The Times from San Mateo, California • Page 15

Wo, Mar. 22, 1970 THE TIMES San MaHo 13 Warriors Could Feast in Playoffs By JOHN I10RGAN Times Staff Writer The Midwest Division of the NBA has not yet been declared an official disaster area by the league's omnipotent commissioner but the thought has no doubt crossed his agile mind. The division is in worse shape than detente. Shattered entries are the nnrn) here In 197S 7H. All four teams are mere shadows of their former outstanding selves.

No team in the division has a winning record and none expects to when the regular season finally con eludes sometime in April. Eveiy franchise has gone sour at the same time. Yet, because of the vagaries of the NBA playoff system where the meek can indeed inherit the earlli. no leas than two of these turkeys will Irot nut their dismal wares in front of the public during post season competition. The Warriors, who have feasted off Ihe lean offerings of the Midwest, since the opening bell rang last Oclober, will have the dubious privilege of meeting one of the funky four in their first round series.

It figures to he a best of seven exercise In futility. Still, Warrior Coach Al Attics is actually somewhat worried about this prospect. Listen to what he had to say last weekend, after the Warriors had won their Ifit'h game in 13 tries from a Midwest outfit Ithis time it was Milwaukee by a 120 IOft cuunll: "All of this could work against us. It could be a negative thing We haven't lost (d Milwaukee or Detroit year. 11 could hurt us." Attles said he is concerned that complacency could set in.

He might be right. The Midwest Division has barely caused a ripple ol tension in Ihe NBA at large. Larry Cnslcllo, Ihe cairh of the Bucks, readily admitted lhat the Warriors will be "a heavy lavorite" to thrash anyone from the Midwest unce the playoffs begin. Said Coslello. "It's been a strange year for all of us.

But next year will be different. We're a voung team. We need more defense at the guard position. We have nothing but big guards. We need one small, quick guard who can run our ofrense.

The Warriors have almost nothing but quick peuple in Hie buckcourt. They really hurt us there." One Warrior guard whu didn't figure to bother the Hacks much Lurncd out to fx1 an important factor Saturday. Jeff Mullins. 34, started against the Bucks and contributed IS points in only 24 minutes, It was the first time in two years that Mulllns has started. The IB points' represented his high game of the season.

He had only 32 points in 17 previous games alt year. He stalled because he was given special honors Saturday before the game and at halftime is going In retire alter Ihe season is over and Atlles wanted to use him at least once ninre as a sort of fitting sendoff. But MuNlus indicated that there may life in those old bones yet. "We have not put him out lo pasture yet." Attics said. He added that having Mullins able to perhaps as he did in (he 1075 playoffs, will be just one more big plus for Golden State as they start thinking about the I97B playoffs.

"I was hoping my shots would fall." said Mullins later. "1 was keyed up. I fell some pressure early. Before Ihe game, 1 had Phil Smith Ihrow me some hard passes sd I could get used to the sort of ball that Rick iBarryl throws in a game. I didn't want the team to start out bad because of me." They didn't Willi the considerable help of Mullins.

the Warriors gnt out in front of the Bucks early and stayed there. The Golden State fast break was al iis bristling best against Milwaukee as they emicd their regular season series with the Rucks at 5 0. "In some respects," said Costello, "the Warriors I Sec E'uge 1U, Column 1) On an NBA Turkey Plateau Reached Sabourin Back to 'Old Self It'll lie Old Heme Week tonight, when Saliinirin. ex St. Louis slar Wayne Merrick now the Seals' lop scorer plus ex Seals Dave Ilrechkosy and ecnler Larry Pa ley take the ice.

The Blues will feature Gary linger, th'e high scoring center who receul ly broke the NHL's "iron man'' record when he played in his his 631st NHL game, plus peiiallv killers Chuck Leflcy and Derek Sanderson. While the quiet, unspectacular Sabourin wilh his 21 goals and 17 points fourth highest on the cluh has made his 1 can sl ill play point to the Seals, he realizes No, II can't sland pat next season. neither can California in spite of lieller llian ever year. "St whs a gond year Tor us. but it you doii'l make the playoffs again and vou're IB, 20 pomls behind, you've gotta look for improvement someplace.

ISee page 19, column 21 By DICK DRAPER Ti nlrs Sports Writer There was a collective sigh heard 'round the Gary Sabourin household recently. Tile Califurnia Seals' right winger lias made the 2lt gonl plateau. Sure, some teammates have alreadv surpassed the 30 figure or are his'l approaching it. yet for Sabourin his 21 red lights means steady employment anil perhaps a higher pay check next year "I'm pleased with my year regardless of points." explained Knbby. the ffl vear old rigid winger whose Irarie Irom the Toronto Maple Leo is for (lie Seals' Slan Weir prior to this season was queslloni by many a hockey export.

He's finished, thev said. He scored only 13 goals in 197.1 74 (with St. Louisl and 137 1 75. He's washed up. Yet when Sabourin plays against his old Blues comrades 8 o'clock tonight in a rare Monday name at Ihe Oakland Arena, no one can deny lhat the nine year NHL veteran is his old self once again.

had two mediocre years in which 1 had injuries and personal problems, but I'm happy with the vcar I've had with this young team, I just hope the inanagcirienl feels Ihe same way," said Sabourin, "If 1 stay healthy, I'll be all right. I've proven myself to be a consistent 20 goai scorer and a 47 fiO point man. And with this young team 1 ttiink 1 can lend stohilily," Gary Sabourin SPORTS STRETCHING FOR PERFECTION Twelve year old Stacy Holmes of. Concord works on Ihe balance beam during finals of the California Stole Class I Women's Gymnastics Championship Sunday at the College of San Mateo. Miss Holmes, competed for the Diablo Gymnastics Club, Northern California's strongest team.

Green Earning Big Star Status Quakes Capture Title By ED CHITTENDEN Times Correspondent It takes skill, depth, and hustle to win in indoor soccer. The San Jose Earthquakes displayed an abundance of these qualities as they captured Hie NASI, Western Region title. Sunday at the Cow Palace, defeating (he San. Diego 8 4 before 5.438 tans. San Jose battled San Diego evenly' ninst of Ihe time until the combination of Quake striker KJell Samuelsson and Julie Vece began peppering the Jaws' goal with fierce shooting.

Veee was eventually named most valuable player of Hie lournamenl Samuelsson led all scoring wilh four goals. "I kind nf thought they would come out hard against us," commented Veee "We played much tougher the second period. We should never have let them slay so close lo us. A real good team would have murdered us," The first period was even a I 2 2. wilh goals hv Quakes lJaul Child and Samuelssnn and Jaws Dave Wit and Archie Roboosloff.

"They were a completely differenl team I hen Ihcv liad been when (hey lost to Dallas." said Child "I was shocked al the difference. They must have watched ns play Vancouver and really wanted lo come out against us and put us down. They worked hard, pressured us, and we played a llllle too casual in Hie first period," explained Child. During the second period the Quakes used their depth, passeil much better and forced Sari Diego inlo costly mistakes. Veee.

Samuelsson and Child each scored, Ex Earl ho, link Hoboostoff tallied one fnr San Diego making it 5 at tho end of Ihe ieriod. "1 really think Archie inspired them to piny so well. He is an experienced indoor player and he gave lliem confidence, olfered Child Sun Jose dominated Ihe third period, pressuring the Jaws goal lor three more goals. Samuelsson recorded two and llllja Millie one. "Tills was enod preparation for us when we play in Tampa (iN'ASL final nexl week.

After the game it was a ((real workout for us," said San Jose liefender Davie Kemp. Tampa is Ihe defending outdoor champion. They have llndney Marsh, considered to be one ol the premier sncrer players in England today, on the squad. Hubert Green his putter on the ground in disgust when he missed the second of three pulls he needed after driving into sand trap. "I hil a four iron into Hie hunker then lost my he explained.

Green quickly regained his composure with a birdie at the next hole anil reopened a three stroke lead at No. It when he hirdled and Barber bogeyed. But the tournament wasn't, over. When Barber birdied Hi and Green bogeyed 17, Green went into Ihe final hole protecting a one struke lead and promptly nil "a very stupid tee shot that ran through the Irecs into a bunker on the left." Green look a nine iron out ol his bag and placed Ihe ball just 18 inches from ilw cup to set up a birdie to double his lend. That gave Green, who had shot 67s in both the second and third rounds, a 70 276 lo lie the total he shot when he won this tournament two years ago.

"It was a fine "round far Hubert." said Barber, who finished 71 278. "He used great shots and sure worked with ihe elements, especially the wind." Ed Dougherty, an unheralded lour sophomore, shot a closing 67 to tie Mike Hill 171 1 for third place al 279. U.S. Open champ Lou Graham was fifth at 71 230 and South Alnca's Gary flayer, who has earned S4.000 in the five weeks he's been hack in the United Stales, was sixth al 7IV2RI fien Crenshaw, the only oilier golfer besides Green to win two tournaments hack to buck this year, was seventh at 711 282 anil Lee Elder, who now has ntily lv, more chances to receive another hid as the onlv black goiler to plav in the Masters, was eighlh.il 71 283. Green said he doesn't know whal ihe back to back victories will do lor his golf career.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (UPI) Hubert Green frequently is overlooked when people talk about "super stars" on the pro golf lour. But his record speaks pretty loudly for itself. Green, a 25 year old Birmingham. native has hecn on Ihe tour only five and a half years, hut has won 10 tournaments and more than 1616,000.

He picked up Ills second tournament victory in Iwo weeks Sundav by beating Miller Barber by two strokes in the Greater Jacksonville Open. True, he didn't have "super star" Jack Nicklaus lo contend with here but Hubert beat the "Golden Bear" by six strokes the Sundav before in the Doral Open. "Nicklaus wins more than anyone else percentage wise, I said Green, wiio raised his earnings the past two weeks to more than $89,000 to move past Nicklaus and Johnny Miller into fourth place on this year's money list. "But. he doesn't win everything." Green, who has yet to win a "major" championship tNicklaus has won ifjl.

hopes his current hot streak will carry through the Masters, Uiree weeks irom now. "But, 1 won't feci good about the Masters 'til April, when 1 get there." Green was eighth in last year's Masters, nine strokes behind champion Nicklaus. His win here Sunday was his third in six months since he won the Southern ripen last September for his only 1975 triumph after winning three tournaments and more than $200,000 in 1H74. Green says he's mure interested in Hie victories than the money they bring "I'm out on the lour Irving to win titles, not money'" he said. Creen threw away an early three stroke lead Sunday when lie took a dnti ble bogey five at Ihe third hole, throwing Rigney Sets His Starting Lineup CAS A GRANDE.

Ariz. (AP) The San Francisco Giants' starting lineup for Wednesday's opening exhibition baseball game will very likely be the same one facing tho Los Angeles Dodgers in the season opener April il. savs Manager Bill Itigney. Higney said Sunday lhat lie plans lo start calcher Dave Under, first baseman Willie shortstop Chris Speier, second baseman Derrel Thumas. third baslcman Ken Fieilz and niillielders Gary Matthews.

Von Joshua and Gary Tho mason. Higney has not yet decided on a pitcher for the exhibition opener against Milwaukee in Sun City. It also is unlikely lhat outfielder Bobby Nlurcer, who slill hasn't reported to camp, will play in Wednesday's game, Higney said. thirty five players took part in a three hour workout Sunday, and fastball pitcher John D'Acquisto looked especially (See page 16. column 3) TEN HIGH CELEBRATES HIRAM WALKER'S 10 MILLIONTH BARREL.

ABA Guilty Too? il Jin Wilker II NBA Pool Paid Top Stars ruiboi' ftoul its II aniline! nr. I.AlvJ li iiHiuiKi. ii bi.it. Is Lii'iquc iniie proudl I NEW YOHK I API Die National rn I Tram uilU V. prevents a party from sucking damage.

lor a violation il it has engaged in til? same illegal practice. The AHA has liled an antitrust ease in federal court here and the suit is scheduled to go to (rial June 1 But the ABA may have committed similar actions, which could pull the rug out from under the restraint ol trade arguments, several attorneys said. William Alverson, president of the Milwaukee Bucks, confirmed Sunday a New York Times slory which said that all the NBA teams were contributing pari ol the lug dollar salane: id sui.il superstars as Kick Harry. Kareent AUiul J.dibar and Hayes The Times sjiiI the practice lirC.in in and ripiiiimuil i.ir Ic.M SB 'ilHAIGHT BOUSBON 3 jfj WHISKEY if "It was done with soiuctliinji like one player per team, not just lour or live in Ihe league said AKeron "We pooled tin' lutal salaries, and clubs either gr.i money back or seal Ihe net to the league oft ice lo even lungs up "It ended in 1971." Alverson said. "We cut it nut because the AHA claimed in lawsuit that it was hurting them.

Since then, the ABA has been doing xactly Ihe sumo thing, after complaining about it franklin Mieuli. owner of the Golden Slate Warriors, said, however, hat the practice lasted until tin ls season, lie sani lli.it part ot Barry's annual salarv v.a paid the oilier NBA teams alter ftarrv returned tho NBA in 1972. bid ih.ii Tin NBA Ii.imi shared I hose pav mi Ills in llli last tw Basketball Association lias been exposed lor a zone defense spreading all over the league lo cover pavments to some of its highest priced stars. Bui the American Basketball Association, which has liled antitrust action for this and other alleged activities, mav be guilty nf the same foul Several team officials from the NBA have confirmed the previous existence of a pooling arrangement to pay for the league's top stars Hoi one NBA olficial charged that the ABA has engaged in the same practice. U'gal sources say that if the charge is substantiated, il could jeoparrtie ihe ABA's antitrust suit aeainst (he NBA under "clean inds mm.