The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 35

PORTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1978 PAGES 35 TO 44 INSIDE: CLASSIFIED WHA frees clubs to seek NHL entry TIM BURKE "Each member of the WHA can decide itself whether it is interested in applying for membership in the National Hockey League. But those WHA teams who decide to apply will do so as part of the WHA plan. "The WHA fully intends to operate next year in the event no agreement is reached with the NHL." Baldwin said the trustees waived a $2 million fine for any WHA club jumping to the NHL. "What we've done is give everybody the ability to apply," Baldwin said. ation to everyone's satisfaction and "reaffirmed the continuation of the league with all eight teams." A plan for another approach to the NHL was adopted, Baldwin said, but if it is rejected the WHA will continue to operate next season.

"Obviously, the NHL has not offered any encouragement whatsoever that any plan is acceptable. Until the plan is submitted to the NHL it will not be publicly disclosed." In the meantime, Baldwin added, the WHA will continue to operate as a unified league. sion, but this time the trustees decided to let the individual clubs approach the NHL. Baldwin said he will communicate the new plan he wouldn't give details to NHL president John Ziegler as quickly as possible. "I want to make it clear that they (the NHL) have offered no encouragement for anything like this," he said, "and I have no idea what they might do.

They just might hang up the phone." In a brief statement, Baldwin said the WHA has solved the Winnipeg situ NEW YORK (CP) The World Hockey Association has changed its approach in a new bid for merger with the National Hockey League, but WHA president Howard Baldwin concedes that the NHL "just might hang up the phone." The management of Winnipeg Jets, facing difficulties without a go-ahead for a chance to join the NHL on their own, forced the issue into the open at a WHA board of trustees meeting yesterday. Last summer, the WHA sought to place six teams in a separate NHL divi Forum still seeks right ring formula As if the box office receipts for Tuesday night's fight card weren't debilitating enough, promoter Gerry Grund-man had already been decked by the stomach flu, popularly known in the old North End as "the Hershey splits." "Missed the fights, missed the Buffalo game (Monday) too," Gerry said in a voice just this side of the grave. Reviewing the boxing picture, to which he has been fervently attached for the past two years, did little to soothe his affliction. On Tuesday, he had pre Emm pared what he figured was a pretty good card, five Canadians vs. five Americans, all 10-round bouts.

It was a pretty good card at that, but it drew a grand total of 2,187 fans. "We keep learning, but we still have to come up with the right formula," Gerry Grundman was saying yesterday. "Last night we discovered that American fighters draw flies in Montreal. They want local guys slugging it out toe-to-toe." DONATO PAOUANO Need his type Grundman, who brought boxing back to the Forum with high hopes of reviving the Golden Era of the '40s and 50s, has now put on six cards, breaking even or better in only two. When it hasn't been horrendous weather conditions bedevilling them, it's been public indifference.

So why couldn't he bring in some of those tough lightweights we're always seeing on TV? "Impossible," he replied. "They're getting too much TV money, they can fight once a month right in their own back yards and who could we match 'em with? I don't want to see some local kid get killed." As if the lack of local talent plus the Montreal fight fan's parochialism weren't enough, there are other obstacles as well. Problem with lefties Chris Clarke, the tough lightweight from Halifax, for instance, would seem to be an ideal drawing card "Trouble is he's a southpaw, and it's hard to get fights fornlef-ties. If you do get him a fight, it can turn out to be a real dull one, even though Clarke can hit and take a punch." Another mistake he said he made Tuesday night was not putting an Italian on the card. "There are from 500 to 1,000 hard-core Italian fight fans in this city, but they're only going to show if an Italian is fighting.

Jan.24 card was a big success (4,600) and they were all there cheering for (Ezenzio) Pina. "What we really need is the development of a local hero like Donato Paduano that's why we've got to keep going, hoping one arrives." On March 28, Grundman plans a card with an exclusively Canadian flavor. As the main event, he hopes to match Cleveland Denny, local lightweight champ of Canada, against tough Gaetan Hart of Buckingham; and popular Jean Lapointe against Nicky Ferlano of Toronto. Then they'll wait until June and hope the warm weather begins smiling on the boxing game here. "From now on, we play 'em one at a time," he said.N NEW YORK (AP) A backroom movement by a handful of baseball owners intent on firing commissioner Bowie Kuhn has gained support from roughly one-third of the teams, it has been learned.

Brad Corbett of Texas Rangers, the anti-Kuhn ringleader, has approached several sympathetic owners for support in the project, including Ray Kroc, the outspoken owner of San Diego Padres. "We had conversations on other subjects and it came up in conversation," said Kroc from his Chicago office. "I haven't played any part except to agree with those who have brought it to my attention. "I sould participate, and Brad has indicated that there are a number of other people who would participate." An Associated Press survey has revealed that at least eight of the 26 teams would vote to fire Kuhn, who has five years remaining on a seven-year contract, if a secret ballot were held today. Those teams are Baltimore Orioles, Oakland A's, California.

Texas and Chicago White Sox in the American League and Cincinnati Reds, San Diego and Atlanta Braves in the National League. Kuhn stays mum Kuhn's office said the commissioner was out of town yesterday. A list of questions was submipted to Kuhn's office and relayed to Kuhn, who refused to comment on the matter. Firing the commissioner would entail buying up the remaining five years of Kuhn's seven-year contract, a total sum of $875,000. That would break down to about $34,000 a club.

Even Charlie Finley, Oakland's financially strapped owner and a constant critic of the commissioner, said he could come up with funds. "I'd find the money," he said Wednesday from Chicago. "I'd even help out some of the others." There is no provision in the major league rules for firing the commissioner, only for renewing his contract. A renewal requires at least three-quarters of the owners' votes in each league. Some owners say the three-quarters rule would apply to any firing.

Others say that since the owners pay the commissioner's salary, only a simple majoripy (14 votes) is needed to fire him. Would take hint "I think it would take far more than a majority vote," said American League president Lee MacPhail. "If the commissioner was convinced that a large number of clubs were against him, I think he would resign." Happy Chandler and William Eckert, Kuhn's predecessors, were fired by phe baseball owners. Eckert. a career soldier who was miscast in the baseball world, recognized the strong sentiment against him and agreed to resign in 1969.

Kuhn, however, has majority support, including some very enthusiastic backers. "That crowd will absolutely not get the vote of the Toronto ball club," said Peter Bavasi. president and general manager of the Blue Jays. "I think either dismissing the commissioner or buying out his contract would be unconscionable and unwise." The most general criticism of Kuhn is that he has abused his powers, entering into areas the owners consider their private domains. Kuhn recently voided Finley's trade of star pitcher Vida Blue to Cincinnati for $1.75 million and minor leaguer Dave Revering, claiming the transaction was not in the "best interests of baseball." In 1976, the commissioner vetoed a sale of three of Oakland's top stars for the same reason.

Finley considers Kuhn an execupioner. "The man is literally driving me out of baseball finajcially," said Finley, "I've been in it for 18 years and I'd love to stay in the game. But by not allowing me to sell Vida AP Lattrphoto Tips from the old maestro New York Mets' coach Willie Mays demonstrates how St. Peterburg, because nobody executed better to get body behind a throw from the outfield. The 'Say than Willie during his playing years.

Hey Kid' got full attention from the training camp clan at DAYS LAST 3 Broken lines of quality clothing Many items at Here's a stiff-armed rebuttal to those football fans who keep telling you how much more popular the NFL game is than its Canadian counterpart. For the first time, an independent rating company A. C. Neilsen measured Canadian viewership for both last November's Grey Cup Game and January's Super Bowl. The results: Grey Cup Game: Total viewers (from aged two): 6,330,000.

Broken down, this figure includes women(18 and over): men(18 and over): total teens: 708,000. Super Bowl: Total viewers: women: 1, men, total teens, 446,000. The Grey Cup was carried on the CBC, Radio Canada and CTV networks. The Super Bowl came to Canadians via the CBC, Radio Canada and CBS networks. Which goes to show you: Canadians aren't completely taken in by American ballyhoo.

Even Americans will tell you that they haven't any sports event which so envelopes -na nation (East vs. West) as the Grey Cup. Equally important is the fact that since the creation of the johnny-come-lately Super Bowl game, Grey Cup games, with a couple of exceptions, have been much more exciting contests. JuM 3 a ill Blue, he's depriving me of keeping my ship afloat." Meantime, in Anaheim, the California Angels apparently have been fined by Kuhn for allegedly tampering with Kansas City manager Whitey Herzog. But neither the commissioner's office nor the club would verify it yesterday.

Newspaper reports placed the fine at $5,000. Kansas City management reportedly claimed that Angels' owner, former cowboy singer Gene Autry, made overtures to Herzog late last season on the possibility of his becoming skipper of the California club. But yesterday, Steinbrenner backed the commissioner. "I certainly don't agree with every decision the man makes and there may be differences in our philosophies on some things, but he has one of the toughest jobs in the world, trying to keep peace among 26 of the most cantankerous individuals in the world, and he has done a pretty damn good Steinbrenner said in a statement released by the Yankees from their Fort Lauderdale, training camp. "He has given stature and strength to the office of commissioner and it is about time more owners stood up and supported him and gave him the credit that is due instead of trying to undermine the office.

"So, in order to clear up any doubt the Yankees won't be a part of any plan to seek his ouster and the Yankees will stand with him solidly if any ill-conceived move is made towards that end." and less SUITS IKr JACKETS Blazers OVERCOATS outerwear LEATHER 17 SUEDES 72 PRICE After Pierre Bouchard scored his only goal of the season, tying Chicago here (3-3), he wryly suggested that the Islanders' Mike Bossy (then 39 goals) should start looking over his injured shoulder. Somebody suggested that Pierre should be watching out for Bunny Larocque to overtake him. "I don't think so," Pierre drawled. "Bunny's got more mobility than I have, but I think I've got a better shot." Bob Beale's Student Exchange Hockey Program will take its act to Finland on April 14. It will include three teams from Dollard des Ormeaux, the bantam Civics, midget Centennials and juvenile Lions.

They'll play the best of their age brackets bothnin Helsinki and Tampere during Finland Youth Hockey Week. Sic transit Anglophones: Editor Charlie Halpin moving The Hockey New to Toronto. No alterations- a Messersmith looks good All sales final llSWOfPEEl and who underwent elbow surgery in September, had his fastball clocked at 83 miles an hour at the Yanks' spring training camp. "That's super," said manager Billy Martin. "I'm anxious to see it by March 15, I'm sure by then he'll be throwing around 88 or 89." FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.

(AP) -Andy Messersmith, the hard-throwing righthander acquired from the Atlanta Braves during the off-season, continued to impress at training camp here. Messersmith. plagued by arm and rib injuries last season when he had a 5-4 record and a 4.41 earned-run average, 1206 Peel St 861-2164 CHARGEX MASTER CHARGE.