San Antonio Express from San Antonio, Texas • Page 50

A whole new game for WFI, Hundreds of reporters hurried to the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York Wednesday figuring to hear that the World Football League was back and ready to fight. Well, we were half right. Yes, there is a WFL this year but, no, this buneh plan to fight anybody. League president Chris Hemmeter said it bluntly, do not plan to get into a price war with the NFL. San franchise governor Norm Bevan went into even more detail.

want to pete with high school foot- hall in San Antonio. We want to compete with the colleges on Saturday. even want to deprive fans from watching the Cowboys on Sunday afternoons, if they want he added. These statements tell a lot about the people of this WFL. Although most of the men involved 7 nDM dpvaw are wealthy, they are not NORM BEVAN rich daddies with egos bigger than their bank accounts.

Instead, they are a conservative group which wants it known that the WFL is here to stay. Instead of offering numerous outrageous salaries, they are offering security. Instead of bad rapping Pete Rozelle and the NFL, they use words like respect, dignity, There is no Gary Davidson in the league this year. We all remember Gary. the guy who talked big money men into investing millions in various sports and he's always been the first one to get out.

also been the only one to get out making money, instead of losing it. With Davidson sunning on the warm beaches in California, the WFL is a new league now. It be compared with that comedy act last year. INew owners, ideas Only two of the 10 franchise owners this year were involved with the league last year. And those two those of the Memphis and Philadelphia franchises owe no debts.

They, unlike all the other 1974 WFL teams, were able to pay for their miseries. said that the WFL combined for a total loss of about $20 million last year so most of the men with money then able to come up with the stuff this time. These new owners are more realistic and have more reasonable ideas about their future. They are believers in the Hemmeter Plan, named after the new president. To enter the league, each franchise first had to put at least $000,000 in escrow for operating expenses this season.

They didn't join by saying mail you a They were accepted into this league only by presenting the money in person to the other owners Wednesday. This money is the security. It will prevent some of the ridiculous stunts of 1974 from happening again. Late last season it got so bad in the WFL that one team play because it afford to get its uniforms out of the cleaners. Another team afford to buy its players meals before or after the game.

you believe some of the things that went on- last laughs Bevan. He laughs because confident it happen again. Grantham is optimistic Larry Grantham, the former N.Y. Jet linebacker who was all-pro seven times, was in the WFL last year and he clearly remembers the bad times. He played for the Florida (Orlando) Blazers, who advanced to the league title game before losing by one point.

He and his teammates played without pay for a few months. I be here if I believe if I know that we have security this he told me in New York. Grantham will be San defensive coach but, if necessary, be ready to play, too, for some reason our quality of play at linebacker up to what we think it should be, I could play. Or if we had lots of injuries. Otherwise, he said.

Grantham earned a hefty salary during his big years in New York and so confident in Hemmeter and the WFL that he says be willing to put everything I have on the line that this thing goes over be back on his small Mississippi farm if he really believe it. have studied it and 1 know it will go. And I know that Norm Bevan and some others in San Antonio are determined and dedicated to give the city a winning says Grantham. As determined and dedicated, perhaps, as those players like Grantham who went 14 straight weeks without a paycheck last year. fun Antonio (Sxprtss SPORTS Fishing Report Page 5D HS Baseball Page 6D Scoreboard Page 7D Major League Baseball Page 4D Page 1-D Friday April 18 1975 Thunder, Tornado to hit S.A.

tonight By JIM HUTTON OF THE EXPRESS STAFF Thunder coach Alex Perolli thinks planning strategy against the Dallas Tornado is useless. But then he thinks the same way for the other 18 North American Soccer League sides. San Antonio, under guidance, makes its NASL debut at 7:30 p.m.; Friday against Dallas at North East Stadium. Tickets are scaled at $5-3-2-l. League commissioner Phil Woosnam will be in attendance to welcome the Thunder into the professional soccer ranks as San second of three major-league franchises.

Our Game never think of ways of playing another Perolli said. play our game. I care how and who they Perolli believes no strategy is a winning And the Perolli style of soccer play consists of and quick passing with the ability to go as quickly as possible all the Formations may change but never the style. coach must create a style of play. A team never changes that style Brass band on hand for Spurs By LARRY HOWELL OF THE EXPRESS STAFF Members of the San Antonio Spurs begin preparing Friday to scatter in 11 different directions.

George McGinnis and the Indiana Pacers ended the season for the Spurs Wednesday night in Indianapolis with a 115-100 win which clinched the quarterfinals playoff over San Antonio. The flight back to San Antonio Thursday was quiet and sleepy until the players walked into a brass band reception in the San Antonio airport. Spurs coach Bob Bass and his startled team stared as the Central Catholic High School Band blasted out the opening notes to Me Greetings Several hours later, the players were still talking in amazement at being greeted by about 75 fans after losing the playoffs to the Pacers. just Bass remarked, his voice cracking slightly. like this just done for professional teams, especially after you Co-captain Rich Jones, who struggled through a dismal shooting series with the Pacers, agreed with Bass.

wish you could say something about how thoughtful it was of the fans to greet us at the airport like that. come back like we did, and some people might say, you guys. You win the But these people stayed behind us. It made us all feel good." Jones staid night ne li stop snooting basketballs for at least two or three weeks. think we had a heckuva year, even though all of us RICH JONES wanted to go further in the The big forward said he was mentally and physically little tired, but start playing again in a few weeks.

the meantime, a lot of things I need to be doing: taking the family someplace during the summer, and things like pulling weeds around the house. won a lot of ball- games this year (51 out of 84 in the regular season). I thought it was a teal good Other Ports While Jones is grabbing weeds in the backyard of his North San Antonio home, several of his teammates will be unpacking their bags in other parts of the U.S. Four of the Spurs are from California, Stan Love, Swen Nater, Coby Dietrick and Chuck Terry. Last year, only Dietrick Sec SPURS, page 2D Brewers win in 10th By AURELIO RAMIREZ JR.

Of the Expren Staff Saji Antonio made it two in a row over Midland Thuisday night, outlasting the dubs, 1-0, in ten innings at Kfefe Field. Tire lone run crossed the plate when Dave Oliver drew a bases-loaded walk with none away in the final frame. sweeps TEMPLE (Spl) Temple Junior College swept a doubleheader from Hill, 7-6 and 5-2, Thursday night. Farmer St. Gerard ace Greg Krueiak got the win in rclidf in the opener.

Outfielder Rex triple, the first three-bagger by the locals this season, started what proved an abrupt end to a well-pitched game. Bynum led off the first extra inning with his triple off southpaw Richard Ware, who took over for Dan (order to start the tenth. Playing the percentages, Cub manager Doc Edwards then proceeded to order Ware to intentionally walk both pinch hitter Ben Huise and designated hitter Wil Aaron to load the bases and set up a force play at the plate. Ware threw three balls, slipped a strike past Oliver and tossed the fourth bail to end the game. Gary Weese, who came on to relieve starter Tom McGough with two on and two out in the ninth, picked up his first win of the season by retiring the only four batters ho faced.

McGough scattered six hits and struck out six while walking only one in the first eight and two-third innings. limited the Brewers to three singles in the first nine innings. San big threat before the tenth came in the second inning when back-to-back singles by Brock Davis and Rich Guerra and a ground- out put runners on second and third with two gone. Aaron Randall had a pair of singles to lead the Cubs at the plate while none of the Brewers had more than one hit. SAN ANTONIO 1 ab bl Aaron dh 4 0 0 0 Olivr 2b 4 0 0 1 OGnlz lb 10 0 0 Hnah 3 0 0 0 Rodrgc 1 0 1 0 Davis cf 3 0 10 Guera 3b Blair ss Bynum rf Kzmch If Huse oh 2 0 10 4 0 0 0 3 110 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MIDLAND (0) ab bl Ortiz It 5 0 0 0 JGnls 3b 5 0 0 0 Brght rf 3 0 10 Walis cf 4 0 1 0 RandlSlb 4 0 2 0 Hall dh 3 0 0 0 Mntrl 2b 4 0 10 Ptnom 4 0 0 0 Sembr ss 4 0 1 0 Totals 34 0 0 38 1 4 1 if it expects to be a champion.

Players use their mentality and abilities to absorb and fit into that style or they Perolli has won two NASL titles at Rochester, N.Y. and Los Angeles with his style which emphasizes almost super-human conditioning. that type of conditioning which will test a Dallas side which is expected to take the Central Division crown. The Tornado will open the season with several of its key players still performing with English sides and one Dallas official says the team probably would be happy to be 3-3 early into the season before many starters and loan players arrive in Big D. But Dallas still was able to register a third-place finish in the NASL Indoor Championships at San Cow Palace with all that pessimism intact.

Blanked Cosmos The Tornado blanked the New York Cosmos, 2-9, in the consolation game for the lone shutout of the tournament. Ilija Mitic, who has come out of retirement in San Francisco, and Mike Renshaw scored the winners. Renshaw will start at a midfield position Friday and Mitic at a wing. Mitic had 81 shots, 10 goals and 21 points last season. He leads the NASL in scoring with 64 goals in only 101 games.

Mitic joins fellow winger Dave Chadwick and striker Kyle Rote, Jr. to compose attackers. At goal Friday will be sensational Ken Cooper who had nine shutouts last season. Midfield Combination The midfield combination will include Renshaw, Roy Turner and Walter Rautman. The fullbacking corps includes Altamont McKenzie, Neil Cohen, Bobby Moffat and Bobby Kesson.

starting lineup shows no surprises from the exhibition season except for newcomer Roberto Blanco manning the defensive midfield position. Former Los Angeles Aztec goalie Bias Sanchez will open in the nets with his defensive unit composed of left fullback Mark Stahl, sweeper John McKernan. stopper Daniel Califano and right fullback Raul Forteis. Besides midfielder Blanco, the swingmen will include attacking midfielder Eduardo Wolf and linkman Luis Marotte. attackers are left winger Peter Filotis, striker Chris Carenza and right wing Gerard Hylkema.

There is one other NASL opener Friday the St. Louis Stars visit the Miami Toros but professional soccer spotlight will be on San Antonio. presence has made that a certainty. THUNDER PRESEASON STATS Record: 3-2 Games: Thunder 6, Austin All-Stars 0 (Amateur); Thunder 3, UH Soccer Club 1 (Amateur); Monterrey University 5, Thunder 1 (Pro); Tampa Bav 2, Thunder 1 (Pro); Thunder 3, Tampa Bay 1 (Pro). Goals: Gerard Hylkema Eduardo Wolf Luis Morotte James Dohertv Didl Portassi 1.

Goals Scored By Halves: Thunder First Half: Second Half: 8. Opposition First Holt: Second Holt: 7 THUNDER striker Chris Carenza practices Midland 000 000 000 0-0 San Antonio 000 000 000 1-1 Bellolr, LOB Midland 8, San Antonio 10. 3B Bynum. Hall, Davis. SB Sember.

IP ER BB SO Corder 9 3 0 0 5 1 Ware (L, 0-1)0 1113 0 McGough 6 0 0 1 6 Weese (W, 1-0) 0 0 0 0 0 x-faced four batters In tenth. HBP bv Corder (O. Gonzales). WP Corder. McGough.

2:47. no friend like a good friend. OLD CHARTER The smoothest Kentucky Bourbon you'll ever know. STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY 86 PROOF 1973 OLD CHARTER 0IST-. CO, lOUISVtllE.

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