Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 37

rl: LrDDQ fd LEwrr Same Old 49er Cast (p -0) (g Ml li Last February a source as close to the 49ers as their playing field gave us a friendly tip. Our informant disclosed that the No. 1 quarter-; back for the San Francisco club this year would be George Mira. i The source George Mira himself. i "All I want is a chance to prove myself," said the little scrambler from Miami.

Lli "New coach Dick Nolan has promised me that chance. I'm confident I can win the job over John Brodie." as the football world now knows, didn't -quite make it. He must sit on the bench for another season as Brodie again directs the 49ers, a club that, personnel-wise, looks about the same as the one that 'was beaten seven times last season. Lonesome George just may never make it with the 49ers, and it is too bad. The little guy has a way of stirring up cockeyed excitement as no other 49er quarterback has since Frankie Albert.

But he has too many flaws. One of his critics puts it this way: "Mira has not yet developed into a bonafide pro quarterback. tf-- Trlbun phale by Ron Rtaittrar OAKLAND'S CAMPY CAMPANERIS TRIES TO REACH FIRST BASE ON A DRAG BUNT, BUT IS THWARTED BY DETROIT'S NORM CASH (25) This fifth-inning action fails to help the Athletics, who dropped a 4-2 decision to the league leaders at the Oakland Coliseum last night A's Beaten, 4-2, Still Share 5th Com By ALAN McALLASTER Tribune Sports Writer SANTA ROSA It will be of no help Saturday night in Portland, but some long-range relief may be in sight for the Oakland Raiders at linebacker. Bill Fairband reported back to camp yesterday highly optimistic about his chances of rejoining the team in time for the stretch drive toward a hoped for second straight American Football League ti The 6-foot-3, 228-pound second year man underwent knee surgery two weeks ago and has already discarded his crutches. "If I keep progressing like this, I might be able to play half the season," he declared.

Fairband's sudden appearance on the sidelines during practice for the final exhibition game against Denver drew smiles and welcoming words from several Raider players and coaches. With starter Bill Laskey sidelined for the remainder of the year due to surgery on his Achilles fendon, the Raider linebacking corps is a bit thin. The only active players are Gus Otto on the right side, Dan Conners and Bill Budness in the middle and Duane Benson, who inhertis Laskey's spot. However, Coach John Rauch said taxi team members Dave Ogas and-or Chip Oliver may be activated for the clash with the Broncos. Since it is an exhibition game 43 players will be allowed to suit up, according to Rauch.

The six AFL teams which open league play this weekend are permitted only 40 squad members. Fairband, an All-Big Eight Conference and honorable mention All-American at the University of Colorado, was drafted No. 3 by the Raiders and saw considerable action last year. He had his knee operated on in January. "I was on crutches three weeks, and the knee sU bothered me the first two weeks in training camp," said the for- Continued Page 45, Col.

8 tle. Clippers Tie JTff SBPif "He doesn't easily recognize the red-dog scene. He calls predictable plays. He throws in the dirt with a man in the open. And he is identified above all by a penchant for passing on a straight line instead of an arc.

"Standing one or two inches under six feet, Mira keeps himself in trouble with low-line passes. They are easy to block and intercept. "He blew a chance for the go-ahead touchdown late in the first half against the Raiders when the 49ers' split end, Dick Witcher, beat Oakland's Willie Brown to the corner but watched Brown intercept in front of him. The ball had no arc whatever." Ernie Nevers, the great old football star who has watched just about all the 49er games over the years, believes Mira has been used improperly. I "He should never stay in the pocket to throw he-' cause then he can't see his receivers," said Nevers as we chatted here yesterday.

"Did you notice the way his short passes against I the Raiders fell too short while on his long passes he overshot his mark? It was just a case of not being able to spot his target. "Mira is most effective when he is running or scrambling around the flanks. He's a good passer from either side, and when he's out there, instead of in the pocket, he can see what's going on. He doesn't have those six-foot-six Goliaths in front of him to ob-. struct his vision.

"That's when he breaks up the defensive patterns and that's how he beat the Green Bay Pack- ers." Nevers, of course, had no doubts as to who would win the quarterback job for the 49ers. Only thing that surprised Ernie is why it took Coach Nolan so long to realize that Brodie is the bet- terman. Anyway, no one can accuse the 49ers of not giv- ing Mira every chance to prove himself. "Brodie may not be the greatest quarterback, but he's a good one. He can throw the ball with the best of 'em.

Against the Raiders, four of Brodie's passes were dropped by his receivers," Nevers pointed out. "The big problem with the 49ers is not at quarter- back. It's in the speed department. The players all move as if they're bogged down in the mud." Nevers thought the Raiders had too much speed forthe49ers. "Hewritt Dixon was the most impressive runner i at Kezar Sunday," we reminded.

"No doubt about it," the Hall of Fame fullback agreed. 7 "Dixon was the best back on the field. My, how that man loves to hitl He can go inside, off tackle, i wide. He's just a great one. "Now you take the 49ers John David Crow and Ken Willard.

I just don't think they're fast enough." fts a faithful old 49er rooter, Nevers had one other Toros By DAVE NEWHOUSE Tribune Sports Writer SAN DIEGO The Oakland Clippers feel today what Jack Dempsey did after the famous "long count," only they won't know until Saturday whether i championship is gone. By RON BERGMAN Everything turned out right except the result. As a consequence, the Detroit Tigers defeated the Oakland Atheltics last night for the third straight time, on this occasion by a score of 4-2. About the only bad break the A's didn't get was another Yankee victory. The New Yorkers finally lost to Baltimore, leaving them tied with the Athletics for fifth place in the American League.

The first-place Tigers retained their eight-game bulge over the Orioles. All was quiet la the eighth Inning, too quiet, asthey say in the flicks. Starter Chuck Dobson, working a 2-2 ball game brought about by Mike Hershberger's bases-empty homer in the sixth, got the first two outs. Then, for the 35th time this season, the Tigers started on their way to a victory in a game in which they were either behind or tied after seven innings. Mickey Stanley walked on five pitches and Jim North-rup, who finished the series with nine hits in 19 trips, singled him to third.

WUh left-handed Norm Cash next up, Manager Bob Kennedy lifted Dobson for southpaw Paul Lindblad. Kennedy knew Lindblad would never get to pitch to Cash. Not with Detroit superstar Al Kaline, a right-handed batter, sitting in the dugout. Kaline had yet to make an ap-pearance since the Tigers came to town because of a pulled leg muscle. Kaline wasn't the target batter, however.

This was -Willie Horton, the right-handed swinger, to whom right-handed Jack Aker would pitch. Sure enough," Kaline batted for Cash. Lindblad threw two pitches to him that missed, so he was intentionally walked, filling the bases. "He (Manager Bob Kennedy) told me to pitch around Kaline," said Lindblad. "So, I'm not going to throw him a strike.

I'm going to try for the corners. l'm not going to give him anything good to hit. "2sTow, either you hit the yj uJ Lb XzJU Dempsey thought he had down for good, and the Clippers felt the same about San Diego's Toros last night, only to get a 3-3 tie. But, before delving into a controversial winning goal denied the Clippers, it should be explained just what chance Oakland has left. The tie leaves the Clippers eight points ahead of San Diego in the Pacific Division, having ended their regular season.

San Diego hosts Los Angeles Saturday night in its final game (moved up from Sunday). Should the Toros win and score three goals, this would give them nine points by the North American Soccer League scoring system and a one point victory over Oakland. The Toros have never beaten Los Angeles, losing twice and tieing once. If the Wolves hold the Toros to a tie, or Giants Lose, Then Beat Cubbies, 5-4 By PAT FRIZZELL Tribune Sports Writer ST. LOUIS Encouraged after rallying in the eighth and ninth innings to win the second game and gain an even break in yesterday's doubleheader with the Chicago Cubs, the Giants rested here today before facing the pennant-bound Cards in a twi-night double bill tomorrow.

Although they have seven more games with St. Louis, including four at Busch Stadium this weekend, the Giants' thoughts are concentrated on the scramble for second place, which they continue to hold against the chal- Continued Page 38, Col. 2 thought to pass along: "All this maneuvering at quarterback might have si 0 8 ALL WORK DONE BY GOODYEAR TRAINED MECHANICS New ssark pises, paints, rotar I condenser Clem del lewl, lattery air filter Check i(aitia wires, distribitir cap, starter, reiilater, teierater. fai belt, cylinder ctmpressiei and battery Set tinint Adjust carburetor affected Brodie's confidence. I hope it hasn't.

But you never know." It appears from here that the 49ers' new coach has squandered too much time on the Brodie-Mira duel. 1 1 '1-1 1. I il i Uiante. INOian lnneniea a icaiii, uue uiai neeueu ie-building. Yet, what has he really changed since takmg Icyl.U.S.autes-Ml 88.

Add $2 for Air coiditiaaiRi It'll be the same cast for the '68 season minus KDave Parks, Monte Stickles and Walter Rock, i That's rebuilding? Continued on Page 38, Col. 4 Continued on Page 39, Col. 2 PRICE INCLUDES PARTS LISTED NO MONEY DOWN on our Easy Pay Plan! A lit WDOU GOODYEAR Service Sto resr CONCORD JJATWARD FOREST HILLS, N.Y. AP) Pig after the-ctiminationof -an amateur playing for mon- Rod Laver and Tony Roche. iLAMEDA South' Shore Center "Concord and" 1139., -IVrstreet- FREMONT.

Tremont Blvd.1 jindjtowrju i 792-3363 East St Oiam 8W5UCU UCUU3 IMP given his second re-tvtHpva in the tournament bv He-went on to breakJPihIn the 24th game tof the fourth set. After working Jhe. game to deuce, he hit a dinky backhand volley which completely fooled Pilic and then clinched the set with a powerful ey, stunned pro Ann myaon-s Jones, me No. 2 seed, 7-5, 6-1 today in an aH British worn en's semifinal. 682-0221 521-6868 582-5100 -was-smiU8Tly-Jnteniptedonly-to win the following day.

Ralston started the resumed match today jwith a service 'ace but two double faults got Jiim into a bole and he was done to advantage at one point." But a brilliant voUey after a long rally saved the match and toe game. darkness, pulled out a z-o, e-z, 5-7, 13-11 6-3 victory over Yu PUic was leading Ralston, 2 sets to 1, with the score in the fourth set tied at 8-8 when the match had to be halted because of darkness yesterday. In the round before, RaJston was two games from defeat against Mexico's tiny Joaquin Loyo Mayo when the match The Bakersfield pro win OAKLAND E. 14th St goslavia's Nicola i T-ilic today RICHMOND ''jZ 435 -I3rdSt play the veteran third seed SAN LEANDRO 288 483 5283 WALNUT CREEK 1231 i So. Main 9354820 SAN LEANDRO; 15498 1.

14th 276-1363 TaevltaT break la the final ed Ken Rosewafl of Australia on Saturday. Rosewall has been made fee tournament fa- i for the remaining men's quarter final spot faf the U.S. Open Tennis Championships. Continued Pije 38, Col. I 532 2155 2354428.