Times-Advocate from Escondido, California • 21

TIMES-ADVOCATE Business Friday, July 27, 1984 Padires a birodlgje DDD it I 5 If pndhecr Harris A the right-handed Goose. Last week, still in search of the bridge that could bring the club a playoff berth, General Manager Jack McKeon acquired right-hander Greg Harris from the Montreal Expos. In two outings since coming to the Padres, Harris has pitched four innings and hasn't allowed a run. His latest stint was a neat two-inning job Thursday in an 8-2 romp over the Cincinnati Reds. "Heck yes, I can be that bridge," said Harris, whom the Padres rescued from Indianapolis, Montreal's AAA affiliate in the American Association a stop he had made three times.

"Earlier this season, the Expos used me as the bridge to get to Mike Reardon and Gary Lucas. I was very successful." Indeed he was. Please see Harris, page C4 By John Maffei Times-Advocate Sports Editor SAN DIEGO The Padres are a little less than two-thirds of the way through the 1984 season and the NL West pennant is clearly in sight. But the club is still looking for what it feels is the missing link on the pothole-filled road to a pennant. Since they signed Goose Gossage on Jan.

12, the Padres have been searching for a bridge a man to pitch effective middle-inning relief so the Goose can come in and close the door on opposing clubs. Luis DeLeon was thought to be the ideal bridge an experienced reliever with an unselfish attitude. But DeLeon has been plagued by arm miseries in what has become a lost season for him. Craig Lefferts was given the opportunity to be the bridge, but he's pitched so well, he's become the perfect left-handed complement to Padre Watch Thursday's game San Diego 8, Cincinnati 2 Standings: The Padres are 58-41 and in first place in the NL West, 7 games ahead of the Braves, 9 ahead of the Dodgers. Last year: The Padres were 49-50 and in fourth place in NL West, 12 games out of first on July 27, 1983 Streaks: San Diego has won five of its last 10 and eight of its last 13 games.

Today's game: Houston (Bob Knepper 9-8) at San Diego (Ed Whitson 11-5), 7:05 p.m. Radio: KFMB (760). a i f- Jr sjr- 1 I i -A-'" t''J i I Williams likes rest for Padres' best "Games like this make all the difference' in the world," Williams said. "When you're way up in a game or way out of it, it's important to rest people. It's important to get the regulars out even if it's for only part of the game.

"It gives them a rest and breaks their routine. It keeps them fresh physically and mentally. "But when things are going well as they are for us now everything works. We jump out to a big lead, and I can Tafford to rest people. "That's important because we have a big series this weekend with the Astros." The Padres and Astros play four games in three days in San Diego Stadium and the Padres will face a tough quartet of pitchers in Bob Knepper, Joe Niekro, Nolan Ryan and Mike LaCoss.

Combined they have a 32-23 record. "The next three days aren't going to be easy," said Williams. "I understand they're really looking forward to this series. They're 10 games behind us, but if they sweep us, they can really close the gap. "I rate Houston as good as Atlanta and L.A.

I think the Astros can catch somebody and move up in the standings. But if we keep play-Please see Padres, page C4 Dave StccardtThe Times-Advocate Alan Wiggins slides safely under Reds' Ron Oester for stolen base. 5 is 5 A if Don Norcross T-A Sportswriter Chargers welcome back 'the pro' "Charlie Joiner is a great inspiration to this entire team. He leads the team by his actions on the field, not with what he says." Ed Luther The date was Dec. 17, 1979.

The opponent was the Denver Broncos. San Diego Stadium was sold out. In, fact, it was bursting at the seams. History was about to be made. And now, five years later, 500,000 people instead of the actual 50,000 who attended will tell you they were there.

The Chargers were 11-4, their best record in 16 years. But it was not yet good enough to make the playoffs. Defeat the Broncos and the Chargers would be playoff bound for the first time in 14 years. Lose, and what was once so promising a season would end in bitter disappointment. And, yes, all this was to be recorded on national television.

It was Monday Night Football with Howard, Dandy Don and The Gift. For a while, it looked like Charlie Joiner would miss the outcome of this, the biggest game in his career. He was knocked out of the game. But he returned, only to be knocked out again by another vicious hit. Joiner, this time with his chin bandaged, returned a second time.

And this time it was Charlie who delivered the knockout punch. Bruised, battered and bandaged, Joiner pulled in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Dan Fouts in the second half that assured the San Diegans a 17-7 victory and a ticket to the playoffs. Afterward, photographers captured one of the most poignant scenes in the team's history. It was of Owner Gene Klein, he too having now ended years of frustration, embracing Joiner as they left the field. Now you know why his teammates refer to Joiner as "the professional." "The professional" will be back for a 16th season, his ninth with the Chargers.

He signed with the club Thursday morning. It was six days later than expected, but you knew it would be that way. It was because he needs only 54 receptions to pass Charley Taylor and become the NFL's all-time leader in catches. Also, at 36, it's doubtful USFL clubs were salivating over him, which was why he had to settle for a one-year contract with the Chargers. And Ernie Zampese, the Chargers' assistant head coach, tells why you knew Charlie Joiner would be back in '84.

"He just personifies everything you'd want of anybody in an organization, not just a player," said Zampese. "He's extremely loyal to the organization, works as hard as he possibly can and has total concentration." Even Joiner, who was holed up in a Mission Valley hotel for the past six days, knew it would end this way. "I knew sooner or later it would be worked out," said Joiner at a press conference with Head Coach Don Coryell. In truth, Joiner's loyalty is probably more to Coryell than it is to Klein and the Charger organization. In the first 10 years of his career, 9 of which were without Coryell, Joiner had 282 receptions, or about 28 a year.

In the next five years, all with Coryell, Joiner had 314 receptions, or 63 a year. And one of those years was the strike-shortened 1982 season. Maybe that's why Joiner was moved to remark, "My career was extended when Coryell took over." Naturally, the subject of Joiner's pursuit of Taylor's record came up. Asked what the record would mean to him, Joiner said, "I don't think it's very important. The most important thing is going to the playoffs.

I just want to And he sees the Chargers doing just that. "I don't see any reason why we shouldn't," he said. "I think we've got the talent. We've got a good blend of veterans and younger players. Last year we had too many injuries.

We know this isn't a 6-10 team." A writer mentioned to Joiner that some so-called experts are claiming the Chargers disastrous Please see Joiner, page C6 By John Maffei Times-Advocate Sports Editor SAN DIEGO Dick Williams hopes that late in September when the Padres have the NL West pennant firmly tucked away, he can look back and point to days like Thursday as keys to a pennant-winning season. Thursday, the Padres jumped to an early 5-0 lead and eventually punched out the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 before 20,924 fans at San Diego Stadium. En route to the victory, Williams was able to lift regulars Alan Wiggins, Tony Gwynn, Steve Garvey, Graig Nettles, Terry Kennedy and Garry Templeton. Libya decides to pull out of Games TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) Libya announced today that it is withdrawing its team from the Los Angeles Olympics, a day after Libyan journalists were denied entry to the United States. A brief communique by the official Libyan news agency JANA said, "The Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahirya has decided to withdraw from the Los Angeles Olympic Games." It gave no reason for the decision, but the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee announced today that State Department had refused entry to three Libyans who applied for journalist credentials at the Olympics.

Peter Ueberroth, president of Jie organizing committee, said the Libyan journalists would "not be oermitted to enter the United States or into the Los Angeles 3ames." He declined to say why the State Department refused to admit the Libyans. State Department spokesman Brian Carlson said today in Washington that the department had no immediate comment. "It's not for me to speculate. It's a government decision and we're just responding to that decision," Ueberroth said at a mid-morning news conference. Libya's six-man sports delegation has one weightlifter and five equestrians, Ueberroth said, but a chartered plane to transport the team's horses to Los Angeles ap- parently has been canceled by the Libyans.

"The charter was cleared to land in the United States. It was can-Please see Libya, page C2 zW I ftWil life 1 i Cs '4. Donna CosentinoThe Times-Advocate Mike Lankow, left, and Bill Binion hold a model of the proposed stadium, as students gather on a bank that would be used for bleachers. Eagles may inally get their nest SPORTS committee close to building stadium for SP athletics 1 "jf tion for a new scoreboard is also in the process. Cost for the scoreboard will exceed $6,000 according to Murphy.

Under current plans, SPORTS has five main objectives to improve the existing facility. Plans for the stadium include the construction of a bleacher area on the east side of the field. Seating on the west side will also be increased from 500 to 1,500. Also planned for the stadium is an increase in the field-lighting system. SPORTS will keep the pre-existing fixtures, but will double the number of lights currently on the poles.

A public address system, scoreboard, press box and two permanent ticket booths are also in the original plans. But the brief period of time SPORTS has for the construction of the stadium is a problem. "We don't know if we can get it all accomplished by then, but coach Woodhouse assured us that if we got the bleachers completed, they'd play some of their games here," said Murphy. Woodhouse was on vacation and unavailable for comment. Murphy said construction of the bleachers could begin within the next two weeks.

SPORTS has reduced the cost of the facility by more than 50 percent through the use of volunteer labor from various sections of the business community. Please see Eagles, page C2 By Eric Parker Special to The Times-Advocate ESCONDIDO Just like an orphan, the San Pasqual High School varsity football team has never had a home, but that may soon change. Through the efforts of the San Pasqual Organization for Reconstruction of the Stadium (SPORTS), an independent non-profit organization, and the Southwest Escondido Kiwanis club, San Pasqual may be only months away from having its own stadium, according to SPORTS Vice President Tom Murphy. In the past, efforts to complete a stadium at San Pasqual through the Escondido Union High School District have failed. Murphy said that as a non-profit organization, it's important for people to see the actual construction of the proposed stadium in order to generate more donations.

"We don't want to overdraw our committment," said Murphy. "But we want the guys to be able to play football here come September, and we can't do that unless we start construction soon." Since San Pasqual's inception, the Golden Eagles have never played a home game. They've had foster homes at Escondido and Orange Glen. "Let's face it, if we get San Pasqual out of Orange Glen and Escondido's fields it will be an advantage to all of them," said Murphy. Cost for the prosposed construction, if handled purely through a contractor, ranges between $350,000 and $500,000.

SPORTS officials say the job can be com- SPORTS Vice President Tom Murphy. T-A handicapper has winning day DEL MAR Times-Advocate handicapper Larry Weinbaum's second day at Del Mar was a big one. Weinbaum picked winners in six of the track's nine races. He scored in the first race with Message to Garcia for $10.60. He got the third race with Ancient Lady at $4.60, the sixth race with Axarion at $4.60, the seventh race with Volamo at $7, the eighth race with Super Diamond at $7 and the ninth race with Welsh Light at $8.

pleted for roughly $150,000. Presently, SPORTS is accepting donations for the stadium in hopes of having construction completed by September. "We're trying to raise $160,000 for the entire project, but we're trying to do it in increments," said Murphy. "In this first increment, if we can bring in at least $50,000, and we're at least at the halfway mark of that plateau right now, we'll get started on the bleachers right away." SPORTS officials also said a private dona.