The San Bernardino County Sun from San Bernardino, California • Page 64

chargers dominate ap all-pro selections. cf-2 diohnetops mark in kings' win c-3 Thursday, January 8, 1981 The Sun, San Bernardino, California Section Fouts lets his arm do the talking V- j-y- i "But the thing that strikes all of us is his don't-quit attitude," Joiner said with obvious admiration in his tones. "The guy gets hit a lot but he just keeps getting up, getting up and getting up. He very seldom comes out of the game." Joiner's wide receiver colleague, the incom- from playoff elimination, trailing the Buffalo Bills 143. "Dan gave us a little talk," J.J.

said, his expression intended to imply it was more than just a little talk. "He said he wasn't ready to go home yet he got to us." And then he got to the Bills, leading the Chargers on a quick, razor-sharp, four-play touchdown march on the first series of the second half and eventually guiding them to a 20-14 victory that left them just 60 minutes away from Super Bowl XV. Only the Oakland Raiders a big, nasty, silver-and-black only remain in the way. After the Buffalo game, the Chargers' first playoff win since San Diego won the American Football League championship in 1963, Fouts downplayed his role in the victory, despite the fact he had completed 22-of-37 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns. Typical, observers said.

Dan Fouts, who has re-written and re-re-written the NFL passing records the last two years, is simply not a man (Continued on D-4, column 1) By DAVID LEON MOORE Sun Sport Writer SAN DIEGO Charlie Joiner, an outstanding veteran wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers, was asked a simple-enough question. "What kind of a guy is Dan Fouts off the field?" Joiner, who has caught some 300 of Fouts' passes since becoming a Charger in 1976, paused and, after some lengthy dead air, shrugged. "He's a great guy," Joiner began, then added, "I don't really know. Dan sort of keeps to himself." It's not an uncommon response in San Diego, particularly among sports writers who have never really gotten to know Fouts all that well which is the way Fouts prefers it However, when the subject turned to quar-terbacking a football team, namely the AFC West champion Chargers, Joiner was a tad more helpful. "Dan has definitely matured over the last four years," Joiner "His quickness of release is better, he's improved at reading defenses, he's better at going to the receiver who is open.

ast year was satis-Lfying and important to me. But I won't really be satisfied until I wear a Super Bowl parable John Jefferson, was within earshot and eagerly picked up on the theme. "Your QB should be a leader," J. J. said, "and Dan's doing a great job of showing that leadership.

When we're doing bad, he lets us know." like at halftime last week, when the Chargers found themselves 30 minutes away AP wlrophoto His Charger teammates consider quarterback Dan Fouts a gritty competitor and leader. USC hung over after OT defeat Earl Campbell $1 million By MIKE DAVIS or else pact 1 4 Yst 1 Associated Press HOUSTON Earl Campbell's agent said Wednesday the three-time National Football League rushing champion is seeking a $1 million per year contract with the Houston Oilers and will sit out next season if the Oilers refuse to renegotiate his contract. Agent Witt Stewart said he and Campbell had decided during the past season they would return to the Oilers, who renegotiated the former Heisman Trophy winner's contract last February, and seek another contract. Perhaps adding a little more ammunition to Campbell's demand was the fact that he was the runaway winner Wednesday in voting for Hie Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year. He earned votes from 43 of the 84 ballots cast.

Cleveland quarterback Brian Sipe was a distant second with 26. San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts got seven and Charger receiver John Jefferson had six. Stewart said he didn't want to discuss details of his contract proposal, but when asked if $1 million per year for six years was close he replied "That's pretty close." There is nothing complicated about what happens next, Stewart said. "There are no loopholes," Stewart said. "The Oilers can renegotiate Earl's contract, trade him or Earl Campbell can't play pro football for the next five years." Oiler general manager Ladd Herzeg already has said the Oilers would not, "under any circumstances," renegotiate Campbell's contract.

Campbell, who has five yeais remaining on the contract that pays him an estimated $500,000 annually, did not attend a news conference called by Stewart and has refused to talk about his contract problems. Stewart said he was worried that Campbell's public image will be painted as that of a spoiled and greedy pro football player. "We didn't want to have a family feud or air our wash in the press," Stewart said. "It's hard for the fellow making $15,000 or $18,000 per year and paying $12 to see an Oiler game to understand that Earl wants more. We understand and respect that.

"(But) running backs in the National Football League have a short career span. Earl has been unhappy with his contract and he feels he has to make a stand for his family. If some people get upset, he hopes they understand." "It's not really a matter of money," Stewart said. "It gets down to what is fair to one man. Earl came out of college and someone nego tiated what they thought was a good contract.

But it was a bad deal and the Oilers have tried to hang that over Earl's head." The Oilers are within their rights' to demand Campbell live up to the; contract he signed, Stewart said. "But we're asking them to put aside legalities and rules and look' at this unique situation," he said. Stewart said he and Campbell agreed to sign a $3 million, six-year deal last year "because that was the best we could get at the time and we didn't want to start any (Continued on D-3, column 1) Staff photo by Gall Fithor Over the top Sun Sports Writer LOS ANGELES This of all weeks, Stan Morrison should be looking ahead. But after what happened Monday night, he can't help looking behind him. "I can't get it out of my system," the USC basketball coach said of his team's 63-61 overtime loss to Washington at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

The Trojans were beaten on a layup at the buzzer. Earlier, they missed a chance to win it in regulation when a basket was nullified by a charging foul. Morrison was still agonized by the defeat at his weekly press conference Tuesday so much so that he hardly mentioned this Saturday's contest with crosstown rival UCLA, unless specifically asked about it. "After the Washington game," he said, "I went home and watched the tape replay on TV. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

"I kept track of a few of our negative stats. We allowed them to get 14 close-in shots like the one that won the game I'm talking about six-incners. We were outfought for loose balls 13 different times. We had 15 shots from four feet or closer that we didn't make. Add in that we threw the ball directly into their hands three different times and that we consistently failed to get back on defense against the fast break, and you can see why I'm upset.

"Not getting loose balls, missing and allowing easy shots, not getting back on the break these are the things that have been hampering us all year. I know the players are tired of hearing me talk about them, and about the importance of rebounding (another USC shortcoming). And especially about the importance of maintaining concentration." That, it seems, has been the Trojans' foremost problem during a 6-5 campaign. "If there's a scale of one to 100 in terms of concentration, we can't win if we're at 70," Morrison said. "We can win at 85, but we have to be there all the time.

If we play half the game at 70, we have to play at 100 the other half to make up for it, and that's not likely. "Getting back on the break really concerns me this week. If the players thought Washington ran well, wait til Saturday." Morrison knows that the UCLA team he'll be facing at Pauley Pavilion will be much better than the one the Trojans defeated 82-74 at the Sports Arena in the teams' first meeting last season. That Bruin club was inexperienced and disorganized. This one is fast and efficient, with an 8-1 record and No.

7 national ranking. "One of the most gifted teams in the country," Morrison said. Last year's victory, which broke a 19-game USC losing streak against the Bruins, has been the highlight of Morrison's two-year tenure at USC. There have been few since the Trojans, 11-3 at the time, lost nine straight and 12 of their last 13 after beating UCLA, including a 91-64 setback in the return match at Pauley, during which star forward Purvis Miller was sidelined for the (Continued on D-3. column 1) SBVC's Eugene Flipping shoots over Citrus defender Mike Lavelle Wednesday night.

SBVC won the Mission Conference opener, 93-82. Story on D-4. Winning is a priority in Collins' rankings A By KATIE CASTATOR Sun Sports Writer SAN BERNARDINO Sandy Collins sat courtside and carefully smoothed the pleats of her red tennis skirt. Almost every year during the holidays, the former Pacific High School star returns to San Bernardino to visit her family. And each year, she finds new local talent to practice against.

This day the 21-year-old professional would get in some doubles practice at Perris Hill Park with her regular doubles partner, Barbara Lemberg, her coach, Virginia Brown, and David Salmon, San Bernardino High School's top player. As pleased as old friends were to see Collins again, none were about to relinquish a court to her until they had finished playing. So while she waited, the willowy blond squinted into the sun and talked about old goals, new goals and life on the professional tennis circuit Since graduating from the University of Texas in Odessa in May, Collins has been one of the most upwardly mobile players in the Women's Tennis Association. Each month, her name has gained new status In the WTA's international computer rankings. In early July, she ranked 75th in the world.

In August, Collins climbed to 61st place, September to 52nd, October to 48th, and mid-December to 45th. Most players would be satisfied with such progress, but Collins isn't most players. Last year, her goal was to reach the top 30 and she seemed slightly disappointed that she fell short of her projected mark. "Oh well, the last ranking of the year isn't out," she said, hopefully. "I might get In the 30s yet." This wasn't just wishful thinking.

In December, Collins reached the semifinals of a $100,000 Colgate tournament in Tucson where Peanut Louie stopped' her after three tough sets (1-6, 6-4, 6-4). Tracy Austin! then defeated Louie in the finals. "I think Sandy was ready in Tucson," said her' coach. "It was the first tournament she took advantage of the draw." "Until I got to Peanut," Collins reminded. "In the first set I wiped her out.

Then I stopped hitting the angles and became a little more conservative. The angles were killing her." Collins said she hadn't been aware her game had changed in the final two sets against Louie. But Brown was. However, the rules do not allow a coach to point out such things during a match. "If I could have talked to her, she probably would have won," said Brown.

Collins also had impressive wins this year against Betty Stove (then ranked 17th) at a Volvo tourney in New Jersey and Sue Barker (ranked 15th) in Phoenix in October. "Those were two good wins close together," Collins said. The soft-spoken Collins, who describes herself as a low-key person, is not a self promoter a refreshing experience for those around her, but it doesn't always win matches. Most of the top players, such as Tracy Austin, Martina NavratUova and Billle Jean King, are not famous for their humility. They're good and if you don't believe It, just ask them.

"At this stage, it's mainly mental," Brown admitted. "Barbara Potter psychs herself up that's how she gets herself together. But Sandy doesnt do that She's (Continued on D-4, column 2) toff ohoto by Irk Loinf Sandy Collins works on forehand. 1 ---i-r-r1-ir1 '-''-'r'i-'r1f'itrf4fl rfjj ct rs4Ai.