The Sun from Biloxi, Mississippi • 14

Little twinge in the ribs almost doomed career of Randy Jones By THZ ASSOCIATED PRESS At first it was nothing more than a twinge in the ribs the kind of pain an athlete figures he can work out So Randy Jones tried to work it out happened in a game against Pittsburgh the third week of May" said Jones inning I kept pitching for three weeks after that I was my own worst enemy" Jones had Just authored three consecutive shutouts for San Diego He had not allowed a run for 80 inning and had gone 44 Innings without surrendering a walk Now he admits that his enthusiasm got the best of him "You know when they put the ball in my glove I've waited four days to get it" he said like to give it Jones pitched twice more after feeling the pain for the first time ml succeeded in separating a rib This time there was no choice He sat for six weeks When Jones returned to action he was throwing unnaturally trying to protect his ribs All that accomplished was to strain a nerve in his pitching arm the same Injury that sidelined Mm in 1977 a year after he had won the Cy Toung Award The season that had started with such promise ended in ashes with a 5-18 record was very demoralizing really disappointing" he said It's hurt it's susceptible You never know when it might go" why the Mets got him relatively cheaply swapping pitcher John Facella and iwfuidw Jose Moreno for the veteran southpaw The Padres were sweeping house and Jones suspected the broom would get him they traded Bob Shirley Gene Tenace and Rollie Fingers I said to myself surprise me if the phone rings some soon' It did with word that the Padres had shipped him to New York The deal needed his approval because he had a no-trade clause in Ms contract had lost interest in me though and I didn't want to stay where I was not Jones said Ted Simmons waived Ms no-trade clause for $750000 Jones got something less than that to OK the deal with the Mets But that's because the pitcher is a question mark That's why he sees the trade as the start of a new career for himself at age SI the Mets I can be a he said I'm healthy I can pitch 250 innings and win in double figures I know I can still throw I saw a glimpse of it last year with those three Jones also likes to point out that in 1978 and 1979 the two seasons after the nerve problem first he pitched 258 and 263 Innings year I was this close" he said holding his fingers a couple of lpches apart This year the Mets hope he can close that gap Wave names Ned Fowler By THE ASSOCIATED PUSH Tulane University athletic department officials named Ned Fowler of Tyler (Texas) Junior College the new basketball coach on Tuesday to succeed Roy Danforth Fowler 87 compiled a 81-4 record at Tyler this season and was 88-22 for his three years at the school Danforth who led Syracuse to six consecutive post-season tournaments before moving to Tulane accumulated a 45-90 record In five years He resigned after this season to become an associate athletic director at Tulane Athletic Director Hindman Wall said Fowler signed a three-year contract with the school feel like we had at least three good players at Tyler Junior College)" Fowler said Tuesday most probably will give them the opportunity to come to Tulane "We get to be 81-4 Just on my coaching tell you that" He said point guard Prince Bridges and forwards Curtis Wallace and Elton Webster both 6-foot-C will be offered athletic scholarships to Tulane High school talent In Texas and Louisiana will also get a thorough scanning he said He said he liked the challenge of building a winning program at a school that has had Just four winning seasons since 1960 rather have the underdog role and have to rebuild than be at a UCLA or Louisville" he said And he set no time schedule for establishing a winning program "I certainly hope soon" he said did not come in here with the Idea of it taking three years" He said he was certain Tulane could have a winning season next year If the talent permits it he said he wants his team to use a man-to-man press as its basic defense and run the fast break as Its primary offense somewhat of a disciplinarian but I'm always fair with them always honest with them" he said the same time my office door is always open to them have to adjust to he said Saying he Is usually direct and open In his dealings with everyone Fowler apologized Tuesday for fibbing to reporters who intercepted him on his arrival at New Orleans International Airport on Monday night After doing a bit of sleuthing reporters from the Times-Picayune determined he was arriving on American Airlines and had him paged He was confronted as he answered the page but denied he was Fowler "No my name Is William Smith I'm sorry you have the wrong person" he said He apologized for fibbing and said he felt bound to honor the university's 1 pm release time of the announcement Larry Farmer replaces Brown at UCLA Larry Farmer the fourth UCLA coach in six years who must toll in the imposing shadow still cast by John Wooden says he's well' aware of the pressure accompanying Bruin basketball "I like the challenge that people expect UCLA to win and I accept it full well knowing what I have to Farmer said "So much of the tradition here at the school I have been a part Farmer a UCLA assistant for the past six years was named Tuesday to replace Larry Brown at the helm Brown who like predecessors Gene Bartow and Gary Cunningham spent two years In the Job has left to become coach of the New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association The three coaches who followed Wooden after his 27-year reign ended In 1975 had winning records falling to reach 20 victories In a season Dave Parker says his off-season last year caused by injured leg but they do not compare with 10 NCAA championships Fanner at 80 the youngest of eight head basketball coaches the school has had said he up" under Wooden at UCLA Farmer averaged 94 points per game in three NCAA championship seasons for the Bruins beginning In 1971 Interestingly the Bruin teams Farmer played for were 89-1 during his three years a better record than posted by Bill Walton or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Lew Alclndor) during their UCLA careers la day one of what I hope Is not a two-year said Farmer referring to the tenures served by Bartow Cunningham and Brown "I have been with the Bruin basketball program for 11 years and I intend to stay a lot longer" Farmer said his approach will be to "try to coach like Larry Farmer" He explained: background Is closely linked to John Wooden so my foundation is rooted in Coach style The Icing on the cake is what I've learned from Gene Bartow Gary Cunningham and Larry Brown while I served under them" Asked then If his teams will resemble teams on the floor Farmer grinned and replied: "I hope so at the end of the game" Farmer displayed a sparkling sense of humor that might help carry him through any bad spells in his new Job Asked how long he thought It might take for him to receive his first criticism he grinned and said "What time is it?" Talking about waiting in the wings as an assistant he said been a tough six years for me I had to get rid of three coaches to get the Job Now guys are lining up for my old spot for the same On a more serious note Farmer said he was sorry to get the Job in the circumstances he did because of Brown's departure "I know Larry Brown is very fond of UCLA and I guess it was basically Just a matter of Ms being offered a huge sum of money happy for me but sorry he's Brown had a 22-10 record his first year at the school and his young Bruins surprised most observers by making it to the championship game of the NCAA tournament where they lost to Louisville This season UCLA was 20-7 and lost Its opening game of the playoffs a stunning 78-55 defeat by Brigham Young last Saturday Nets players happy about Brown aurice Lucas said he breathed a sigh of relief when he heard that Larry Brown had finally admitted he will be in New Jersey next season coaching the NBA Nets will be glad to have this matter settled to know where we are going to go next year and the years after" said Lucas a veteran power forward a positive sign for the club especially the young guys to know who their coach will be It clears some of the mist out of the air" Lucas said Tuesday before the Nets home contest against the Philadelphia 7fiers The Nets will announce appointment as head coach at a Wednesday morning news conference Brown who made 140000 a year as head coach will get a base salary of $150000 a year plus incentive bonuses when he leads the Nets into their new home at the Meadowlands Arena Bob MacKinnon who took over as Nets head coach after Kevin Loughery resigned In December will be named general manager Brown has built a reputation on his ability to mold young players into fine performers and the Nets with six rookies are wHnwiitlg Rookie Mike graduated last year from alma mater the University of North Carolina met Larry a few times at Chapel Hill" O'Kbren said didn't know Mm personally but I knew him enough to say hello I understand Hit a good coach and a good guy" said Brown like most North P-JimHn graduates was a frequent visitor on campus although the ex-UCLA coach did not get Involved with the team comes in to check in with Coach Dean Smith and he did Brown disclosed his decision to resign from UCLA at a closed-door meeting with his Bruins team Monday according to two players who asked to remain anonymous Larry Farmer a Bruin assistant basketball coach fair six years Is the new head coach Rumors of agreement with the Nets had been circulated for more th a month but the 40-year-old coach said he would wait until after the Bruins finished the season to make a decision By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Two years ago many experts described Pittsburgh outfielder Dave Parker as the best everyday player in baseball Hie 6-foot-5 Parker could Mt for average and Mt with power throw bullets from right field run fast for a man Ms size and almost always produce the key Mt In 1971 for example Parker led the National- League in extra-base hits and sacrifice flies finished second in total bases tied for second in runs scored was third In doubles fourth In assists for an outfielder sixth in total Mts seventh in slugging percentage and batting average and eighth in runs batted in He was the Most Valuable Player of the 79 All-Star game and won a Gold Glove that season for Ms fielding Last year however he slipped in all categories He still had a season most outfielders would settle for but it wasn't a Parker production Why? anything that happened" Parker said played last year on a bad leg which was stupid at me Just human Everybody has an Image of me as super So I tried to live up to that and played injured think when the knee got bad was midway through the season right after the All-Star game and we were competing in what I consider the toughest division in all of baseball I Just wanted to contribute I was playing for these other 24 guys and a manager I respect a lot It was Just me a competitive guy and when I can go out there 75 or 80 percent I feel I can do an adequate Job That was why I Parker is concerned that he may have done damage to Ms career over the long haul had a bad knee injury torn cartilage bone chips under my left kneecap playing hurt basically But I Mt 296 on one leg could have 'quit when I was at 811 but I thought we had a chance to win so I Just played until I couldn't play anymore" he said The huge outfielder with the multi-million dollar contract admits he Isn't sure how do this season until he has had a chance to really test the knee been lifting a lot of weights and really laying back until I really have to use It in game conditions That will tell Pm going to do things moderately in spring training and Just get it as strong as I possibly can" Does Parker believe that he still Is going to live up to that rating? Consider myself a bonaflde 300 hitter" he replied that's my approach go out and Mt 800 and try to drive in 100 runs So Pm a very positive Individual A healthy Dave Parker is considered one of the better players in the Suspended van Breda Kolff is again winning coach without job security Jets sign two By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The New York Jets have signed Henderson a safety from Eastern Michigan and have acquired Mickey Barilla a kicker from Colorado State on waivers from the Buffalo Bills Henderson was cut in training camp by San Francisco In i960 and by Green Bay in 1979 He played with Toronto of the GFL In 1978 Barilla was cut in by Buffalo last season 102 FM STEREO COUNTRY COAST'S NEW COUNTRY STATION By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Newly suspended head coach Butch van Breda Kolff of the New Orleans Pride says he understand Ms winning record has failed once again to provide him with any Job security Citing team dissension and complaints by officials with the Women's Professional Basketball League Pride officials announced late Monday that van Breda Kolff was being suspended for the rest of the season The WBL was disturbed by tardy payments of fines for technical fouls said Claudette Simpson team general manager and wife of owner John Simpson She said there were other WBL complaints but declined to specify them Mrs Simpson said the team's recent poor performance was another factor in the suspension decision Monday "I Just want to know how I keep getting fired when I have more win than losses" van Breda Kolff said have been late on some fines but as of now they are paid up" he said The Pride has lost Its last five games but Is 17-14 in the league and 4 Vi games behind find-place Dallas The team finished the regular season last year at 22-18 with van Breda Kolff as head coach In Ms first year Mrs Simpson said she and her husband had and we decided it would be In the best interests of the team to suspend Butch for the time being" Van Breda Kolff contract with the Pride expires In June and Mrs Simpson said have not discussed next year at all" I learned long said van Breda Kolff that owners can do what they want to do It is their right to hire and to fire who they want to Kolff said the club must honor' his contract even with a suspension and would risk a legal fight if It tried to avoid paying Mm fight them down to the wire Maybe lose but have some fun doing it" he said Team spokeswoman Pearl Sackett said assistant coach Ray Scott would serve as Interim coach Van Breda basketball coaching career has gone from college to the National Basketball Association and back He coached at Hofstra and Princeton before taking a Job with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA After that he coached NBA teams at Phoenix and Detroit REBATE ENDS MARCH 19 700 OFF OFF Buick Skylarks Chevy Chevettes Buick Regal Chev Monte Carlo Comoros Citations NOTICE POLICE JOB OPPORTUNITIES Applications are being received through March 24 1981 for employment In the Biloxi Police Department Applicants must be In good physical condition and qualified electors Starting salary of $10752 per annum 30-year retirement paid vacation holidays sick leave and City Civil Service status OVER 50 OF THESE UNITS TO CHOOSE FROM! Chevrolet BUCK Gulf Coast Chapter of LSU club is meeting Thursday The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Louisiana State University Varsity Club will hold Its bi-monthly meeting Thursday evening in the Parish House of the Church of the Redeemer at hih Activities begin at 7 of Louisiana State University University recently formed a Gulf Coast Chapter of the LSU Varsity Club" said club publicity chalr-man Clyde Carter "We are presently having a major membersMp The featured speaker will be LSU track assistant Murrell E- Garland All interested supporters of LSU are invited to attend 15th Street Gpt 864-7500 Application forms obtainable at the Biloxi City Hall Room 213 Lisa Welch Secretary i.