The Kansas City Star from Kansas City, Missouri • 158

JN wr wr: 4Y is THE KANSAS CITY STAR Sundy Jim 20 1976 Passing Shots- Identity Crisis For Connors And Double Wimbledon Nod Given To Connors Wimbledon England Arthur Ashe the defending champion is the top seed for the Wimbledon tennis championships starting tomorrow But British bookies make Jimmy Connors a 13-8 favorite to win back the title he lost to Ashe last year Wimbledon fans can be prepared for upsets Many of the 128 players in the singles have had little or no practice on grass courts since the last Wimbledon It makes the big tournament something of a gamble The speed of grass and the uneven bounce of the ball is likely to upset many a top player who has spent the last year on clay and wood Forest Hills has gone over to clay courts but Wimbledon sticks to grass the surface on which tennis was born The British grass-court season has shrunk in size because of the expanding circuit elsewhere so most of the top stars came to England straight from the slow clay of the French championships in Paris or from one week of competitive play on grass at the John Player Tournament at Nottingham One quick defeat there and it meant they were out of competition until Wimbledon Connors dodged Paris and played in two grass court events in England by way of preparation He reached the final of the Kent championships at Beckenham losing to Roscoe Tanner but looked better than British fans had seen him since he won Wimbledon in 1974 While other players complained about having to play on grass Connors said: ever dig up those Wimbledon courts like they did at Forest Hills If the grass disappeared at Wimbledon I would not The 23-year -old left-hander has shed 20 pounds since last summer and goes into this Wimbledon at around 160 pounds life vf David Kanter Jimmy Connors way up again But at this point I would 5 pOl just like to go back and be playing competitively again happens through I want to stay in tennis Right now involved in this tour but eventually I weuld like to be involved in either college or some top Jimmy Con- Like maybe another or Dave Kanter championship 16 in all and it is expected to be played in various sites throughout the world The tournament will be an addition to other WCT the WCT World Series of Tennis which are the 13 major tournaments with qualifying points counting for both WCT championship tournaments the World Doubles in Kansas City and the WCT Finals in Dallas The WCT has opened a permanent office here to administer the World Doubles Championship which moved here from Dallas this year THE ILL-FATED Tomahawk Tennis Club which was to have opened this spring in Johnson County and has been reborn Organizers are now calling it the Indian Creek Racquet Club and are assuring the public this one will materialize at 110th and Gienwood just south of 1-435 at Glenwood Construction they say has already begun Set for an Oct 1 opening the club will feature nine outdoor clay courts nine indoor courts sands of dollars Kanter before injuring a shoulder played the satellite tour and netted only several thousand But like Connors tennis remains a big part of life He is currently the tour director for the Missouri Valley Tennis satellite circuit that kicked off last weekend here with the Plaza Open and which will end Aug 4-8 with the Masters at the Glenwood Manor But background is as a player not as an organizer He is a former No 1 player in the Missouri Valley Tennis Association and at one time was ranked No 30 nationally as a junior As Arizona No 1 singles player from 1971-74 he went to the NCAA nationals three straight years Last year in the US Open he drew Tony Roche in the first round and pushed the veteran pro to 6-1 7-5 before bowing out Even at age 23 Kanter still entertains hopes of hitting it big until I hurt my arm that was my only he said was doing pretty well and progressing like I hoped I will probably have to start on a satellite tour again and work my like He definitely had that puzzled look in his eyes in the week it was his birthday and everybody kept coming up to me and wishing me a happy birthday Connors probably wondered why nobody wished him a happy While some confuse Kanter for Connors most only see a likeness lot of times hear people whispering behind my back that Connors? No not that At first I really dislike it but as time passed it became kind of a hassle to have to explain that I really him Sure some have thought I am him but really most just say I look like him a Kanter and Connors have more in common than looks Both had impressive junior careers which put both on the Wilson free list that they remain on today Both had outstanding collegiate records although Connors unlike Kanter quit before graduation to turn pro In addition each plays an offensive aggressive game And both interestingly enough are also left-handed But there are big differences in them too Connors plays the major circuit and earns hundreds of thou Ey Gene Fox A Member of the Sports Staff When Jimmy Connors junked his bad-boy image for a more popular Mr Nice Guy one- Dave Kanter for one was glad Dave a former 3-time Kansas state high school tennis champion from Shawnee Mission East bears a striking resemblance to the Belleville 111 boy wonder and understandably many of fans confuse the two So do anti-fans man came up to me at the Portland airport and glared I care for you I like the way you Kanter says since I was standing there with a handful of rackets I had a heck of a time trying to convince him I Connors When I did he was very very embarrassed and he say much else after But even Jimbo himself has been taken aback at the sight of Kanter Last year at the United States Open at Forest Hills Connors did a double take when he spotted Kanter was looking at me real Kanter said could sense that he was thinking that guy looks a lot ACCORDING TO THE Compu Tennis Rating System of Needham Maryland Jimmy Connors is the top-ranked male in the world with a 929 rating Guillermo Vilas is second (816) and Bjorn Borg (762) next Their iemale counterparts are Evonne Goolagong Chris Evert and Virginia Wade Janice Metcalf who played for Redlands University at the NAIA national tournament here in 1973-74 is 42nd The rating is based on overall won-loss records WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Tennis will conduct a Tournament of Champions next year as part of its 1977 format The tournament will feature VWVW AViVAVVAVuV 50 rVi knockout play between WCT titlists four indoor racket and handball courts plus a limited number of other tennis and a swimming pool 744 SW Blvd KCK 236-7442 Palmer Says Criticism 'Stupid7 REMINGTON players such as January and Dave Hill continually blasting the Open Hill harpooned the Open at Hazeltine in Chaska Minn in 1970 calling the course a cow pasture and has boycotted the event the last two years builds Arnie said does he think he is building them for? He is building them for the USGA which develops INSERT DATES STORE HOURS JUNE 21-26 SAT With This Ad Only hope somebody puts a gun to my believe Don said so Palmer sai a as he tried out a set of graphite shafts on the rain-drenched practice tee a good friend of mine but a pretty stupid remark he should win the Open here and he is perfectly capable of doing so he feel pretty foolish? be haunted for years by the things he said Palmer winner of the 1960 Open at Denver four Masters and two British Opens said his sensitivities were stabbed by the constant harping against the Open and that he strongly objected to the suggestion that the USGA should call the PGA Tour nament Players Division into the act of running the 81-year-old classic The proposal was made by Jack Nicklaus Hale Irwin and others have been sharply critical this week of preparations for the Open particularly the long grass on the fairways which was the result of a mistake with the mowers Traditionally the pros object to narrow fairways rugged rough and tricky pin placements criticism is Palmer said objected to the thick Bermuda grass on the fairways but when the superintendent explained it was an honest mistake I felt we should let the matter drop Palmer said he understand Duluth Ga Arnold Palmer leveled a blast yesterday at pro cry-babies and harping critics of the US Open just understand he said downright stupid To tell you the truth I am offended by it If a guy like the way the Open is run why he just sit it out and wait for the next tour tournament? no use to bad-mouth the The 46-year-old former champion who fired his third straight 75 for a scqre of 225 admitted he was upset by a statement by Don January which appeared in the morning paper Lambasting both the US Golf Association and the officials of the Atlanta Athletic Club January said I ever file entry to the US Open again I TUNE UP SPECIAL Only A 4R Reg 895 Factory-trained repairman will adjust motor clean lubricate motor bearings grease gears and replace motor brushes ALL MODELS ON SALE seen REMINGTON replacement blades only SUPER-SHARP $295 REPLACEMENT BLADES1 NOW ONLY MICHAEL IMPORTS 5753 TROOST 444-3400 iSlTSUN SAVES "West of St Louis To The Colorado Line A Bigger AMC Dealer You Will Not Find!" OVERLAND PARK AMCJEEP 8775 Metcalf 381-8)00 iVWatson Improves Chances 150' THE BEST ROOM Bl IN KANSAS CITY CENTER RAMADA INN cm PLAZA 7th State KC Kan PHONE 321-6600 holes without a birdie Grier Jones of Wichita had a 71 yesterday for a total of 216 and Jim Colbert shot a 73 for his best round of the tournament Super-sharp replaceable blades zip in-zip out in all REMINGTON LEKTRO BLADE SELECTRO and SELEKTRONIC shavers Every shave as comfortable as new yesterday could be a threat and if Mahaffey should have a poor round then Green Watson and Don January are in a position to get back in contention The 46-year-old January had a 69 and is tied with Watson at 214 The late finish yesterday came about after a rain storm hit the course and forced the suspension of play at 1: 45 The delay was for an hour and a half One of the casualties of the third round was Jack Nicklaus who shot himself out of contention with a 75 Nicklaus is 12 strokes off the pace He did end his string of non-birdie holes getting his first birdie of the tournament at 13 He had gone a total of 48 NOBODY IN THE US OPEN HAS ABETTER SHIP THAN THIS FOR $1495 ITS YOURS KC SHAVER CENTER 842-5020 103 West 11th KC Mo Continued from Page IS not a bad score on a day like this anxious to see what happens tomorrow (Sunday) I want to go out and play-golf looking forward to At this juncture his two most formidable challengers would appear to be Geiberger and Weiskopf Pate staged a strong rally yesterday after losing four strokes to par in the first four holes but his lack of experience is against him Geiberger has been consistent and was one-tmder par yesterday before finishing with two bogeys was very spooky out Geiberger said of the closing holes It got dark early and stayed that way You had the feeling no one was left out there You felt as if you playing in the US Open has a 3-stroke lead and probably have to shoot a 67 or a 68 today to have a chance to win not a bad position just a little frustrated over bogeying the last two brilliant finish revived his chances played two very solid rounds the last two he said like the course it seems to suit my style of play I do not consider myself old but I am a veteran on the tour and seen a lot of things happen The field tends to back up the last two Crenshaw who shot an erratic 72 SALES-PARTS soviet SINCE 15 FIAT RITTER AUTO SERVICE 1207 SWIFT NKC 471 -431 6 MOVED to Our NEW Location ARROW jggL You can't build a good golf swing without a good grip It's the first and most important fundamental of golf And now there's a practice device that helps you teach yourself the perfect grip It's called simply The Grip It's a molded rubber grip which makes your hands automatically assume the correct position Either overlapping or interlocking you can't hold it any way but the right way Put the slip-on model on a practice club Take the solid core model anywhere Money back guarantee If you're not delighted return within 15 days for complete refund GET THE GRIP 23-3000 1-70 at Manckttir "See Harry Baker for a Smashing Good Deal 454-0900 5606 Ook Exp date- So) id-co re Slip-on $1495 complete Mail check money order or credit card information today Banka mericard Mastercharge Card number Na me Address City State Send to The Grip 13108 W'96th Lenexa Ks 66215 LIVE ON BIG SCREEN CLOSED CIRCUIT WARmWORU)S DIRECT FROM TOKYO JAPAN I FRIDAY EVENING JUNE 25th Zip Chrysler Now Yorker Hq MARTIN GERBiR MTRS CALI FOR INFORMATION! 836-2020 1 857 NOLAND RD BUY THEIR CAR BUY OUR RADIO KC AUTO SOUND MUHAMMAD ALI WORLD HEAVYWEIGH BOXING CHAMPION ANTONIO INOKI JAPANESE WRESTLING CHAMPION WHERE THE ACTION IS! 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