Kingsport News from Kingsport, Tennessee • Page 13

TOM WHITE Eyeball Exercise It's a well-argued point that professional sports, and perhaps college football, have sold their to television. The rules have been carefully molded to the television commercial format, and schedules are arranged and if necessary re-arranged to suit the medium magnates. A pop-art poster once read You Are What You Eat. Pro sports gobble fat television contracts. Presto, they're television shows.

It is no longer accurate to report "the game will be broadcast on channel it should be network will produce the National Football League show at 2 p.m." REGARDLESS of the ethics of the situation, it's apparent that the sporting, err television watching, public likes what it is getting. And in 1972 it will get more than ever before. Sports Illustrated has suggested that a television schedule could be completely dominated by sport "Locker Room" might replace the "Today" show, and jock soap operas would be naturals, for example "As the Ball Turns," or "Search for the Majors." Evening fare could include a Yogi Berra talk show and "I Love Slugger" and "Umpire Knows Best" as sit-coms. While reality hasn't reached the mark, the medium will broadcast approximately 1,250 hours of sport in '72, which, breaks down to 24 hours per week. ABC (WKPT in Kingsport) has long been the leader in televised sports.

Its Wide World of Sports program, which has been an innovative leader in scanning the breadth of competition, is looking for new ideas, including the Fischer-Spassky chess matches. ABC renewed its contract with NCAA for college football in '72, after misgivings on both sides. The Olympics will be broadcast. NBC will send 36 hours from the winter games in Sapporo, Japan next month, and ABC promises nearly double that amount from Munich's summer games. TENNIS, long forgotten because commercials just didn't fit well between services, will jump on the screen primarily because of Lamar Hunt.

The Texas millionaire brought an eight match package to NBC with 75 per cent of the advertising already sold. It starts February 20. CBS will have a series of 15 canned shows involving Hunt's 32-man World Championship Tennis troupe. DESPITE so-so ratings 27 professional golf tournaments will find their way to the nation's living rooms. a record number.

It appears that what Newton Minnow called "a vast wasteland" a decade ago. has become an athletic field offering unlimited eyeball exercise this year. Hoople Comes Through (15-5) By MAJOR AMOS HOOPLE Super-Duper Picker Greetings, again, believers as promised earlier in the week, your favorite prognosticate came through with an outstanding night of picks. I hit 15 of 20 games and, friends, two of these predictions were on the nose. Four THEOLDBOYHIMSELF others the point spread I said was within three.

How's that for getting right to the point? This hikes my season precentage to .722, which isn't badat all. Kaff-kaff 1 Since I'm back in the groove, I'd like to tell you about one of my game performances while I was playing for Yale many years ago. Yale was trailing by 15 points with two minutes left against the Rhode Island Redheads. I had been on the bench for five minutes In foul trouble. But our wise ol' coach knew what he had to do.

He had to get Yours Truly back in the game to start the team rolling. I made four straight three- point plays, blocked five Rhode Island shots in a two-minute span, pulled down 15 rebounds in the last quarter, snapped off eight assists on the fast break and stole the ball six times during the rally. I was somewhat tired when it was over but we won, 85-81. It was a typical Hoople show. The reason 1 remember that game so well, I failed to get my average.

I only scored 35 points, which was 3.5 under my normal clip. Boola-boola! Well, being rather modest about my playing ability, let's not discuss it any further. Let's get right on with tonight's dope bucket: DOBYNS-BENNETT 65 ERWIN 49--Who's going to stop the Indians? Certainly not Erwin but I have an idea it can be done by one area team. I know who it is, but I'll keep you guessing. A 5 9 GREENEVILLE 49--The Greene Devils have lost six in a row, and tonight's loss will make seven.

ROGERSVHXE 62 LYNN VIEW 51-No sweat for the Warriors. Subs will play the last five minutes of the game. Har-rumph! KETRON 71 CHURCH HILL 59--Randy Cole is a merry ol' soul, and he'll show the Panthers how to put the ball in the hole! SULLIVAN 55 NORTH GREENE 45--The Bucs will grab an early lead and stay in front the entire game. GATE CITY 85 PATRICK HENRY 50-Big Blue will have no regard for the Rebels' historic name. Boola-boola! Other sure shots: Bulls Gap 50 Morristown East 49 East 90 Chirhowie.

va. Term. High 80 Jorinsen CiTy 61 Eliiabelhron 60 Happy Valley 5i Surgo'msvllle 55 Unaka S3 Daniel Boone South Greene 41 Cloudland 6 University High 49 Davey Crockett 50 Hampion 47 Thomas Walker 75 Flalwoods 51 Rye 53 4B Appalachia 59 Cottxjrn 56 Clinlffood 80 wise 65 Hays! 65 Norton 60 Powell Valley 61 Ervinfon 60 Twin 77 Hurley 65 Vikes Get Tarkenton Should Make Them Champ Caliber Memphis Player State's Leader NASHVILLE Dobyns- Bennett's Indians are one of three prep basketball teams itill undefeated in Tennessee. The top-ranked Indians have rolled to 22 in succession, Livingston has 19 straight wins and McGavock has totaled 13. Memphis White Station's Bill Cook led the state's scorers at the beginning of the week, with a 35.9 average.

Eddie Davis, Morristown West's 5-7 center, was the top point-getter in East Tennessee with a 25.1 ppg, average. STATE SCORIHG LE Bill Cook, WMre Stalion Sieve Barren, Dyer Co. IsiahWade, Rulherloid Winfred wood. Charleston Tommy Morrow, Birchwood berry Dyer, V.disoowltle Barry Kinreil John Tunslall.Mem. van's Edd'e Davis.

Morris, w. 19 683 16 513 605 TJ 405 14 387 12 32! 15 401 14 353 19 4y5 NEW YOKK (UPI) The Minnesota Vikings reobtalned quarterback Fran Tarkenton Wednesday night from New York 01 ants for three players--including Just one regular, wide receiver Bob Grim and two draft choices. The trade was a coup for the Vikings since it makes them a leading favorite to win the Super Bowl next year as they obtained a topflight quarterback In Tarkenton for Grim, quarterback Norm Snead and rookie running back Vlnce Clements. The Vikings also gave up their No. 1 pick In next week's draft and the Vikings'No.

2 pick in the 1973 draft. That means the Vikings were able to gat Tarkenton and will have to replace only one regular Grim In their starting lineup. The Vikings already have one of the best defenses In pro football but have been erratic at quarterback ever since Joe Kapp left the club and have been eliminated In the first round of the playoffs for two straight years. Tarkenton, an 11-year veteran of pro football, was eager to be traded because the Giants are years away from being a contender and he wants to win a championship before he retires. Tarkenton's days were numbered In New York ever since he jumped camp In a salary dispute last summer Just before the start of the first exhibition game.

Tarkenton eventually signed but Giant owner Wellington Mara, an old-line NFL Owner who regards his team as a "family" was annoyed at Tarkenton's action. Tarkenton spent his first six seasons with the Vikings before he reached the end of the line with former Viking coach Norm Van Brocklln and requested a trade. But Tarkenton is happy to return to Minnesota because Van Brocklln is gone and he still has many friends on the Viking team. The Vikings obtained four draft choices from the Giants when they shipped him to New York in 1967. Ironically, one of the players the Vikings traded to New York Grim was one of the four players the Vikings turned their draft choices into.

The other three were Clint Jones, Ron Yary and Ed White. Jones was a first-round pick In the 1967 draft and Yary was the first collegian selected in 1968. Tarkenton, often criticized hi the early years of his career for his "scrambling," is now considered by many experts to be the most dangerous quarterback In pro football. Tarkenton was never considered to be a good long passer but the use of the zone defense has virtually taken the long pass out of pro football and given the advantage to veteran quarterbacks like Tarkenton who can probe an opposing team's weaknesses. Tarkenton has also been given the bum rap throughout his career of never being a "winner." But when he Joined the Vikings in 1961, the one-time Georgia great was coming to an expansion team and when he Joined the Giants, they had only won one game the previous year.

The Giants, who need help at several positions, feel that either Snead or Randy Johnson can play quarterback and the other players will help bolster their team. The team desperately needs a wide receiver of Grim's caliber and the Giants claim that Clements, who was sidelined last year by a knee injury, is a good prospect. The Giants had also traded their No. 1 draft choice to Chicago last year for Bob Hyland and Bennie McRae and they're hoping to get agoodplayer with the Vikings'No. Iplck.

But the trade Is certain to be criticized severely in New York. Tarkenton was a popular player and the mall to the Giant office had been overwhelming against a rumored trade of Tarkenton. LIKE I MUHAMMAD ALI WILL MAKE TRIP TO CHINA CHERRY HILL, N.J. (UPI) Former heavyweight champion Muhammad All is planning a trip to Communist China, where he hopes to meet Premier Chou En-lai and other high officials. Ali announced Thursday he will journey to the Mainland following a 15-round bout against Mac Foster in Tokyo in July and an exhibition fight in Singapore in August.

The fighter, who received the China invitation through his business manager, Herbert Muhammad, called the invitation a "great honor." "Most likely we will see the leaders," Ali said. "You always meet the leaders. Everywhere we've been we've always met the leaders of the country." "A little fellow out of Louisville, Ali mused. "Several years ago we were seeking our civil rights and now I'm invited to China." The former champ, seeking another title shot at the crown held by Joe Frazier of neighboring Philadelphia, said his business manager was handling the details of the visit. Ali shrugged off Frazier's recent victory over Terry Daniels.

"Daniels gave him a lot of trouble," the boxer said. "He was struggling like a woman." MUHAMMAD ALI going abroad MAXIE BAUGHAN (RIGHT) WITH BILL FULCHER Tech has new defensive whiplasher Baughan New Tech Assistant 14 KINGSPORT NEWS Friday, January 28,1972 ATIwWTA (UPI) Maxie Baughan, an All-America at Georgia Tech and a star linebacker in professional ranks, was appointed Thursday to handle the defense for the Yellow Jackets under new head football coach Bill Fulcher. Baughan, 33, a native of Bessemer, will join the Tech staff immediately, according to athletic director Bobby Dodd. He spent last year as a defensive assistant with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. Fulcher said Baughan's background as a playing coach with the Angeles Rams of the NFL and then as a full-time coach with Washington "certainly qualifies him as one of the top young defensive coaches in the country." Baughan said being picked for the Tech Job was "the greatest thrill of my life.

I am looking forward to working SD Chargers Hire Gregg To Assist SAN DIEGO I Forrest Gregg, 38, former all-. pro tackle with the Green Bay Packers, has accepted the offensive line coach position with the San Diego Chargers, coach Harland Svare announced Thursday. "We are fortunate to obtain the services of Gregg," Svare said. "He was one of the best offensive tackles in pro football and also had two years experience as a coach." Gregg announced his retirement after the 1970 season but returned to play for Dallas in 1971. He ended a 14- year playing career as a member of the Cowboys in the 1972 Super Bowl game.

He was the seventh appointment to the new Charger coaching staff. under Bill Fulcher who I always admired as a coach and a man." He earned All-America ranking while playing at Tech from 1957 through 1959 as both center and linebacker during the time of one-platoon football. After graduation, Baughan went with the Philadelphia Eagles for five years, then spent five more with the Rams. He called defensive signals for both teams. His professional career, which included appearances in the Pro Bowl for nine of his 11 active years, was ended by a knee injury.

Baughan, who had played under George Allen at Los Angeles, became a coach of linebackers when Allen moved to the Redskins. He was the first new assistant to be chosen by Fulcher since he was named head Yellow Jacket coach last week. GIBRON: (Chicago Hears elevate him to head coach's job CHICAGO (UPI) Abe Gibron was elevated from assistant coach to head coach of the Chicago Bears Thursday and said immediately he believes the team could "take a run at the championship" with its present personnel. Gibron, an assistant coach for the past seven years, said Bear owner George Halas Sr. gave him full authority to pick his assistants and he would begin immediately to try to build up his staff.

He said he was not committed to any previous Bear coaches, but would consider them. "I figure on six assistants," he said, "but if the people I want are not available I might go with fewer. There are enough qualified coaches around and once it gets out that I have the Job, my people would come out of the woodwork." Gibron said he would have complete control over the physical aspects of the team and "have no obligation to anybody." Gibron said he would not be involved in the original signing of players but he would use a grading system throughout the year and will recommend contract raises for players on the basis of the grades. Bear President Mugs Halas said Gibron's recommendations would carry a "lot of weight," but actual contract settlements would be up to the personnel department. Gibron said he would concentrate on coaching the offense and hope to have qualified people to direct each of the three teams, offensive, defensive and specialty.

Once the season starts, he said, he will "stickmynose in" only on the specialty teams. Gibron succeeds Jim Dooley, who was fired as head coach last month after the Bears lost their last five games of the season. Pirates And Ellis Close To Terms PITTSBURGH (UPI) Dock Ellis, the Pittsburgh Pirates' biggest winner in a decade, said Thursday he and the team management which he blasted last fall as "cheapskates" -were close to agreeing on a 1D72 contract. "We've talked a couple of times," Ellis said. "They're still beating around the bush, but we're fairly close." Ellis won 19 games and had a 3.05 earned run average, but he was hampered in the National League playoffs and the World Series by a sore elbow which, he admits, still concerns him.

Ellis, who was booed by the fans after blasting the management, said most of the reaction he has received during the off-season has been favorable. Seeing Double Scott Howe, 22, and Vince Clark, 23, both of South Londonderry, and members of the ski school at Stratton Mountain in their home state, show off the newest thing for winter sports, tandem skiing. Here, they are shown taking a slight jump coming down Strattion. Photo) EAST TENNESSEE STATE'S NEIL CUSACK Irish runner may make Olympics Cusack After Olympic Spot ByKENROBISON Ttaes-News Sports Writer From the rolling hills of Ireland to the rolling hills of East Tennessee is a long trip, but it may pay off for a young man named NeU Cusack and his buddy, Eddy Leddy. Cusack and Leddy, both sophomores at East Tennessee State University, are malting strong bids for the Olympic team representing their native Ireland.

Cuasck, especially, has a fine chance of making the trip to Munich this summer. Just turned 20 years old, Cusack hails from Limerick, but he's no joke. He's for real, so real that his coach at ETSU, Dave Walker, as ye doesn't know how good he is. "I RE ALLY DONT know how good Neil is," Walker admitted Thursday. "If you'd have asked me last year, I would have told you he was going to be just an average kid, but now, I'd have to say he'll be just as good ashe wants to be.

'Incentive means a whole lot, and now he's got a goal to shoot at. And you know what a kid can do when he gets a definite goal ahead of him. "Right now, I'd say he's one of the top 10 marathoners in the world." Cusack and Leddy are two of East Tennessee State's five-man "Irish Brigade" that made a name for itself this season In cross country. After a highly successful season in which they completely dominated two dual meets, won their second straight Ohio Valley Conference championship and placed second in two prestigious national meets, the Bucs entered the NCAA University Division championships at Knoxville. CUSACK AND Leddy both placed in the top ten, making them the first two cross country All-Amerlcans ETSU has ever had, and the Bucs as a team were fifth.

And all of a sudden, people started paying attention to the Buccaneers of East Tennessee. But that was nothing, as far as Cusack was concerned, compared to his past few weeks in indoor track. A relative newcomer to the indoor boards only competed in about four or five indoor meets, "says Walker). Cusack has nonetheless been, in Walker's words, "unbelievable." First he ran in the CYO meet in Washington, where he was fifth in the two mile with a new school record of 8:48. He was the top collegiate finisher.

Then last weekend in the Philadelphia Track Classic, he lowered the school record again with an 8:37, for another fifth place in the talented field. "THE THING to remember is that in the invitational meets, Neil isn't running just against collegiate competition," Walker pointed out. "He is running against the best distance people in the country, most of whom have been out of college for awhile and are counted among the best Olympic competitors. "Neil's time of 8:37.0 in Philadelphia puts him among the top three or four collegiate runners in America," Walker continued. "He is running in some awfully fast company." But his best race is the marathon.

And that's where he's getting the national attention. In a recent marathon in Atlanta, the Bucs were first, and Cusack set a new course record on the 2tenile, 385-yard course, in addition setting a new world record for 19 year olds and establishing the best time by a collegiate marathoner in the US this year, 2:16:18.2. Next week, while the Bucs are in Lexington, for the VMI Winter Relays, Cusack will be getting a free trip to compete in a half-marathon race in Puerto Rico, courtesy of Ireland. "Ireland wants to take a look at him," Walker says. "And I think they'll be pleasantly surprised.

He's come a long way since they've seen him last." This summer, though, will tell the tale on Cusack's Olympic chances. "I hope to go to Munich this summer, and I hope to win the Irish Marathon before that. The top three finishers get the trip to the Olympics, and I'm going in with one of the fastest times," Cusack said Thursday. HE SAID THAT Sean Healy, a priest currently living in Nigeria, has the fastest time at 2:15 run last year, and his own 2:16 is next. "But running in the actual race against him, side by side, is a different thing.

"I've won one marathon by almost a mile, so I haven't really been pushed this year. I hope to get my time down by a minute or two before the race at the end of June. "I'm supposed to make it in the six mile my time is good enough, and I qould make It in the threemlle too, but I want to be in the marathon." Eddy Leddy, says Cusack, hopes to make it in the steeplechase his time's within 11 seconds, and Patsy Durnin, another Buc, is shooting for a spot in the mile. Cusack sayshe loves it in Tennessee. "I have more time here, the lads are here, and we have good competition.

We compete against each other, and the five of us are all pretty close." IN THREE MEETS this year, including the highly-rated USTFF Cross Country meet, Cusack and Leddy finished in a first-place tie. And in the NCAA meet, where the finish is narrow enough for only one, they finished 7th and 8th, each wanting the other to go first until Cusack finally did. "I thought they'd fool around so long trying to decide who would go in first that someone else would get past them said Walker. There are currently five Irish lads on the Buc squad, and who knows how many more will follow. Walker's friend, the number one sports commentator in It eland, sent Michael Heery to ET Heery, who has since graduated and gone back to Ireland, then brought his friend Patsy Durnin over here, and Durnin brought P.

J. Leddy, Eddy's older brother, who's now a junior. Walker himself went to Ireland to get Eddy Leddy and Cusack, and the two of them brought this year's freshman Kevin Brecn. From Limerick, Ireland to Johnson City, Tennessee and then to Munich, Germany. That's quite a trip for a 20 year old, but Nell Cusack hopes to make it.

And maybe he '11 Jake along a couple of his buddies..