Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 37

tho Friday, Sept. 2, 1983 TELEVISION 8 COMICS 10,11 ft WEATHER 11 (J Call with sport newt: 222-6660 I i Time to bench Gibby? Despite Kirk for 33 slump, Sparky Anderson says he's sticking with him. Should the Tigers bench Gibson? See Sound Off, 2D. Standings and stats, Page 4D. Sports Phone, 1-976-1313 Lj dftroit mrr PRrss shuts down Rangers i Bonney Tiger uglif ication program would be a joy to behold What the Tigers have to do is win ugly.

After Thursday's game, they're off on a three-city, 11-game road trip, and everything will be fine if they can just start winning ugly. Winning ugly is an expression Texas Rangers manager Doug Rader inadvertently invented a couple of weeks ago. When a team wins a game despite playing sloppy baseball, that's winning ugly. When a team wins a game even when it doesn't do much hitting, that's winning ugly. When a team makes errors, misses bunts, gets outhit, gets outpitched and still somehow finds a way to come out on top, that, boys and girls, is winning ugly.

The Tigers tried to do it recently with three big come-from-behind wins, but even last-inning home runs are too elegant. It's better when you stink for eight innings and then win the game on a balk. Or mess up bunts and hit into five double plays, the way the Tigers did against Rader and the Rangers Wednesday. That one would have been a nice ugly one to win. the chance to gain a game on the AL East-leading Orioles.

Morris (18-8) pitched a six-hitter and struck out five to raise his league-leading total to 194. "This was a very big game for us," he said. "If we win, all of a sudden we're close again. If we lose, we're still four games out. We had to win, we just had to.

"I feel like every time out I gotta win. It's a helluva lot of pressure, but that's just the way I feel. I wish we were 10 games J. wish it were a little easier." The victory was his 10th in a row, the longest winning streak by any pitcher in the majors this year. In 19 starts since June 1, Morris is 1 5-3 with a 2.

1 5 ERA. In August he was 6-0 with six complete games, a record that lends credence to a bid for AL pitcher of the month. At the rate he is going, Morris is likely to win an even bigger honor the Cy Young' award. And with each victory, he draws closer to his quest of becoming a 20-game winner for the first time. "I think it will be a relief if I get to 20," he said.

"It's a bigger thing to other people than it is to me, but I think once I get to the magic 20 it'll be easier." v. Lemon, whose 20th homer marked a single-season high for him, said it is easy "for us to have confidence in Jack because he very seldom lets the other team score runs early, and opponents know it's extremely difficult to get a lot of runs off him." See TIGERS, Page 4D By BRIAN BRAGG Free Press Sports Wriler Jack Morris came through again and got the Tigers started into September on the plus side Thursday night with a 5-0 victory over Texas. Morris reached a personal single-season high with his 18th victory, tying him with LaMarr Hoyt for the most victories in the majors. Solo home runs by Tom Brookens and Chet Lemon provided the bulk of the Tiger offense against Frank Tanana (7-6). Two eighth-inning runs off the Texas bullpen just added insurance.

"It was way too much Morris tonight," said Texas manager Doug Rader, whose team was shut out for the fourth time in 1 1 games. The way Morris has been pitching for the past two months, it may be difficult to believe that Thursday's shutout was his first since Sept. 25, 1982. "He should win pitcher of the month for August," manager Sparky Anderson said. "It's a must (for the team) that he wins it in September, too.

I've never had a pitcher of this magnitude. "He'll get beat, sure, but his bubble will never burst because he's got too good of stuff." THE TIGERS knew before the finale with Texas the Tigers' last game against a West Division opponent that Baltimore had lost at Toronto. And they didn't waste 'V, I i uJJl -VS His words got cougiit in the press Free Press Pholo bv MARY SCHROEDER Lemon, who homered in the sixth inning, takes a cut in the fourth. Rader got hot not long ago after losing a game to the West Division leaders, the Chicago White Sox. It wasn't on a balk, exactly, but the Sox scraped together enough luck to win and Rader wasn't overly impressed.

The next day's newspapers were full of the word that Rader thought the White Sox' "bubble would burst soon" and that they-were "winning ugly." Well, now that they're far ahead of the rest of the West, all the Chicago fans wanted was a rallying cry Sims: Til click in real games Billy Sims thoughts On the pre-season: "It's not the same (as regular season). That's the way I've been playing football all wnr, imiiiMimnminHi.irfiitiHiininiiirii.iiii By CURT SYLVESTER Free Press Sports Wriler If the figures belonged to anyone except Billy Sims, Monte Clark might have reason to worry about the Lions' running game. The figures are a little embarrassing 48 feet (not yards) in 24 carries. That was Sims' production in the Lions' four pre-season games, an average of two feet per carry. Now, with the season opener at Tampa Bay two days away, is Clark worried about his Pro Bowl, All-Pro, all-everything running back? "Not really," the Lions coach said.

"He hasn't had any real good chances." And Sims, although he is embarrassed by his exhibition-season stats, says he isn't worried, either. "It's not the same (as regular season)," Sims said. "That's the way I've been playing football all along We all work hard but pre-season games are games that don't count. I don't do well. "When the real thing is on the line, that's when everything starts to click for me." Even as a rookie in 1980, with the NFL community waiting to see how he'd do, Sims did not look extraordinary in training camp and exhibition games.

When the Lions opened the season in Anaheim Stadium, however, Sims rushed for 153 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams. "1 still remember that first, game at Los Angeles," Clark said. "I remember (offensive co-ordinator) Bob Schnelker yelling, 'Look at him IF SIMS were not the worker he is, Clark might have cause for concern. Clark figures as long as Sims is working hard in camp, he'll be ready when the season opens. "There's just something different about him," Clark said.

One reason Sims does not pile up impressive statistics during the exhibition season is that he concentrates on phases of the game fans seldom notice. "I try to get into my mental part of the game in training camp," Sims said. "It's little things I work on, like picking up the blitz and pass routes." During the exhibition season, he knows he won't be getting extensive playing time, and that also affects his play. "The more I carry the ball, the better I am," Sims said. See BILLY SIMS, Page 3D a motto.

You know, like "We Are Family" in Pittsburgh or "Ya Gotta Believe" with Tug McGraw's Mets. This week at Comiskey Park, concessionaires began selling "Winning Ugly" T-shirts. Banners started appearing in the grandstand, too. "Yes," manager Tony LaRussa said, tongue firmly in cheek, "we are one ugly team." Which is all well and good. Except Rader didn't say it.

Or at least he didn't say it the way it came out, he claims. "All this is," Rader of theTCangers said the other night at Tiger Stadium, "is another stupefying example of how something you say can be misconstrued." He went on to explain. "What happened was, along we all work hard, but pre-season games are games that don't count. I don't do well." On the regular season: "When the real thing Is on the line, that's when everything starts to click for me. I know I'm not going to be In there for just a quarter; I'll be In for the whole game." "The more I carry the ball, the better I am." Putney; football treat The Free Press has something new for pro football fans this season, and it starts today.

On Page 6D, you'll find a game-by-game rundown of all the weekend's NFL football, with an assessment of each team, TV information, last season's records, the latest odds and more. You'll also find a new Free Press feature we think you'll enjoy, the "Bottom Ten," and a special story each week. Today's Is on the Lions' new punter, Mike Black. Look for "Pro Football Preview" each Friday of the NFL season in the Free Press sports section. "All this is, is another stupefying example of how something you say Free Press Photo in be Billy Sims: "I try to get into my mental part of the game in training camp." misconstrued." Doug Rader Openers should indicate NFL's TV clout they had just won a game where they got three runs on three hits and we'd outplayed 'em all night.

I said they won ugly' that night. But the press saw fit to make 7 iva I Some blame the numbers on last season's player strike, me out to be bad-mouthing the White Sox. It has been only 47 days since the Michigan Panthers won "As for that 'bubble bursting' business, somebody's previous question to me was: 'What will have to happen for you guys to catch the White Sox this And I sports on tne air loe Lapointe said, 'Well, their bubble will HAVE to Brother. No wonder Steve Carlton doesn't talk to you guys. Some say fans are turned off by the growing number of drug problems involving players.

Others say that the USFL's spring-summer league took away the newness of NFL exhibition football. Another theory is that contending baseball teams have grabbed more attention in cities such as Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Ratings fdr this week's games may provide a more accurate indication of fan interest. The Lionswill visit Tampa in their first CBS telecast of the season (Sunday, 1 p.m., Channel 2 in the Detroit area). CBS, placing this game low on its priority list, has assigned Jim Kelly and John Dockery for color and play-by-play, while varsity stars Pat Summerall, John Madden, Jack Buck and Hank Stram will work elsewhere.

Fans interested in the See SPORTS ON THE AIR, Page 3D Rader, who is a crazy-funny Kind of guy when he's the USFL championship. Ready or not, viewers will get another dose of the autumn game in the next week as four professional matches and one major college game will light TV tubes. These contests might help viewers and programmers forget that Nebraska-Penn State abomination Monday night, a made-for-TV "Kickoff Classic" won 44-6 by Nebraska and seen in the Detroit area on Channel 50. It will be interesting to see how many people tune in to what has become a troubled pro league that must now compete with not one but two others. The college game UCLA at Georgia Saturday night might also have ratings problems.

Georgia is without star attraction Herschel Walker, who quit school last spring to join the USFL's New Jersey Generals. But Walker's former a good mood, was asked how he saw the American League East race turning "out. He said, and let's be Bulldog teammates will play a team that has, turned professional in many ways, save paying the players. FIRST, HOWEVER, consider the pros. In the executive suites of the NFL and the three networks, there has been a ripple of concern over lower ratings for this summer's exhibition games.

The ratings are down four percent for NBC, six percent for CBS and 25 percent for ABC. accurate about this: "I'd give you an answer, but nobody takes anything I say seriously anyway." Then Rader started talking about "you guys" again, only instead of meaning reporters, he meant Detroiters. "I liked Baltimore from the-beginning," he said, because of their pitching. I didn't know enough about you guys to know if you had enough pitching to in the race. But now I like your pitching a lot a lot better Hall may start at QB for U-M than ours, anyway." Connors, Lloyd feast at Open; Bonder wins Our pitchers have hidden beauty Can "our guys" stay in the race? "Absolutely," Rader said.

"You got a pitching staff that is virtually slump-proof. Other ball clubs have what you would consider a stopper, and some even might have two. But you guys got three." Jack Morris, Dan Petry and who? "I like (Milt) Wilcox a lot," Rader said. "In case you haven't noticed," he continued, "this is a hitter's ball park. People don't realize just how good your pitchers are.

In Texas we know exactly how good played occasionally last season, but his most extensive work was in the Rose Bowl. THE WOLVERINES' other major quarterback candidate is sophomore Jim Harbaugh, who has four seasons of eligibility remaining because he didn't play last year. Many have touted Harbaugh as U-M's pass-oriented quarterback of the future. Schembechler said he is satisfied with all three quarterbacks and would not hesitate to use any of them in a game Smith has said throughout training camp that he realizes there is competition for his job. "I think I've got to have a good fall (to keep the job).

I've got experience under my belt, but I can't play bad. In spring practice, the other quarterbacks did well." Smith missed most of spring practice with the injury. In his three seasons at Michigan two as starting quarterback Smith has completed 49 percent of his passes, including 29 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. In addition, he has rushed for 1,027 yards on 239 carries. Both his supporters and critics say Smith's strength is his running.

Although Michigan has been successful with him as quarterback, many fans booed Smith last season for not connecting more often with flanker Anthony Carter. When someone asked him if he was worried that Carter has finished college football and gone on to the See U-M, Page 3D By JOE LAPOINTE Free Press Sports Wriler ANN ARBOR Senior Dave Hall, who was an emergency replacement in last January's Rose Bowl, may be the starting quarterback when Michigan opens its football season, coach Bo Schembechler indicated Thursday. Schembechler said senior Steve Smith, starting quarterback for the last two seasons, has re-injured the right shoulder that was separated in last January's Rose Bowl loss to UCLA. The new injury, a bruise, is not as serious this time, Schembechler said. But Smith has been unable to scrimmage for two days and Hall has been playing quarterback.

Smith hurt the shoulder while being tackled in practice. "If we play tomorrow there'd be a change, sure," said Schembechler, whose team begins the season Sept. 10 at Ann Arbor against Washington State. Asked if Hall would be his starting quarterback that day, Schembechler replied: "If Steve is not ready to go, right now I would guess David Hall would be our starting quarterback against Washington State." Asked again if Hall will start the opening game, Schembechler first replied "No" but then added "I don't know. That's possible.

Sure. It could be Hall in the opener." Hall, a 6-foot-4, 213-pound senior from Livonia, they are. What you've done here is tremendous People tend to see statistics to judge pitchers, but in this park your pitchers have to live with home runs that are fly balls somewhere else." NEW YORK (UPI) Defending: champion Jimmy Connors gave himself an early birthday present with an easy victory in the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday while John Lloyd had even bigger cause to celebrate. Connors, in quest of his fifth national championship, won nine of the first 1Q games and breezed to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Thomas Hogstedt of Sweden to reach the third round.

Although he hasn't come up to his level of 1982, when he won Wimble don and the Open, Connors is happy with Bis game. "It would be pretty hard to beat last year any time, but I'm playing pretty good said Connors, who turns 31 Friday There were two upsets in the second-round of the women's competition. Lisa Bonder of Saline, defeated No. jl Barbara Potter, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6. Potter, wh'6 served twice for the match in the final set-was eliminated when Bonder won the tiet See U.S.

OPEN, PageD 5 1 So "we" have enough pitching to hang on? "Yep. Baltimore's playing as good as they can right now and Detroit's still within shouting distance. You can win it." In Come on, then, care to predict what will happen? "Listen," Rader said, "I'm not a prognosticator. If I was any good at that stuff, I wouldn't be here. I'd be out Bo Schembechler may go with Dave Hall as his starting quarterback when U-M opens its season Sept.

10. at the track." Winning, placing and showing ugly, you can bet. 1.