Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 60

LION FAMER EVEN HELPED CHANGE RULES Detroit 4ftec $tcss ort Ca Irani The Inside of Sports a sweciai wag 6-E 'SUNDAY, JULY 28, 1974 ftvAi vered a bit as the smelling salts were waved under his nose, and then the thousands 4ji the Coliseum began howling for Night Train's hide. Remarkably, Arnett came back to play again that day, but the sight of that tackle, innocent and unintentional as it might have been, left a lasting impression. A man simply cannot be tackled in that fashion without serious injury resulting. BEFORE ANOTHER SEASON came, the NFL and colleges and high schools, for that matter recognized the danger and ruled out the face-mask tackle. Do not be mistaken with all'this.

Night Train Lara was not a vicious player by any means. He was tough and clever, a magnificent, athlete who in his first year set an enduring record of 14 interceptions for a season. He played the game as he was taught, but he played it so well his manner had to be curtailed. "When I was with the Cardinals," he explained at the time, "they taught us to tackle by driving our heads into.the ball-carrier's chest. "A lot of times a guy can slip off that kind of tackle, so you learned to grab whatever you could and hang on.

If it happened to be the face mask, well You still see the face-mask penalty being called in football, but generally" it is a matter of accident, an unintentional infraction. It takes no great depth of understanding to realise the danger posed by unrestrained face-mask tackling. ANYWAY, NIGHT TRAIN as fine and gracious and popular a man who ever wore the Blue and Silver of the Lion.1!, has joined the elite of his game. It is a grand and glorious moment for him, richly deserved and all. Only six other 'Lions have been similarly honored, all treasured names, from the past, like Dutch Clark, Alex Wojciechowicz, Bill Bobby Layne, and Night Train's famed contemporaries, Jack Christiansen and Joe Schmidt.

It is mighty fast company indeed, all of them distinguished as true greats of their game. But it is all the more impressive where Night Train Lane is concerned when you consider he never played college football. It is no simple task for a single performer to change the way games, are played, especially the old, established games that have been around for years, a century and more, say. Rules are changed frequently, as you know, but almost always the changes are designed to juice up the action, as we see witn baseball's designated hitter, and now in the coming New Rules of Professional Football. It is rare indeed, though, that one man comes along In a game and by his solitary style forces a major change upon game.

Dick (Night Train) Lane did it in professional football. That is not the reason he was being honored down in Canton, 0., Saturday. 01' Night Train was being inducted into Pro Football's Hall of Fame, the highest of tributes available to the men of his sport. He got there for special reasons, such as the fact that in his time, for all time, for that matter, he ranks as one of the truly superb defensive backs to play professional football. IF YOU DID NOT KNOW, the former Lion cornerback remains the second leading pass interceptor in the record books, his 68 career thefts surpassed by only one other (Em Tunnel!) among the great ball thieves of the gridiron.

He has not been gone so long that many have forgotten his days with the Lions. He played with them from 1960-65 after eight seasons with the Chicago Cardinals, and when he retired he became a sort of good-will man-about-town for the club. He has moved about some the last few years, seeking first a college degree, a head coaching job, or pursuing whatever ambition happened to hit him. At the moment he Is tieJ in rather informal fashion to Redd Foxx of Sanford Sons fame. He was, for those who do not remember, a special sort of Cat on a football field.

He was quicksand slick and cunning and far tougher than his easy, almost casual, manner suggested. A kid named Lem Barney replaced him in the Lions' lineup, and it was Night Train who gave Barney the instinct to take a chance, to gamble, on an interception that could turn a game around. Everybody, no doubt, is aware that it is a bad thing a very bad and dangerous practice, to tackle ball-carriers by rabhingg the fse msk. Right? The rule making such a practice one of the more onerous personal fouls in the game was introduced in the 1962 season. Night Train Lane brought it about, pne tackle he made left no doubts in the minds of the rules-makers that face-mask tackling was courting tragedy and disaster, and so it was outlawed.

It was purely accident, maybe dumb lucki who knows what, that Jon was not grievously injured the day Night Train floored him in Los Angeles Coliseum. I wonder still, in fact, how Arnett did not literally lose his head, leaving it hanging there in Night Train's grasp. The Lions were playing the Rams in the Coliseum in the fall of '61. Arnett came flying down the left sideline, having' turned the corner on the Lion deferise, and now he was headed full speed toward a certain touchdown. Night Train, racing desperately to catch up, came within a long stride, then took a flying leap at Arnett.

His arm reached out and over Arnett's shoulder, his hand grasping the bar across Arnett's face. Arnett's head stopped, as if hit by an invisible wall. His feet, his body, swept forward, like a swing, and then all of him came crashing backward onto the turf. It was a startling blow. Instantly you could sense tragedy in the making.

Arnett laid there unmoving for long and scary minutes as doctors and trainers labored over him. Finally he quiv- mmm.it i iJiiiwwra.jiiiii.uuDiwui.iiimiiiwJ.iii for Us It Tiger Facelift? ime 1 Don 't Know. '--Jim Campbell has heard the farm system he helped build blasted for failing to produce a bumper crop in more than a decade. He has seen himself cast in the villian's role for sitting still and not making enough major deals in the last few years. In this week's Free Press Sports Quiz with Free Press baseball writer Jim Hawkins, Campbell speaks out somewhat testily on the crisis, imagined or otherwise, that currently confronts the Tigers.

The vultures have begun to circle in earnest above Tiger Stadium. In the minds of many, anyway, the 1974 season is already over for the Tigers. And if that is indeed true, it has undeniably been a disastrous season. But, Tiger general manager Jim Campbell, for one, isn't ready to concede anything quite yet. He has read his team's obituaries in the newspapers.

He Want to Buy the A's? Cough Up $17.5 Million Since U-D coach Dick Vitale is always looking for fresh ideas, he ought to check on the basketball program at TCU. They're feeding their players giraffe steaks If you'd you'd like to buy the Oakland A's, just write Charlie Finley a check for $17.5 million. He'll also throw in the city of Oakland. Idle thought: It took the baseball players 100 years to turn people off with a strike but it's taken the pro footballers only 50 years Or if you'd like the negotiations rights to Chris Evert, just come up with $200,000 for the Florida Flamingos of the WTT League. Quick now, who had the sharpest shooting eye on the Red Wings last season? It was Bill Hogaboam, who scored on 18 percent of his shots 18 of 100.

Mickey Redmond was next with 51 of 296 for 17.2 percent while Marcel Dionne was away down the list with 24 of 200 for a mere 8.5 percent The Swam speaks: "I have found that girls with out principle usually draw a lot of interest. Robin Roberts, the old 20-game winner, is now general manager of the new Philadelphia franchise in the Northern Hockey League The Swami speaks again: "I have found that the amount of sleep the average person reqquires is about 30 minutes more." Dept. of Eternal Hope: Ben Kerner, former owner of the St. Lous Hawks, just became the pappa of a son at the age of 61 The Chicago Yacht Club, which will be celebrating its centennial anniversary, is pushing for a massive 600-mile race from Port Huron to Chicago next year but is meeting opposition from the officials who stage the Port Huron to Mackinac race. Norm Van Brocklin, the Irascible coach of the Atlanta Falcons, just bought a home in Social Circle, Ga.

The new Washington Capitals of the NHL announced they would broadcast all of their games. next season and over 200 aspiring hockey announcers applied for the job The Toronto Argonauts have just increased the size of their stadium by 24 seats. Quarterback Bobby Douglass of the Bears thinks the striking players aren't nearly as interested in getting their freedom as they are in getting paid for exhibition games Inflation. Note: After Hugh Duffy hit .438 for the Boston Braves in 1R94, he was given a raise of $75 a year or $12.50 a month. The striking LA Ram players, with nothing better to do, are telling the story about the time quarterback John Hadl tried to sneak across from the one against the San Fran- Cisco 49ers.

The 49ers were yelling at the officials to untangle the players to see jf Hadl had scored. "Calm down," said the referee. "It's not easy to find a Hadl in a knees- tack." Golf Tour Starts in Arizona The Quote Machine: Bobby Riggs, tennis promoter "Since losing to Bille Jean I've made $1.5 million and she's made $2 million. Considering my alimony payments, she's way ahead of me." Connie Ryan, Atlanta Braves coach "Ralph Garr's strike zone is high, wide and handsome." Al McGuire, Marquette basketball coach, commenting on "hardship case" Maurice Lucas, who is now with the Chicago Bulls hardship? Hardship is not eating. Lucas is dressed like Astor's plush horse." Bob Samaras, Wayne State basketball coach "We just recruited six players who stand 6-8, 6-7, 6-5, 6-4 and 6-4.

I don't know how they'll do but we'll look a lot more impressive around airports and hotel lobbies." Ivan Danosi, Wayne Stafe fencing coach "We, uh, need new blood for our team." Lee Corso, Indiana football coaoh "The first time I ever saw Bo Schembechler coach was in a high school game in Roanoke Va. I wrote a note to myself: Don't evftr think think you can outcoach Bo The pro golf tour will start in Arizona'instead of California next January. Too rainy in California at that time of the year Edwin Pope, sports editor of the Miami Herald, I passes along the information that the longest song title ever written was by Hoagy Carmichael: "I'm A Cranky Old Yank On The Streets Of Yokahoma With My Honolulu Mama Doin' Those Beat-O, -Flat-On-My-Seat-O, Hirohito Blues." Thank you, Edwin. Virginia Emond, a Belleville beautician, shot a hole in one in the second round of golf she ever played at Knob on Lake course and then quit because "this game is loo easy." Owen. Wells, former U-D star, was a fifth-round draft choice of the Houston Rockets and did so well in rookie camp that the team is paying his expenses to play in a summer league in Los Angeles against top pros this summer.

Did you know that: 1. There's never been an American referee in the NHL. 2. Rocco Domenico Colavito is the only player in baseball history whose initials, when turned around, spell "OOO." When Tom Yawkey bought Joe Cronin from the Washington Senators for in 1934, the deal was written out written out in pencil on a brown paper bag. Another Prejudiced Star Team The Swami speaks once more: "I have found that the Sas war is over.

Gas won." Statistics: When Hank Aaron hit No. 714, he was wearing uniform 44 and was batting fourth. He has four fingers (and a thumb) on each hand and his favorite color is blue, which has four letters, and his favorite ntimlber is six, which puts an end to this paragraph. Now another Purely Prejudiced All-Star team as submitted by Mike Labnn: IB Harry Bright. My dad made sure we got down to Briggs Stadium when the Senators were in town to see Harry flex his ears.

2B Pumpsie Green. Won the Topps Triple Crown for having the same number (454) three years in a row on their bubble gum cards. SS Cesar Gutierrez. Once, In a game against Baltimore, he went deep into the hole and threw out Boog Powell at second base. 3B Mike (Rocky) Krsnich.

Only infielder in American or National League history to play an entire season (1962' without catching a pop fly. RF Elmer Valo. Averaged one home run for every 971 times at bat. CF Gordon Windhnrn. A man who spent 17 years In the minor leagues and was badly in need of love.

LF George Alusik, who became highly proficient at running into outfield walls, whether the ball was hit to him or not. Danny Kravitz. Once caught both games of a doub-leheader without a mask. Nickname: Pretty Boy. Joe Bonikowski.

Developed the revolutionary "flutter stub" pitch. Only drawback was it had to be throw with both hands. Anecdote Alley: When Camilo Pascual came up to the majors from Havana, a Boston sports writer called him on the phone for an interview. Hawkins U4- frw to" bJ ii FT I rift or go back to last winter, knowing what you know now, would you do things any differently? A "Absolutely. If I had known Ron Cash was going to get sick, we wouldn't have brought him north with us.

If I had known Willie Horton was going to get hurt, we would have tried to do something with him. But I didn't know Willie Horton was going to get hurt I didn't know Ron Cash was going to get sick I didn't know that some of our players weren't going to pitch as well as we hoped." Seriously, do you ever second guess yourself? A "Certainly. Do you think there was ever anybody in baseball who didn't wish they had done some things differently? That's the name of the game. That's what makes baseball an interesting game. I'd be silly not to admit that." What, specifically, have you second guessed yourself on? A "That's for me to know and you to find out." What has gone wrong with the Tigers this season A We had a period when we didn't hit We didn't get good pitching for awhile I think Willie Horton getting hurt was a setback to us I think the loss of Ron Cash was a setback to us All of those things.

That's what makes a team go into a slump." Are the Tigers a last-place club? A "I don't think we are. I think our division is so close that any club could finish on top. I said that this spring. This division is so well balanced, anybody could win and anybody could finish any place in it. "Yet, you'll write about the mediocrity of the Eastern Division.

Do you realize the Eastern Division has beaten the Western Division by six or seven games this year? We've won more games from them than they've won from us. That must mean we're a little better overall doesn't it?" Do you think the time has finally come for the Tigers to undergo a major face-lifting or rebuilding? A "I don't know. I don't know. How good is Danny Meyer? How good is Leon Roberts? How good is Tom Very-zer? Tell me. I really don't know.

I don't think anybody really does at this point." How are you going to find out? A "We have ways. That's what we have scouts for, and minor-league managers. Those kids will undoubtedly come up in September. They'll have a month up here, some of them. How much they'll play will depend on how well we're doing." Some critics have claimed for years that you're too conservative, that you're too inclined to stand pat.

Do you feel now, perhaps, you've stood pat too long? A "Now you're asking me to second guess myself. I'm glad I didn't make some changes a couple years ago. We might not have won the division championshiip two years ago if I had made a lot of trades. The press wanted me to trade and then get rid of everybody, get rid of the whole QUESTION A lot of people, both In the press and in the general public, have criticized your club lately. They claim the season is over that the Tigers don't stand a chance.

What's your reaction to that sort of criticism? ANSWER "I think anybody has the right to appraise a ballclub. That's what makes baseball such an interesting game. The thing I don't like to see people do is criticizing our farm system when they haven't even seen a minor league game." How do you assess the situation at the present time? A "We've been in a losing streak. I hope to hell we get out of it." Do you think the situation is serious? A "Anytime you are in a losing streak the situation is serious, But last year we lost eight or nine in a row and you wrote us (iff you miried us you put the last nails on the coffin. And we came back and got into first place.

Three weeks ago we were a game out of first place, and everybody was all excited." Are you alarmed at the way in which they've lost so many of their games lately first, because they weren't hitting at all, and then because the pitching collapsed? A "Isn't that the way slumps usually go? In the 25 years I've been in baseball, that's the way slumps have always been. You either hit or you don't have the pitching. Then suddenly you don't have either." Can the Tigers snap out of their slump In time to salvage something out of this season? A "I hope they can, 1 think they're capable of it. I'll tell you in two weeks." Have you considered making any changes right now to try to improve your club? A "If I was thinking about making any changes, I certainly wouldn't go around talking about them until they happen. If we make any deals, they'll be announced." Are the Tigers as bad off as a lot of people seem to think? A "You be the judge of that.

That's the great thing about baseball. The writer can manage the public can manage the general manager can manage and the poor manager has to manage. We all have the luxury of the second guess. The manager and those players down on the field have to be right the first time." Do you feel the press has been unfair in its criticism of your team? A "No. The onlv thing I thought was unfair were some of your comments on the farm system." Do you think your farm system Is that good? A "I think it's a helluva lot better than ou think it is.

I've seen those kids play. I get reports every day. I make it my business to know what's going on down there." JIM CAMPBELL: "I think our farm system is a helluva lot belter than you think it is." top team at Evansville, why haven't more of those players been promoted to the major leagues? A "Because we thought the players we had here could compete. You know, at this time of the year, you can't just move players back and forth. You've got to have waivers.

And we can't get waivers on most of these guys." "Do you speak English?" was the reporter's first team. But we ve done pretty well over the last decade "Not at seven o'clock in the morning," said Pascual, and hitns nn WeJve won our share of Barnes. 1 If the farm system is that good, specifically your 3 If you could go Ilack to the start of spring training,.