Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 33

Thursday, Sept. 11, 1980 Santa Cruz Sentinel 33 7 1979 MLiSKtM SS0CiTI0 Problem-Ridden Los Angeles Rams Hoping Worst Is Now Behind Them I ft would be for the whole season. They had to get in there and start playing." But when they came back, the Rams had to make room tor them. Halfback Elvis Peacock said that hurt. "It affected us by the guys coming in the week betore the game.

We had to cut some people ho ere good to make room for those guys. Those things hurt us. If we get those things behind us, then we'll be all right," Peacock said. Besides the dissatifaction. the morale situation and the cuts, there's also the problem of the top veterans getting back their timing.

Malavasi is keeping his fingers crossed that his veterans will fall in quickly. "I hope they make a bigger contribution against the Bucs than they made last week. We had just gotten them back, and ifs very hard to get their timing. "We have only two full days of practice this week. How much better they'll be is hard to say.

You don't just come in and do it overnight." He's not concerned that Ferragamo brief walkout will fuel the situation. "I really don't think he intended to stay out." the coach said. "I think he just wanted to make a point for that one day. He's not that type of" guy. He knows this is his opportunity to show what he can do." Ferragamo, filling in for injured starter Pat Haden, guided the Rams to the victory, over the Buccaneers in the NFC playott game last year and led Los Angeles to the Bowl, where they lost to Pittsburgh.

Haden took his place in the starting lineup against the Lions last week but went out with a broken linger. Ferragamo finished the game. It will be Ferragamo leading the Rams against the Bucs. led by thud-year quarterback Doug Williams. Tonight's game is the fourth meeting of the two clubs and the first time Tampa Bay will play a nationally televised night game.

The Bucs, under Williams, beat the Rams 21-6 early last season. In 1978, Williams' rookie year, he was sidelined during the Rams' clash with a broken jaw. Despite the shellacking by Detroit, Bucs Coach John McKay is certain the Rams will be ready as Tampa Bay takes on its second opponent of the season following Sunday's 17-12 win over Cincinnati. "It's living proof you can't come in on Saturday and play on Sunday," says McKay. "But LA will be a 100 percent improved team now that they've got all their players back.

Detroit ran well on them, and nobody, as a rule, runs well on the Rams." Tonight's game will also be the national television debut of Jim Leonard from Santa Cruz who is on the Tampa Bay roster. He'll handle the snap on punts and serve as a offensive lineman backup. TAMPA. Fla. (AP) The Los Angeles Rams hoping their considerable problems of the young season are behind them meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tonight in a nationally televised rematch of last season's National Football Conference title game.

Rams-Bucs TV Tonight: 6 p.m., Channels 7-11 The Rams won the conference crown last January in a tough defensive battle that saw the Bucs blanked 9-0 and sent Los Angeles to the Super Bowl. Los Angeles has been in a revolving door situation with injured and unhappy players since training camp began. On Monday, quarterback Vince Ferragamo became the seventh dissident to leave the team. He came back Tuesday alter a one-day boycott over wages, and by then all veterans were back and accounted for. Coach Hay Malavasi saw the toll it took in last week's season opener, a 41-20 loss to Detroit.

"It did hurt he said, referring to late holdouts by Jack Youngblood, a defensive end, linebacker Jim Youngblood and defensive tackle Larry Brooks. "I didn't feel we could waste the time and let them go without playing another game. 1 felt the sooner we got our veteran players in the ball game the better off we 4 (AP Laserphoto) Smiling Slugging Leader ANAHEIM A smiling George Brett, hitting ace of the Stadium. For the third game in a row, Brett sat out with an Kansas City Royals, smiles as he greets a group of admirers injured right hand. The AL slugging leader was expected to at Wednesday's game against the Angels at Anaheim meet with doctors today to have his hand re-examined.

One-Man Show Righthander Defeats Rangers isten Mike Norris Is Thinking About Cy Young People May kid Talks When Wind Jackson promoted Norris for the Cy Young after the 25-year-old right hander beat the Yankees 9-1 in Oakland on Aug. 25. But Wednesday was Norris' first win since that outstanding performance. Norris says the chance of winning the award has given him impetus. OAKLAND (AP) Mike Norris left no doubt Wednesday who he thought should win the Cy Young Award in the American League if the choice comes down to either him or Baltimore Oriole pitcher Steve Stone.

"Sure Stone has had a good season," Norris said after he pitched the Oakland A's to a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum. "Anybody who has won 22 games should have a good crack at the Cy Young," he said. "But based on my stats, there's no doubt that I've done a better job than he has." While Stone's 22-6 record and .786 winning percentage may lead the league, Norris bests Stone in every other category. After Norris had run his record to 19-8 with Wednesday's five-hitter, his earned run average dropped to a league-leading 2.27. Stone's ERA is a lofty 3.05.

Norris is second in strikeouts with 158 while Stone has 124. Norris is also second in innings pitched with 246 and a third, while Stone has logged 212 and two-thirds innings. And Norris completed his 20th game Wednes day, also good for a second in the American League, while Stone has completed only six "Based on his stats," said Ranger Manager Pat Corrales after Tony Armas' 31st homer plus three runs batted in dropped Texas into a second place tie with Oakland in the American League should win the Cy Young. "Sure Stone has been good, but the Orioles score a lot of runs. I hate to think what Norris would be doing it he pitched for a team like that.

Right now he has almost a third of the A's wins." "Norris should win the award," said A's Manager Billy Martin. "I agree with Reggie (New York Yankee slugger Reggie Jackson). Mike has stats and that should be the determining After Texas took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Mike Richardt knocked in Jeff Sunberg with a single. Armas answered with a bases-loaded single in the A's third. The single scored Rob Ticciolo and Ricki Henderson to give the A's a 2-1 edge.

Armas hit a solo homer to lead off the eighth inning giving Norris all the cushion he would need. batting .278, had not started in three of the lour previous games. "I think it was an important game. for Dave," said San Diego Manager Jerry Coleman. "It's been a frustrating year.

For him to come out of it now is very fruitful for him." San Francisco took a 2-1 lead in the eighth when pinch-hitter Max Venable singled in a run and pinch hitter Milt May delivered a sacrifice fly. San Diego tied the score in the bottom of the inning when pinch hitter Tim Flannery led off with a double and was replaced by pinch runner Paul Dade, who scored on a bunt single by Gene Richards which Minton threw away for an error. Minton then loaded the bases to set the stage for Winfield's game-winning hit. Brett Still Watching ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) George Brett's campaign for the first .400 batting average in the major leagues since 1941 remained in a holding pattern today as the Kansas City Royals' infielder was still nursing an ailing right hand.

Brett, hitting .396, missed Wednesday night's 8-3 loss to the California Angels the Royals' third setback in a row and was to have the tendinitis-stricken hand re-examined today. The tendinitis first flared up last Saturday. Brtt has not played in the four games since and was doubtful for tonight's concluding contest of the Royals-Angels series in Anaheim. POXTIAC CADILLAC Warriors Send Jo Jo To Kings SAN DIEGO I API Dave Winfield, the San Diego Padres' potential tree agent, hasn't said much so far. But when he speaks out soon, people are going to listen.

Winl'ield drove in three runs with a solo homer and a two-run single to pace the Padres to a 4-2 triumph over the San Francisco Giants Wednesday night as San Diego logged its seventh consecutive victory. "There has been lots said by management and by the people who represent me, but I have kept quiet," Winl'ield said. "At the end of this ordeal, I will speak and then they best listen, because that is the way it will be." Negotiations have been strained all year between San Diego Owner Ray Kroc, Padres President Ballard Smith and Winfield's agent. Al Frohman. Much of the contract squabble has been leaked to the press and Winl'ield has been booed by the San Diego fans all season.

"Basically, everybody has made comments, from Smith to Frohiv to Kroc. 1 have been in the midst of the ordeal and 1 have kept silent," said Winl'ield. "Before this season is over I'm going to speak out." The Padres captain staked the club to a 1-0 lead in the fourth with his 19th homer of the season his fcrst home run in San Diego since July 24th. The 28-year-old outfielder capped a three-run rally in the eighth with a two-run, bases-loaded single off loser Greg Minton, 3-6. Reliever Rollie Fingers, 10-8, pitched two-thirds of an inning to earn the win.

Rookie pitcher Gary Lucas hurled a perfect ninth inning to collect his third save of the year. Alter a sensational campaign in 1979 when he hit with 34 homers and a National League-leading 118 runs batted in. Winl'ield has slumped this season while apparently playing out his option. Winl'ield. who entered Wednesday's game PONTIAC v.

3 kii nil A team spokesman said White would be at the Kings' camp Friday. White last season played in 78 games, averaging 9.9 points per game and piling up 239 assists. White was traded to the Warriors in 1979 by the Boston Celtics for the Warriors' first-round pick in the 1979 college draft. During his years with the Celtics, White played on two NBA title teams and appeared in seven NBA All-Star games. "It's great to get a real professional." said assistant coach Frank Hamblen.

"He's been with some great teams and he's had some great years." White will be one of at least live guards who will be in camp Friday, including Ford and Otis Birdsong. Also present, if he signs a contract, will be Kansas City's top draft pick. Charles "Hawkeye" Whitney. "Jo Jo's not guaranteed a spot on the roster." said Begzos, "but let's put it this way: I'll be disappointed if he does not make the club. We're only going to keep four guards and you know who two of them are.

"If things break right on this, it's a good deal for us." KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Kansas City Kings, looking for a backup for guard Phil Ford ever since Billy McKinDey was selected by Dallas in the expansion draft, have acquired former University of Kansas star Jo Jo White. "He is a proven veteran." said Kansas City General Manager John Begzos. "And he gives us protection at two positions point guard and shooting guard)." The Kings acquired White. 33, trom the Golden State Warriors Wednesday in return for an undisclosed amount of money.

White, an 11-year veteran of the National Basketball Association and a former All-Ainencan. expressed enthusiasm with the transaction. "I had known for a little while there was a possibility that I might come here." he said. "I'm excited as heck about coming here. This was one of the teams I was interested in coining to.

"I can play either role, but that's up to Cotton (Fitzsim-mons. Kings' coach). When 1 played for the Celtics, 1 was responsible for pushing the ball up the floor." 1 6. CA hums mm kO ffensive Line 4Ver tunnmq sacks Lan lhan i mm, save TE0OS MM B8LIABS. "In the area of average gam per rushing play." Walsh continued, we were among the top teams in the league last year.

There are several teams that threw a great deal more than that and will continue to do so." Randy Cross is the starting right guard for the 49ers and since the 6-3. 255-pound UCLA graduate joined the team in 1976. not too much success has come on the ground. He's proud to be among the offensive line which allowed just 17 sacks in '79, second fewest in the NFL. He's the first to "Naturally, we are very pleased with what happened in the Saints game." Walsh said.

"We had several individuals who played well. It's quite evident that we have made some strides in improving our team in comparison to last season. "All you need do is look at what Earl Cooper did in last week's game to see his impact. Paul llofer almost peaked out as far as the number of times he can handle the ball." Cooper and Holer combined for 145 yards rushing, and the duo can thank the blocking up front by the offensive line. By DAVE BROCKMANN Sentinel Sports Editor REDWOOD CITY Bill Walsh raises an eyebrow when people depict the San Francisco 49ers as solely a passing team.

"We're not really a pass oriented team, and that confounds me a little bit," Walsh said. Quarterback Steve Dellerg only put the ball in the air 29 times last week in the victory over the Saints and there were two reasons why Earl Cooper and Paul Holer. mien mmm Garveys Drop Nowspapor From Libel Suit mi minis LWTiACS end CAGM8MS admit it will be difficult to repeat. "Teams are more aware of what we're doing this year. Also.

Steve has more confidence in us so he's holding the ball a little longer looking for th downfield receiver more before dumping it off to one of the backs." he said. The improved running game has take some of the pass rush pressure off of the line. "With Paul and Earl playing well, we're able to run the ball more effectively so teams can't key on just the passing game," Cross said. "There are situations we'll be able to run now that last year were certain passing situations "It's worked well so far. but it will take the full course of the year to determine just how much of a difference in our running game there is." Cross believes the offensive line works well together.

"We've had a full year to work together as a unit, it's like the overall team picture." he said "The last couple of years we've had 11 or 12 first and second-year players on the team. Because of the lack of experience, when things got bad people were running for cover. Now we have experience and confidence so that when little things go bad. we're able to stand up to them and turn them around in our favor again." That type of confidence wasn't a factor on last year's 2-14 club, GOLD RUSHING In an effort to strengthen the roiter, Walsh signed Terry Anderson, cut from the squad before the season started, tor use as a running back and wide receiver. Anderson, signed Wednesday, was a National Football Le.inue wide receiver with Miami In 197 and with Miami and Wahington in 1978.

To make room for Anderson, the 49ers waived running back Jerry Aldridge for thi second time In two weeks. Aldrlge cleared waivers and was re-signed just betore the sea.on opener. Herald Examiner, as well, but the complaint never was amended, Bostwick said. "The decision was mostly our clients' wishes," Bostwick said. "They're just not interested in taking legal action against two large parties when their major beef is with the author (freelance writer Pat Jordan) and the original publishers of the article." The Garveys had attempted to get a court injunction stopping the Herald Examiner from reprinting the article, but the injunction was denied Aug 13 by the U.S.

9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The Herald Examiner reprinted the article as a series last month. LOS ANGELES (AP) Attorneys for Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman Steve Garvey and his wife, Cyndy, say they are dropping the Los Angeles Herald Examiner from a libel suit prompted by a magazine article the newspaper reprinted alleging marital discord. The article, originally printed in Inside Sports magazine, was entitled "Trouble in Paradise." The Garveys will continue their case against the magazine and its publishers, Newsweek attorney Gary Bostwick said Wednesday. Al Rothenberg.

another of the Garveys' attorneys, initially had said the suit against Newsweek might be amended to seek damages from the his second call, to tell me he's returning," Chaplin said Rono has one year of eligibility lelt at Washington State, for both the indoor and outdoor seasons Rono also holds the world record in the steeplechase. The Kenyan needs Ul to 20 hours lor Ins bachelor of arts degree, Chaplin said' PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Henry Rono of Kenya, the world record holder in the 10.000-,' events, has told Washington Slate Coach John Chaplin that he'll be back in school shortly. Chaplin said Wednesday he'll believe it when lie sees the tormer WSU track star on campus. (.

"But, he sounded sincere. And that was Kenya's Rono Returning To Vashington St..