Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 25

000 ortsollassiried section i Star-Telegram TUESDAY JUNE 24 1980 momin MO1 -17 ir 'i A I I Hart surviving twisted journey TUESDAY'S GAME Seattle Mariners (Glenn Abbott 6-3) at Texas Rangers (Doe Medieh 7-3) 7:35 pm 820-AM 6:50 pm you might as well grab for it with all of the gusto you can" VIII! THE EXPOS the 6-3185-pound outfielder was a victim of three being company and four a crowd During the late '70s up-and-coming Montreal was an organization with plenty of room for advancement Ranking high on the list of candidates deserving of a promotion were four outfield prospects Hart Ellis Valentine Andre Dawson and Warren Cromartie Guess who got squeezed out? They had a backlog of good young players" said Hart "And I really thought I had a good chance of making it with them But after Valentine and Dawson and the rest of those guys went up they just seemed to close the door" It was midway through the '78 season hen the Expos told Hart they anted to sell him to Japan "I couldn't believe it" he said "It blew my mind here was hitting the ball better than I ever had in my life and they come and tell me they ant me to go to Japan 1 was in shock rvo 1 1 tt- 4 4ii: 10 oii it '(: i 4 4- A '6i 0'" ies1) -5 5 'k -z445 5' tk 5 5:: 5 55 4 4 A A 441 a 0 1 1 111711111111111181 I 1 1 4 11' 9r-- 0 il" By PAUL DOMOWITCH Star-Telegram Sports Writer If Mike Hart's eight-year journey to the big leagues has taught him one thing it's that there's much more to Abner Doubleday's crazy game of baseball than simply numbers Consider this: In 1978 while with the Montreal Expos' AAA farm in Denver Hart hit 320 drove in 98 runs and drilled 19 homers His reward? The Expos tried to sell him to Japan In 1979 with the Rangers' AAA farm in Tucson Hart hit 303 and drove in 72 runs Texas returned the favor by removing him from its40-man roster which was obviously a subtle way of saying "who needs you?" II Down but certainly not out hart started this season with Charleston and was creaming everything with seams in April But when Rusty Staub broke a finger the first week in May and the Rangers needed a replacement they passed over Hart and sent instead for 32-year-old baseball gypsy Danny Walton who was batting a lusty 135 at the time "A FIER THAT I wondered 'shoot what does it take?" said the 'ZS-year-old Hart With a history like that it would only follow that Hart would finally get his crack at the big leagues when he least expected it and probably least deserved it Angry and frustrated Hart went into an offensive tailspin after being snubbed in favor of Walton and saw his average plummet into the 230s He was treading water at 237 when the Rangers called him up on June 10 to replace the injured John Ellis Hart who has been used sparingly since getting a start on his second day with the Rangers hopes to see more action as the Rangers continue their I I-game homestand Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners Doc Medich 7-3 will be on the mound for the Rangers against Glenn Abbott 6-3 in the 7:35 pm contest "There's no way to figure it and I'm not even going to try" Hart said of his unexpected promotion "I'm just happy to finally be here" EIGHT YEARS is a long tune to endure the poverty and obscurity of the bushes with nary even an ever so small sampling of the good life and $28 a day meal money But Hart has persevered During some of the aforementioned lower lows in his minor league travels he has briefly contemplated a saner life void of so many bus rides and greasy spoonjoints But it never got tothebag-packing stage "In my situation" he explained "it would have meant putting all this time in and having absolutely nothing to show for it That's a tough thing to live with To face the reality that you've just wasted eight years of your life I couldn't do that at least not yet anyway 'If you put a time limit on something if I would've said to myself 'well if you don't make it to the big leagues in five or six years then start looking for another job' I would've been limiting myself What would I have done if that time came and I still hadn't made it? The way I figure it it's like the beer commercial says You only go around once in life so -THEY PUT LOT of pressure on me to go They told me they weren't callinganybody else up and that was never going to make the big club But my whole life had been geared tovard playing in the major leagues and I just couldn't see myself going to Japan and giving up that dream" So he gritted his teeth and decided to bet the ranch and his baseball future that the Expos wouldn't carry out their threat to let him rot in their minor league system The gamble paid off That winter he was peddled to the Texas Rangers for shortstop Jim Mason and a box of cigars "When I got the nev I looked at it as a nevk lease on Turn to Injury on Page 2 Star-Telegram Photo by RON HEFLIN MIKE HART Just happy to be a Ranger I I 1 1 1 i A A i i '4 Nastase fuels net memories Mavericks owp1-00 4 -Ns fk i 04 may sign Weiss soon IIV Ill DTI I On tiittl 04r- li JAN HUBBARD A rit 1 i jat' 4116e 4" I 0 1 4 sit k)S -4 7):" 47Tc piiiiitt 110344r 40 117 iiitti7 AO: Ilt Y'''''''i 0146 4 0 41t: 4: 0 -------All 3i'''(! 41 doe -111 I''''4 a itei 1 floe- I istioe ii-04 i 'i if Y- 'i JP-1 A et 4 '41 lik 11- it 4-de A 4o8'1' 5 Mayer-- 01 kriteit 44 'i 4 4 t4 1 A 4 -Ay Al :2 Nt: '1 i Ls what I was like once This as the young Nastase He grinned and laughed and talked to them and threw bright sashes of color across the sol cilia old place And he played some tennis -Centre t'ourt makes i t' play bet ter" he said after dispatching Feaveret2 6-3 7-6 "If I can play every match on Centre Court I can play IA ell What ever I have dont on the court I hey still like me" Borg heat Ismail El Shafel6-3 McEnroe and Connors the second and third seeds won quickly like men trying to get out of the rain McEnroe particularly looked able and ready to make a stand this time against Borg and all of Borg's history But it Was Nastase ho drank in the biggest cheers Monday even against an En glishman It was Nastase who provided the humor and the artistry and the kind of shots which only he seems to own still and IA hich seem more startling on the grass of the All-England club For the people ho had tickets who might not see another day of Wimbledon tennis this year who sat through the rain for most of I ll(' afternoon it will he NdStigNt Omit they st ill takeaway from the day If I hey did not see him Ix hen he made i he final in 197'2 If they did not see the '76 final agal Borg now they know hat he was like Ile showed hat he could have been By Star-Telegram sports triter Bob Weiss already the topcandidate for the Dallas Maverick head coaching position received a boost Monday when Dallas Vice President-General Manager Norm Sonju said the club will not interview anyone else for the job If not for the absence of Doug Adkins the ot her vice president Weiss could have very well been named the new Dallashead coach Sunday night Weiss in fact was told a decision would likely be made Sunday and he would be given an answer Monday But Adkins had to leave to on businessand is not scheduled to return before Sonju leaves for his summer basketball camp in Speculator NY Thursday hich could cause up ma two-week delay in naming a coach Before a head coach is hired the Mavericks' triumvirate management council consisting of Sonju Adkins and President Donald Carter must meet and agree on a contract of fer "THE THREE OF US have not met face to face since Bob Weiss has been in town i fur his interview" Sonju said "I thought we were going to do it last night but Doug had to leave town Had we met last night we possibly could have had something done" W'eiss admitted the delay is making him a little hervous "At one time I as optimistic" Weiss said Monday night from his home in San Diego "Now I'm not sure The only thing is that the longer it goes you just don't know hat will come up or what will happen I've been ready to go and I want to dig in and start working But it's almost a wearing thing this waiting" But when told that Sonja said "We will not be inviting anyone else in (for an interview) We have talked with everyone we are going to talk with" Weiss admitted "(That) makes me feel a little bit better" better" Star-Telegram sports triter bob Weissalready the topcandidate for theDallas Maverick head coaching position received a boost Monday hen Dallas Vice President-General Mana- ger Norm Sonju said the club will not interview anyone else for the job If not for the absence of Doug Adkins the been DallasheadcoachSunday niht ks' ot her vice president Weiss cou Id have very well named thenew Weiss in fact was told a decision would likely be made Sunday and he would be given an answer Nionday But Adkins had to leave to non businessand isnot scheduled to return before Sonju leaves for is sum- flier basketball camp in Speculator NV Thursday hich could cause up ma two-week delay in naminga coach Before a head coach is hired he Nlavericks trium- irate management council consisting of Sonju Ad- kins and President Dond al must meet and agree on a contract offer "THE THREE OF t'S have not inet face to face since Bob Nk'eiss has been in town i or w) is intervie" but Doug had to leave town Ilad we met last night we possibly could have had something done" 'eiss admitted the delay is making him a little nervous "At one time I was optimistic" Weiss said Monday night from his home in San Diego Now I'm not sure Theonly thing is that the longer it goes you just don't know hat ill come up or what will happen I've been ready to go and I want to dig in and start working But it's almost a wearing thing this at in" But vvhen told that Sonia said "We will be inviting anyone else in (for an interview) We have 3 llrit' kin Ai ti 'ft i A ri :46 Alga 0 A fit 1 8 1 i'4mot 111 tA I 44 I ''1''''4 :1 44 1 0 i 'ifli 26 iii 8 0 -R ff i 410 or 44 4 yoolotote Aii :11 'i e---- tesr ') r- A 4 8 41 4 VItt Wt Atw 'J 4iMAN 4 et ''I" 4 4 'r-f 'A 1 (i 4 1 it-'' i '1 ''i40-i: 10 Jr al i4 3:: 4K -54 6 i ssi I' Results in Scoreboard By MIKE IXPICA Neu York Daily News LONDON Bjorn Borg had already begun his run at a fifth straight Wimbledon title and John McEnroe the best challenger had begun to chase Borg with an effortless victory over Butch Waits on court No 1 The rain had finally stopped late in the afternoon and the sky had cleared Borg had been Borg and McEnroe had been McEnroe and Wimbledon with the rain and cold had been Wimbledon So in the twilight as the 94th Wimbledon began Centre Court was turned over to an aging artist named hie Nastase horn Centre Court remembered Old Wimbledon asked old Nastase to make the day a little special It had been such a long time since Nastase had been given the stage two years since he had been asked to play on Cent re Ile had played his last important match on that stage in 1976 in a final against Borg: that loss ended his moment as a Wimbledon contender in some kind of official way After it he was never the same The spirit was gone for good It was one of thoseclear shining intersections in a sport: the arrival of one man Borg and the goodbye for another Nastase "That was List chance against Borg" his old riendand coach Ion Tiriac vk as saying Monday as Nastase played Englishman John Feaver "Maybe if he is winning that day he can get five more years of confidence five more years near the top But he loses Wimbledon that day and then he does not care anymore" So he slowly began to drop through the rank ings and a lack of practice and caring eroded his breathtaking skills and even the old fire exploded in only isolated incidents of controversy which were only sad a BUT AT WIMBLEDON they remember you even after you are gone especially if you have thrilled them even once And Nastase thrilled them when he was young when tennis was like some crazy beautiful song playing inside his head So the people waited for him on Centre Court in the early evening and were rewarded For 90 minutes he said to them here we ranKtligs awl a I caring eroded his and even the old fir isolated incidents IA hich were only sa 0 BUT AT WINIE member you even il especially if you even once And Na! when he was youni inside his head cnradivyeb So a ri for him on Centre For 90 minutes hi IT IS A IMOST sad tosee him hen he ts playing ell" said Tiriac from his seat in hack of the Friends Box "Because then you can see how much he has given away Bloody hell what a waste The man is only 13 Could still be inning They talk about Borg getting to the ball He could get to the ball ith 30 minutes to spare and never be there like Nastase On the court Feaver cut a backhand volley deep into Nastase's forehand corner Nastase was out of position Nastase could not get to this one The hall would die The grass was too soft Nastase got there lie took the ball oft the soft grass The rist seemed to movesix inches no more A forehand The ball cut through the night air like a Ron Guidry sinker crosscourt Turn to first on Page 3 A I A 1 l'is SEVERAL OF THE candidates for the Ntaverick job have either accepted other positions or withdrawn from consideration and Weiss has been the leading candidate since his interview II days ago The only other candidates left are former Washington coach Dick Motta who has not met either Carter or Adkins a requirement before being hired New Jersey assistant Bob MacKinnon and former USC coach Bob Boyd Sonju has not shown any great enthusiasm when discussing the latter three But the 38-year-old Weiss who served as a San Diego assistant for the last two seasons elicits an Turn to Veiss on Page 2 JUST SMASHING Bjorn Borg goes for new racquet Monday Press Laserphoto I I 10 401( i HE candidates for the tvr Naeick t' i SEVERAL OF 'SAO litAt 0 i Iv' 0 Job have either accepted other positions or with- 0 'I 1 drawn from consideration and Weiss has been the i 'f leading candidate since his interview 11 days ago The only other candidates left are former Wash- i ik ington coach Dick Motta who has not met either i Carter or Adkins a requirement uireent before being i i hired New Jersey assistant Bob MacKinnon and for 14 Bob rh tBoeia yclsStto se onAj0 haassnoonts ets shown liIaany great enthusiasm when discussing the latter three 4 But the 38-year-old Weiss ho served as a San Press Laserphoto 1 Diego UST SMASHING 'Blom Borg'' g- cte-s'for new 9 racquet Monday Turn to Veiss on Page 2 1' i t- kiiit' I 1 i By SAM MERRILL The Runner Magazine It happened at the end of one of the fastest races in the brief history of women's marathoning While Jacqueline Gareau and Patti Lyons were screaming down Boy lesion Street digging into the final mile under a blistering sun an utterly unknown woman tall dark-haired trim but not particularly fit-looking came out of nowhere (the phrase has never been more apt) to cross the finish line in 2 hours 31 minutes and 56 seconds lien told she had just won the Boston Marathon she seemed genuinely surprised But when she was crowned with her victory wreath she smiled proudly and waved to the cheering throng Shesaid her name was Rosie Ruiz She was26-yearsold born in Cuba currently living in New York City and working as an administrative assistant for an international metal trading company This was only Ruiz' second her second race overall the first a 256:29 at New York the previous October THEN THE QUESTIONS began How much training does she do? "About 65 miles a week" Does she run intervals! "What's an interval?" What was her 10-mile split! "What's a split'!" Surprise was immediately followed by doubt then Rosie Ruiz: anatomy of a fraud outrage A thorough investigation followed and after two weeks the only things known for certain about Rosie Ruiz were that she hadn't run all of New York and hadn't won Boston The rest was a mystery On May 6 a dinner meeting was arranged among Ruiz Steve Marek president of the Suburban Road Runners of Westchester County NY and a staunch supporter of Ruiz Marc Bloom editor of The Runner and myself iSam Merrill) It was Ruiz only extensive press interview following her disqualifications By the end of that evening some of the pieces of the puzzle had finally fallen into place We met Ruiz and Marek in front of her apartment Ruiz was neatly and fashionably dressed and greeted us with a warmth and apparent openness that was at once disarming and confusing The first thing we learned was that her employer had just given her four weeks' vacation with pay effective immediately "To rest and get back into training" was her explanation but others have speculated that she is being eased out of her job because of the embarrassment her Boston fiasco has caused the company During the cab ride uptown Ruiz confused us further by telling with obv ious delight her favorite Rosie Ruiz jokes 'Have you heard this one?" she inquired "Rosie Ruiz pantyhose guaranteed not to run Or how about the Rosie Ruiz doll? Wind it up and it just stands there" 7 IT WAS ALL so strange and awkward We laughed some more told Boston stories discussed her life and times and four hours later parted 4et bly Yet the taped transcript of that dinner Lion suggests a vastly different story Consider the 11141111 following exchange regarding the hours prior to the L74 race: "And what did you do when you got to Hopkinton?" "I got off the bus in front of the high school and walked across to the green" "You walked across thestreet from the high school to the green in the center of town?" "Yeah That's right" "You were free to get onto the road and start I anywhere you wanted?" "Yeah" "Rosie that whole street consisted of roped-off sections with big signsand numbers telling you exact- ly where to line up" "Ropes signs OK yeah They were there" With a straight face a relaxed sincere friendly and intelligent demeanor Ruiz nude an earnest attempt to fully answer every question we put to her When inconsistencies arose she never became Turn to Runners on Page 4 tar 6 ap-A THE HOAX IS ON YOU Rosie Ruiz "ins" Boston Marathon ti ry A Associated Press Laserphotir 1 1 Rosie Rua: anatomy of a fraud ti'' 'c-ft 'a -4t- A awe 1 111 '14 '-''11 ki) 41 ri 1 it By SAM MERRILL outrage A thorough investigation followed and after run Or how about the Rosie Ruiz doll? Wind it up and 7 4 i ii The Runner Magazine two weeks the only things known for certain about it just stands there" lib It happened at the end of one of the fastest races in Rosie Ruiz were that she hadn't run all of New York tA 41 lc oi la1 41 fr lib 0 the brief history of women's marathoning and hadn't won Boston The rest was a mystery IT WAS ALL so strange and ay kward -A- 111 11" mt vs' 1 While Jacqueline Gareau and Patti Lyons were laughed some more told Boston stories discussed 401 screaming down Boyleston Street digging into the On May 6 a dinner meeting was arranged among her life and times and four hours later parted ail i'r-41C7F 4Vs final mile under a blistering sun an utterly unknown Ruiz Steve Marek president of the Suburban Road bly Yet the taped transcript of that dinner corp ersa- woman tall dark-haired trim but not particularly Runners of Westchester County NY and a staunch Lion suggests a vastly different story Consider the fit-looking came out of nowhere (the phrase has supporter of RuizNlarc Bloomeditor of The Runner following exchange regarding the hours prior to the never been more apt) to cross the finish line in 2 and myself (Sam Merrill) It was Ruiz only extensive race: Ist: hours 31 minutes and 56 seconds press interview following her disqualifications By "And what did you do when you got to I lopkinton?" el 1 When told she had just won the Boston Marathon the end of that evening some of the pieces of the "I got off the bus in front of the high school and a l' she seemed genuinely surprised But when she was puzzle had finally fallen into place walked across to the green" proudly 1- crowned with her victory wreath she smiled dly and waved to the cheering throng We met Ruiz and Marek in front of rtment er apa "You walked across thestreet from the high school i to the green in the center of town?" 4 uiz was neatly and fh bl asionay dressed and greeted I Al 4 Shesaid her name was Rosie Ruiz She was26 -years- "Yeah That's right" I 's i 'lace I us with a warmth an apparen openness that was at old born in Cuba currently living in New York City "You were free to get onto the road and start 1 e4 4 Ai I once disarming and confusing The first thing we 4 1 st and working as an administrative assistant for an anywhere you wanted?" Ir )' learned was that her employer had just given her 1 1 international metal trading company "Yeah" 1 four weeks' vacation with pay effective immediate Po-- ''l tt This was only Ruiz' second her "Rosie that whole street consisted of roped-off rest and get back into training" was 'I lks-- second race overall the first a 2541:29 at New York her sections with bigsignsandnumberstelling you exact- '''f 1- '1 -4 I'' 7' -1 the previous October explanation but others have speculated that she is ly here to line up" i-- 4 '1' 4 ti 1 I being eased out of her job because of the embarrass- A 4 4 "Ropes signs OK yeah They were there" 1 '1-34 A 1 Boston has thny a ii THEN THE QUESTIONS began How much men her iasco as cause company With a straight face a relaxed sincem riendly A''' Ietleow Lmpd VJ training does she dol "About 65 miles a week" Does During the cab ride uptown Ruiz confused us and intelligent demeanor Ruiz nude an earnest at 4 'T AmNriated Pres Lawrphoto she run intervals! "What's an interval?" What was further by telling with obv ions delight her favorite tempt to fully answer every question we put to her her 10-mile split? "What's a split?" Rosie Ruiz jokes 'became 'Have you heard this one?" she When inconsistencies arose she never IIE 110AX IS ON YOI: Surprise was immediately followed by doubt then inquired "Rosie Ruiz pantyhose guaranteed not to Turn to Runner's on Page 4 Rosie Ruiz "ins" Boston Marathon 10 i.