The Paducah Sun from Paducah, Kentucky • 17

TUBDAY, APRIL 4, 1972 Offer SUN-DEMOCRAT, PADUCAH, KY. PAGE SEVEN Baseball Oivners To Meet Tonight ers liieiectted 0 9 l9 ImBFiiideiit By Play Kej rr By- Owners rm 1 ermed By HAL BOCK r- Asked what -chances there owners have been summoned to a meeting in ChicagoJTuesday, one day before the scheduled Following the 90-minute se- cret meeting held earlier in. the day between Miller and Gaherin their third such session since the strike had started the current per cent rate. "We are putting our money where are mouth is," Miller said. Gaherin was' to take the proposal back to the owners "for their reaction.

"Mr. Gaherin has to get the reaction of people whose reac make a report to them on the status of the negotiations," he said. Th3 strike began Saturday. "We have offered today a proposal we believe can settle the matter and avoid delaying the opening of the season," Miller told a news conference. Associatea Press Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) Base ball's owners rejected Monday night a proposal made earlier in the day by the striking Ma jor League Baseball Players Association in an effort to end the sport's first general player strike.

John Gaherin, the owners' negotiator, said he had been au thorized to tell Marvin Miller, executive director of the players' association, that Miller's settlement offer had been rejected. Gaherin termed the offer "imprudent." He also said that baseball's tion, counts," said Miller. "We are not attempting to achieve a victory. We are attempting to get a fair and honorable settle ment." Alter-being informed of the rejection by the owners, Miller said he would "acquaint the players that the owners are insistent that the players bend down and kiss the shoes of the owners. The owners have now taken on the full responsibility for prolonging the strike right into the season." (AP Wirephoto) OUTLINES PLAYERS' PROPOSAL-Marvin Miller executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, answers questions of newsmen after meeting Monday with owners' representative John Gaherin.

The players' latest proposal was rejected by the owners, who are scheduled to meet again Tuesday in Chicago to discuss strategy in effort to resolve major league baseball's first strike. Utah Hits Dallas 113-107 In ABA is? i J'JV By JERRY SUN-DEMOCRAT ATKINS SPORTS EDITOR were of settling the striked be fore Wednesday's scheduled opening game, Miner repnea flatly: "None. "Rejection of this offer on be half of the players demon-! states the truth about this dispute," Miller contended. "It never had anything to do with money. The owners were, and intent on making the players eat "I think the owners have miscalculated grievously," he added.

It is now clear that the players, by making this offer, are far more concerned about the game of baseball and the interests of the fans than the owners, who weep crocodile tears for the fans, but really consider them simply a source of income." the Baltimore Sun from his home in Bel Air, Mao Phail also said the owners "are temporizing the situation and are going to have to go through the same thing next year." "The only ones who are going to get hurt in the last analysis," he said, "are the players." MacPhail, who played a prominent role in the late 1940s in starting the players' aesoc-i ation and pension plan, said he has been critical of the owners for three or four years. "I told, them they would be in trouble from the very start in monkeying around with Mil ler," MacPahil said. "I've al ways been for the players and don't believe the players want to ruin this game. 4'But tinder the advice they're receiving, I believe they are on a fair way to doing it. We won't have any- baseball if this thing keeps going on." When the strike was called (AP Wirephoto) PITCHER TURNS CATCHER-St.

Louis Cardinals pitcher Moe Drabowsky is catching for Reggie Cleveland, with Joe Torre watching, during a workout in a city park. Five Cardinals are continuing their work as the baseball players strike locked them out of the Cardinals spring training base. The players representative explained that his association wished to apply the owners' annual $594,000 contribution to the plan to finance both health benefits and pensions. "We are not asking for any more money than the owners offered in ouf final meeting at Phoenix March 29," Miller said. "We have said all along that money is not the issue.

We are accepting the owners' money offer and in addition offering to guarantee the difference between the 414 per cent interest the' plan is designed to earn and the 6 per cent it is earning." Miller explained that one of the concerns of the owners was that the $45 million plan would not continue to earn interest at Lone Oak Wins Over Heath 74 Lone Oak won its baseball opener of the season this weekend by upending the host Heath nine 7-4 in Saturday afternoon action. Harry Luton went the distance for Lone Oak while, collecting 12 strike-outs. Ricky Winstead held down the receiving duties. Turner "started on the mound for Heath but was relieved by Champ Webb in the sixth inning. Liner was the Pirate catcher.

Lone Oak maanged seven hits with Dave Edwards, Steve Keel ing and Alan Sanders each col lecting two singles. Dale Steph ens accounted for the remaining hit. Coach Dennis Griffith's Purple Flashers were tagged for four errors. Heath was guilty of six miscues. Heath pushed across the first run of the game in the second inning.

Lone Oak countered by tallying four runs in the third while Heath tacked on three more to even the score at 4-4 heading into the fourth. Neither team' scored in the fourth, but Lone Oak pushed another run across in the fifth and added a final two more in the top of the seventh. Lone Oak travels to meet Ballard Memorial at La Center Friday at 4 p.m. Lone Oak Heath OM 010 27 013 000 04 Luton and Winstead; Turner, Webb (6) and Liner. Paxton Ladies Open Play Wednesday Weekly play for the Paxton Park Ladies Golf Association will begin Wednesday morning on the Paducah course.

All interested in playing, should be on the tee at 9 a.m. 'LiAAlL Miller told a news conference that the proposal "can settle the matter and avoid delaying the opening of the season. We are not asking for any more money than the owners offered in our final meeting at Phoenix March 29." The owners, on the. other hand, have balked and are on record as saying they won't give one more cent," beyond the $400,000 they have pledged for maintaining the health care portion of the agreement. Gaherin bristles at charges that the owners are trying to break the Players' Association.

"They've contributed $5.4 million to this plan in the last three years," said Gaherin. "I wouldn't call that trying to break their association. Would you?" Meanwhile, players scattered frbm the major league training sites in Florida, Arizona and California, many returning home to await developments. Tim McCarver, alternate player representative of the Philadelphia Phillies, said in St. Petersburg, that he had been incorrectly quoted in his position on the strike over the weekend.

"My part was a very position that we are right in this strike," said McCarver. "I fully back the players. I encourage other players to back this stand. If you check every player on my club and every player who attended the meeting (in Dallas) and just ask them, you'll find I back them." The meeting McCarver mentioned was the Triday night gathering of player representatives and their alternates which 47-0 with one abstention for the strike. last Friday, Kuhn was quoted as saying: "Obviously the losers in this strike taken tonight are the sports fans of America.

Beyond that, I'll have no statement at this time." MacPhail said he was amazed that was the extent of Kuhn's comments "in a crisis like this." "I think that the commissioner of baseball could do something that is constructive and not just sit on his fanny saying that only the fans will suffer," MacPhail said. "Instead, he should be saying that he recognizes this as a critical situation for baseball, I am the. elected representative of baseball and it is my job to do something about it." MacPhail aid the commit sioner could appoint an eight-man committee, two owners and two players from each ma jor league, who could recom mend possible solutions. Dant it just tastes that way. J.

W. Dant -Kentucky Bourbon Baseball Commissioner Kiilm Target Of Harsh Criticism Baseball Fans Dislike Strike BASEBALL fans, let's face it the "good 'ole days" of America's so-called "National Pastime" sport are gone! No longer does major league baseball claim its roof-top perch atdp the sports world, and such developments that we have seen during the past several days may be one of the major reasons. Baseball, you see, has taken a giant step backwards and without even asking "May to the one major contributor which holds the complete future of the sport within its grasps, I'm talking about us fans, of course. The current strike, that has delayed the opening of the 1972 season, brought to light more than the struggle for money between the players and club owners. It has stirred the fans, old and young alike, who frankly could care less about how many pennies John Doe makes for playing centerfield for "Favorite Team U.S.A." The fans are only interested In how much John Doe can contribute on the field.

General reactions across the country, as reported by the Associated Press through this paper and others, give most of the support to the owners in the current squabble. The reason, basically, is that they feel baseball players are already overpaid, and that anyone who gets paid for playing the game shouldn't complain a whole lot about the money received. The pension hassle is much more than that, of course, but how many of us average fans care? We only want the baseball season to open, without delay and without price increases at the gate. Right? The Cincinnati Reds, which originated this whole mess by turning professional in 1869 and offering the first salaries in the game's history, have missed playing scheduled opening games only three times rainouts of 1966, 1913 and 1887. Now, a new twist will be added to the history books.

Salaries for the Cincinnati Red Stockings scaled from $600 to J1.400 and the team zipped through a 66-game schedule by winning 65 and suffering only one tie, not a loss mind you. We've come a long way in both salaries and scheduling in 100 years, haven't we? Slugger Hank Aaron, for example, heads the most lucrative list in baseball's history this season the list of more than 20 players who will be earning at least $100,000 this year. Aaron signed for $200,000 to claim the top position on the '72 roster. It's hard for me, and I feel for most average fans, tp realize that a player even Hank Aaron is worth that much money. It's hard for me to bring into focus exactly how a player could make his club enough money to pay such dividends.

Obviously, he can't, which brings us to froni where will the money come? And that, fans, is easy to answer either from the pockets of fellow players who must struggle for a "small" $20,000 s.alary; from the club owners bankroll; or from the fans through an increase in ticket prices. When it's all over, bet you can't figure who'll lose in the struggle. It's anybody's guess, tit course, but my money is placed on the third "or" listed above, for the fans aren't even involved In the money war that is currently raging. You might have noticed the Associated Press release yes-terdaythat showed jnany retired players were against the strike. start of the 1972 season.

Miller had made 'a proposal that 1.3 said wouldn't cost the owners any additional money He called for the 17 per cent hike sought in pensions to come from the increased interest the pension fund is currently earn lng. "I have called Mr. Miller and told him that his proposal has been rejected as said later. Gaherin said the, owners would meet at 7 p.m., EST, at the Marriott Hotel at Chi- O'Hare Field: Len Chappell's basket tied the game at 96-96. Pallas led for the last time at 102-101 on a jumper by Steve Jones.

From there the Stars pulled away ti a five-point lead, with Beaty getting four straight points, and Wise took over from there. At one point, the Chaps, who placed third in the Western Division Tegular season, were playing with four starters with five fouls apiece. Dallas lost 6- foot-11 George Johnson in the third period on fouls and Collis Jones fouled out with 3:20 left Dallas had 37 fouls whistled on the team, compared with Utah's 26. Utah cashed in at the free throw line, hitting 34 of 40 and Dallas made 21 of 33. Dallas had the rebounding edge, 57-51, and hit 45 per cent from the floorv Utah hit 53.

Freeman, 6-foot-3 guard, traded to Dallas last year by Utah, poured in 24 points as the Chaps came from a 36-26 deficit early in the second quarter to a 60-54 halftime lead. Dallas Dlaved without 6-6 rookie forward Gene Kennedy, who went home with a stomach ailment. Kennedy became dizzy in Sunday's practice. Utah 113 Dallas 107 Dallas (107) Utah (113) 6 R.Jones Hill Johnson Freeman S.Jones Hamilton 2 0-1 4 4-5 4 Robbins 12 Wise 2 Beaty 4 6-6 14 14 8-16 36 7 10-1124 6 2-2 14 2 2-3 7 2-2 12 1 3-4 5 0 1-1 1 0 0-0 0 3t 34-45 113 1 0-0 15 6-9 36 J. Jones 8 6-7 22 Combs 3 0-0 6 Jackson 2 0-14 Boone 4 1-2 Harse 4 44 12 Beasiey Halimon Chappell C.Jones Totals Dallas 43 21-33 107 Totals .24 3 30 17-107 28 30 29113 Utah Fouled out Dallas, Johnson, C.

Jones; Utah, Jackson. Total fouls Dallas 37, Utah 26. Three-point plays Utah, Combs. A 9,121. Pro Cage Scoreboard NBA Conference Semifinals Monday's Results No games scheduled Tuesday's Games Eastern Conference Boston at Atlanta, Boston leads best-of-7 series, 2-1.

New York at Baltimort, best-of-7 series tied, 1-1. Western Conference Los Angeles at Chicago, Los Angeles leads best-of-7 series, 3-0. Milwaukee at Golden State, Milwaukee leads best-of-7 series, 2-1. Wednesday's Games No games scheduled ABA Division Semifinals Monday's Results West Division Utah 113, Dallas 107 -Wstt- leads- best-of-7- uriesr-2-0. Only game scheduled Tuesday's Games East Division New York at Kentucky, New York leads best-of-7 series, 1-0.

Virginia at Floridians, Virginia leads best-of-7 series, 2-0. West Division Indiana Denver, best-of-7 series tied 1-1. Only game scheduled Wednesday's Games East Division Kentucky at New York Only game scheduled West Division Utah at Dallas Colonels Out To Tie Nets In Playoffs LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -Finding themselves in somewhat of a hole, the Kentucky Colonels try to square their best-of-seven series at one apiece against New YorK in tonight's American "Basketball Association Eastern Division playoff action. The Nets, who dropped eight of 11 games to the Colonels dur-.

ing the regular season, won Saturday night 122-108 behind the 50-point production of Rick Barry. After tonight's game the series switches to Nassau on Long Island for games three and four on Wednesday and Friday nights. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Willie Wise poured in 36 points, pacing the Stars to a 113-107 victory over Dallas Monday night for a 2-0 lead In the best-of-seven American Basketball Association Western Division first-round playoffs. Dallas, led by Donnie Freeman's 36 points, tries to get back in the series in games three and four Wednesday and Friday in Dallas. Steve Jones, getting 18 points in the second half, backed up Freeman with 22.

Zelmo Beaty scored 24 for Utah. The Chaparrals led by 15 points with five minutes left in the tird period, mainly on the heroics of Steve Jones, before Utah closed to 90-84. The Stars, defending ABA champs, tied it with 9: 14 left at 92-all on Beaty's short jumper, and a jumper by Wise made it 94-92. PTHS Golf Team Wins Over Jets Paducah Tilghman captured its second win of the golf season by defeating North Marshall by 45 strokes in a rain-marred nine-hole match Monday afternoon at Paxton Park. The Bluemen, coached by Monte Peck, compiled a total of 200 strokes.

North Marshall registered 245 for the round. Tilghman's Steve Golliher was the medalist in the match with his 38. Other scoring for Tilghman was as follows: Buzz Peel 41, James Brown 40; Jimmy Musgrove 40 and Tommy Garrett 41. Setting the pace for North Marshall was Jeff Elder with a 46. Next was David Hulen with a 47, Tim Hall followed with a 49, Mike Adams shot a 51 arid Brad Scigfried totaled a 52.

Tilghman now stands 2-0 for the season and entertains Lone Oak today at Paxton Park. Other matches this week for Tilghman" include hosting Fulton City Wednesday, and a tjr-head-er at Metropolis with Anna-Jonesboro Thursday. PCCsFirst Golf Team Wins Match ELIZABETHOWN, Ky. Paducah Community College's newly established golf team ventured into the sport on the right foot as the Indians defeated an Elizabethtown Community College squad 162-179 Monday afternoon at Lonesome Pine Country Club here. This year marks the first time for a golf team in the history of Paducah Community College.

Sonny Hawes, athletic director of PCC, is serving as coach of the team. In Monday's match, three players tied for medalist honors. Mike Shelbourne and Teddy Turner, both of PCC, and Jim Goodrich of ECC each finished the nine-hole round with a total of 40. Mike Ficco and Robert Taylor each totaled 41 for the Indians. The match was originally set for 18 holes, but rain forced termination after only nine holes.

PCC hosts Martin College of Pulaski, at Paxton Park Friday afternoon. Martin Col-J lege is the defending Region VII champ. i BALTIMORE (AP) Larry MacPhail, the still fiery former baseball magnate, criticized Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn Monday for failing to move swiftly to settle the strike by the players' association. MacPhail also rapped the owners for "allowing a couple of attorneys to decide the fu ture of baseball" and contended the players are being "sadly ill advised" by Marvin Miller, executive director of the association. If the late Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis still ruled, MacPhail said, he would have appointed and met with a joint player-owner committee "and locked them in a room with him until they reached a just settlement." Instead, said the former owiv.

er of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds and New Yorlj Yankess, Kuhn "hasn't recommended anything." In a telephone interview with KM L-U Liu You don't really get more bourbon in a bottle of J. w. A5 sJ Taste J. W. Dant Kentucky Bourbon.

Good honest bourbon at a good honest price. salary of the major leaguer of today, but they didn't complain. never sent a contract back in my life," said Enos "Country" Slaughter who gained fame with the Cardinals and slater the Yankees. "The most I ever got was $25,000 in the year after I hit .336. That year I hit .291, so they cut me to $21,500 the next year." In today's game, Enos Slaughter would have pulled one of those $100,000 salaries without doubt.

His problem, like many others, was that he came along too early in the money game. He came along when playing baseball was the big thing, and salaries were something that the players and club managements knew about something that us fans didn't even consider. But, individual salaries aren't Involved in the current crisis it's the pension package that will reward baseball players of today with unreal salaries when they are out of the game. This is good, without doubt, but to delay the season, or to even think about possibly calling off the entire campaign is going a bit far. What ever happened to the idea that others count in this case, the fans when a decision is to be made.

Baseball doesn't want to be called a business, but the current strike proves it really is. What's the difference in the baseball strike and one, as an example, by the United Auto Workers? Very little, when you think- of the money angle. The baseball strike, undoubtedly, will call for more money, and the fans will pay. A UAW strike calls for more money, and again the fans pay through an increase in the cost of their automobile. Somewhere down the line, it would appear, somebody's going to have to blow the whistle.

Wouldn't it be something if the nation's baseball fans decided to "strike" against the majors by not going to the games. Who would foot the bill then? And too, one of these days automobile prices may be so high (to me they're already there) that the average person won't be able to drive a car. You don't think that baseball could be traveling a parallel path do. you? 486 $157 nrm I yt pint jf MO wma mm mm in 1 now Knmn n. 1.