The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 39

Wednesday njj 11 1970 THE KANSAS CITY STAR Sporting Comment Lynn Dickey Flourishes On Huskers' Challenge By Joe McGuff Tha iUr i Soortt Editor There was a spring in Joe step and a By Del Black A Member ot The Ster-i Sport Staff The "cardiac of Lynn Dickey have left Kansas State fans numb with excitement By now all of the Wildcat faithful realize Dickey is at his best when the win-or-else challenge presents itself Back-to-back desperation touchdown strikes by Dickey overwhelmed Oklahoma and Missouri They also proved too much for Lynn Dickey's No 1 his mother The Dickey clan of Osawato-mie Kas Mr and Mrs Carl jr and son Larry witnessed the last-gasp heroics against the Sooners and Mizzou Finally a few days following the conquest of the excitement apparently caught up with Mrs Dickey She was admitted to the University of Kansas Medical center with what was diagnosed as a heart attack have had no alibis when it would be easy to find reasons The sore ribs and a burdensome rib guard obviously have limited freedom in passing and could be blamed for some interceptions and misfires To each question he has denied any problem Saturday Dickey faces the task of lending the into their biggest game of the season against Nebraska What about the confrontation that will give the victor at least a share of the conference championship? be a tough Dickey shrugs think about it with the right attitude loose about the game I think we can beat quicker and just as big if not bigger I think we might have a better Strong words indeed from the quarterback of the No 20-ranked team preparing to face the No 4-rated outfit But Dickey flinch ten (on the radio) to the games" Although Dickey would be the last to concede the point his illness adds another burden to a 10-week episode of adversity that has touched Lynn in particular and his Kansas State teammates in general Adversity Hits First it was bruised ribs suffered during a pre-season workout that struck down the Big Eight premier quarterback and stymied the and Dickey in their bid to live up to the national reputation pre-season polls afforded them Then came the Big Eight and A A probation hammer followed by the family illness and most recently the freakish swollen right knee that Dickey sustained last Saturday after a ruptured blood vessel Through it all Dickey and his teammates seemingly are the only ones who lost their cool And they are the ones losing the most They confident He's a leader seems every year we always play Nebraska a good game Last year (10-7 loss) we were too conservative against especially in the third quarter We try or do much of anything and just sat on the Enjoys Crowd How about playing at Ne-b a a where a partisan cornhusker crowd of more than 67000 will be yelping for scalp love to play at that big place up there I like it The team plays better in a big stadium a real adventure I remember up there as a sophomore (K-State won 12-0) Boy what a place forward to it" Dickey says his ribs are "great just great I went out today for the first time without that corset deal been wearing But wear it Saturday because sort of superstitious and won with it this How about the pre-season quotes attributed to Jerry Murtaugh allleague linebacker who said: read about Dickey All those things in the paper White shoes and all that stuff You like to knock guys down like that We put a good pass rush on Dickey last year and he got a little shook Hey they say Dickey is Mr Cool He got shook He was scrambling He have to do that much last year But he was off against Dickey countered yesterday: know myself I think ever say anything like that about somebody I still had to play I know if that will give me any more incentive I think the most incentive is to go up there and whip in their own place for all of to pretty good Lynn said yesterday that excitement was just too much for her Now the doctors say she even lis smile on his face as he walked through the news room toward the sports desk The correlation between the two was evident On June 28 of last season Keough suffered a broken right leg and a severely dislocated right ankle in a game against the California Angels Surgery was performed on the ankle and Keough sat out the rest of the season It was assumed that he would be back playing gain when spring training opened but with injuries of this type there are always doubts Would he have a Hmp? Would the ankle be weak? Could he run at full I speed? At the moment all of the answers to these questions are encouraging Keough has been running up and down steps at the Municipal Stadium He has been running at full speed on flat surfaces The ankle is sound and his speed seems to be unimpaired As yet the only thing he has not attempted to do is cut on the ankle He plans to save that final test until spring training since by then he will have had time to fully strengthen both his ankle and his leg 4 injury came at the worst possible time in relation to his development as a major league player He was signed by the Athletics in 1966 He made ijs first major league appearance in 1968 batting 214 34 games with Oakland He was taken by the Royals ft the expansion draft and started the 1969 season with hem He later was optioned to Omaha ZZ Keough got off to a strong start with the Royals his year and there seemed to be no doubt that he had arrived as a major league hitter Keough Injured at Home Plate ZZ His injury came in the second game of a double-header He was batting 322 at the time He singled $6ok second and tried to score on a single by Amos Otis His spikes caught on the edge of home plate and were was an audible popping sound Keough was carried from the field His big year was not to be Dr Paul Meyer an orthopedic surgeon who is the team physician operated on ankle After that Keough had to endure a long recuperative period "It went by fairly fast" Keough said in discussing his convalescence wife and I went to Idaho and I spent some time with my brothers Marty was managing Tri-Cities and I quite a few of his games He always said never manage but I think he really enjoyed it get out to the park early and work out himself we got back from Idaho I turned around and went to Estes Park (Cnlo for a conference sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes They had 1100 kids there mostly from the Mid-West They were really a great group of kids guess I was the first major leaguer who had ever at-'lended a summer conference I held a baseball clinic and I saw a couple of the best prospects ever seen I told Lou Gorman (director of minor league operations and scouting) about them If the Royals sign one of them I want a bonus "My ankle was strong again with about two weeks to go in the season I think I could have played but there was no point rushing it that late in the year "Right now just a matter of getting both of my legs i back in condition and getting the muscles stretched As far as i I can tell I have any limp at all Maybe it might be visual to someone behind me but not aware of any trouble "Dr Meyer really did a great job on my ankle It was really messed up I have a pin in it now I think he originally Bmed to take it out but as long as it bother me as soon leave it in I care much for hospitals and just as soon not go back" Keough Is Working for Royals Keough is working for the Royals this fall and winter making appearances and helping with the Royal season ticket campaign He did similar work last year but finds it is much easier because of the experience he gained are three or four questions I always get" he laughed people always ask about AstroTurf They want to know why we are getting artificial turf if it is so hot to play on I give them the answer that our front office gives that our stadium be enclosed and therefore it be as hot because the air will circulate on the field "As a hitter got to like artificial turf Bob Johnson being a pitcher feel the same way When on a program together we always wind up arguing with each other always want to know about the academy They think Mr Kauffman is very progressive and that trying to do something to help Kansas City I think got a good idea and I fee get some benefit from the academy always ask me how I made it to the majors I tell them through Charlie If I get a dead audience all I have to do is tell a few Charlie Finley stories That always wakes them up" Back in The Nets Ted Ouimet will bs the starting goalie tonight for the Blues as they take on Oklahoma City at the American Royal Injuries Hamper Steelers George Blanda (right) and Ken Stabler reserve quarterback He's Inspirational George Record Book Reflects Greatness of Blanda Blues Home Tonight Bennett Ailing With Bad Back By Dick Mackey A Member of The Star's Sports Staff Idle thoughts while waiting in line for the doors to open at the American Royal arena for face-off between the Blues and the Oklahoma City Blazers: Curt Bennett remains a doubtful starter The rookie from Brown university worked out yesterday but still is bothered by a bruised back Bennett as was the case with goalie Michel Plasse and a banged-up knee cap underwent a check-up Monday Both are from a physical standpoint but in case the soreness still bothers him If he sits this one out defenseman Bart Crashley again will move to right wing with Tom Earl taking over at center Concerning the 4-way scramble in goal it is expected one goalie wifi be assigned to St Louis to handle workouts Glenn Hall does not like to practice which means a third set of pads is necessary for practice sessions A week ago tonight the California Seals drew 3532 for a home game against the New York Rangers In all probability Blues-Oklahoma City game will top that figure Incidentally the Oakland Tribune still is referring to the Seals as the Oakland Seals In case wondering why so many spills took place in the home opener part of the trouble was that the ice was too thin in some spots and skates were hitting the base sur- face That has been corrected I Pitching Perrys Are Toast of Hometown Williamston (AP) Yesterday was Jim and Gay-loud Perry Day in Williamston Pop 8000 They were honored at a banquet by their hometown for being the best brother act ever in major league baseball The eastern North Carolina community was so excited over the ceremonies that even a rain that forced cancellation of a parade in the afternoon dampen spirits A banquet at the Williamston high school gym last night attracted 1000 persons including Charlie Fox Francisco Giant manager Fox was there to praise Gaylord a 23-game winner for the Giants this season and runner-up in the competition for the National league Cy Young award for best pitcher Jim meanwhile was being lauded for winning 24 games for the Minnesota Twins He is the holder of the American Cy Young award President Nixon and Gov Ronald Reagan of California sent congratulatory message No brothers have ever before won 20 or more games in the same big league season By Bill Gleason Service of the Chicago Sun-Times Probably because he pressed so many and preserved them in the pages of his album George Connor has appointed himself curator of the Quarterbacks Historical society Serving in that role be phoned the other day to say "Have you realized that the National Football league finally has merged with Old Igor?" Old Igor is George Blanda for whom Connor feels a special affection because they are of the same time in football history and when you get up around 44 its nice to have one of your people representing you in the modern world For the Records "Take a look at the record The reason optimistic is that going to go to Connor said un- a lot of positions filled" he sad you believable Blanda Although the Royals did not play as well as expected last Keough remains highly optimistic about the 1971 season Spots Already Filled training with is Notes about the Kansas City Chiefs and other National Football league players and teams Against Houston last week the Chiefs completed only 5-of-14 passes but averaged 20 yards on the completions The Pittsburgh Steelers the opponent Sunday in Three Rivers stadium in Pittsburgh are ranked third in defense in the American Football conference statistics and they have been hit with injuries particularly in the secondary Safety Ocie Austin and cornerback John Roswer missed last game and are expected to be on the sidelines Sunday Then Cornerback Lee Calland and safety Chuck Beatty were both injured in the last game They are doubtful starters against the Chiefs The Steelers have picked off 15 enemy passes have dropped the opposing quarterback 21 times and allowed 121 points in eight games By comparison the Chiefs have 17 interceptions have 22 quarterback drops and have allowed 159 points in eight games The only team to score more than 20 points against the Steelers was the Oakland Raiders The Chiefs have yielded 20 or more points in four games Joe Namath breezed into Boston yesterday to promote his movie career and wound up talking football "I want to play next year" the New York Jets quarterback said He currently is sidelined by a broken wrist "If I throw the way I he said of his return would be different But I want to stay away from the game and my attitude now is that I want to He expressed doubt that he would be able to return this season game Two friends and I watched those dramatics in a corner tavern in Detroit a corner tavern incidentally that has generated as many legends as Blanda When old George romped onto the playing field in the swaggering manner of his the sharpies at the bar greeted the sight with cries like never make it from 48 and Raiders can forget about is now Blanda is out of his range is too far for him" During all the shouting a small voice said right He is out of his range He kick from that far anymore But the money is on the line and for that reason the old guy will get it over the crossbar somehow" He did Somehow Just over the hand of Morris Stroud the 6-8 goaltender and just over the bar by inches Blanda ran off the field as though he never doubted for the old gentleman in two record books Most seasons 21 Most games playod 264 Most points 1477 (not Including 1970) Most seasons leading league points after 6 Most A attamptad 712 (not including TO) Most A attamptad season 65 in 1961 Most A Tf 703 (not In-eluding TO) Most A saason 64 in 1961 Most field goals attamptad 490 (not including TO) Most field goals mada 240 (not including TO) Most passes attempted game 60 against Buffalo 1964 Most passes completed game 37 same game Most touchdown passes saason 36 1961 Most touchdown passes game 7 against New York Titans 1961 (record shared with four others) Not bad for a guy who was "washed and out of football in 1959 For so many years A records were not accepted by those who argued that the new league was not big league and that success proved it Now the two leagues are one and for three successive weeks Blanda has been laughing all the way to first place year Many spring know going to play next to you it makes a big difference "The biggest thing that hurt our club last year was sore arms You lose pitchers like Bunker Butler Nelson and Hedlund and not be hurt "I feel too that we were awful darn lucky our first year Every time we needed a break it seemed like we got it Last year we played better than we did our first year but we get the breaks when we needed them Despite our record I know we had a lot better club last year than we did our first year optimistic about next season I think going to win a lot of games I think capable of playing 500 ball and if our pitchers are sound I think we can play over 500 in our own division It will also help if Joe Keough picks up where he left off on June 28 1970 represented in just about every category imaginable and some that are unimaginable" The record book is something that guys in our business spend a lot of time studying There many idle moments around the sports department of a word factory so we depend upon our salesmen friends like Connor to do our research on a voluntary basis call as he said later had been inspired by word of what Blanda had done during the donnybrook finish of the Oakland -Kansas City Then the Browns That kick was made three seconds to play with Dial 221-5500 to place your Star Want Ada Save 5 cents a line each day by placing the ads for 3 or more consecutive days Adv TONIGHT Kickers Share Spotlight Last Sunday with three seconds to play he was asked to kick from 52 yards out Made that too and beat the Cleveland Browns 23-20 Consider that last summer Blanda was on the waiver list Then consider where Oakland would be if some other club had been allowed to claim him and his large salary The team that many of us considered the best in pro football last year has won four games in 1970 Blanda has accounted for three victories in succession one by kicking two by passing and kicking Consider too that back in 1958 Blanda threw only seven passes in a season with the Bears After 10 years in the and 10 years in the A it was necessary to look Chiefs' Club Meets Mo Moorman offensive guard and running back Wendell Hayes will be the players at the weekly club meeting tomorrow at the Ad club The luncheon begins at noon At the night session starting at 6 in the Stadium Inn of the U-Smile motel Bill Cannon and Bob Liggett will be the representatives of the squad Cannon is a tight end and Liggett is a defensive tackle New York Tom kicking shoe cost $200 George Blanda' a mere $40 The difference between the men who wear them is far greater But Dempsey New record-shattering place-kicker and Blanda game-breaking back-up quarterback had one thing in common last weekend the magic touch The 22-year-old Saint booter and the 43-year-old Raider backup Quarterback were cited today by the Associated Press as co-winners of the National Football league Offensive Player of the Week award Dempsey who beat Detroit 19-17 with a 63-yard field longest placement in football on the final play of game broke the HOCKEY CLUB VS OKLA CITY WED NOV 11 8PM American loyal Arana Tslto Sot Nov 14 1 PM For Ticksts Coll GR 1-4385 Ticket Offices HOTEL PHILLIPS ANCHOR SAVINGS A LOAN SEARS ROEBUCK A CO JENKINS MUSIC JERRY'S SPORT SHOP 12330 So 71 Highway record wearing a specially-designed shoe The second-year pro was born with half a right foot and no right hand He has never considered himself handicapped kickers lock their ankles and if they do it just right they he said "I have much to lock The ball takes off faster and higher because of Blanda who has played more games and scored more points than anyone in pro history climaxed three weeks of miracle-making by coming off the Oakland bench to fire the tying touchdown pass and then booming a 52-yard field goal with three seconds to play for a 23-20 victory over Cleveland JAN STENERUD KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Courtesy Pro-Forma Inc Will be in Sitzmark to talk about skiing and the Scandinavian Ski Holiday to Norway which he will host Thursday NOV 12 1970 6:30 pm ARRANGEMENTS BY INVEST-N-TRAVEL INC KANSAS CflY MISSOURI Ltrrutifh Ski-Sun Years of Integrity Backs Every Any Make Any Model THE MAJOR CADILLAC LEASING CO (Sfrtr IrwilHHl 2921 Mc6 Trfwy TL71-24M LOUISBURG SQUARE M7 SANTA FE OVERLAND PARK KANSAS 6212.