Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 41

This Is Section PI ports oday FINANCIAL Betrott press SUNDAY, JANUARY 3, I960 5-4-7 I 9 nn ions OB AFL i i hi mi ii iij imJ 1 I ign 1 Pick The Lions landed Saturday in the middle of a bitter battle between rival football leagues bidding for college players. Halfback Johnny Robinson of Louisiana State, the Lions' No. 1 choice in the NFL draft, was a pawn in the struggle which also included his All-America teammate, I halfback Billy Cannon. 41 1 Free Press Photos bv BUD JOHNSON CONCENTRATION' CONCENTRATION' as players ponder next move at the Detroit Chess, Checker and Bridge Club. Studying (lower left) In Martin Ivan, last of 10 charter members who founded the organization in 1915.

Above, club manager John Tolzdorf watches Jack Cireenberg make his move. Check Mate Onions Smoke and Legs ---Tliey Win in Chess It -All SAj? foliommijijoja)poj iw "i Hit 1 A- iijriiLiifflri i-nritiiifrrWrTn'jmii'nniiiiiilrrmi ffrjirifuwuaaiiiiiWiiiiiiniiiBmTtn- iiiiMHliiniii I BY BOB Pn-LE The magic number of chess, if anybody cares to toss knowing remarks into unrelated conversation, is That's the count of possible combinations in the first 10 moves of a match. And at tournament level there Is. training Involved, which belies the misguided conviction that the game leads through crackling brain waves only to secretary's spread. Mikhail Botvinnik, the world champion from Russia, prepares for serious competition by boning up on his rivals' past games and plotting strategy, of course.

BUT HE DOES this in "game-condition scrimmage" with a radio blaring at his elbow and with seconds blowing clouds of cigar smoke in his face. Newell Bank, the oft-times national checkers champion from Detroit and bashful claimant of countless records, used to go even beyond that Now seventyish, Bank's used to proclaim that in checkers' "legs1 are of absolute importance." "You sit and think," Banks explained. "And if your legs aren't physically fit you develop cramps. 'That means pain and weariness and takes your mind off the game a little. Zingo! You're perhaps a loser." Banks in his golden days also Issued proclamations on diet: "Little meat lots of milk and fresh vegetables a generous quantity of nuts" daily and several big Spanish onions." The onions, he said, were "for energy." Not for something so unsporting as breathing on opponents.

Less concerned with such intense problems are the home and club strategists who play for sedentary and concentrated relaxation. Mostly they just look for even competition, meaning clubs. OLDEST IS THE Detroit Chess, Checker, and Bridge Club. The bridge addition came in depression days. "We needed the money," manager John Tolzdorf explains.

On the club's sixth site (2450 Park) one Turn to Tage 2, Column 4 FOR CASTELLAN 2 TDs IN 3 MINUTES! i Spartans OH and Running Open Defense With 91-79 Win Special to the Pre Press MADISON, Wis. Wisconsin, which doesn't play very good football either, was the foil for Michigan State's opening defense of its Big Ten basketball championship Saturday. Brilliant in the first half but ragged after the intermission, the Spartans rolled to a 91-79 victory in an afternoon game televised regionally. The Badgers, who have lost seven of 10 starts this season, pulled within six points with five minutes left but scored only four points after that. IT WAS THE sixth victory for Michigan State, which has lost only twice, to California and Brigham Young.

Horace Walker staged a sensational first-half scoring' spree as the Spartans ran up a 13-point lead, 57-44. Walker hit 25 in the first half, but collected only four more in the second half as Wisconsin's pressing defense upset the Spartans' finely timed attack. I THE SPARTANS were handi-I capped when Lance Olson fouled I out with 13:08 to play after i scoring 16 points. Art Gowens, who had 18, was Injured by a blow In the nose with six minutes to go and failed to register after I that. It was the last game of the season for Gowens, tricky- shooting center, and gaard Jim Bechinski.

They and sophomore Bill Pauline were ruled ineligible for the winter term starting Monday, because of scholastic troubles. The young Badgers, using (three and four sophomores in their line-up at times, were paced by Tom Hughbanks with 19 points. Bob Barneson hit 18, Fred Clow 16 and Marty Ghar-rity 14. MICHIGAN STATE trailed by five points, 10-5, early in the game but used a tight zone defense and masterful positioning on offense to overtake the Badgers with a 30-20 lead halfway through the first half. With Walker hitting shots from all angles, the Spartans made 67 per cent of their 3hots during the first half.

It was tougher going In the second half as Wisconsin's eager defense cut MSU's shooting percentage and caused the Spartans to make numerous mistakes. After holding an 81-68 lead with 7i minutes to go, the Spartans went nearly five minutes without getting a field goal. Their lead was down to 83-75 when Walker broke the drouth with his final field goal. Dave Fahs stole tht, ball for an easy layup and Don Richey cashed a three-pointer for the rest of State's points while Wisconsin settled for one basket and a pair of free throws. WISCONSIN MICH.

STATE Sarnesn Clow 0-0 Olson Gowens Walker Pahs Bechnski Schwann Young Richey Sparver 4-5 -11 4-4 Ulwellini 1 6-0 Power 0-0 14 1-1 5 2 1 HqhbnkJ Carritv VMeuien 5-7 2 1 6-9 2-5 II 1 1 Totals 33 13-14 7 Total H1MI fl The Dallas Texans of the newly formed American Football League announced Saturday that they signed Robinson immediately after the Sugar Bowl game between LSU and Mississippi at New Orleans Friday. Edwin J. Anderson, president of the Lions, then revealed that Detroit had already signed Robinson to an earlier contract. He threatened court action to enforce it. "SINCE DALLAS has made this anouncement, I can say that we do have Robinson signed to a legal instrument which the courts will recognize and which we intend to enforce," the Lions' president said.

He said, however, that he would attempt to persuade Robinson to renounce his pact with the Dallas team. "Some time in the next SO days, we will go down to Baton Rouge and try to talk to Robinson about playing with us," he said. "I hope we are successful because the next step would mean going to court." Anderson said that courts already have ruled that prior contracts are valid in case of dual signings like Robinson's. "These boys who are signing contracts with two teams are being very naive," he said. "So are the teams in the other league who are giving them contracts when they are already under contract." THE LIONS also made LSU quarterback Warren Rabb their second draft choice but have not announced whether he is under contract.

Anderson said earlier, however, that he had "every reason to believe that both Robinson and Rabb will play with Detroit next season." Anderson did not say when Robinson was signed by the Lions. But since the club did not have a representative at the Sugar Bowl, it must have been in advance of the game. In that case his school could be in trouble with the NCAA for playing a professional in a college game. The same is true of Cannon, caught in a tug-of-war between the Houston Oilers of the AFL and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL. The All-America ace announced plans to play with Houston and promptly was threatened with court action by Pete Rozelle, general manager of the Rams.

CANNON SIGNED with Houston under the goal posts immediately after the Sugar Bowl game. The signing was handled by Adrian Burk, onetime quarterback with Baylor and the Philadelphia Eagles who is now, an attorney for the Houston club owner, Bud Adams. One rumor said that Cannon would get $100,000 and a new car for playing three years. Another said that Adams planned to set tip "a string of Cannon health centers" In Texas and make Billy the nominal head. There also was a report that Cannon would operate a chain of service stations for Adams, each for $1,000 a month plus 50 per cent of the profits.

THE RAMS did not disclose their deal with the LSU star Turn to Page 4, Column 1 Sunday's TV, Radio Sports Fare TELEVISION 12:00 noon Bowling. 1:00 p.m. Cuban winter 4:30 p.m. I Don Whitt vs. Dave Ragan.

11:00 p.m. Hockey. Detroit vs. Boston. RADIO 7:00 p.m.

WXYZ Hockey. Detroit vs. Boston, Look Out Beloiv POLLARD IN coot Over, Rocha Lakers' Coach West Is Wild At End, 21-14 SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) Southern Methodist's brilliant Don Meredith threw two "do-or-die" touchdown passes in the last three minutes to give the underdog West a 21-14 victory over the East in the 35th Shrine Classic Saturday. Packing all the drama of a I Quits sign," Castellani said. "But the experience has helped me tremendously." TOLLARD, 37, returns to the team he helped to the pinnacle of pro basketball in eight starring seasons.

He was a teammate of George Mikan when the Lakers won six championships in three different leagues. Pollard has beMi in auto and boat sales work in Minneapolis for the last two j-ears. Terms of the contract were not announced, but Fol-lard was hired for the balance of the season. "One of the first things 111 try to do is get thia team Turn to Page 2, Column 1 Ready Pre Press Wirt Service MINNEAPOLIS Johnny Castellani resigned Saturday as coach of the Minneapolis Lakers and was immediately replaced by former Laker great Jim Pollard. This was the third coaching change in the NBA in 14 days.

New York fired Fuzzy Le-vane Dec. 19 and Detroit dismissed Red Rocha Dec. 28. CASTELLANI lasted just half season. Owner Bob Short brought him to Minneapolis from the University of Seattle at the Btart of the current NBA campaign.

There had been hopes that Castellano would build a team around Elgin Baylor, whom he had coached at Seattle. rollard But the Lakers, who won the Western Division championship under Johnny Kun-dla last season, hit a terrible slump and slid to a record of 11 victories and 25 defeats. Partially to blame for Castellani's exit was the outbreak of dissension on the club after its slow start. "I am very -sorry that circumstances caused me to re Ratings Castellani Bruins Will Catch You If You Don't-- BY MARSHALL DAXX Finding the NHL ice mighty slippery these days, the Red Wings will attempt some direct anti-skid measures Sunday night. From a realistic point of view the Boston Bruins not the Toronto Maple Leafs are the most worrisome opponent in the league at this time.

True, the Wings are locked in a close race with Toronto for second place. But the Bruins are the nearest team below and thus the chief threat to a team that is in a slump. DETROIT has won only once in six starts, that in Boston two weeks ago. Another victory appeared likely Friday night in Chicago, but the Black Hawks converted it into a 4-4 tie with just 15 seconds remaining. That spectacular tactic of yanking the goalie for an extra forward finally paid dividends for the first time In the league this season.

Glenn Hall was on the bench when Murray Balfou? connected from a scramble at 19:45 for the tying tally. This ruined two nifty Red Wing manuevers. Detroit jumped off to a 3-0 lead on first-period goals by Red Kelly, John McKenzie and Murray Oliver. AFTER CHICAGO got even with goals from Tod Sloan, Bobby Hull and Dollard St. Laurent, Detroit moved to a 4-3 lead on Jim Morrison's counter.

While disappointed by to Page Column 8 Wings HERE'S SCIIRAM great game into the last quar ter, Meredith, end Chris Bur-ford of Stanford and halfback Dick Bass of College of Pacific brought the 60,000 fans in Kezar Stadium to their feet with their heroics. 4 THE WINNING touchdown was set up when a pass Interception gave the West the ball on its own 35. With a minute to go, Meredith tossed a dinky little pass to the sidelines that Bass bob-bled then pulled in to score on a nine-yard play. The West got score on a break. the tying The East had the ball on its own 20 when Michigan State quarterback Dean Look fumbled.

Oregon's John Eilcox, who had a fine day, recovering one other fumble and intercepting a pass, recovered. On the first play Meredith shot a 21-yard bullet into the outstretched hands of Burford. MEREDITH was chosen the game's outstanding player. Turn to Page Column 4 WEST 18 7 303 11-43 1 1-38 2 45 EAST 13 15 S3 -H 1 7-37. 3 10 First downs I Rushing yardago passing yardage Passes intercepted Yards penalized West East 14-21 7-14 WEST-Soikes 1 plunge BuceK kick).

EAST White 2 plunge (Stickles kick). EAST Norton 52 pass from lzo( Stickles 1 kick). Twyman Hot But Knicks Chill Royals 42-Point Spree -Goes to Waste CINCINNATI UPI Jack Twyman scored 42 points and turned in a record-breaking performance at the free-throw line Saturday, but his Cincinnati Royal teammates went "stone cold" 5 minutes before the end of the game and bowed to the New York Knickerbockers, 126-118. Twyman sank 16 of 16 free throws to set a Royal game record and hit 13 of 24 attempts from the field. A record crowd of 6,349 watched the NBA game.

THREE TIMES the Royals spotted New York a seven-point lead, then came back to take over as the lead changed hands 18 times and the score was tiea lt limes. NEW YORK CINCINNATI Naulls -10 it Twyman 13 14-1 4l Farmer 5 2-2 12 Piontelc 4 -l Tvra 4 2-4 10 Jordon 11 4-4 24 Braun I 3-3 it bockroth i o- Goerin 12 a-12 J2 Wilfont 5 1-1 11 Sears I 3-4 IT Reed I 6-9 4 Palmer 1 1-3 4 Stavermn 0-0 i ti it 4 11 Anderegs 1 1 Park Rollins Cage During the last 10 seasons 17 of the 40 teams rated No. 1 by Schram at the end of February reached the title game of the state tournament on the last day of March. Eleven of these teams went on to win-state championships. A TEAM'S won-lost record is not the only factor considered by Schram in compiling his ratings.

He also looks at a team's personnel, the quality of Its schedule and the ability of its coach. Watch for Michigan's most respected basketball ratings. They will start Tuesday and run every Tuesday for the next eight weeks. Michigan's most authoritative high school basketball ratings will begin Tuesday in the Free Press. Once again the teams will be rated by Free Press prep expert Hal Schram, who is in his 15th year on the job.

The ratings, widely copied by news services and other Michigan newspapers, consider all high schools on both peninsulas, a total of 725 teams. Schram personally keeps a complete day-by-day and game-by-game file on 500 of these teams. HIS RATINGS will list the top 10 teams in each of the four enrollment categories: and Dv They will run every Tuesday until Feb. 23. State tournament elimination play will begin March 1.

Totals 4T24-M124 Totals 45I-3111 New York Jl 33 31 124 Cincinnati 27 33 27 21 IIS WEST Burford 21 pass from Meredith (Bucek kick). 1 WEST Bass pass from Meredith (Bucek kick). Michigan Stat Wisconsin 34- fl 35- 7.