Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph from Colorado Springs, Colorado • Page 21

January 25, 1978 Ralph Roufon Sports Editor Finley: Sale a KW YORK Charles 0, Finley, the super salesman who built an on his ability to get doctors to buy malpractice insurance, testified that he had the right to sell his best player Tuesday, one day after the sale of his ballclub apparently fell through. Finley, the no longer lame- duck owner of the Oakland A's. testified to the validity of his December deal that sent lefthanded pitching ace Vida Blue to Cincinnati for $1.75 million and minor league infielder Dave Revering. Finley said he was optimistic that his deal would be allowed. gosh, about time I won he said.

testimony came at a six-hour hearing at the office of baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and thrust was no different than the evidence offered Tuesday by two other interested officials, Bob Howsam of the Cincinnati Reds and Marvin Miller of the Players Association. said Howsam, president of the Reds. think the transaction is in the best interests of Miller, executive director of the Players Association, was here to protect the interests of Blue, who did not attend the hearing. According to Peter Rose, legal and administrative assistant of the association, Miller read a statement that declared that the commissioner neither the power nor the authority to disapprove the transaction There was no major league Blue Right rule that was violated. The trade was in accord with every written directive.

He fKuhn) even have the authority to hold the Tlie validity of the sale, according to major league rules, however, must lake a back seat to near-dictatorial power to make unilateral decisions in what he considers best interests of He said such a decision could be expected within several days. could well be this week." In 1976, Kuhn cancelled the sales of Blue to the New Yankees for $1.5 million and Joe Rudi and Rollie Fingers to Boston for million each. In making that landmark decision, he cited his position as the guardian of the national past- hime who was protecting the fans of Oakland and making sure the rich clubs get stronger at the expense of the poor ones. such transactions now and in the future were permitted, the door would be opened wide to the buying of success by the more affluent he said in making that historic decision. suspicion would be Finley sued Kuhn in a $3.5 million damage suit and lost.

Federal Judge Frank McGarr said the commissioner had dictatorial in policing baseball and had acted within his proper authority. Kuhn, one of the numerous lawyers present at this second six-hour hearing on the Blue Denver Still No.T Prospect CHARUE FiNLEY, THE ONCE AND FUTURE OWNER OF THE OAKLAND The enigmatic entrepreneur met with baseball ciar Bowie Kuhn to testify on matter, understands precedent, and there are many baseball people who feel decision in 1976 paves the way for the same decision in 1978. There just that much difference between the two sets of sales. Finley is currently appealing Judge decision, and how would it look if Kuhn now turns around and allows a very similar sale to go through? But Kuhn warned against such thinking. I said before is worthwhile to Kuhn said after session.

beyond that, as far as it was ent he was building a record for his decision, whatever it Rose said. own personal reaction is that gonna void the Rose said nothing new surfaced that should make the sales less legal. reaction was he said. is clear that whatever his decision will be, it be based on this Finley seems to have lost his magical touch. On Monday, Marvin Davis, the Denver oil baron who had agreed to buy the said he was abandoning his purchase plans because Finley could not solve his lease hassle with the Oakland Coliseum.

Finley indicated that the Oakland authorities would accept an arrangement in which the San Francisco Giants would play half their home games across the bay in Oakland. But, he said, the San Francisco authorites think 40 games is some 20 games too many. A spokesman for office said Tuesday that Kuhn and Finley had met with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone last Thursday, but that the mayor agree to the 40-game solution. our door is always open (to further the Kuhn spokesman quoted Moscone as saying. (AP Wlrephoto) A'Sy EXITS SMILING the Vida Blue deal Kuhn also sees that door remaining partially open.

looks pretty difficult, but I think the door is still ajar if something can be done pretty he said. So the irony is that Finley, a man on the outs with much of the baseball establishment is back in, and he could end up with a club he want and a ballplayer tried unsuccessfully to sell twice. And baseball will, once again, have double indemnity in the Bay Area. got to be done. Finley said.

team should leave the Bay Area. By ALAN H. FAIJJCK GT Sports Writer official. The general manager of 1978 baseball team Burris. Unfortunately for Burris and Coloradans, he again will general manage the Bears, the tvvo-lime defending champions ot the AAA minor league American As.sociation.

Marvin Davis said Monday he had stopped trying to get major-league baseball to Denver for 1978 by buying Charlie Oakland but hoped the big leagues could come to the Mile High City within a year. whole situation points out how Denver is the No. 1 prospect for the major Burris said Tuesday. even close. The commissioner wants to put a team there but nobody else does.

the National League expands, Denver and Washington would be the top two choices. The last time the National League tried to expand, only two of the 12 teams vetoed expansion. They need a unanimous vote the American needs only a three-fourths vote. was that close before, so it could change, expecially with the emergence of Marvin Davis. Denver is better off for all Meetings in Oakland had not even begun Monday when the Gazette Telegraph was told by a Davis associate an announcement for 4 p.m.

release was being drawn up. looks said the source, who had maintained optimism until the final hours. Burris had sensed the doom a few days earlier. all the politics involved, not too sur- pri.sed,” Burris said. soon as the San Franci.sco mayor entered the situation, you could see the political reactions he would get if he moved some of the San Francisco Giants games to Oakland.

would hear from the people, the concessions, the television and radio people, the people who run the scoreboard. The Oakland people wanted half their games and wanted to change the name to the Bay Area Giants. You could see it hit the fan. a hot The end leaves Denver, at least in comparison, with not much more than french fries. The Bears are one of minor league best teams and Oakland is one of the American worst, but Burris is unsure what it will mean to Bears ticket sales.

going to be a natural letdown, a psychological he said. people in Colorado expected to have major-league baseball here for 1978. But those who have season tickets for the Bears will get top priority if we get a major-league First Denver must sign a new lease with Mile High Stadium. It seems likely, but so did buying out lease. we can move the Bears to Colorado Burris said half-heartedly.

baseball general manager does have one certainty. back in the minor he said. Major League Baseball in Denver a Nice Thought Major league baseball in Denver. was a nice thought. It would have been a reality, except for a total lack of necessary groundwork in advance of the first publicity of Marvin negotiations with Charlie Finley.

Think what you want, but that is the ultimate reason why the Oakland-to-Denver deal fell through. Davis feared the worst within two weeks of his concrete offer to Finley on Dec. 14. National sportswriters, in Denver to see the Broncos in the NFL playoffs, sought out Davis. Their purpose was to find out why this ultra-rich oil tycoon would want to get in the baseball business.

Some of the ensuing answers, it seems now, were a harbinger of things to come. Already, Davis had been troubled by the ballooning controversy involving Finley's lease with the Oakland Coliseum. To one reporter, Davis admitted 1 had known how much trouble would be involved, I would never have gotten into this in the first place." That was three weeks ago. As time slipped by, Davis found a new reserve of patience. He waited and goaded and hoped.

Nothing worked. Finally, he set a deadhne last week. Later, he extended the deadline. R4LPH ROUTON SPORTS EDITOR Nothing happened. Monday, Davis decided to forget it.

Publicly, Davis said through the formal announcement Monday he would be trying to bring to Denver. No doubt, if he so chooses, he wdll be much wiser for the experience of these past five weeks. More likely, though. Davis wdll think how much of an iceberg below the water in this attempt to buy a baseball team. If he does, someone else probably will have to lay the money on the table next time.

Okay, drop the analysis that the Oakland Coliseum lease should have been settled in advance. forget about everything that happened before Dec. 14, and everything that happen. We should be exploring just why the lease was not terminated. Some of the reasons are money-oriented, some are baseball-oriented.

Basically, the Oakland Coliseum saw its main claim to financial security slipping away. From then on, it was not a matter of the Oakland needing to move in to survive. It was a matter of the Coliseum trying to survive. Sources tell us the Coliseum was demanding $5-6 million to settle the remaining 10 years of original 20-year deal. Finley only had to pay $125.000 a vear for his end of the bargain.

That figure times 10 is $1.25 million, which to Marvin Davis is a mere drop in the hat. What the Coliseum wanted compensation for was its potential lost profits from 81 baseball home games. On tcp of Phn- ley's fee. the Coliseum takes in 13.8 percent of all concessions and 65 percent of all parking revenue. In 1977, a terrible year financially and attendanc'e-wise for the the Coliseum still cleared a tidy sum $500,000.

One compromise offer was for the San Francisco Giants to play some home games in Oakland. The Giants willing to play 20-25 games across the Bay, but the Coliseum wanted more. It all adds up to dollar signs. The Oakland Coliseum had a strong legal contract. Nobody wanted to come up with $5-6 million, on top of the $12 million Davis already had offered Finley for the So, the lease contract still holds.

Through it all, Davis correctly declined to involve himself too deeply with the Finley-Coliseum negotiations. Right there in black-and-white, on his formal offer to Finley, Davis had demanded the team be free of any encumbrances before he would producp the $12 million. The lease was problem. not or What happens now? As long as Finley owns the and they stay in Oakland, the team will dangle on the edge of disaster. Now, the city and fans of Oakland have been alienated.

The baseball team already appears a shoo-in for last place in the American League West Division. The players doubtless will be unmotivated. It is not the kind of situation major league baseball needs in Oakland or anywhere. AFA, Djokovich Top DU Aiier 13 Years in the Pros By terry HEMON GT Sports Writer DENVER Air Force coach Hank Egan said all season senior guard Bob Djokovich is a type of player. Djokovich hit three clutch baskets in the final three minutes of play here Tuesday night to lead the Falcons to a hard-earned 63-57 victory over Denver University, boosting Air Force to 10-5 for this basketball season.

But while it was clutch baskets which led the Falcons, it was a pair of less-than-spectacular shots by Denver guard Russell Swilley which ruined any upset chances the Pioneers might have had. With Air Force leading 61-57 with only 1:25 left, Swilley fired up all-away, off-balance 2 5-foot jumpers on consecutive trips down the court. The Falcons grabbed both rebounds and used the time effectively, stalling away the final seconds. Fittingly enough, Djokovich scored the final basket on a back-door layup to make the final score 63-57. did a super job on the floor said 'wan On the Air: Wednesday PRO BASKETBALL: Denver Nuggets vs.

Buffalo Braves, 7:15 p.m., KRDO (1240), KOA (850). PRO HOCKEY: Colorado Rockies vs. Washington Caps, 5:30 p.m., KLZ (560). Egan. hit the open man, hit some key buckets and just did the job.

That drive down the lane he made was really a big bucket and then he came right back with the Djokovich led all scorers with 20 points, most coming on jumpers from the perimeter against myriad of zone defenses. Those zone defenses shut down the Falcon offense in the first half, leaving Air Force with a slim 28-27 halftime edge. Denver clogged the middle against the Falcons in the first half, and only the outside shooting of Djokovich kept Air Force even with the hustling Pioneers. Denver used the shooting of 6-7 forward Steve Bajema to keep pace with Air Force. Bajema got 12 of his 16 points in the first 20 minutes.

were trying to get the ball to Bajema there at the end, but some of our players took bad said Denver coach Bill Weimar, whose team fell to 8-11. Egan made some adjustments in his offense for the second half. Those changes paid off immediately. Tom Schneeberger, held scoreless in the first 20 minutes while also in foul trouble, fired in 13 in the second half, most coming from short jumpers and drives along the baseline. got some cheap baskets underneath to start the second half and we started going inside said Egan.

were concerned with their zone. We just dumped the ball deep a little more in the second Still, the Falcons could not put the scrappy Denver away. Air Force never trailed in the last 20 minutes, but was never able to put together the kind of flurry' that would have eased the tension. Several times the Falcons built a five- point lead but the Pioneers kept clawing back into contention. Denver caught up at 57-57 with 2-41 to play after five straight free throws.

Djokovich hit the clutch 20-footer at 2:04 for a 59-57 lead, and ill-advised shot aborted the next two Denver possessions. Falcon guard Fred Powers was fouled at 1:25, and calmly sank both ends of a one- and-one to settle the issue. game means a bunch to said Egan. know a win on the road and all that. We won a close one on the road and tough to do The Falcons travel to Utah State for their next game Saturday night.

Egan knows that road game will be even tougher. State is big and rugged said Egan. They will be one of the better teams we face this Joe Bids Adieu JOE NAMATH Career comes to an end NEW YORK (AP) Joe Namath, the most productive passer in the history of the National Football League, says he has ended his 13-year pro football career without bitterness or regret. Namath the man who brought the old American Football League respect, the man who helped change the image of the professional athlete and the man whose career outlived his physical abilities told reporters Tuesday he was finished. have no regrets.

not bitter about said the 34-yea r-old Namath, whose record of 4,007 yards passing in 1967 has stood the test of a decade and healthier men. not going to play next said Namath, now gimpy from four knee operations and numerous other injuries. knew this was my last The quarterback said he would announce his decision officially today at a sports-celebrity golf tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz. Namath, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams this past season after the New York Jets made him a free agent, said he was not sure what his future held movies, television, business or something else but he said coaching probably was out. know for sure what going to be he said, not concerned.

got some other people, such as my manager, Jimmy Walsh looking around for things for me to do the right Namath, however, told the New York Times: think ever return to football as a coach. I think I could coach, but from what seen of other coaches, such as Meeb Ewbank with the Jets and Chuck Knox with the Rams, it takes up too many hours to do it right And if I was going to do it. want to do it right. solid Namath said. want to keep busy because I always like to be busy, but not in a Namath said he might be interested in owning an NFL team if the league expanded to Birmingham, Ala.

would be he said. might like tjrat. But a long way down the road. not thinking about that Namath was the man who gave the old American Football League credibility when he led the Jets to a 16-7 victory over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III in 1969. And, after a dozen seasons with the Jets, he joined the Rams with hopes of another Super Bowl triumph.

But after four starting assignments and two losses, Namath gave way to young Pat Haden and watched the rest of the season from the sidelines. His decision to quit came as he watched Haden, a second- a quarterback out of Southern Cal, turn the Rams around and guide them into the playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Minnesota. was no fun being a second-string said Namath. it was a i melancholy, looking around and knowing I be playing football anymore. But other than that it was no big deal.

All I can say is, you, football.