hit lots of home runs. "But I will play 100 per cent every game. I give everything. I still have much to learn." The Old Scout said: "Ask Orta how many games he played in winter ball." ORTA SHRUGGED again: "I don't know. I play -maybe 65 games, maybe 70.

Maybe next season is my last in winter ball. "What did I hit this last winter?" he shrugged and stared at his glove. "I don't know what I hit," Jorge finally said. "I hit what I can and never think about my average. "I live to play baseball.

That's why I play winter ball, even when I do not need the money. I like to be outside playing baseball all the time. The White Sox give me a good contract now and I'm happy. JORGE ORTA, leading candidate to be the White Sox player of the future, a competitor born of Cuban parents in Mexico, was pawing the dugout floor. He was slapping his bare left hand into his glove.

Finally he excused himself shyly: "I go play now," The Old Scout grunted: "I told yuh there was no story there. Orta don't have no more to say about hisself than the Republicans got to say about running Chicago. Fenway going metric BOSTON API Don't be surprised to hear that Carl Yastrzemski, Fred Lynn or Jim Rice hit a baseball 128 meters into dead centerfield bleachers this year at Fenway Park. A state representative from Newton says Red Sox General Manager Dick O'Connell has promised to have metrical as well as feet indications on the outfield walls by opening day here April 12. UPI Telcphoto Paying off Michigan Sen.

Robert Griffin dribbling basketball up Senate steps in Washington prior to presenting it to Indiana Sen. Birch Bayh as payoff for wager they made on Indiana-Michigan NCAA basketball championship game. Indiana won 86-68. f-: Dunking returns to college basketball Rick Green MVP jailor iUli til, MssJ Special to The Tribune ANN ARBOR, Mich. Rickey Green was elected by his teammates Wednesday night as Michigan's most valuable basketball player for the 1975-76 season.

Green now becomes eligible for the Silver Basketball, which is awarded annually to the MVP in the Big 10 by The Chicago Tribune. Green, a 6-1 junior guard from Chicago, was the sparkplug as he led the Wolverines to a runnerup finish in the recently concluded NCAA tournament. "There's no question he was the key to our team," said Coach John Orr. GENERALLY acknowledged as one of the quickest players in the nation, Green paced his team in scoring with 19.9 points per game. He also led Michigan with 134 assists, just 5 under the school record.

Green also shot 49 per cent from the field and also pulled down 117 rebounds. Green was one of the stars of Hirsch High School's state championship team in Illinois in 1973. He attended Vincennes Junior College before transferring to Michigan. His total of 638 points this campaign was matched only 6 times in Wolverine history 3 times by Cazzie Russell and once each by Campy Russell, Rudy Tomjanovich, and Henry Wilmore. The Michigan team also elected guard Steve Grote and forward John Robinson, who played with Green at Hirsch, as next year's co-captains.

Furlow is Spartan MVP Special to The Tribune EAST LANSING, Mich. Terry Furlow, the Big 10 scoring champion two straight years, was named Wednesday as Michigan State's most valuable player for the 1975-76 season. Furlow, a 6-5 senior forward from Flint, set three Spartan records this campaign. They were for most points in a season 793, in a career 1,771, and in a game 50 against Iowa. TERRY WAS the third leading scorer In the nation with a 29.4 average and he repeated as the top point producer in the Big 10 with a 31.0 mark.

The team captain, Furlow led Michigan State to a surprising fourth place finish in the conference with a 10-8 record and was named to the all-league team by both Asoci-ated Press and United Press International. In addition to his scoring heroics, Furlow was second in rebounds and assists for the Spartans. Purdue picks Parker Special to The Tribune LAFAYETTE, Ind. Eugene Parker, 6-1 sophomore guard from Fort Wayne, has been elected Purdue's most valuable basketball player. Parker scored in double figures in all 27 of the Boilermaker games.

He shot 51 per cent from the field and averaged 15.6 points a contest. He also dished out four assists per match. Parker is the first sophomore MVP at Purdue since Herman Gilliam was so honored in 1967. gent in not properly supervising jockeys. He is seeking $2 million in damages.

In New Orleans, a federal judge dismissed a suit seeking, on constitutional grounds, to ban smoking and sale of tobacco in the Louisiana Super-dome. 1 In Bogota, Colombia, lawyers for Kelly Ann Martin, daughter of New York Yankee Manager Billy Martin, are attempting to get her three-year jail sentence for cocaine smuggling reduced to a suspended sentence for simple possession of a small quantity of drugs for personal Crime report William Hyndman 3d, a top amateur golfer during the last 20 years, was free on $3,000 bond in Ft. Myers, charged with one count of engaging in a bookmaking scheme. He was indicted in the same state grand jury gambling probe that indicted Connie Mack Jr. And in one of the day's cruelest crimes, the Heisman Trophy won by late Syracuse running back Ernie Davis in 1961 was reported stolen from the university field house, according to Syracuse police.

Authorities said the glass lid of the trophy case had been unscrewed and the trophy re-, moved late Tuesday night or early Wednesday. Davis, the first black to ever win the coveted award, died of leukemia in 1963. Pugilistic ponderings Helyn Hall, a Boston school teacher, claims she is the front runner to promote the Muhammad All-Ken Norton bout this fall and tabbed Sept. 28 or Oct. as tentative dates.

"We have Herbert's All manager Herbert Muhammad signature on a contract, and now we're looking it over," said Hall, who would be promoting her first fight. One unlucky promoter is Peter Carver, 50, of New York, who was indicted on 10 counts of fraud in a scheme to coax investment in non-existent rights for two closed-circuit television bouts from Zaire and Venezuela. Hospital report Indiana distance runner Steve Heid-enrelch, critically injured when struck by a car two weeks ago, was removed from the intensive care ward of a Bloomington, hospital. He is expected to regain full use THE DUNK WILL be back in college basketball next season. At a meeting of the National Basketball Rules Committee in Philadelphia Wednesday, dunking was reinstated into the amateur rules.

It had been outlawed prior to the 1966-S7 season in a rule apparently aimed at stifling UCLA incoming freshman Lew Alclndor. The committee said dunking will be -permitted during the game, but will be prohibited in warmups before the game and at intermission under penalty of a technical foul. The committee also announced two other major rules changes: 1 technical fouls charged to a coach resulting from conduct on the bench will have a penalty of two free throws; and 2 time has been extended to rectify correctable errors in officiating, which means the clock will be justified when an official mistake is made. In other committee matters, Ed Badger of Chicago was elected vice chairman of the group and Clifford Fagan of Elgin was elected secretary for the 19th year. Elsewhere on the college basketball front, Scott May and Quinn Buckner of Indiana's national champions were selected to play in the East-West all-star game in Tulsa Saturday.

Hoosier teammate Bobby Wilkerson, who was knocked out in the championship game, was released from a Philadelphia hospital and returned to' school. Bear leads NFL The Bears didn't lead the NFL in much last fall, but Walter Payton gained an individual honor. The Chicago rookie led the league in kickoff returns with a 31.7-yard average on 14 returns for 444 yards. Olympic report In today's report on the Montreal Olympics, we find a Montreal newspaper revealing that although every aspect of construction of the main stadium has surpassed its original budget, not one contractor will lose money. For it seems the city signed most contracts for the stadium protecting the builders with an assortment of escape clauses and guarantees.

Court report Eddie Silmr, a jockey thrown from his horse in 1972 at the ka State Fairground race track, has filed a lawsuit in Lincoln, charging another jockey flagrantly fouled him and officials were negli Early Times presents the Helping Handle. A new half-gallon with a handle so perfectly designed, it makes pouring our smooth and mellow hisky a pleasure. The Helping Handle features a built-in pourer, plus a handy design for easy storage. Pick up our better half today. Our new half-gallon Wit I hI has a new handle.

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