Abilene Reporter-News from Abilene, Texas • Page 83

Abilene Reporter-News sporte obituaries- classified-comics farm ABILENE, TEXAS, FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 16, 1976 Canadians Back Off MONTREAL (AP) The Canadian government gave in a little, and the door was held open lo the Taiwanese Thursday night to compete in the Olympic Games after all. Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau softened and said the Taiwanese can use tneir own Hag and anthem. Bui he still insisted that the name China must not appear in any form on their shield at Saturday's opening ceremony. There was no assurance, however, the Taiwanese would accept Trudeau's concession. "We are the Republc of China Olympic Committee, and that's the only way we can think of ourselves." said Victor Huen, secretary of the Taiwanese delegation.

"Bui everybody is giving a little bit lo save Ihe Games, and, after coulting with Taipei, maybe our people will compromise, loo." The U.S. team will compete. Philip 0. president of Ihe U.S. Olympic Committee, announced at a news conference there is no longer any plan to puli out Ihe Americans in sympathy with Taiwan.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was expected lo vote Friday in favor of changing Ihe rules to allow the Taiwanese to march as "Taiwan" instead of "Republic of China." It needs a two-thirds majority from the 69 members present and the IOC still has to persuade the Taiwanese lo agree. Krumm. a central figure in the moves to solve one of the worst crises in Olympic history, ad- mitted the chances of persuading Ihe Taiwanese were "rather dim." "Bui there is always hope, and there is always some light if Ihe door is left open," Krumm said. The Taiwan crisis, which has become more tense and more threatening to the Olympic movement with each day in the past week, suddenly slackened with Trudeau's climb-down. All along he had been saying the Taiwanese must not call themselves Ihe Republic of China, must not use Iheir flag or their anthem.

Communist China's animosity lo Taiwan, and the strong trade links between Canada and Peking, were the root cause of Trudeau's policy, Ixrd Kiltanin, president of the IOC, bilterly denounced the Canadian government for failing to honor a promise, made seven years ago, to allow all recognized alhletes into Canada for the Montreal Games. The Taiwanese insisted they would not abandon their name, flag or anlhem. Canada said in (hat case they could not come in. A phone call from Killanin lo Trudeau Thursday morning broke the deadlock. The Prime Minister agreed lo give way on the flag and the anthem.

Later Trudeau told newsmen in Ottawa: "They can fly what nag they want and play what tune they want, bul let Idem not call themselves of China." Before the Killanin-Trudeau talks were made public, a group of Taiwanese held a news conference and repeated il will nol abandon its name. They included two yachtsmen and their coach, who got into Canada because they have dual citizenship and used United Slates' passports. The Taiwanese news conference offered a ray of Lawrence Ting, head of the Taiwanese delegation, said he would abide by IOC rules. "Those rules are my bible," Ting said. At that stage of the day he was thinking about his yachtsmen, and Iheir right to compete and march in the parade.

Bul IOC members hoped to hold Ting to his word If they change the rule about name shields at the opening. The IOC had another argument that Taiwanese athletes used the name "Formosa" al the Rome Olympics in I960. They have called themselves the Republic of China ever since. By early evening Killanin, 61, appeared at a news conference looking tired and drawn after days and nights of talks. "I don't know how he has stood up to the strain," an aide said.

Bul for the first lime in days Killanin was smiling. "I consider we have upheld our principles," Killanin said. "We did not want lo cancel the games. 1 have taken the view all the lime lhal precedent must be given to Ihe athletes. "We look a knock, but the black eye I received last week, when Ihe Canadian government refused to change its attitude, has cleared a little.

It is no longer black, but it is still a bit brown." The Offer; They can fly what flag they want and play what tune they want, but let them nol call themselves representatives of China. Pierre Trudeau The Answer: Everybody is giving a i hit to save the anil after consulting with Taipei, maybe our people will compromise, too. Victor linen, secretary of the Taiwanese delegation Churns water U.S. swimmer Tim Shaw of Long Beach, churns Ihe water in the Olympic swimming pool site as he performs his freestyle exercises Thursday evening. The Olympic swimming events will slarl Sunday, one day after Ihe 21st Olympic Summer Games will be opened here by Queen Elizabeth of England.

(AP Wire- photo) Swim Coach Feels Safe With Israelis By FRED ROTHENBEHG AP Sports Writer MONTREAL (AP) Ron Ballatore, a successful American swimming coach, has found a very safe home with the Israeli delegation. "I sleep fine at night," said Ballalore, referring to Ihe enormous security lhal surrounds Israel's delegation althe Olympic village and its athletes wherever they "I've heard jokes about it but I'm not worried. You can't go through life worrying about that. There is a lot of security. It's a shame because the Games are supposed lo be friendly." Ballatore said he had strict orders not to discuss Israel's security.

But The Associated Press has learned from several sources that there are at least two ma- chine gunners with bullet proof vests on the Israeli floor in the Olympic village. No one except members of the delegation can get onto the floor. All entrances bul one leading to Ihe Isreslis, who are on the top floor of (he building, are blocked. In addition, there are several security people masquerading as athletes. When the competition begins, they will be scratched, one source said.

There appear Art Lawler Limits to the 'Juice' How would you i to be an a millioiiaire? Here you are, the best running back in the world, at least to the majority of fans, and you can't even find a job, except with your old boss. You don't really want to stay on as the top em- ploye of that organization because, well because it's too cold in the north, and the family is back on the West Coast, along with al! of your friends and beaches. So you make up your mind you won't return to the old job any longer. You're going to demand a transfer back home. But first, a member franchise has to put you to work.

You can't expect to live on the measley few hundred thousand dollars left over from last year. So you tell your old boss, "Look, I'm good, ya know. I mean, man I'm really good. The best, to be more precise. But I'm sick of this town and I'm sick of you and frankly, if I don't get my way, I'm going to give up my career.

And you know as well as I do, if that happens, this business is dead. I'm what keeps everybody making money." The boss tries to be understanding, and he realizes that despite the lucrative salary he's paying you, that you're just not satisfied. So he goes to work to see about a transfer. As you expected, several employers are interested in your services, but most of them live in towns you don't really care for. Lei's face it, the only place you really want to live in is Los Angeles.

Make them send you to L.A. be stubborn. You teil your boss you appreciate his efforts but that places outside the L.A. area just don't turn you on. He looks a bit exasperated, but finally he tells you he will try a little harder, but that you're not making things easy.

Organization Already Strong The problem with sending you lo L.A. is that the organization there is already a strong one. Sure you might a il even stronger, but from a practical standpoint, the difference you would make in the success of the franchise couldn't offset the tre- a a a a a a a demanding. Sorry, but you've just priced yourself out of the business. You have to figure this is what is happening to O.J.

Simpson. When the Buffalo running back plays, the crowds love him, and because of it, he is able to obtain and receive a handsome salary. Bul what O.J. is probably already learning is there is a limit to the value of any performer, no matter how talented. It's true that some franchise in the Bay area may yet meet his demands, and if so, congratulations are in order.

But don't count on it. Why should the Rams give up Lawrence McCutcheon, Jack Youngblood and Jack Reynolds, plus assume Simpson's salary, when they're already fat and happy. The Rams are an annual contender. Their popularity is high and the home crowds more than acceptable. If O.J.

were to join them, he'd probably replace McCutcheon, who is certainly no slouch. You figure the Juice might make a few more yards, but without Youngblood and Reynolds it is also true the Rams might give up a few more yards. In the end the Rams would probably still be contenders, drawing similar crowds and retaining similar popularity. The only difference is the a would have assumed Simpson's salary, about $250,000 annually. What About Retirement Simpson has indicated he only wants to play one more year.

Meaning that after one season the Rams could be left to struggle along without Simpson, without Youngblood, without iMcCutcheon and without Reynolds. I know, Simpson has made his position slightly more flexible in recent days, saying if he were traded to a contender like L.A. he might even consider lengthening his career. Simpson also indicated to Buffalo management a year ago when he signed a lucrative package that he'd be around for years to come. The Bills, bargaining in good faith, met most of O.J.'s requests.

Somehow you gel the feeling that O.J. might also go back to his original plan of retiring next season once he has a fat contract in his hip pocket. If O.J. succeeds it'll have to be one of the great upsets in recent history. The American football fan didn't like it when Jimmy Brown retired at a relatively young age.

It was hard lo swallow when Duane Thomas took himself out of the game because of his personal problems. Bul like Thomas has already discovered, and I'm sure Brown has also, the game will survive. Pro football is bigger today than il has ever been. When the old stars leave, new ones take their place. And even if they're nol as good, fans will convince themselves they are, all of which makes O.J.

Simpson, grcal as he is, expendable. lo be three swimmers on the Israeli Olympic team but Ballalore talked about only two of them. Duv Nisman, 20, will compete in the 400 individual medley race. His best lime is 4 minutes. 40 seconds about 14 seconds off the world record.

Adi Prag, 18. will compete in the 100 and 200 butterfly. His best lime in the 100 is 58.9. The world record is 54.27, set by Mark Spilz at the Munich Games. The Munich Games, shattered by the massacre of 11 Israelis by Arab terrorists.

is the reason why Israeli security is so tight here. But Ballalore who coached both Nisman and Prag at his school, Pasadena Junior College, the past year marvels at the way Ihe Israelis are acling. "They're supposed to be the chosen people and they sure as hell acl like il." he said. "A lol of the officials in the delegation fought for Israel several times. Some of them have been in prison camps.

They don'l have many friends in the world. But Ihey have a real closeness among Ihem- selves. I really respect them. I feel like they're my friends." Flame rehearsal Physical education instructor Guy Lepine, of Montreal, lights the Olympic a at the Montreal Olympic Stadium Thursday during a rehearsal of the July 17 opening ceremony of the 21st Olympic Games. The name of the runner who will light the a at the actual ceremony has not been disclosed yet.

(AP Wirephoto) MUNSON TAGS OUT GENE CLINES AT HOME first game won by Yanks, 7-fi Rangers Stay on Skids ARLINGTON (AP) Carlos May cracked a three-rim homer and Mickey Rivers collected three hits and drove in two runs as the New York Yankees the slumping Texas Rangers 7-8 in the firsl game of a doubleheader Thursday night. The second game was tied at 4-4 afler nine innings. The Yankees chased Rangers ace Gaylord Perry, 9-7, with a four-run uprising in the fifth inning and went on to deal Texas its seventh conscculivc loss. Ed Figucroa, 11-6, got the victory bul was lifted in the seventh inning for Sparky who came on with two out and I wo on and New York nursing a 7-4 lead. Lylc, the Yankees' AllStar relief ace.

proceeded io walk three straight batters, forcing in (wo runs Dick Tidrov. then came on and got Roy Howell on a groun- dertocnd the inning. Steve llargan relieved Perry wilh one out and runners al first and third in the fifth inning. May greeted him with his three-run blast over the right field alt..