The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 69

BEST AVAILABLE COPY Pages E1-E8 Scoreboard THE OTTAWA CITIZEN THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1988 Easil Vw, KIcQsa 0 0 1- 1 7k A 0 Jit I i I -4m Wayne Cuddington, Citizen The rout was on: Andrew Cassels beat Oshawa goalie Jeff Hackett in the first period for the winning goal DrDCpJd 67's take no prisoners in miracle comeback CFL courting TSN president One of Canada's top television exe- -cutives is the favored choice to replace Doug Mitchell as the new commissioner of the CFL, The Citizen has learned. The man is Gordon Craig, president and founding father of The Sports Network, and a former head of CBC television sports. At 52, Craig's a bright and dynamic ex-. ecutive with a winning personality, an ultra jock with extensive connections and experience in business, including the CFL. Ralph Sazio, president of the Toronto Argonauts, and a member of the CFL's search committee for a new commission-er, denies there have been talks with Craig yet, saying only: "He's on the list.

Gordie's a hell of a smart guy. I like him very much. But, we're not in a big hurry in this thing. We've got time before the other guy leaves, it's important we make the right choice. "But, on one thing I'm very firm: it's gotta be somebody from the East.

And, let's face it, television's very important to us. No question." i The question there is, however, is whether Gordon Craig would be interested. Reached at his Toronto office, he didn't rule it out. "I honestly haven't been approached, but I don't think anybody in this situation should ever say they wouldn't be interes- ted. You should always sit down and lis-ten." So, if the offer's made and the conditions are right, he'd take it? "It would entail a host of considerations, but it's very interesting.

It kinda blows me away." Would it require taking a sabbatical from TSN? "No, it's (commissioner) a full-time job, I couldn't do it by taking a sabbatical." Another CFL executive, requesting anonymity, says: "Craig's got everything we're looking for and more. I don't have to tell you how great it'd be to have someone who knows television and has all the contacts. Without the right TV deal, we're in trouble. "A healthy TV deal is the foundation. 1 Where do you think the NFL would be without all that TV money? Another good thing about Craig is that he's not a lawyer.

We don't need any more lawyers." Craig, described once as the Lee lacoc-ca of Canadian broadcasting as much for his ingratiating earthiness as his innovative mind, is called "Gordie" by friends and business colleagues. A senior producer at TSN said of him: "He's a hands-on boss. He delegates authority and leaves you alone, but he does demand accountability. If you mess up, you'll hear from him. He expects nothing short of the best and no one works harder than him to achieve it." At the CBC, Craig was key negotiator for several of the network's prize events: the 1970 Commonwealth Games, the 1971 Pan-American Games, Expos baseball, Soviet-Canada hockey, CFL football.

Not only that, he produced coverage of the 1966 Commonwealth Games, '68 Winter Olympics, '70 Commonwealth Games, '71 Pan-Am Games, '72 Winter Olympics and his crowning achievement the '76 Montreal Olympics. The CFL search committee has three significant things going for it in the case of Gordon Craig: (a) he's a flag-waving Canadian, (b) he's a fervent believer in the CFL, (c) he's a bear for challenges and alleged lost causes. It was 10 years ago, while driving in a car with former CBC president Al Johnston, that Gordie Craig knew it was time to leave the CBC. They were discussing Johnston's idea for two CBC television networks one commercial, one noncommercial. CBC 1, said Johnston, would remain the prime commercial network; CBC 2 would be non-commerciaL heavy on Canadian arts and culture.

Craig disagreed. "I felt he had it backwards. With the government pressuring us for an all-Canadian network, I felt CBC 1 should be the main vehicle on the existing network, non-commercial, Canadian arts and culture. "CBC 2 would be the secondary network, no Canadian content, mostly top American programmming and mainly sports, distributed over cable to the hilt I felt that enough revenue could have been generated from CBC 2 to support CBC 1. Johnston told me I was full of s-t" At the first business opportunity, Craig quit the CBC, joining the Houston Group public relations firm as vice-president and general manager.

His idea for an all-sports cable network percolated. Everybody who knew everything told him it wouldn't work. That's all he needed to hear. "With our athletes proving themselves more and more both at home and internationally, the interest in sports was exploding. Not just in our own sports, but everywhere.

What was needed was a comprehensive viewing forum and that's us." The biggest hurdles? "Convincing advertisers we were for real It was only because we were new. But we did." The CFL isn't new. And, itll be dead fast if it can't con- -vince advertisers it's for real nal, meaning the 67's will open their semifinal in Cornwall against the Royals this weekend. Dates will be announced today. One thing is certain, with the Home Show in town the Civic Centre is not available until Tuesday.

Given the sudden media hype leading up to it, Wednesday's game was almost anticlimactic. The Generals were never really in it after Ottawa superstar Andrew Cassels deflected a shot from the point to put the 67's up 1-0. That was at 10:34 of the first period, with the teams playing three aside. It was fitting that a Cassels goal would win it. He was the heart that paced the comeback; his 18 points in seven games tell only part of the story.

He fought off Oshawa's gorillas, when they were instructed to harass him and his shorthanded goal in that now famous Saturday game put Ottawa up 2-1 and gave them life they would later savor. "Down three-nothing, we had nothing to lose, we got right into it," Cassels said. "They let it get away we were just wheeling." With his goal Wednesday, Cassels added two assists, on a second period goal by Prank DiMuzio and in teeing 67's 5, Generals 0 By Wayne Scanlan Citizen staff writer Rumors of their death were greatly exaggerated. The amazing Ottawa 67's whipped Oshawa in Game Seven Wednesday night to cap a remarkable playoff comeback. Down three games to none and five goals to four with 23 seconds remaining in Game Four, Ottawa rebounded to win four straight against the Generals.

In the process, the 67's renewed an old love affair. Nearly 10,000 fans the largest crowd in six years jammed the Civic Centre for Wednesday's game, including 500 standing. Another 2,500 were turned away at the ticket office due to fire regulations. At game's end as the players mobbed goaltender Scott Cumming, who stopped 16 shots to earn the shutout, the Civic Centre rocked as in the Memorial Cup glory days. And the fans screamed with delight until the last Ottawa player was out of sight they didn't want the party to end.

"It was our Miracle on Ice," said 67's coach and general manager Brian Kil-rea, "the comeback of a lifetime." Kilrea has been around hockey all his life, including Ji9 i jyr rift A-JiJL 7s- NT IK 4 1 I ft nBHlri'iiiiini miMii urn Gotcha: 67's Mike Griffith stops Mike Short 14 years coaching in the unpredictable OHL, and he's never known of a up a slapshot for Peter Choma in the third. Winger Mike Griffith scored the other two 67's goals. His breakaway roof shot with nine seconds left in the game was sweet icing for the multitudes they couldn't get enough of it. It was a sad ending for Oshawa's Jeff Hackett, however. The Generals' goalie was brilliant at times in the series, but lost some confidence after Saturday's 6-5 loss.

"He had a few self doubts," said his coach Young. "It's hard to turn those around in a short series." Still, Hackett was the only General who really tried last night, facing 41 shots from the 67's while his teammates could muster but 16 at Cumming. The game was ugly at times, with a couple of nasty fights. But referee Jim Lever maintained some kind of control. Head coach Paul Theriault, reflective in defeat, said his team lost momentum and with it, key personnel.

"Continuity is so important," said Theriault, noting weekend injuries to forward Jeff Daniels and defenceman Shane Doyle. "Then when momentum changes in playoff hockey It is well known in hockey circles that Theriault and Kilrea don't like each other. Still, Theriault had kind parting words for his nemesis. "That Kilrea club showed a lot of character," he said. "Brian's clubs always have that." Lost in the wild post-game celebration was the fact Ottawa has more hockey to play.

It was announced late Wednesday night that Peterborough will take a bye to the Leyden Division fi greater comeback. "When you tell the guys they have to win each shift and each game and things will take care of themselves, you have to believe it yourself." Kilrea said. When there is a glorious comeback, there must also be a crushing collapse. Oshawa assistant coach Ian Young made the honest assessment that the Generals were fortunate to earn those three initial victories. He also suggested that the series showed which team had character.

"They're still talking about that overtime loss, but that's an excuse," Young said. "What showed was the inexperience and lack of character in our dressing room." Rough Riders sign former NFL quarterback Schlicter By Tom Casey Citizen staff writer The Riders will bring four quarterbacks to training camp which opens June 15. Joining Dillon and Schlicter will be second-year man Jeff Wicker-sham and rookie Bob Jensen. Schlicter was a college superstar at Ohio State, an ail-American and a Rose Bowl star. He had several quiet discussions with several NFL teams before signing with Ottawa.

Terms of the contract were not released. Schlicter said it was a fair deal for both sides. It is believed that Schlicter received a signing bonus in the $25,000 range and a starting salary in the area of $125,000 and there's no doubt several incentive clauses, one probably fixed to attendance figures. portunity to take the job away from him. "Art just wants a chance to prove to everyone he can play again," Click said.

"Well give him that opportunity. We plan to treat Art and Todd equally." Schlicter attracted Click's attention four weeks ago at a free agent camp in Los Angeles. Although he was rusty because of a year's inactivity, he impressed the Riders' coaching staff with his leadership qualities. Click admitted that Schlicter's skills need honing. "But he proved in the past he could do the job," Click said.

"He plans to spend all of April in Ottawa learning our offence and working out He should be able to recapture these skills." season as a back-up quarterback but his contract was not accepted by the NFL office because of another gambling incident "I feel comfortable and good about myself," Schlicter said this morning. "The gambling thing is a day-to-day thing but I work at it and treat it every day. I plan to join some support groups in Ottawa and I'm going to keep very busy. I'm very excited about playing football again. I just wanted an opportunity to play again.

This is a fresh start for me." Although Riders' head coach Fred Click said this morning incumbent Todd Dillon remains the club's No. 1 quarterback, Schlicter will be given every op- The Rough Riders feel they have found a quick fix for their quarterback-ing woes when they signed NFL veteran Art Schlicter to a one-year contract plus an option season this morning. Schlicter was the fourth player chosen in a 1982 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts from Ohio State University but his career has been plagued by gambling problems. He was suspended for the 1983 season by the NFL for gambling and came back to play three seasons for the Colts before joining the Buffalo Bills in 1986. He made the Cincinnati Colts last.