The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 35

TMdT Akji 23, 1979 if The Sun, San Bernardino, California B-8 For ive Rams it was the unkindest cut of all Justin feels he could have shown more improvement had he played more in the preseason. "If I'd had more game time I could have shown them what I can do." be said sadly. "I could have shown more." What will he do next? "I understand there's a few teams pretty interested in me." he said. "I'm hoping to hear from somebody In the next couple of days. I think I showed I can play In the NFL.

"If I don't hear from somebody weU. coach (Ray) Malavast told me to keep in touch and stay in shape just in case somebody goes down (with an injury )- While depressed Monday, Justin says he'll come out of it "I cant feel too bad about it because I (Continued on B-10, column 1) mitted, "but I didn't. It hurt me a lot I took it pretty hard It's always been my dream to play in the NFL. "I was confident I'd make the team," he added. "I was pretty surprised.

I'd been confident since the beginning of camp because I felt like I knew myself." Justin had impressed the Rams during the preseason with his quickness and his talent for man-to-man coverage perhaps the most difficult assignment In football. But he had problems picking up the Rams' sophisticated defensive system Ultimately, it cost him a job. "He has good athletic ability," noted Dick Steinberg. Rams director of player personnel. "And be could cover man-to-man.

We went with him a long time because of that. "But at the very end, he just didnt show enough improvement." By PAUL OBERJCERCE Sum SpotH Wrnar From the first day of camp, Sid Justin was an underdog. He was small (M0. 170), even for a cor-nerhack. He didn't have major -college credentials (Long Beach State).

His professional experience was limited to a season with the Orange County Rhinos. And he was only a free agent. No team In the NFL thought enough of him to draft him out of college. When he went to camp with the Rams last month, the likeable 25-year-old found himself competing against eight veterans and four rookies for what turned out to be seven Jobs. Sid Justin was the longest of long shots.

But as late as Monday morning, he was still a member of the Rams. He'd survived two cuts. He'd outlasted the four other Miami's Care Yepretniaa was ameag the asaay casualties as NFL teams trimmed taeir rasters tows te 4-lsyer limit Stery ea B-t. rookies and one of the veterans. He came close, all right, but not cloe enough.

Justin was one of five players moved off the Rams' roster Monday as they made their final cut from 50 to 45. Along with Justin, tight end Oscar Roan, guard Ed Fulton and offensive tackle Gus Coppens were waived. Defensive tackle Cody Jones (ruptured Achilles tendon) was placed on the Injured reserve list. After seven weeks of hard work, Justin's world came to a bait yesterday morning when administrative assistant Bill Hickman told him, simply, The coach wants to see you." "1 felt like I wanted to cry." Justin ad Bowie the ayatollah of baseball I I 1 7. 1 vTl if -V n- (Jk 1 I Jr" 1 1 ajB v.

Tigers nip sputtering Angels, 3-2 DETROIT (AP) Detroit manager Sparky Anderson doesn't want to Ulk about his Tigers' chances of catching the Yankees. California manager Jim Fregosi doesn't want to talk, period. Fregosi wasn't trying to be rude, but his answers were of the "yep," "nope" and "maybe" variety in the somber California locker room after the Tigers edged his slumping Angels, 3-2, Monday night. The Angels have dropped five of their last six games and have seen their lead steadily slip away in the American League West. The fifth-place Tigers, meanwhile, moved to nine games over .500, their high mark for the season, and trail the fourth-place Yankees by two games in the East.

"We would like to catch New York, but that's not on our minds," Anderson said. "That's not one of our goals. It would be a great feather in these kids' caps but that's not on my mind. They don't give awards for fourth place." The Tigers scored two runs in the third, starting with successive doubles by John Wockenfuss and Tom Brookens off loser Jim Barr (8-11). Brookens went to third on Whitaker's sacrifice and scored on shorstop Alan Trammel! 's suicide squeeze.

Steve Kemp led off the Detroit fourth with a double, took third on Jason Thompson's groundout and scored on Champ Summers' grounder. California got one run in the fourth when Don Baylor led off with a bloop single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch by Detroit starter Jack Billingham (94). and scored when Billingham uncorked another wild pitch. The Angels got their other run In the seventh on Rick Miller's single and Bert Campaneris' triple. 1 The eyes of Texas catcher Brad Gulden dropped the ball.

New York won, 7-4. Baseball roundup, B-9. Rangers Al Oliver keeps his eyes on the plate as he scores in the third inning after Yankees' Dodgers win on Baker's homer NEW YORK Ray Kroc ha been on television lately doing commercials for McDonald hamburgers. Lucky he's working, lie's Rot to scuffle up $100,000 one way or another for Bow to Kuhn. and at 76 hoi easy to get a new Job.

In his K) yean aa baseball's ayatollah, Bowie Kuhn has ex-Mbited the bold crusading spirit of the Waxahachte Ugh, a Texas newspaper that once employed that elder statesman of baseball. Paid Richards. The Lights Inflexible editorial policy opposed the boll weevil and favored an early prlng. Going even further, Bowie stoutly Mtpporu baseball In Washington and takes an uncompromising stand against autographing the bare bottoms of lady fans. Nor does be stop there.

The other day he fined Kroc. owner of the San Diego Padres, 1100.000 for admiring Craig Nettles and Joe Morgan out loud. This reflects a view of Justk-e that Is unorthodox If not unique. Ubvtouf4y, Bowles object Is not to tot the punishment fit the crime but rather to make the penalty fit the criminals bankroll. Can it be that Princeton, the ayatollah's alma mater, does not teach that all men are equal In the eyes of the taw? founder of the world's largest fast food chain, Kroc kt reputed to be worth 1300 million.

Nevertheless, the harshness of Kuhn's action so offended him that this fcfetong fan quit the game he loves and put his stcpsoo-tn-law In charge of the Padres. The ua In It Is ad gone for me," be said. "Baseball Isn't baseball anymore. Baseball has brought me nothing but aggravation." Kroc Is a feisty cuss who can be altogether charming one minute and as arrogant as $300 million the next. In his five years in baseball he has committed his share of errors, sometimes after having one too many Dublrkh Chocolate Mat teds Too Thick For a Straw.

However, one thing must be said for him that cannot be said for Kuhn: he made major league baseball Important in a disaster area. In their ftrst five years, the Padres' top attendance was 644372. The franchise was a flat failure and it was about to be sold to Washington when Kroc galloped to the rescue In a curtain scene worthy of "East Lynne." Pumping his millions and his enthusiasm Into the club, he built a healthy enterprise that has tripled Its business. Kuhn regularly takes bows for baseball's prosperity. If he has chased the savior of San Diego baseball out of the game, he deserves full credit for that.

too. Since he lowered the boom on Kroc, baseball people have been asking what Kuhn would have done if Calvin Griffith had said bed like to have Nettles and -Morgan on the Twins, or if Charlie Ttnley bad uttered those sub-wcsrve words in Oakland. Calvin doesnt have $100,000 to spare. If -'we may believe what he tells his players. Flnley has been the ayatollah's severe! critic and most febetlioas subject More than one of Kuhn's mandates concerning Charlie have smacked of reprisal public view of the ayatoilah has been less than Idolatrous, too.

He has said there were too damn many lawyers In baseball, and the last time Bowie a pay raise, Kroc cast the only opposing vote the National League, It to said that all power -corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Baseball Invests the commissioner with ex-traordlnary powers, trusting that his old bouncy self. After the game. Lasorda donned a blue T-shirt with "Please Do Not Feed The Manager" Inscribed In bold white letters across the front and hopped on a round mini trampoline, from where he greeted reporters. "Ask away guys," said Lasorda, bobbing up-and-down.

Lasorda could afford to feel a little exuberant. It was a night when he had made all the right moves. He hadn't even started Baker, but sent him In originally to pinch hit for Don Sutton in the seventh. "I just wanted to use him for two at bats Instead of four," explained Lasorda. After Gary Thomasson had singled with one out in the ninth, Lasorda decided to pinch-hit Von Joshua instead of Manny Mota for reliever Ken Brett.

Joshua ruined the night for second-guessers by lining a single to center. Pittsburgh manager Chuck Tanner then brought in Romo to replace reliever Kent Tekulve, Romo advanced the runners to second and third with a wild pitch, and with first base open, decided to pitch to Baker. Wrong again. Baker's 20th home run of the season stunned the Pirates, left the Dodgers only eight games below .500 and gave Brett (Continued on B-9. column 1) people baseball Is played for Dine Innings.

But those who were left went Dodger-fever delirious as Baker ctrcled the bases with clinched fists overhead. When he reached homeplate the whole Dodger team was there to greet him. Everybody was happy. You would never guess they were still 13 li games out of first. "Hey, like, I Ml ays feel on top," Baker said.

"It doesn't do you any good to feel down. It was easy to be up when we were winning." But all the Dodgers were up after Monday's win. Even manager Tom Lasorda who has been accused by some of wilting under the pressure of bad times was By STEVE DILBECK Sun SpotH Writer LOS ANGELES It was Just like the good ol' days. Seems like only last year. Dusty Baker came up with the locals down to their last out, trailing 21 with runners at second and third.

So he calmly took Enrique Romo 2 2 pitch and drilled It Into the stands In left -center to give the Dodgers a 42 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday night. And just like back In the days of pennants, most of the 35,705 Dodger Stadium faithful had spilt for the exits after the eighth Inning. Somebody should toll these DBcDjrg snmmpfly wawmtts to lb ttDne Itoostf vn v. VVt' i 4 i i v4 ae itMiin By JANE GROSS Nw York Timt Now StrvKt NEW YORK There la a simplicity about the way he lives. Despite an estimated Income of 93 million a year, a home In Monte Carlo, an Island off the coast of Sweden, Bjorn Borg lives sparely.

Everything about him his bearing and the shape of his days has been pared down, controlled to serve one clear goal. "I want to be known as the best tennis player of all time." Rorg says. The words are deceptively- simple, and the 23-year-old has said them over and over since he left the Blotnback School In Soldertalje, Sweden, nine years ago after the eighth grade to pursue his chosen career. He Is Indisputably the best player in the world at the moment and seeded first at the I'nlted States Open, whkh begins today. So far this year.

Borg has won 470.W7 In tournament priie money. Before the year tat out be probably ill have earned 1700.000 In prtie money, $800,000 from exhibitions and $1.5 million from endorsments. Borg speaks woodenly. Impassively; he seems to be hiding his feelings and the facts of his life behind a halting command of English. It is possible, however, that the young man who has won four consecutive Wimbledon titles and is try ing for the Grand Slam Is telling people the most important thing about himself: Borg ants to be know as the best tennis player of all time, and virtually everything he has done since picking up a racquet at the age of 9 has been pointed in that direction.

Bergs father, who ran a small grocery store in the industrial town of Soldertalje on the east coast of Sweden, won a tennis racquet in a local table tennis tournament and gave i to his son. It was much too heavy for the young boy. so be used both hands to hit balls against the garage door. In his imagination. Borg played in the Davis Cup final between Sweden and Jose Hlgneras wins 52d U.S.

Pro Tennis CkaJipiooskip ever Haas Glldemeister. Story oa B-9. the United States, and he made careful rules for his solitary game. If he hit the ball against the door five times. Sweden won the point; less than five times, the United States won.

Borg's progress since then has been unfaltering. His partial record: At 14. he won all the junior tournaments in Sweden, the Orange Bowl and the Wimbledon junior title and decided to forego both school and Ice hockey. At 15. he was mobbed by British schoolgirls at Wimbledon and made his debut with the Swedish Davis Cup team.

At 18, he won the Italian and French opens for the first time and reached the final of the World Championship Tennis event. The match in Dallas against John New-combe was broadcast live on Swedish radio at 5 a.m. Newcombe, then 29 years old, said. "Bjorn doesnt seem to have any nerves." At 19. Borg won the WCT title and led Sweden to its first Davis Cup victory, catapulting him past Ingemar Johansson, the heavyweight champion two decades ago.

as the most revered athlete In Sweden. Borg's attitude In difficult competitive situations still lagged behind his physical skills, and occasionally he seemed to give up in the middle of a match. "I thought he was a bore," said Ted Tinling. a former British player who is now a world-renowned designer of tennis clothes. "He was solemn, detached beyond his years.

He often sulked and he sometimes tanked." At 20, Borg won Wimbledon for the first time, becoming the youngest titleholder since 1931 hen (Continued on B-10. column he ill use them Impartially. 'J Naturally, the gravity of Kroc's Crime dictates the severity of his 'penalty. He did not attempt to buy political favors or ask employees to commit perjury; he is not a banker who played put-and-take ith depositors' savings; he never went to -JaM for income tax evasion; he never even sniffed cocaine in Stu- (ConUnued on B-10, column II Bjorn Borg going for the Grand Slam.