The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 69

'J" y-, mrnimnTTmniTiwrrrriw i 1 vii San frantlofo Examiner Mar. is, 1983 section Spander OIL 7 NCAA: It's down to the Final 40 iiants telling it like it is IS COSTING the Giants something like $900,000 to inform people they can freeze their assets at Candlestick Park. For amount of money you think they'd tell us something The state final: how O'Dowd's prepping Complete scouting reports, lineups for girls, boys Page F4 By Gerry Carroll Examiner staff writer LOS ANGELES Four of Bishop ODowd High's five basketball team starters played baseball this week. Baseball? Indeed, the Dragons from Oakland have little choice but to use this spring game as part of preparations for tomorrow night's W0 p.m. game with Crenshaw of Los Angeles for the CIF State Division I basketball title.

The ODowd-Crenshaw test caps a full six-game day of action, pitting the NorCal Regional champions against Southern California tltlists In three divisions boys' and girls' teams at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Included In tomorrow's finals (Nor Cal teams listed first); Girls' Olv. Ill: Colfax (25-2) vs. Marshall Fundamental (27-3), 10J0 a.m. Boyt' Dlv.

Ill: Ckwerdale (26-1) vs. Crossroads (204), noon. Girls' Dlv. II: Anderson (224) vs. La Reina (274), 4 pm Boys' Dlv.

Menlo School (31-3) vs. Santa Clara (274), 6 pm Girls' Dlv. Grant (350) vs. Buena G74X Boyt Dlv. Bishop ODowd (33-D vs.

Crenshaw (27-2), 9:30 pjn. "Actually, we have a pretty solid baseball team, too," said ODowd basketball coach Mike Phelps, who also heads up the baseball team. Tony Ronzone is a returning All-Catholic Athletic League shortstop. Kevin Maas is a strong first baseman and pitcher. Ron Testa is one of the league's best catchers and hit over J00 last year.

Craig Wallace also hit over .300 and is an excellent center fielder. The only basketball starter not on the baseball team is Eric Holloway." But when the Dragons arrive here tonight (all teams in the state finals are staying at the University Hilton near the Sports Arena), those baseball spikes will magically turn into basketball sneakers, and: Ronzone will convert himself -See Page F4, col. 1 i I K' V)-'. Vrv 4 47w -1 'I t' 'i I 'li i 1 I "''Ai 1 I I 't lv iZ No luck for the Irish In NIT on St. Patrick's Day Page F5 Examiner news services Washington State coach George Raveling said his Cougars excelled at their own game rebounding and put the double-whammy on Weber State by cutting apart the Big Sky Conference champion's aggressive match-up zone defense.

"We're a very good rebounding team," Raveling said after Washington State topped the Wildcats, 62-52, last night in Boise, Idaho. The Cougars, second-place finishers in the Pac-10, wore out the Wildcats with an overwhelming 41-23 rebounding edge to claim the first-round victory in the NCAA West sub-regional In a night of NCAA upsets, Lamar shocked Alabama, 73-30, Virginia Commonwealth defeated LaSalle, 76-67; Maryland whipped Tennessee-Chattanooga, 52-51, and Purdue edged Robert Morris, 55-51 Craig Ehlo led WSU in scoring with 18 points while Steve Harriet paced the Cougars in rebounding with 12. Washington State picked up seven fouls in the first seven minutes before shifting to a 23 zone defense, which slowed Weber State's inside game and helped the Cougars avoid further foul trouble. WSU outscored the Wildcats 206 at the foul line. With the national field down to 40 teams, Washington State plays fourth-ranked Virginia tomorrow.

In other games: Utah 52, Illinois 49 BOISE Freshman Manuel Hen-drix hit back-to-back free throws and followed with a layup in the final two minutes in leading the Utes past the HlinL Hendrix and senior Peter Williams each scored 14 points tor Utah, sending the Western Athletic Conference champs into tomorrow's second round of the West sub-regional against seventh-ranked UCLA. Lamar 73, Alabama 50 HOUSTON The underdog -See Page F4, col. 3 Associated Press Virginia Commonwealth's Calvin Duncan moves away from LaSalle's Steve Black during VCU's 76-67 first-round win over the Explorers. The Rams now face Georgia I NCAA Mideast at Evansville, Tennessee (19-1 1) vs. Marquette (19-9) Oklahoma (23-8) vs.

(19-13) (TV. 10:30 p.m., ESPN) I NCAA Midwest at Louisville, Georgetown (21-9) vs. Alcorn St. (22-9) (TV, 4 p.m., ESPN) Iowa (19-9) vs. Utah St.

(20-8) (TV, 6:30 p.m., ESPN) I NCAA West at Corvallls, North Carolina St. (20-10) vs. Pepperdine (20-8) (TV, 11:30 p.m., Oklahoma St. (24-6) vs. Princeton (19-8) I NCAA East at Hartford, Syracuse (20-9) vs.

Morehead St. (19-10) SW Louisiana (22-6) vs. Rutgers (22-7) didnt already know. For example, who going to play first base this season? Or catcher? Is there a feud between general manager Tom Bailer and manager Frank Robinson, or isnt there? The Giants could be baseball's answer to "Dallas." Scandal sells Giants obviously believe honesty does, too. They've decided to tell the whole truth and nothing but If the idea fpreads to Washington the entire political process could be hi big trouble.

What the Giants decided was to make everyone aware that night-time temperatures at Candlestick are comparable to those in Anchorage, which is certainly reassuring for those who were worried about heat prostration between failings. Owner Robert Lurie had to be persuaded to triple the Advertising budget for an activity that receives a great amount of free space in the papers and on TV and radio. He also had to be persuaded to admit his stadium was uncomfortable and cold. The next thing you know Billy Martin will be conceding he has personality problems. FANS WHO SURVIVE extra-inning night games at Candlestick will be given a little orange and black badge pn which is printed the interlocking SF logotype, covered by a white substance.

In Tahoe it would be called snow, in Beverly Hills cocaine The question as week two of the exhibition season comes -lo a close is whether the fans will be given a championship leant Giants advertisements remain cleverly noncommitaL A rocking new theme song done by the Edwin Hawkins lingers, an Oakland gospel group, emphasizes tenacity and Jnystery. "Come on, hang in there Giants," the lyrics advise. Will the team be successful? "Lord only, only knows." San Diego Padres manager Dick Williams, who claims no relationship to any divine individual, believes the Giants will be a contender. "They played the best baseball in the division the last three months of the season," insisted Williams, "maybe the best baseball in the major leagues. Of bourse, I am glad Joe Morgan is gone." Duane Kuiper has replaced Morgan at second base.

But twho replaces Reggie Smith at first? And who starts at Catcher? Bill Dickey? Dickie Dietz? Reports are Robinson is less enamored of Bob Brenly this spring than he is supposed to be of Tom Haller, who just happens to be a former jpatcher. That the Giants will make at least one trade in the next iwo weeks is unavoidable. They have outfielders from Scottsdale to San Mateo. The problem is, so do all the other teams in baseball THE CARDINALS, for example, have George Hendrick, whom they will willingly dispense to San Francisco for a front-line pitcher. i With the Giants, George, notoriously uncommunicative, ould be utilized as a snowman to help the ad campaign.

Or' las a first baseman. Then again, the Giants may acquire Keith Fernandez from the Cardinals or Warren Cromartie from Jhe Expos. If none of this conies to pass, Jeff Leonard will be tried at Jirst base, thereby opening left field for Max Venable. The Dodgers, seemingly, have provided an opening for ihe other three contending teams in National League West jThey have allowed their patron saint Steve Garvey, to flee to an Diego and traded third baseman Ron Cey to the Cubs. They've done everything but fly a white flag.

Last season, the Giants finally figured out how to beat the i)odgers in Los Angeles, which was tantamount to the Jliscovery of fire. They did it certainly, with Morgan and mith on the team. But they also did it with Cey and Garvey in the Dodgers. Before joining his new team, Philadelphia, Morgan had ome unkind words to issue. He contends Haller made the iff -season transactions unilaterally, without consulting Robinson.

There's no question Frank is being set up," said Morgan. "Anyone with common sense can read between the Sines." OMMON SENSE also tells you Haller wouldn't intention-ally screw up the Giants. It's his frozen assets on the line as much as Robinson's. I Lin' the Arizona desert the Giants have played well ynough. They would seem to have pitching, starting and relief.

Robinson suggests the defense will be better than last Reason. Whether any existing catcher will be able to throw out a base runner is cause for concern. But each team has its weaknesses. The manager is important Robinson is a strong personality, but not an egomaniac. He treats players fairly.

And if not Jquite Humphrey Bogart, he still does a competent acting job in the various new Giants television commercials. The idea is to sell fans on our personalities," said Pat jGallagher, the team's vice president of business operations. This team hasnt had an identity. We don't have a tradition, Swt we're going to try to build one." Someday they may also build a domed stadium, or even a eWorld Series winner. But for the nonce, fans will have to be Satisfied with cold evenings at Candlestick and a little orange Jradge proclaiming their loyalty.

Is it worth it? "Lord only, jonly knows." I Vail enters Giants' first baseman derby Veteran outfielder is enthusiastic about possible switch, vows to take 150 grounders a day innings at first base in yesterday's 5-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. The only chances he had were accurate throws from other in-fielders, so he wasn't really challenged. But his name was placed in the "Who's on First?" sweepstakes. Actually, Robinson still has four first-base possibilities: Pick an experienced Giant to play there regularly. Evans, who is having an excellent (.412) spring, is the leading candidate.

If Evans, a left-handed hitter, wins the job, Robinson will want a righty hitter like Vail or Joel Youngblood to supplant Evans against particularly tough left-handed Go to a straight platoon system Evans or Bergman against right-handers, Vail or Youngblood against lefties. "I don't see it right now," Robinson said, "but it could happen." Move left fielder Jeff Leonard to first. If Robinson does that, it will be done "by the middle of next week," he said, so Leonard will have sufficient time to work at the position. Robinson probably will play Leonard at first base regularly or not at all rather than on a platoon or part-time basis. Make a trade.

Youngblood never played first in the major leagues, either, but Robinson intends to try him there "tomorrow or the next day," he said. Why Vail and Youngblood? "No reason except that they're right-handed hitters," Robinson said. "And I can't wait until the middle of the season and then stick one of them over there." That's what Robby did to Leonard on a painfully memorable day in St. Louis last August Three errors and a lesson learned. Vail, who has spent his whole career trying to pry his potent bat into a lineup, is jumping on this chance like a lion on a lamb.

At his own suggestion, he was to play nine innings at first base in a squad game today. In pregame drills, he's asking infielders to -See Page F7, col. 2 By John Hill yer Examiner staff writer SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. Until yesterday, Mike Vail hadn't played first base since his Pony, Colt and Little League years in San Jose. The other day, manager Frank Robinson suggested Vail might like to try it for the Giants.

Robinson didnt have to suggest it twice. In the Giants' open-date workout Wednesday, the excited Vail "came right in from the outfield and took some Robinson said. Vail's teachers Darrell Evans, Dave Bergman and Robinson himself. Then the 31-year-old Vail, an outfielder most of his major league life, spent four A long night's trip through storm and grief Red Sox, located in the middle of the state. You reach this heavy citrus area on a two-lane highway Alligator Alley through marshland and orange trees.

More than a few cars with Confederate flags race by. Probably headed for Eagle Lake, the Ku Klux Klan hangout near Winter Haven. Or the gas station I visited in Haines City. I needed to use the restroom and make a phone call to the office. The middle-aged owner, looking rather exasperated, asked me if I had a "special service card." "No." "Well, nobody uses our restrooms unless they have See Page F2, col.

4 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. My grandfather died Wednesday morning, and it stormed. Whether one event was tied to the other doesn't matter. My trip was miserable Of all nights to experiment Of all nights to attempt driving from Florida's east coast toward the west coast in search of lodging.

But life goes on, even with death. Even with it thundering harder inside your stomach than outside your car. They said the storm would start late. So my rented Datsun and I left Vero Beach, the posh confines of the Los Angeles Dodgers, around noon. Our destination? Winter Haven, the spring training home of the Boston i Grapofruit tmt Spring training in Florida with The Examiner's Terence MooreJ Invaders finally make TV debut I inside: But contracts with ESPN and ABC severely limit local viewing opportunities "jfBYWs Maria Zanandrea high Jumps at the California Relays and misses, should the judge 7 note it as 'Zanandrea 's Track A Field Nw, asking an aarth-ahaklng question.

I For the first time in 67 years, weather forced the postponement of the City Golf m9 Championships. The Raiders have no doubt that Los Angeles is a much richer radio and TV "3 market than Oakland, li The Warriors face the most hapless team in the NBA, the Houston Rockets, in Oakland Pj EL tonight. sTV The LPGA has decided to add a San Jose stop to the jf women's tour. "Most of Cleveland's smelliest garbage Is not going to develop a deep interest in specific teams until they get to know the players. The best way to get to know the players is through TV.

But those network contracts which looked so good when they were signed are now causing monumental problems for teams which are trying to get more exposure in their own neighborhood. These restrictions already have cost the Invaders as much as two or three live or delayed telecasts on road games and some 18 highlight programs which were to be aired on prime time each Sunday. The USFL's contracts with both ABC and ESPN forbid other broadcasts, even on a delayed basis, within 24 hours of any other telecast into an area. Also ABC has total control over which games it broadcasts. That is why when the Oakland Invaders opened their season with a whopping 240 victory over the Arizona Wranglers, It was not televised anywhere.

By Frank Cooney Examiner staff writer Tune in that television, Bay Area football fans. The Oakland Invaders will make their TV debut tomorrow when they visit the Michigan Panthers to begin the third weekend of United States Football League action. Kickoff will be aired live by ESPN beginning at 5 pm According to ESPN execs, about 450,000 of the 2 million TV homes in the Bay Area have ESPN. If you are among the L65 million who do not get ESPN, tough luck. Thanks to restrictions in USFL contracts with ABC and ESPN, there is an outside chance you may never see the Invaders on TV.

There are similar problems in each of the 12 USFL franchise cities. Those celebrated $235 million television contracts the USFL signed before even buying a football last May and June now may hinder the league's pursuit of what It needs most No matter how popular the sport, fans are Instead, most of the nation saw Herschel Walker and the New Jersey Generals play the Los Angeles Express. In fact, ABC obviously decided that Walker, the USFL's $5 million man, would remain the focus of its attention the next week. But the ratings were great the first week and good the second, so the inner grumblings of team execs in the USFL was kept behind closed doors. But in Arizona, the Wranglers were miffed that they had to cut their local package of eight televised games down to two.

In Oakland, the Invaders learned that their plans to have two games live and two via delayed tape on KBHK (channel 44) had also run amok of the contract with ESPN. In fact, KBHK was originally scheduled to televise tomorrow's game on a delayed basis at 8 p.m. But at last notice, that broadcast succumbed to ESPN's restrictions. In fact, ESPN characterizes its compromise to allow two See Page F3, eoL 3 i. dumped into Lake Erie, floats down the Niagara River into Lake Ontario and ultimately washes up 7,.

on the Toronto waterfront" Toronto Star columnist Jim Proudfoot, on tha Clsvaland Cavaliers' possible move to his city. "The idea is to win it this year. You cant 7' bullbleep two million fans." Phillies GM Paul Owens, on his go-for-broke modus operandi of trying to win with ancient "Wheeze Kids.".