The News and Observer from Raleigh, North Carolina • 13

The News and Observer Tuesday, August 18, 1981, page 13 Raleigh N.C. SPORTS 'Split' at the seams season about to be revised NEW YORK (AP). Marvin Miller, executive director of the Major League Players Association, said Monday he's not surprised that the split-season format for the strike-torn 1981 season has sprung more leaks than baseball's top executives can readily plug. "We heard about this split-season idea for the first time on that last Thursday of the negotiations," said Milier, referring to the lengthy bargaining session that began on July 30 and, after more than 12 hours, produced an agreement ending the 50-day strike. "It was what I call dragging it in a little belatedly, to say the least.

"To introduce it at that time, for the first time it would be a miracle if something like this didn't happen." NBC offer blindsides NCAA plan By JACK CRAIG The Boston Globe The rising argument over college football's future on television involves the 1982 season, making it a far-away issue with fans whose interest usually extends no further than what is on the tube today or tonight. But the potential NCAA convulsion not an exaggeration in college sports caused by the TV football issue is interesting as an exercise in the persuasion of money and the nature of greed, which in turn helps explain the lure of television to sports. And it also involves the spectre of cable, the scary octopus that reaches out and touches all sports. On the press release level, things have never appeared brighter or richer for college fooball. The NCAA has just reached a wondrous agreement with ABC and CBS that guarantees $263.5 million over the next four years.

It will provide $500,000 in 1982 and $600,000 by 1985 to each school involved in a national telecast, and $350,000 for regional appearances. The present contract, solely with ABC and running through this season, provides $300,000 for a national telecast, $212,000 for a regional appearance. Why ABC will pay six percent more for 42 percent less games in the future is a separate question. (The network will televise 23 games this season, but only 14 next year when it must share 28 games with CBS) ABC super-boss Roone Arledge apparently wanted to retain college football for empire purposes and as a way to keep busy the added personnel he must hire as he looks ahead to his coverage of the 1984 Summer and Winter Olympics. CBS took the very expensive football half-loaf because its new sports boss, Van Gordon Sauter, is very bullish on college athletics, having wrested postseason basketball away from NBC.

But NBC, the network left out, is hardly laying back. It will meet Friday in Atlanta with the College Football Assn. (CFA), the 62 schools comprising major football powers that are unhappy with the NCAA's Robin Hood philosophy of spreading the wealth through regional telecasts. NBC will offer a separate schedule of 11 Saturday night and 12 Saturday afternoon games for the CFA, which will guarantee $180 million over four years. Already approved by its executive committee, the full CFA will be asked to go along with the plan.

If it does, and survives an almost certain legal challenge See BIG BUCKS, page 14 Radio-TV 7:30 Baseball: Hagerstown at Durham (WDNC-620) 7:35 Baseball: New York Mets at Atlan- ta (WTBS-Ch. 17) Heels' But this has not been a year of miracles for major league baseball, and a storm of controversy arose over the weekend when the possibility was raised of a team deliberately losing games in order to gain a playoff berth under the hastily designed split-season format. Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and presidents Chub Feeney of the National League and Lee MacPhail of the American League hope to announce, before the end of the week, a revised plan for determining which teams will qualify for the post-season playoffs. The three met Monday and, according to a spokesman for Kuhn's office, there could be an announcement on the matter as early as today. Feeney had said earlier Monday, "We want to get this thing settled as soon as possible." The three have been discussing ways of closing the loopholes in the split-season plan, which was intended to revive interest in baseball in as many cities as possible, as quickly as possible, following the strike.

Under the plan, the division leaders at the time of the strike were declared winners of the first part of the season and the second part was set up as a separate entity, with winners of the two sections meeting in best-of-five, intra-divisional playoffs. If the same team won both sections, it was to face the team with the nextbest overall record. However, that left open the ominous prospect of a team purposely losing games in order to improve its chances at a playoff berth. It would take an intricate and unlikely set of circumstances for that to occur, but Bottoms up the mere fact that it is a possiblity has cast a shadow over the game and prompted officials to re-evaluate the system. One option would be to scrap the split-season concept entirely and pick up the standings as they were before the strike.

Another would be to keep the idea of a split season but to change the playoff system, either giving a team that wins both sections a bye or sending it up against the runner-up in the second part of the season. The latter format would provide incentive for a team to win as many games as possible in the remainder of the season. Miller said the Players Association "will certainly be open to consideration" of any revised season formats. "We would have to approve any new plan." the American League batting lead with a .343 average, while Zisk was third at .332. Paciorek, who has not played regularly through most of his major league career, says he's happy with the Mariners.

"I enjoy playing for Rene Lachemann just about more than any other manager," he said. "He tells you things right to your face. And the club is doing well for him." Lachemann replaced Maury Wills as manager after the team's 6-18 start. Since then, they've been 21-20. "We're not the 1927 Yankees," Paciorek continued.

"But we are in a short season. We could get even better. Our defense has been great and the club's attitude is great." Braves Braves capitalizing need big bat from Bob Horner on 'second' chance ATLANTA (AP) Baseball's Claudell Washington, who "second season" has given new missed four games with a life to the Atlanta Braves, who bruised shoulder; a team batting were out of the race for the Na- average of .235, and nine errors tional League West title before in seven games. the players' strike but are now in first place. "The Braves have great potential.

But for us to win this second The Braves had a 25-29 record, half of the season, we have to games behind division-leadscore more runs, hit more home ing Los Angeles, and were fading runs," said pitcher Gaylord Perwhen the players' strike stopped ry, who has one victory since the the season June 12. But the slate was wiped clean, season resumed and needs just five more to become the 15th and the Braves are one of the hottest teams one week after the pitcher ever to win 300 games. "Three guys Chris Chamresumption of play, despite play- bliss, Dale Murphy and Bob ing all seven of their games so Horner have to have far on the road. great The Braves 5-2 record ties years," said Perry. "I'm talking about hitting with power and for them with Houston for first place in the NL West, going into Mona .300 average." Houston hosted Manager Bobby Cox anticipatgames.

ed the need for strong pitching to day's Montreal Monday night, while offset the slow adjustment of the Braves were idle awaiting hitters after the seven-week the start of a home series against layoff. He kept 11 pitchers on the the New York Mets tonight. roster instead of the usual 10, and Even though they are atop the has been relaying them in and division, the Braves have not re- Starters ceived championship perfor- out of games frequently. all of their players. and relievers are all getting the mances from their outstanding same amount of playing time, Except for and the strategy has paid off.

pitching, the Braves can do nothing but improve. Before Sunday's 6-5 loss to the The Braves are in first place Dodgers, the Braves staff had aldespite a six-for-27 week by lowed just 14 earned runs in 55 slugging third baseman Bob innings, a cumulative ERA of Horner; a one-for-14 week by 2.29. Mariners like the view from atop the AL West The Associated Press iners seem confident their 6-2 record is no A couple of veterans, Tom Paciorek and SEATTLE When the Seattle Mariners accident. Richie Zisk, have done much of the hitting take the field tonight against the Cleveland "Our club is playing well," said pitcher during the Mariners' surge. Before MonIndians, they'll be able to look up and see Jim Beattie after the Mariners beat the day's games, Paciorek, 34, had taken over the familiar roof of the Kingdome.

But if they try to look up in the standings, they won't see anything above them at all a most unfamiliar situation. The Mariners, who last season were 59- 103 and started this season with 18 losses in their first 24 games, are in first place in the American League West. In the team's four previous seasons, its best record was 67-95 in 1979, good for a sixth-place finish. While the club has played only eight games since major league baseball resumed last week under a split-season format forced by the players' strike, the Mar- Minnesota Twins 7-4 Sunday, giving them four victories in a five-game visit to Bloomington. "If we can play this way at home, we'll be tough," said Beattie, who was a member of the 1978 World Series-winning New York Yankees.

Beattie, who returned to the Mariners from a stint in the minors just last week, had a no-hitter for 6 1-3 innings for Seattle. The Mariners also have had good pitching from veterans Glenn Abbott and Mike Parrott; rookie Jerry Don Gleaton, who also returned from the minors after the players' strike ended, and reliever Shane Rawley, who picked up the victory Sunday. end catches few passes but coach's eye By A.J. CARR to Tar Heel opponents, he would like to fur- than last year." His father, Clarence is a school teacher Robinson knocked around forlornly that Staff Writer ther pester them with a few more pass re- Carolina doesn't have to worry about a at Greene Central and a former minor first year at Carolina, however, shifting CHAPEL HILL As North Carolina's ceptions this season. trip to Oklahoma this year, but Robinson league baseball player.

His mother, Lila, is from defensive back to linebacker and fidefending ACC champions assembled for "Sure, I would," he said, a wry smile cast cautious eyes at the ACC foes and out- a nurse at Goldsboro's O'Berry Center. nally to tight end. their first football practice Monday morn- creasing his face. "When Mike Chatham siders like East Carolina and Miami of They got little Shelton started early in Today, he looks confident, fearless but ing, much of the media's attention swirled was here, he was a better receiver. So they Ohio.

sports, first in Termite League baseball, he isn't, completely. around quarterback Rod Elkins, tailback put him in. But I figure my day will come. "East Carolina is always ready and then football and basketball at the Wayne "I don't fear other players, but I fear Kelvin Bryant and linebacker Darrell "I have visions of catching the ball, run- they'll be after us this year since this is the County Boys Club. an injury," he confessed.

any said. "And Miami of "I cracked my Nicholson. ning for a touchdown, making the winning last time we play," he "I've been following Carolina for a long knee when I was a junior in high school. I But that didn't bother senior Shelton Ro- play. That's in every end's mind." Ohio beat us two years ago." time, watching them on TV, more so in bas- injured an ankle and had it in a cast once binson, who has spent his collegiate career Robinson looks like a tight end, a blocker.

Shelton Robinson is an industrial rela- ketball than football," Robinson said. "I here." playing in the periphery of the limelight. He is 6-1, 233 with shoulder muscles that tions major with concentration on psychol- was watching them when Charlie Scott and bulge like minature mountains. His hair is ogy. He understands the id and the ego and Bill Bunting were playing." Still, Robinson has missed only two pracA veteran tight end, closely shaved, giving him the demeanor of has a pretty good idea about what it means So when the college offers came, there tices in three years at Carolina.

He's a he has caught only two passes in the last two years, which isn't a dark Yul Brynner. to be psyched up or psyched out. was little doubt about where he would go. tough tight end. Take a look.

exactly eye-catching. Yet while he doesn't In his two seasons as a regular, the Tar provoke stares like Bo Derek, Robinson's Heels have gone 19-4-1, won an ACC title role as a blocker hasn't gone unnoticed by and two bowl So what do they do for Tar Heel coaches and ball carriers. games. CHAPEL HILL (AP) Former North Carolina services to the highest bidder in the Canadian an encore after last year's 11-1 mark? He has started 24 straight games, and in "Go 12 and 0," said Robinson. running back Amos Lawrence said Monday he Football League next year.

last fall's vintage 11-1 season, he went 12-0 Sounds good, but that isn't easy. Besides, won't play for the San Diego Chargers this year. The Chargers' training camp has not seen producing a winning grade in every con- several standouts from the '80 squad are Lawrence "I'm not going out West to chance getting Lawrence since training began 32 days ago. The test. way Chargers' general manager had no comment on take in the said Ro- seriously injured for the beans that they're offer- the status of negotiations between the team and missing.

"I pride blocking," "We lost some good people on the offen- won't play ing me," he said. who grew up in Goldsboro and sive line, but we've got good people who The chose Lawrence their fourth- Lawrence's agent, a team spokesman said. binson, Chargers as played high school football at Charles B. can step right in," Robinson explained. "I round draft pick this year.

Lawrence is one of only two players i in college Aycock. "The fans don't see it, but the think we'll be a little more explosive offen- for beans football history to have gained 1,000 yards in coaches understand it. Not being in the sively. We've still got K.B. (Kelvin Bryant) Lawrence said his plans now are to sit out the each of his four seasons.

The other is former doesn't bother me." and I figure we might throw a little more, entire year, enroll at UNC this fall to complete Pittsburgh All-America Tony Dorsett, who is limelight the blocker has been open up a little more There's no tenden- requirements for his degree and then offer his now a member of the Dallas Cowboys. But while Robinson more worrisome than a California Medfly cy to let down. We may be a little better Tom Paciorek leads Mariners.