San Antonio Express du lieu suivant : San Antonio, Texas • Page 39

S. A. due aloha from Thunder If you are anxiously waiting to purchase a Thunder season ticket so that you can see all the soccer games next season, be prepared to pay big money. Counting air fare, it may cost a few thousand bucks to see every Thunder home game next season. The thunder, in all probability, will not be based in San Antonio in 1977.

Instead, the local pro soccer club is expected to be known as the Honolulu Thunder. Thunder owner Ward Lay. who has 90 per cent of the team, is in Honolulu this week negotiating with investors there and he is expected to make a decision soon on whether or not to move his club. Earlier, Lay said that he would keep the team in S.A. if he could find local investors who were willing to purchase one half of the team.

AL GEIBERGER Geiberger enters Open A1 Geiberger, one of the top money winners on the PGA tour this season, is among the latest to enter next San Antonio-Texas Open, it was announced Monday. Geiberger, who ranks No. 6 on the latest money chart with $190,184 in earnings, was one of six touring pros to enter Monday. The other five were Bob Lunn, Rod Funseth, Bob Zender, Cesar Sanudo and Bill Wright. A total of 210 golfers have entered the tournament, but only 144 will qualify for the start of the four-day event Oct.

14 at Woodlake. A qualifying round is scheduled for Monday to narrow the field to 144. name adds strength to one of the most impressive Texas Open fields in recent years. Previously, No. 2 money winner Ben Crenshaw, who has earned $256,321 this year, announced his entry.

Also veteran Don January, whose $162,772 in winnings rank him No. 9 on the tour, has entered. Other top players who previously entered are Miller John Mahaffey, Kermit Zarley, Rik Massengale, Mark Hayes and Leonard Thompson. Geiberger is nearing the $1 million mark in career earnings on the tour. Following next Monday's qualifying round, the pros will spend Tuesday as a practice day before taking part in pro-am.

The four-day tournament ends Sunday, Oct. 17. Winner of this annual event receives OFFICE 4 FURNITURE 1 Schoolboy player week Page 2D fl Schoolboy 3D BBk fl OU-UT shootout preview Page 4D RE Clchinir rniinrl ill San Antonio Express Scoreboard Page 1-D Tuesday October 5 1976 a Atlanta is still a possibility although. like San Antonio, it a good one. NASL leaders strongly want a franchise in Atlanta because of its large population and appealing location Atlanta, the Express was told, may be awarded a franchise at next NASL meetings when and if the league decides to expand.

San Antonio is not the only city in danger of losing its soccer team. Teams in Boston. Miami and Hartford are also looking for new locutions, according to sources. But for the time being, it appears that the Thunder will lie the first team to officially announce a switch in homes. Which means that San Antonio is abqut to lose one of its two major league sports franchises Unable to absorb the heavy losses alone and unable to interest new investors, Lay has received what is known as a offer from Honolulu one he refuse.

Vikes top Steelers coach calls it quits ASSOCIATED PRESS PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) Rick Forzano, the embattled head coach of the Detroit Lions whose job had been on the line for the past few weeks, submitted his resignation Monday to William Clay Ford, owner of the National Football League club. The team made the announcement in a brief statement and said successor will be named at a news conference on Tuesday. The resignation came one day after the Lions lost their third game in four this season, 24-14 to the underdog Green Bay Packers. Coach Bart Starr seemed to know Sunday that Green victory doomed Forzano in the eyes of the front office.

was extremely sweet, needless to Starr said of the triumph. I want to say I have the greatest respect in the world for Rick Forzano. a class man and, I think, a super coach. I just hope this come at his Prior to the second game of this season. Ford issued a win-or-else ultimatum to Forzano and General Manager Russ Thomas.

The Lions did win that week, beating Atlanta 24-10. Lost again But the next week they lost 10-9 to Minnesota. They first failed on four successive tries to score with a first-and-goal at the one- yard line. Then, in the closing minutes they did score a but when holder Joe Reed bobbled the snap, the extra point that would have tied the game failed. Detroit Lions announced Monday that Coach Rick Forzano submitted his resignation as head coach and it was accepted by owner William Clay the statement read.

A team spokesman said Forzano would be available at a 10 a.m., EDT, news conference Tuesday, after which the club would name his successor, -Ford had suggested before the Atlanta game that he fire Forzano without firing Thomas. There was no immediate indication Monday of fate. World lightweight contender on card A substitution has been made tor next main event on the pro boxing card at Municipal Auditorium. Termite Watkins, the Texas Lightweight Champion who was scheduled to defend his title, will he replaced by veteran Jimmy Heair of Los Angeles. Watkins was scheduled to meet San Rocky Ramon for the state lightweight crown, but the Houston boxer had to withdraw Monday because of an ear infection.

Matchmaker John Toscano explained that Watkins originally injured his ear in an Aug. 31 fight in Corpus Christi against Ramon. He won a split decision over Ramon to claim the title in that fight. Because of the ear infection, Watkins has been unable to train and, therefore, will not be ready to fight by next Tuesday. Heair, the substitute, is a talented veteran who is ranked among the Top 10 in the world by one publication.

After turning pro in 1971, Heair won his first 33 fights before he lost one to Rudy Barra of A. in May of 1974. According Ring Record Book, Heair owned a 43-7 record through 1975. The semifinal bout, a 10-rounder between Jerry Kornele of Houston and Rafael Duran of Mexico, will go on as scheduled. A six-rounder has also been announced, matching Daryl Brumley of Cut and Shoot against Renaldo Garcia of Mexico.

Two more six-rounders will be added to the card. Tickets, priced at $3, $5 and $7, are on sale at or by calling 226-5252. One half of the Thunder is being offered for $500,000. Since making that announcement, Lay has been unable to raise the local money and why in Honolulu this week. A group in that Hawaii city previously made Lay a firm offer to buy half of the team.

Final details of offer reportedly are being ironed out this week. Meanwhile, it appears the chances are slim of San Antonio keeping its pro soccer team. About the only hope now is for either negotiations to break down in Honolulu, or for a local group to contract Lay with the $500,000 offer. Not official yet It was rumored Monday night that decision to move to Honolulu was final but Thunder officials denied it when contacted by the Express. is said Sonny Tate, the acting general manager.

it is true that Ward is in Hawaii negotiating with people there. But we have not moved. We are still a San Antonio-based operation. "I expect him (Lay) to make a final decision or announcement before explained Tate. But it seems to be only a matter of time before the Thunder buys a one-way ticket out of S.A.

After the original offer from the Honolulu group, Lay returned to San Antonio and attempted to attract local investors. He met with several local physicians but apparently able to come up with $500,000. TIGHT END Bennie Cunningham (89) leaps to score lone TD. AP WIRFPHOTO ASSOCIATf PRESS Cornerbaek Nate Allen intercepted a pass and recovered a rumble, paving I he way for a pair of touchdown bursts by Chuck Foreman that paced the Minnesota Vikings to a 17-ti victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night. interception ol a jweoml- pcriod pass by Terry Bradshaw set up eight- yard sweep through the right of the Pittsburgh line that helped put the unbeaten Vikings ahead to stay And in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, after Allen had recovered a fumbled snap of an attempted Pittsburgh punt.

Foreman bulled and twisted Ids way four yards for the clinching touchdown. The Vikings went all the way with Bob Lee at quarterback, benching starter Fran Tarkenton as a starter due to injury-bruised ribs suffered eight days ago for the first time in tiis 16-year National Football League career. Lee failed to generate much offense. It was mostly doing. He rushed for a career-high 148 yards.

But il was mistakes that ultimately handed the two-time Super Bow I champions their third loss 111 tour games Hus year. Bradshaw was intercepted four limes and the Steelers also lost ball twice on fumbles, swelling their season turnmcrs to lti in four games. The lone score for the Steelers ill the nationally televised game came in the first period oil a one-yard asss from Bradshaw to rookie tight end Bennie Cunningham. Allen, who also blocked Roy extra point kick in the first quarter, swiped a Bradshaw pass near midfield and returned it to the Pittsburgh 36 in the second period. Foreman carried five times for 28 yards in scoring drive, including the final eight on ids slashing run through the right side of the Pittsburgh line.

Fred Cox kicked for extra point, giving Minnesota a 7-6 lead. The first touchdown also resulted from an interception. Middle linebacker Jack Lambert picked off a Lee pass and returned it 10 yards to (See VIKES, Page to the two cities involved, we need to announce a decision as soon asr 36X72 EXECUTIVE CENTER DRAWER AND LOCK 72X20 228 MATCHING CREDENZA METAL SUSPENSION ON ALL DRAWERS 198 far as i know, tney weren able to come up with the figure Ward was asking said Tate. money has not become available. Not anywhere near NASL meetings are scheduled to begin Monday in Bloomington, and Lay will attend that gathering to explain his decision to the board of directors.

Any decision by Lay ill have to be approved by the board. But only a formality. I think there should be an announcement prior to the league said Tate. all fairness Lay, a wealthy Dallas man, has owned the team since it came to San Antonio two years ago. He has lost several hundred thousands of dollars in those two years.

The offer made by the Hawaii group reportedly would return to Lay most of his losses. And since he talk S.A. businessmen into taking half of the team. Lay presumably has no choice. As a businessman, he must accept the best offer and so far there lias been only one worthwhile bid.

Tulsa is out Until Lay flew to Honolulu four cities were said to be in line for the 1977 Thunder. S.A.. Honolulu, Atlanta and Tulsa were the candidates. Sources told the Express late Monday night that Tulsa is definitely out. MATCHING ACCESSORIES BOOKCASES CUBE TABLES LATERAL FILES from 38 MODERN SLAB-END STYLING FREE 8-6 DELIVERY SAT 9 3 349.6474 6437 SAN PEDRO NfXT TO 72X20 MATCHING CREDENZA Metal Suspension On All Drawers Jmm Mm 7 2X36 EXECUTIVE TABLE DESK Center Drawer.