The Atlanta Constitution from Atlanta, Georgia • 69

ha V- mm Elje Atlanta 2oixrnal THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION SUNDAY. APRIL 22, 1979 SECTION A llm.s Um OirtigSiitooii on Furman Bisher Journal Sports Editor By ALAN TItUEX Sex, Violence From Falcons Fletcher said, "Our concept overall will have to be slightly more defensively oriented as far as the forwards go." Creighton insisted the concept isn't wrong, but that the forwards don't check because they are given substantial cash bonuses for scoring rather than for checking. "Maybe they'd better reconstruct some of the bonuses," Creighton said. Another problem the Flames had in the playoffs was unstable goaltending by Dan Bouchard. Although he led the NHL in games (64) and victories (32), Bouchard fell flat toward the end of the See FLAMES, Page 14D have a lot of input into the situation." Cousins and Kent are the major owners of the team.

Kent, the Flames' president, was asked if Creighton would be retained, and he said, "I would not say that he would be or that he wouldn't be." When Creighton's contract expired two years ago, there was no hesitation in rehiring him. But that is not the case this year. Despite setting team records for victories (41), points (90) and goals scored (327), the Flames finished last in their division and then were eliminated in two games of the playoffs. This was the fourth straight year the Flames have lost the preliminary round. Fletcher appears to have doubts if Creighton's "offense-oriented philosophy" is as well-suited to the playoffs as it is to the regular season, when opponents do not check as tenaciously.

In the regular season, the Flames ranked third in scoring among the 17 teams in the National Hockey League. But in the playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs checked them tightly. After losing 2-1 in the first game, the Flames played wide-open hockey in the second game, losing 7-4. Explaining Atlanta's two-game elimination, the Leafs' Tiger Williams said, "You can't play wide open in the playoffs." Journal Staff Writer In his 16 years of coaching professional hockey, Fred Creighton has never had a losing season. But his record in the Stanley Cup playoffs is 1-8, and that may cost him his job.

His contract as Atlanta Flames coach expires at the end of May. And the team's management says it is undecided on whether to offer hint a renewal. General Manager Cliff Fletcher said Friday, "We haven't made any coaching decisions at all. I plan to sit down with Tom Cousins and Bob Kent and discuss the overall situation. They're going to 5 i Curt Mosher was on the phone, standing in, as he explained, for Charlie Dayton, who dispenses public relations for the Atlanta Falcons.

Charlie was doing what any honorable expectant father is supposed to do, pacing the floor at the hospital in anticipation of the arrival of Lawson McCauley Dayton. Odds had favored a boy by six points. "How'd you like to see a good movie?" Curt asked. "I haven't in a long while," said I. "What do you have in mind?" "Well, it's a private showing for a small group and.

"Oh, ho, one of those, huh? A real wowser." I could feel my blood pressure1 rising. "Who plays the lead, Linda Lovelace?" "No, no. 1i Great Scott! Lindsay Is G-Day Star By DAVID DAVIDSON Journal Staff Writer ATHENS Georgia head football coach Vince Dooley says sophomore split end Lindsay Scott "has the potential to be the best we've ever had here." Scott showed why during Saturday's G-Day intrasquad football game here. He caught an 83-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 106 yards for a touchdown to lead the Black squad to a 34-17 victory over the Red team. The long pass reception, one of three by Scott for a total of 112 yards, came on the first play of the Black's second possession and, with Rex Robinson's kick for the point after, gave his team a 14-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.

When the Reds battled back to even the score at 17-17 on a 27-yard field goal by Dave Allison, it was Scott who put his team back in control once again with the electrifying kickoff return. The 6-1 188-pound wide receiver from Jesup fielded the ball six yards deep in the end zone, ran left to the 20-yard line, then reversed his field 180 degrees and streaked untouched for the touchdown. "I haven't seen anything like that around here before," said Dooley, an impartial observer Saturday while his assistant coaches directed the teams. "The Red team got back in the game at 17-17," Dooley continued, "then that guy that Great Scott put them right back out of the game." See G-DAY, Page 8D -4) i Photo- Jo Benton Tailback Matt Simon (1 1), the heir apparent to Willie at Georgia, finds the going rough against a new defense by Georgia coach Erk Russell in annual G-Day game. A Wall of Red Wear Ti Hawks Yout It Against Bullets? and 1-2 in this series.

We have to play a team game. If we play them one-on-one for 48 minutes we come up short every time. "The loss here was a definite education for our players. They learned they can lose in The Omni (after 17 straight home wins). They learned that a big crowd is not going to be a factor when you're playing a great team that has been in those situations before.

"But to me it's still a seven-game series, not five or six. Seven games." As for the Bullets, a team that has been to the championship in the NBA their attitude doesn't flex from game to game. See HAWKS, Page 12D you. Things that have worked 82 games for you don't. That's where I feel experience becomes a big, big factor.

"What we are proving is that we are not that far away from being an outstanding basketball team. Some say we're too young. Some say we're one scorer away, or one superstar away." Those "aways" don't change in the course of a playoff series. Washington doesn't become any less experienced. The Hawks do gain some in pressure-game experience, but basically the two teams are constant "So, for us," said Brown, "the team game must excel.

It's taken us to 10 games over .500 in the regular season, two playoff wins over Houston night "But sometimes young players are like a pinball machine. There's a lot going on, you get a lot of action. But you don't get any free games." The fourth quarter caught the Hawks, just as it has the losing team in all three games in this series. 'The first game it's 85-85 with seven minutes to go," said Brown. "The second is 83-83 with six to go, the third 69-69 with eight to go.

They outscore us 18-4 the first game, we do it 14-2 the second game, and it goes 16-4 for them the third. the fourth quarters have been like that, I don't know. Both teams are totally prepared. But when you play a great team in the playoffs, sometimes they take options away from TODAY'S GAME: Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Bullets; Washington leads best-ot-sevea series, 2-1; The Omni, 1:30 p.m; Sold out; TV-Channel 36, Radio WSB-FM (96.5).

By DARRELL SIMMONS Journal Staff Writer Tilt! Or shoot out all the lights? The Atlanta Hawks are in that position now in their playoff series with the Washington Bullets. And the youth and inexperience factors, which have laid in the background lately for the Hawks, have them in that spot "Last night the effort was there," said Hubie Brown, talking after a Saturday afternoon practice about the 89-77 loss in The Omni Friday "Okay, Marlon Brando and that French babe. Really back room for the boys stuff, huh?" "Yes, there's some sex in it, but it's loaded with violence. Full of. "Sex AND violence," I said, "Sounds like a real box office smash." hard hitting, war in the trenches, man battling man, but with women on the side." "Oh, one of those," I said.

My voice slumped. "An epic. Horses pulling cannon over mountains in rain and mud. Or Yul Brynner leading a charge across Siberia, with just enough bed time to get an 'R' rating, huh?" "No, would you believe starring Leeman Bennett?" There was a long silence. "With Eddie LeBaron." "Ye gods, what will their wives say," I said.

An Award for 'MV "Also featuring Steve Bartkowski, Haskell Stanback, Tim Mazzetti, Greg Brezina, Jim Mitchell and a cast of several," Curt went on. It developed that the Falcons were previewing their highlights film. I could only be intrigued by the. location of the screening, Manuel's. This is a groggery on Highland Avenue, where intellect and booze, politics and philosophy, ink-stained wretches and grease-stained labor come together in one improbable social meld.

Pitchers of beer were on the table, chips and pretzels, and a goodly crowd had gathered in what I gathered to be a room reserved for the expression of opinion. The two featured players were there, Bennett and LeBaron, both fully clad and affable. So was Dayton, glowing in full parenthood. "The title of this film," he whispered, "has already been nominated for an award." "You mean, just the title alone?" "From the people who gave the world you know, those little chocolates that melt in your hand, not in your mouth. Or is it in your mouth and not in your hand? The award Was for having the most 'MV in it 'Mighty Men and Magic "And how clever of you to match the spirit of the mood by unmasking the movie at Manuel's, which also starts with an I said.

It was Hollywood all the way, beginning with the beginning. "Mighty Men and Magic Moments" came on using an old teaser. You get the ending at the beginning, the day in Dallas when the Falcons gained more ground in the hearts of America losing than they ever did winning. It's chock full, as they say, of thuds and thunks and whops and blaps and zaps and grunts. Quarterbacks are sacked all over the Elace.

Bodies are left lying around ke a war movie. Tho Catch Was Legit ''Mighty Men" doesn't play favorites, no sir. Bartkowski gets his sackings as well as Pat Haden, Dan Pas-torini and kind. Not only that, the disputed touchdown that beat New Orleans in the second game makes the scenes. That's the one that NFL officials later reviewed and called a bad call.

However, remember the "shoe" catch from the first game in New Orleans? Just before halftime? When Billy Ryckman was so furious he could spit? It was so tricky it looked like a circus act. Off some Falcon's hands, onto somebody's shoetop, in Ryckman's hands for a touchdown. "Mighty Men" shows clearly that the catch was legit. The ball never struck the carpet. See BISHER, Page 9D Atlanta Shapes Up As CART Indy 500 By ED HINTON Journal Staff Writer HAMPTON Their lives center around Indianapolis, but right now, Atlanta is all they've got For some of the best teams in Indy-type racing, the possibility exists that today's Gould Twin Dixie at Atlanta International Raceway will be their last outing of the spring.

The wealthy racing teams of the CART organization suddenly find themselves treated as Indy's fallen angels, exiled to what is traditionally stock car territory, in the South instead of their hallowed Midwest. The lovely women in the pits don't smile quite so much today. The drivers don't laugh as loud. "Now, I've GOT to win some money here," pole-sitter Johnny Rutherford says as he paces up and down the pit road. Today at 1:30 p.m.

Rutherford, who qualified at 201.693 miles per hour, will lead an 18-car field into the first of two 125-mile races, for a 126,000 purse. After today, they had planned to head straight for storied Indy to enter the fight for the traditional million-dollar purse May 27. Now they're not sure if they'll be allowed through the gate at the showcase of their sport Six CART teams have been told they cannot race at Indy. See DIXIE, Page 16-D 14 I Here We Go Again: Chiefs Lose in OT By BILL BRYANT Journal Staff Writer PONTIAC, Mich. Keith Furphy is not exactly the fans' choice as the Detroit Express' most popular player, and didn't endear himself much to the Atlanta Chiefs here Saturday night either.

His problem is he is the coach's son and he sometimes appears to get away with a bit more than he should. But he must certainly have made a few points with the 14,384 home folks on hand with the swing of his leg that beat the Chiefs 1-0 in the second overtime period in the Silverdome. Furphy's shot came with two minutes and 30 seconds left in the second extra seven and a half minute period after both teams had gone through the match's 90 regulation minutes with an assortment of serious threats but nothing the goalkeepers couldn't turn back. Atlanta lost its third straight overtime match and fourth game of the year on what the winless Chiefs would later call an "accident" See CHIEFS, Page 10-D Opportunity To Win Slips by Braves, 9-5 By TIM TUCKER Journal Staff Writer The opportunity could not have been better. The Braves were tied 4-4 with San Diego after seven innings Saturday night at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, playing before a partisan crowd of 28,950 with their best relief pitcher on the mound.

But opportunity has a legendary way of passing the Braves by. It happened again. The Padres got four runs in the top of the eighth off Braves relief ace Gene Garber, with some timely help from an Atlanta error, and went on to a 9-5 victory. It was a damaging loss for the Braves, perhaps more so than any of their other nine this season. The crowd was their second largest of the season, only 1,500 less than opening night, and the largest ever to see the Braves and Pa'dres play in Atlanta.

-See BRAVES, Page 7-D INSIDE Yankees Feuding Again 5D Kelley Tech's No. 1 8D Westminster Relays 15D Big Daddy on top at Commerce 19D "I Staff Ptioto Ray West Hubbard back safely to first base.