Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 35

6-3 PRO FOOTBALL REPORT SribunrTODAY Tuesday, Januwy 13, 1981 a- Why Eagles favorite on Vegas line because no wild card has ever won a Super Bowl. And then I gave the Eagles another point since because the Phillies won the World Series, it just fells in line that -the Eagles will win the Super Bowl and can keep everything in Philadelphia this year. In Sunday's conference final games, the Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys 20-7 at Philadelphia, while the Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers 34-27 for the American Conference title at San Diego. against the. world, what with their problems, suing the league to move.

And they were 35-1 at the start of the season, said Martin, who sets the betting line for the Union. Plaza Hotel. It's really been a Cinderella team. Therell be a lot of people pulling. for them for that reason.

Martip, who said the teams were virtually even this year. said this was the first time that I can recall that the Super Bowl price is based on intangibles. I gave the Eagles one point LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) Oddsmaker Bob Martin, admitting he was being unscientific about the whole thing made the Philadelphia. Eagles a three-point favorite Monday to beat the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV.

Although, the Raiders have been a Cinderella team, Martin $aid, a variety of intangible factors his decision to make the National Football Conference ons the favorites in the Jam 25 matchup at New Orleans; Its -really the Raiders days toss was apparent to some of the players We have to think about opportunities, said Joiner, a 12-year pro who will his 34th birthday before next season really missed the' last two years! We had tjie home field advantage against Houston and lopt. We had the home field advantage against Oakland and lost. Those things dont come around all tjie time. Sometimes, its a one-shot deal. Linebacker Ray Preston probably suffered more than anyplayer or fan.

He admittedly gave up 21points to the Raiders and put the Chargnrf in an early hole from where even a groundhog couldnt extradite himself. Preston was covering Chester on the 65-yanl tipped pass play, he was called for pass interference that set up Oaklands second touchdown and he was covering when Plunkett hit running back Kenny King with a touchdown. I guess I didnt play too well, Preston said. I thought I had a shot for the ball Chester caught, but be snagged it first Then the interference call was questionable, I thought And Kihg was ray guy. 5 But.

we got back in the game. I thought We had em in the fourth quarter. All we needed whs one more chance for our offense. But the went to their favorite plays. They gave it 2o (Mark) van Eegben and let him power through.

1 Owner Gene Klein may have suffered mope than anyone, but he hid his disappointment behind his bushy mustache. How can I complain about the kind of yepr we have had, Klein said. If you keep getting into the playoffs like we have been doing, youe going to make it there. $. For the Chargers, the new goal is Super Boprl XVI in Pontiac, -where the sun seldcpn shines in January and never inside the domed stadium.

SAN DIEGO The son came out in San Diego Monday. The surf- rolled shoreward. The sand was warm. A January tan was possible. The only clouds came from thoughts about the Chargers.

The town had changed. Overnight The Mardi Gras atmosphere was gone. It was business as usual but very low-keyed as if an entire city was in mourning. It was. The Oakland Raiders had bounced the ball to the disco beat 24 hours earlier in San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium and stopped the music for the Super Charger.

Those sinister rivals from the north had bumped Dan Pouts, John Jefferson and Louie Kelcher off the Super Bowl merry-go-round. New Orleans belonged to the Raiders, not the Chargers. I don't know if the Raiders are lucky or just too good -for the Chargers, said Tom Reichman, after yanking off his T-shirt to get in some sun rays at Mission Bay. It never rains here, but it poured Sunday morning. I guess that should have told us something, he said- Then that first touchdown was pure luck.

When I saw the ball bounce off one guys hands (Kenny King) into anothers (Raymond Chester) for a touchdown, I knew it was going to be a long day. 1 After that, the Raiders showed their stuff so nobody in San Diego can complain about losing that game. It was exciting and, dont forget, the Chargers helped make it exciting. They didnt quit they just couldnt catch up. Cabbie David Carson felt the economic pinch in the' aftermath of the 34-27 loss in the AFC championship game.

Last week' was one of my' biggest, said Carson, who has been driving a hack for nearly a row Lowe said. But ire got no excuses. They year. "But it was quiet around the beer joints Sunday night I dont expect as much celebrating as weve had since New Years Day for another year. The people took that game very seriously.

1 "All I heard last weds was talk about going to New Orleans! I figured to make a good living just running those fans out to the airport Now I'm back to looking for the tourist trade. Hey, where you from? Those Raiders are something else. I never thought Jim Plunkett was that good. Im a Fouts man, myself, but be (Plunkett) really stuck it to us. The players were just as stunned as their fans.

"I wanted so bad to win, linebacker Wood- Cornerback Willie Buchanon, back in his hometown after a period of exile in GreenBay, wasnt so generous. They got going with a lucky play and we couldn't stop them when we had to do it, Bu-chanon said. Charlie Joiner was somewhat concerned the Chargers will get a losers tag. Well have to get used to hearing they cant win the big games even if it isnt true Joiner said. "We'll have to wait and come back next year.

If the cards are right and we play good, we can be back. Joiner wasnt sure the full impact of Sun- hopes to gel his kicks punling uperdome By Dave Newhouse Charger star ill after car sabotaged SAN DIEGO (AP) San Diego Coach Don Coryell said Monday that Gary Big Hands JoBn-son, the Chargers top defensive lineman, becaihe ill ami missed most' of Sunday's American Cdn-fererice championship after an act of sabotage bn his car. Speaking at a post-season press conference. Coryell said police are investigating the incident in which all the lug nuts were loosened On the rear wheels -of Johnsons car. Because of the tampering.

Johnson took bis family to a hotel, Coryell said. Johnson was the target of a death threat $ix weeks ago during a Philadelphia-San Diego gaipe. Coryell, said a teammate noticed the wobbly wheels before anything happened. A. Charger spokesman said it was not imnje-diately known If Johnsdn spent Saturday night lender police Johnson was not available for comment.

who fed the Natidtaal Football League in year, missed most of tpe second half of Sunday's game against Oakland. The Chargers, 4-poiut favorites in the AFC title game, lost 34-27 after falling behind 28-7 early in the game, I Asked if; anxiety over the incident may have led to Johnson's illness, Coryell said he could not say. i He said, however, that the Chargers missed Johnson, especially in the final seven minutes whedYkakfend killed the clock with a long drive. On theTMue, Oakland came up with a key first down when Johnson's replacement, Wilbur Young, jumped offsides on a third-and-five play. Coryell saluted Oakland for playing inspired football and predicted a real bloodbath whin the Raiders and Philadelphia meet Jan.

25 in the Super Bowl. He said dropped passes, turnovers and the inability to stop Oakland's final time-consuming drive were critical factors. What really hurt us was when we had the(n at third and 25 twice and they got first He said a key to the Oakland victory ws that big rugged offensive line with great maturity. The loss of running back Chuck Muncie early in the gaxqe hurt, too, he said. Muncie suffered ja bruised shoulder in the first quarter and carried the ball only four times in the second half.

All of us are very depressed, but we'll get -over that and start getting ready for next year? Coryell remarked. 60 yards, and his final punt went 46 yards. Had the first 60-yarder counted, his average would have been 59.2. Truly auspicious, as Lester Hayes would say. San Diego started from its 38, 20, and 32 yard lines after Guys first three punts and Oakland's 41 on his fourth after Mike Fuller busted off a 28-yard return.

Guys record average also came on a wet field with soft footing. But Ray Guy could punt 50 yards standing in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean. I kicked it to the right to keep it away from the guy (Fuller), Guy said of his 71-yarder. Hes a great returner who will come right at you. The ball took a left turn and kept going (into the end zone).

I didn't know about the record. I was just trying to get us out of a hole. There was scarce attention paid to'Ray Guy in various San Diego and Bay Area newspapers Monday. Though a vital part of Oakland's victory Sunday, his effort was taken for granted, as it often is. Its the price of greatness.

Remember, the Houston Oilers took a football home from a game in Oakland to have it checked for helium. They couldnt believe any mortal could kick a football that high and far. If Guy averaged 26.0 instead of 56.0, only then would he be news. I've said this a lot of times, guard Mickey Marvin said, but Guy is the best offensive weapon weve got. He keeps getting us out of holes.

Ray Guy -makes opponents nervous, but he often is nervous himself when it comes to interviews. But after Sunday's victory in San Diego, he seemed more at ease when the media crowded, around his locker. I've tried to calm myself down, he said. I sat myself down in camp One Oakland player really scared the'San Diego Chargers, made them jumpy, before the AFC championship game. Who was this player? The punter.

Only Ray Guy isnt just i punter. He is a destructive weapon. The Chargers were frightened of him beforehand, and they're petrified tof him how. Guy gave the greatest performance ifh his spectacular career as the Oakland Raiders defeated the Charg- ers, 34-27, Sunday. He set AFC title game records with a 71-yard punt and a 56.0 average, which also broke the all-time Raider mark of 55.3 set by Mike Mercer.

Guy's previous best average was 54.8. Now its on to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Guy is the only player to hit the Superdome's instant-replay screen in a game. It happened during the 1976 Pro Bowl. The screen is suspended from the ceiling of the dome.

If I didn't say I looked forward to kicking in the Superdome again. Id be crazy, Guy said. Its indoors and there are no elements to worry about Of course, kicking in the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl are a lot different It may not be the way Guy has punted the football lately. The last three weeks. Ive felt prouder of my punting than I have in any other playoffs, he said.

Ive been able td put the ball right, left, wherever I want it. And Ive been able to hang the ball high. When Ray Guy kicks a football, it tends to hang in space like -some satellite. The Chargers received neck pains watching his orbiting punts. Guys first effort went 60 yards, only it was nullified by a Raider penalty.

He then punted for 47 yards. His. next two efforts traveled 71 and Tl Italia pMi by Sm Mm Ray Guys booming punts should bo quits effective in Superdome. Every night before a game. Art Shell, Arthur Matt Mil-len and myself have dinner, Gene Upshaw said.

We invited Cedrick Hardman and Jim Plunkett to join us, then kicked them out when things started going bad. We had Guy as our guest Saturday night. He said, I'm going to keep them pinned- all day, and he did. Guy deliberately tried to hit the Superdome scoreboard back in 76. After he succeeded, he was allowed to punt again.

Now hes coming back to the Superdome with its permanent weather conditions (72 degrees, one mile an hour wind) and its bouncy' carpet. The way that Ray Guy is punting presently, he may kick one against the roof Jan. 25. this past summer and said if I got a bad punt, I wouldnt let it bother me like it has the last seven years. I wasn't nervous out there (against the Chargers).

Usually my palms are wet. but this time I was OK. Guy averaged 51 yards mi nine punts in the wild-card game against Houston. On the frozen field in Cleveland a week later, he averaged 38.3 on nine punts. In three playoff games, his average is 46.7.

I don't look at it from the standpoint of average, which is fineand good, Guy said. I look at it from field position. Guy has given the Raider defense good field position throughout the playoffs. He told teammates in advance that he had something special saved up for San Diego. Landry: Dorset! fumble didnt lose game; However, on the previous touchdown pass to Drew Pearson, Danhy White had all day to throw and dlreln-tually rolled out because of the lafck of pressure and directed.

Pearson In the back of the end zone for a touchdown which I said was because (tftfce three-man rush. HOUSTON New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manalhg, a sports writer for a day, made Bum Phillips glance through the sports pages more pleasurable Monday. As for Bums coming here the general feeling in town is that he will, Manning' wrote in a Houston Chronicle quest column. -1. Super Bowl TV live in London LONDON (UPI) British sports impresario Jarvis Astaire announced Monday that the Super Bowl game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders will be carried live by satellite for.

a British audi-' ence or the first time! Astaire said he would not be surprised to sell out the 2,500 seat Odeon Leicester Square cinema at 24 and $36 a For the benefit of homesick Americans, Astaire said he making every effort to recreate the Super Bowl atmosphere in New Orleans with the actual American programs plus hotdogs, popcorn, beer and t-shirts. Astaire, who is chairman of Viewsport, said there would be no betting at the cinema but his parent Company, the giant William Hill Organization, would set the odds and take bets on American football in its shops for the first time. However, betting will be strictly mi the result and thdre'will be no points betting as in the United States! fensive tactics when the Dallas Cowboys beat them 36-27 Jan. 4. Allen remarked about Atlantas three-man rush in the face of last' ditch passes by Danny White to Drew Pearson.

The former Los Angeles and Washington coach insisted his criticism of the three-man rush was correct as applied to the first of the two last passes by White to Pearson. ''Bennett apparently was told about Allens remarks after the game and said Allen did kt know how to read defenses. After returning Jo his Los Angeles area home from the East Monday, Allen issued the following statement Leeman Bennett received completely inaccurate information. I went back and reviewed the CBS game Tapes and at no time did I say or imply that Atlanta lost to Dallas because they rushed only three mefi or remained in any one defense alignment on the Cowboys winning drive. From vln raports DALLAS Dallas Coach Tom Landry said Monday Tony Dorsetts third-quarter fumble was a critical mistake but didn't cost the Cowboys their National Football Conference title loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

A despondent Qorsett said after the 20-7 loss to the Eagles that It -was the biggest play of the game "without a doubt It's something I've got to live with and it's going to haunt me until next year. Landry was at his office shortly after dawn, reviewing game films, but was in a surprisingly cheery mood, i It was a critical play at the time but one play didn't give them the game, Landry told The Associated Press. No one player should take the blame. Philadelphia deserved to win. There were other mistakes out there.

LOS ANGELES Television commentator George Allen wants to Tony Dorset! Off the hook have the last word pute with Atlanta Bennett regarding on television about KANSAS CITY. Mo. Dick Roach, who came with Coach Marv Levy to the Kansas City Chiefs three years ago, resigned as defensive backfield coach. Roach, 47, cited, personal reasons. in a verbal dis-Coach Leeman Allens remarks the Falcons de i 1 vY i ir----.