The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 19

2 best com AVAIIABU thcSlin JUNE 11, 1984 B3 'Caps granted reprieve Archie McDonald Lions-Esks deal gets test tonight BOB LENARDUZZI goal Sunday HERB CAPOZZI 'Caps liason By PAT HICKEY Sun Sports Editor Vancouver Whitecaps are coming back from the dead to meet their next commitment to the North American Soccer League Friday night in Tulsa. Majority owner Bob Carter claims the club was "dead" after Friday's exhibition game against Stuttgart at B.C. Place Stadium. But the team was resuscitated, or at least given a reprieve. Whitecaps' board of directors decided Saturday to continue operating and Carter said he backed the decision because of a series of recent developments: Mayor Mike Harcourt has launched a "rally 'round the Whitecaps" campaign designed to sell $500,000 worth of tickets for the nine remaining Whitecap games.

Attendance was up for exhibition games against Fluminense of Brazil and Stuttgart although the crowds are still well below the pre-sea-son break-even estimate of 25,000 a game. Some directors who were previously unwilling to commit more money to the club pledged additional support at Saturday's meeting. Carter added that the team's performance contributed to his continued support, a commitment which he says has cost him almost $1.6 million this season. The Whitecaps produced wins over defending NASL champion Tulsa and the two touring teams last week. "We beat the best in the world and I'm very proud of our players and the enthusiasm they've shown on the field." Despite the guarded optimism shown by Carter and his fellow directors, the Whitecaps are still troubled.

The board of directors will hold another meeting to discuss the team's future next week and, if Harcourt's campaign founders, the club will probably disappear. The mayor's support produced an immediate flurry of interest and a reported $10,000 in ticket sales but that's a long way from the goal. Ironically, the Whitecaps' liaison for the mayor's campaign is Herb Capozzi. He was once the majority owner of the Whitecaps but Carter took control of the club last year when Capozzi sold his shares and was unable to meet a deadline for buying them back. Last week's crisis was observed firsthand by Al Collings, a former Whitecaps' executive who is now vice-president of finance for the NASL.

While the league is quite concerned over the 'Caps, they are by no means the only problem. The NASL dropped three teams and moved another during the offseason and that was supposed to provide a more stable league. But the New York Cosmos attracted fewer than 13,000 fans Saturday their smallest crowd since moving to The Meadowlands in 1977 and Toronto drew only 8,976 fans Sunday. "The attendance isn't up," admitted Collings, "but we feel we're in a better position because the numbers are better. We've cut down our expenses and we're doing a better job of marketing.

And the attendance figures are better because we have fewer free tickets and special deals." NOTES Whitecaps tied FC Seattle 2-2 Sunday in an exhibition game which saw coach Alan Hin-ton make liberal use of younger players. Local teenager Ralph Mazzuco scored a goal in his debut while Bob Lenarduzzi had the other. There was no overtime or shootout in the game which attracted 5,984 fans in Seattle Second-half substitute Ace Ntsoelengoe scored one goal and assisted on the other Sunday to spark Toronto Blizzard to its fourth straight victory, a 2-1 decision over San Diego Sockers Pato Margetic and Karl-Heinz Granitza teamed for three goals Saturday to spark Chicago Sting to a 5-0 defeat of New York Cosmos. wanted to go in the first place. They have a reputation for developing good Canadians and have a great tradition." A former track scholarship athlete who has played just one full season of organized football, Balkovec is being groomed to eventually occupy one of the two inside middle linebacker positions in Edmonton's four-linebacker defence.

That's another reason why the 6' 235-pound native of Yugoslavia is happy with the trade: He was uncomfortable about rumors he would play rover with B.C. A Vancouver native who attended St. Thomas More high school, DesLauriers seemed destined for a long pro career in his home town. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't surprised by the trade," he says. "But the opportunity to play may be better in Edmonton.

They (the Lions) had me listed behind two experienced players at rover (Bernie Glier and Kevin Konar)." With the Esks, DesLauriers is being tried at safety a position which seems ideally suited to his skills GRID BITS Ex-Eskimo defensive back Ed Jones, trying to make it with B.C., has officially retired. But he'll get a shot as soon as his knee heals Both teams will split their quarterbacking between two throwers. Lions will play Mike Williams in the first half and Tim Cowan in the second. Edmonton will go with Matt Duni-gan and then Kevin Ingram Lui Passaglia will dress, but Wilfred Laurier rookie Roy Kurtz is scheduled to handle all the Lions' kicking Veteran running back James Sykes plunged over from two yards out late in the second quarter and rambled 21 yards up the middle on a draw play midway through the fourth to spark Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 29-13 exhibition victory over Calgary Stampeders Sunday. By LYNDON LITTLE It's time for the first head-to-head look at The Trade.

It will take many games perhaps several seasons to accurately determine whether B.C. Lions or Edmonton Eskimos got the better of the deal that brought former Schenley Award winning defensive end James Parker to Vancouver. But every assessment has to have a starting point which means tonight's 7:30 p.m. Canadian Football League exhibition game at B.C. Place Stadium is where the respective merits of the deal will begin to be analyzed.

In a swap that general manager Bob Ackles acknowledges was the biggest the club has made in years, the Lions sent two standout Canadian prospects in UBC defensive back Laurent DesLauriers and University of Toronto linebacker Frank Balkovec to the Esksfor Parker. With the Lions deep in Canadian talent the deal seems logical at least on the surface. However, for B.C. fans with long memories the trade is fraught with danger. They remember how the Lions helped launch the Eskimos on the way to their first dynasty with gifts of players such as Tom Wilkinson, Don Warrington, Bob Howes, Larry Highbaugh and Ron Estay.

"Hopefully, it will be a deal that helps both teams," said Eskimo Canadian scout Frankie Morris Sunday. DesLauriers was the Lions' 1984 territorial protection following four exceptional years at UBC, where he did just about everything for Frank Smith except teach his physical education classes. B.C. also had the first selection in this year's draft and chose Balkovec. "I was a little surprised (by the trade) but I'm pleased," commented the rookie linebacker yesterday after a workout at B.C.

Place. "Edmonton was the place I Collegians big at Jericho Small turnouts hurt Mariners It's 150 miles down the highway to Seattle, and in sporting terms it is a yellow brick road. You go from the land of oohs and aahs to the land of hard ball and hard reality. In the make-believe world on the shores of False Creek citizens want a major league franchise so bad they can taste the popcorn and smell the mustard. In Seattle they have a franchise and the owners can taste the apathy and feel the financial pinch.

Riding surprisingly strong pitching and the heroics of Alvin Davis the Mariners have been contenders through the first third of the season in the weak American League West yet they are averaging only 13,375 fans. That puts them ahead of the 10,044 of last season but well below the 20,000 mark which is considered a bare minimum in these times of obscene player salaries. Attendance would be a bigger disaster but for two dates, opening night against Toronto Blue Jays which attracted 43,200 and 'cap night' against the appealing Detroit Tigers where the body count was 41,342. The New York Yankees, traditionally a hot item on the road, lured crowds of 9,978, 9,600 and 19,672. The largest of those figures was aided by another giveaway, 'mug night'.

Fans won't respond The celebrated Baltimore Orioles, the rounders champions of all creation, could bring only 11,251, 6,849 and 8,104 out of the rain and into the dry and comfortable con- fines of the Kingdome. And how many of those made the trip from Vancouver? There may have been good reason for fans to avoid the Kingdome last year because owner George Argyros put a lacklustre, penny pinching team on the field. To his credit, he has increased salaries by 38 per cent from $3.7 million to $5.1 this time around. The Mariners responded, but the fans didn't. The Mariners are now trying to reach into the heart and pockets of the business community, hoping to increase season tickets from 5,000 to 15,000.

They have set a long range attendance plan of achieving an average of 18,518 in 1985, 24,691 in '86, 29,629 in '87 and 33,333 in '88. "If we don't get those totals we are in real trouble," Mariner president Chuck Armstrong tells reporters. "We need this to make the franchise viable, to cover our expenses." He sounds as if he has the same uninspired speech writer as J. Bob Carter, beleaguered leader of soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps. The Mariners, who are in their eighth season, have had a longer life than their predecessor, the Pilots, who survived only the 1969 season in Sick Stadium.

When the Pilots landed in Milwaukee the following year, lawsuits started flying. To extricate itself from these legal tangles baseball granted Seattle a franchise in 1977. Since expansion allows only for twin births, the Toronto Blue Jays came into the world at the same time. Lifestyle a deterrent That is where Vancouver optimists and politicians tend to look for encouragement. The Jays have been prudently developed, have become a first class club, and are hitting encouraging attendance figures despite playing in a second rate ball park.

Is it merely mismanagement that has turned off the people of Seattle or is it something about the idyllic lifestyle of the Northwest that discourages folks from being indoor spectators and encourages them to buy a boat, climb a mountain, and get active during a too short summer season? Certainly the Mariners began life with some sustenance at the turnstiles. Their best season was their first, when 1.3 million fans turned up, an average of 17,612. It was a short honeymoon. The following campaign it descended to 11,249 and that is where it has been ever since with the exception of 1982 when a slow but tight pennant race lifted attendance to just over the million mark. Where does the reality lie for Vancouver? Just 150 miles down the road or 3,000 miles across the country? for another two years then will try the professional satellite tour.

In the doubles, Emerson and Bengtson dominated throughout the match. This was partially because of their familiarity with each other and partially because Picken's mobility was limited by a pulled hamstring. Emerson and Bengtson had a 20-6 record when they played together at USC this past school year. They have been USC teammates for three years. Emerson is the son of Roy Emerson who with 28 wins, including two Wimbledon singles titles, is the all-time major tournament win leader.

Bengtson is from North Vancouver and he has been playing with Emerson since 1979 when he moved down to California to attend high school and improve his tennis. The two leave today for Kitchner, Ont. where they will compete in an Alcan tournament. The Alcan tour is the top Eastern Canada tour. Former Canadian champion Wendy Pattenden knocked off Janna Kovacevich of Tacoma 6-2, 6-2 in the women's final.

In doubles, Pattenden and Helen Christiannse lost to Marjorie Blackwood and Karen Kettenacker 6-4, 6-3. By SCOTT MCDONALD American college students were the winners at the B.C. Clay Court Tennis Championships Sunday. Grant Connell of North Vancouver and Texas A and University defeated Antony Emerson of the University of Southern California 6-3, 6-3 in the men's final before 300 fans at Jericho Tennis Club. In the doubles final Emerson and his USC partner Ric Bengtson took just 55 minutes to down Connell and John Picken of Burnaby 6-2, 6-3.

Connell, 18, survived some shakey serving at the beginning of the first set en route to his victory. Emerson took Connell to break point in Connell's first three games but didn't break one of them. Connell broke Emerson once in the first set and twice in the second. "I was just a bit nervous and tight," Connell said. Once his serve improved, Connell said he "served better than I had in a long time.

Connell said Emerson's ground shots were better than his, but that he "wasn't forced into too many ground stroke rallys." Connell, an Argyle secondary school graduate, has just completed his first year at Texas where he is on a tennis scholarship. He plans to attend school Shaver Tune-Up Motor Overhaul Oh KOs Ramkins SEOUL (AP) South Korea's Oh Min-kun knocked down American challenger Kelvin Ramkins in the ninth round and went on to score a unanimous 15-round decision Sunday, retaining his International Boxing Federation featherweight title. Oh was aggressive through most of the fight, hitting the 26-year-old challenger from Indiana with long rights and lefts to the head and body. Here's what we'll do, factory trained technician will adjust motor, clean lubricate motor bearings, grease gears and replace motor brushes. Parts extra.

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The difference was Holland's ability to score when the chance presented itself. Canada had as much of the play but either could not get its shots off, or shot wide. Canada's only goal, by Ernie Cholakis of Winnipeg, came off a penalty corner late in the game. Holland scored three of its four goals from the field. "A score of 2-1 would have been more indicative," said manager Shiaz Virjee of Vancouver.

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Earlier Saturday, Demers snatched 145 kilos for a total of 340, breaking his own Canadian and Commonwealth two-lift records by 7.5 kilos, "I'm happy with the records but I haven't peaked yet," said Demers. Michel Pietracupa of Montreal finished second with a clean and jerk of 172.5 kilos and a snatch of 135 for a 307.5 total. Manfred Modrey of Austria was third, also with a 307.50 total, but with more attempts. "A lift of 195 kilos in the 75-kilo cass is a big weight," said Canadian coach Andrzej Kulesza of Montreal. "There are only two or three men in the World who can do that." In the 90-kilo event, Terry Hadlow, 26, of Ottawa was fourth after straining his back on his first snatch.

Zoltan Balazsfi of Hungary was first with a total of 362.5 kilos. Hadlow had lifts of 150 and 180 for a 330 total. "We wanted to do 85 per cent of what our goal is in Los Angeles and I did more than that here," said Hadlow, who said two weeks of rest should cure hi wrenched back. Eg mm SPORTIF! I AT COMPETITIVE PRICES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES RagdT Firoitona Canada Inc Rag mar 'J CROWN TIKE SERVICE (B.C. I NORTH SHORE TIRE CENTRE 1830 Marine The Personal Sport Specialists I BURNABY 4300 Kmgsway St.

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