The Salt Lake Tribune from Salt Lake City, Utah • 29

Uje jldt jakf tribune Section Thursday, May 17, 1984 Page 1 I iti llmn ih 1 nu c-( nil I -KOO-2- l.t.T I I Ill Russell Mulls Calgary Offer for Gulls "What was once the privilege of a few is now available to all," Jeff Waters, the Nibley Park professional, ryr contended as he announced a i stepped-up Clubs- or-Kids pro-J gram to aid po-1 tential junior golfers "We have hundreds of youngsters at our clinics, but many cannot afford to purchase golf clubs," he continued By Ray Herbat Tribune Sports Writer After two years of trying to compete against brutal spring and sometimes poor summer weather, Salt Lake Gulls Owner Roger Russell said Wednesday that he is seriously considering an offer from Calgary, Canada, to sell his Triple-A franchise. "It is true, Russell said from his office Wednesday, "that I have received an offer from Calgary to buy the club. I was originally approached by the man (identified as Russ Parker, owner of the Calgary Class A team) to buy my interest in the Gulls during the winter meetings (last December). I didn't entertain the offer then because I was hoping for a good spring. Since then, there have been offers and counter games hen it has rained, snow ed or the temperature has been below 38 degrees Now, we are faced with more flood problems "Even last year, when we tried to regain our losses in the summer, we had ari unusually wet August We have worked hard to survive, but there is only so far one can go Russell emphasized that he has not made a decision on the Calgary offer, but he would do so before the season was over "My wife and I love it here, and even if I did sell, we would still live here," Russell added "We have three other businesses and all are profitable, including our Class A club in Salinas.

I just wish that we could establish ourselves here and keep the club Russell was asked whether and major league expansion does become a reality, then Salt Lake could return to Triple-A And he did not discount the idea of placing the Salt Lake baseball club into the American Association Denver. Vancouver and Tampa Bay are the leading contenders for major league expansion Denver currently operates a Triple-A team in the American Association Two years ago, Russell purchased the Salt Lake franchise from a Nashville group for $750,000 The Nashville group, of which Richard Sterhan. Conway Twitty and Jerry Davis were members, bought the franchise from California businessman Joe Gagliardi, who had purchased it from Salt Lake's Art Teecc Parker would move the franchise to Calgan. and he responded "Right now, he couldn because Calgarv does not have a Triple-A facility and the PCL wouldn't approve a move to there. Perhaps, he (Parker) is gambling on major league expansion into Vancouver I think expansion is forthcoming And he could build a ballpark Russell indicated there would be other options open to Salt Lake in the event he sold the team and it was moved to Canada "I still own the territorial tights here for the next two years I could put a Class A team in here, or maybe another Triple-A team Hawaii might be looking for a place to move Russell said that if he had a Class A operation here for a year or two Gulls Nip Toros; To Host Hawaii "We have launched a state-wide program with PGA star Johnny Miller at the head to get golfers to turn in their old clubs, which we will cut down and regrip so these youngsters will hae dubs "Johnny Miller donated a couple hundred old clubs he had laying around, and just think, a kid can believe he is playing with clubs a star professional once used.

There's a break for the golfers donating the clubs, too, since the Internal Revenue Service has ruled that golf professionals are qualified to assess a value on the donated clubs, which can mean a charity write-off on the income taxes. "Of course, junior golf will get a major boost hen Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus play an exhibition match at Park Meadows June 1. Proceeds will be split between Junior Golf and the Primary Childrens Medical Center, Waters explained. As the national program notes, "The tax-free PGA Junior Golf Foundation was created to help fund junior golf devlopment programs. PGA provides the materials, the manpower and the encouragement to get the job done, together with a national network of 8,300 professionals and 4,500 apprentices across the country to implement the program.

So. if you have some clubs or an old set gathering dust in a closet or garage, take them to Nibley Park and you'll not only get a break in your income taxes, but also youll be giving some youngster the opportunity to play a game hell learn to love. offers, and his last offer would be acceptable." Russell said he had not decided in which direction he might go, but he said in the event he did sell the Gulls, he would not do so until after the 1984 season is completed. Despite trying to maintain a high-level operation at Derks Field and provide the best family entertainment possible, the Gulls have lost money. Last year, spring rains and snow kept attendance down, and when the floods came Russell was forced to build a bridge over 13th South so that patrons could cross from the parking lot This season, the weather has been extremely wet and cold Crowds of between 200 to 800 have turned out.

"This year, Russell explained, we have played 18 of our 20 home Is NBAs his 1982-83 season. He had injured his right wrist on Dec. 17, 1982, when San Antonio's Artis Gilmore ripped a rebound away from him, and now, in early January, after being told he could put off surgery until the end of the season if he could stand the pain, he was trying to figure out a way to do it. But he couldnt. In the first week of January, 1983, Dantley moaned, "I cant even do a push-up.

So that was it. The surgery wouldnt wait, and so the season was gone. On Jan. 11, 1983, Adrian Dantley was operated on in Hartford, by hand specialist Dr. Kirk Watson.

The name of the operation was a tri-scaphoid fusion, and what that basically meant was that three small bones in the right wrist would be fused together. On that day, Dantley, who would lose 60 of the 82 games in 1982-83, immediately became a candidate for the award he won Wednesday. Adrian had done the first part hed had his off year. Now, he had to come back. As those around the league already know, he did.

After long hours Associated Press Laserphoto Jazzs Adrian Dantley, shown here during i ppg for six games), won NBAs Comeback his big playoff series against the Suns (33.2 I Player of the Year Award on Wednesday. Comeback Player Special to The Tribune TUCSON Jim Lewis, with final out relief help from lefty Dave Gei-sel, worked long and hard for his fourth victory of the season in pitching the Salt Lake Gulls to a 4-3 decision over Tucson here Wednesday night. Lewis scattered nine hits and came within one out of picking up his second complete game of the season. However, after Chris Jones tripled in a run in the ninth inning, Geisel came on to preserve the win. But not before he gave his teammates some anxious moments.

Geisel hit pinch-hitter Greg Cypret with an 0-2 pitch to load the bases, but he got Larry Ray to bounce out to end the game. The Gulls return home to open a four-game series with Southern Divison-leading Hawaii Islanders Thursday at 7.30 p.m. at Derks Field. The Gulls bested the Toros three of four here after Tucson recently took four straight in Salt Lake. Jim Presley delivered a key two-run single in the eighth inning to snap a 2-2 tie.

Presley, who had been in a slump the past seven games, ripped three hits in four trips. Lewis was matched with righthander Julio Solano, who gained one of his two victories this spring over the Gulls at Derks Field two weeks ago. The Gulls staked Lewis to a run in the first inning when Harold Reynolds led off the game with a walk, stole second and scored on a last season," said Dantley, who began his tedious rehabilitation as soon as his cast came off last spring. Last summer was the most boring summer Ive had, working seven days a week on my wrist. I want to thank Dr.

Kirk Watson and Moe Forsythe (the Jazzs team physical therapist) in Bountiful they really helped me in the beginning stages. Certainly, Dantley met the requirements to win this somewhat nebulous award. But because the award is so ill-defined and also because Dantleys scoring was so routine that some may have overlooked the seriousness of his injury, it figured that Adrian would not win in a landslide. Indeed, when the votes of the NBA media members were revealed Wednesday, Dantley had received only 36 of the 76 votes cast, less than half. Still, that was plenty enough to win.

Thats incredible to me." said Jazz Coach Frank Layden. I think he should have gotten much more. I just think he was far and away the best candidate. Here's a guy with a wrist that could have been career-ending, and he comes back and leads impossible to play a small team when they have McHale and Parish playing together. Bird figures the Bucks will try to stop the Celtics from running Our halfcourt game is good, but, still, we prefer the running game.

When you run you can put together some quick points, McHale said. Theyre going to make adjustments, and I think well make adjustments, said Ainge. I think both teams will be sharper for the second game." Boston has won its last 13 home games, including seven in the playoffs, but Marques Johnson, who led Milwaukee with 18 points in the opener, is hopeful the Bucks can snap that streak. The Western Conference finals, meanwhile, resume Friday night at Phoenix. Los Angeles, after a 118-102 win Tuesday, owns a 2-0 lead on the Suns.

Today's Radio, TV Here Is a list of sports events scheduled for broadcast Thursday, according to local radio, TV and cable stations: 10 30 o.m. Baseball, Cubs vs. Reds, WGN (Cable). 11.35 a.m. Baseball, Braves vs.

Cardinals, (Coble). 4 p.m. NBA playoffs, Bucks vs. Celtics, KDYL-AM (1280) 4.30 p.m. Boxing, ESPN (Coble).

7 p.m. NHL playoffs. Islanders vs. Oilers, USA (Cable) 7:30 p.m. PCL boseball, Gulls vs.

Hawaii, KLAF-AM (1230). single by Ken Phelps. Immediately after the game, Phelps departed the club to rejoin his Seattle Mariner teammates as he completed his rehabilitation program with Salt Lake. Lewis held that 1-0 lead until the fifth when Tucson scored twice. Bert Pena doubled and Jones was safe on an error.

Pena scored on a wild pitch and Jones came home on Jim Tracy's single. In the top of the eighth, Phelps pinch-hitter Glen Walker singled. Allen walked to load the bases and Presley knocked home the two runs with a single off reliever Dwight Bernard. Craig Minetto, who started the eighth, was the losing pitching. The Gulls will pitch Brian Allard (2-5) against Hawaii Thursday.

Paul Semall (3-4) pitches for Hawaii. of Year the league in scoring and makes the All-Star team. Following Dantleys 36 votes was San Antonio guard John Lucas with 23 '-2 and the Jazzs John Drew with 7V2. Oddly, Drew finished second in the voting for the award last season. Otis Birdsong of the Nets got three votes, and six players got one each Mitch Kupchak, John Long, Mi-cheal Ray Richardson, Bill Walton, Rickey Green, and Quintin Dailey.

Lucas came back from a drug-riddled past to finish fourth in the league in assists (10.7 per game). Dantley knows Lucas well (they are both represented by Pro-Serv in Washington) and applauds his comeback, but he maintains their comebacks were different. I thought it was good for him (Lucas) to come back, said Dantley. But its different coming back from an injury and coming back from a drug problem. I think it (the award) should be for an injury or somebody who had a terrible year the year before.

Past winners of this relatively See Page C-4, Column 5 Bob Lanier: Only Two Points Dantley By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer The Comeback Player of the Year Award is not the most coveted among NBA players. After all, you have to have an "off year in order to get in position to win it, and no player wants one of those. Adrian Dantley of the Jazz won the award Wednesday. He hopes he never wins it again. "I dont want to Adrian Dantley be in position to win it again, because I dont want to have to sit out another season like last season, said Dantley by telephone Wednesday from a friend's home in Indiana, where he stopped on his way back to his Washington, D.C., home.

Dantley tried his best not to be in position to win it. It was a little more than 16 months ago that A.D., then leading the NBA in scoring, was trying to find a way to salvage over the summer working on rehabilitating the wrist, Dantley returned to the top of the NBAs scoring list, which is. just where he was when he left with the injury. That's a comeback. Dantleys 1983-84 accomplishments would have been noteworthy even if he didnt have a serious injury from which to recuperate.

They included: his second scoring championship, with a 30.6 scoring average; his fourth starting berth for the West in the All-Star Game; a sixth-place finish among the leagues foul shooters (85.9 percent); a fifth-place finish among all NBA forwards in assists (3.9 per game); the third highest single-season total of free throws made (813) in NBA history; an NBA record of 28 free throws made in one game (vs. Houston Jan. 4), tying Wilt Chamberlains record, ascension to the No. 11 spot among all active NBA career scorers and No. 1 on the all-time Jazz list; and, although this wasnt included in the voteis consideration, a 32.2 scoring average in 11 Jazz playoff james.

"I guess the hard work paid off Pros vs. Pros What would happen if the bona fide professionals were allowed to compete against the professionals passing as amateurs in Olympic competition? Actually, with the of basketball, the change wouldn't be that drastic, since there is so little professional future in most Olympic sports. Several pro football players, who are barred now as professionals, would be eligible to compete in track and field events. But the main difference would be the basketball team, which would consist of an all-star team from the National Basketball Association. This move would be fought by the college amateurs, who would have little or no chance to represent their country in the Olympics, at least until they turned professional.

And maybe this wouldnt be fair. But how would the NBA pros fare against the professionals" of the Iron Curtain nations? Well, as an example, many years ago Ate Saperstein took his Harlem Globetrotters on a tour of Russia. The Russian basketball officials complained that the Globetrotters were making a travesty of the game with their clowning. They demanded the Trotters play the game according to the rules. Saperstein agreed, but specified he had no desire to humiliate anyone, so the game would be played behind closed doors, with only the selected Russ officials as spectators.

But Abe warned he would show no mercy and let his players win as big as they could. I forget the exact score in favor of the Globetrotters, but it was just as well the game was never publicized. It was a rout. The Trotters in those days were a better ball club than now, because many of the great black stars were with the Trotters and not the NBA. And Russian basketball obviously has improved.

But anyone watching the Lakers or Celtics in the playoffs would have to feel a bit of sympathy for the Russians, if they were meeting in the Olympic Games. A Greal Contribution Jimmy Shulsen died Tuesday after a long fight against cancer. He had been out of the sports scene for a number of years, but in his younger years, Jimmy had been a boxer, a manager, promoter and referee. He was one of the original members of the Elks Boxing committee in the days of the popular amateur bouts at McCullough's Arena and the Elks Lodge on South Temple. A son, Dick, who preceded Jim in death, had been a star at West and a boxer and football player at Notre Dame, and Jimmy never lost his interest in helping the kids, especially tnose under-privileged youngsters on the West side Observation Ward This is the one time of the year hen the term sandbagger carries a note of respect.

I NBA: Will Better Be Enough for Milwaukee? Tribune Wire Services Milwaukee center Bob Lanier said Wednesday his team must play close to its potential to compete with the Boston Celtics. But Bucks Coach Don Nelson said even that probably wont be enough. The Bucks played far below their potential Tuesday night and were clobbered by the Celtics, 119-96, in the opener of their best-of-seven National Basketball Association playoff semifinal. Lanier, who was averaging 13.9 points per playoff game, scored just two points on l-of-8 shooting. Guard Sidney Moncrief, beginning the game with a 19.9-point playoff average, managed only four field goals and 13 points.

It's not just a matter of bad shooting. Nelson said Wednesday of the loss. "Its really deeper than that. We, basically, didnt play well. We didnt play up to our potential.

Even if we play up to our potential were going to have a hard time beating Boston because theyre just so strong. We have to not only play up to our potential, I think well have to play over it to win the series. For Thursday nights second game, Boston plans to continue putting pressure on Milwaukees inside men, the Bucks strength, and force the guards to shoot from outside. Lanier frequently found himself double-teamed in the first game. Boston center Robert Parish experienced the same treatment last year in the Bucks four-game sweep of the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinal "It makes it a little frustrating.

Every time you get the ball you cant do anything with it but pass it back out, Parish said. That puts a lot of pressure on the guards because they have to have a better-than-average shooting night, and if you're not shooting the ball well from the outside, it's going to be a long night. Only two of Milwaukees 12 play ers hit more than half their shots Tuesday night as the team sank 42 percent of its field goal attempts, compared to 52 percent for Boston. Weve got to play pretty near our potential to be able to compete with them, said Lanier. Despite the defensive pressure, Lanier had plenty of openings, Nelson said.

He has to be more aggressive. Larry Bird, Bostons leading opening-game scorer with 24 points, credited guard Dennis Johnson with holding Moncrief in check. But Celtic guard Danny Ainge warned that "hes capable of exploding at any time so youve got to be on your toes. Even if the Bucks improve offensively, they still have to contend with the Celtics firepower. Theyre the hardest team for us to match up with in the league because of (backup 6-foot-10 forward) Kevin McHale, Nelson said.

"Our best team is a small team and it's i.