Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 15

4-D Thursday.reb.17,'77 DE1R01T FREE PRESS 5 till Wan Me i nope me Jbions Larry Hand. down there, I might go.1 Hand is even playing basket- "At the time I got hurt, March 1," Hand said. "But I Now he wants to play these davs with the Lions' ftra nert Kent Ffllh rhallenooH i i VcL BUT HAND insists he'd off-season team. me to a racauet ba eame on 3 0 wHiiuaijr. 1JC11U11.

4 m'm "It depends on what the Lions' plans are this year. I haven't talked to Tommy Hudspeth about it. I'm not a politician I don't hang around the team offices." If the Lions play coy with the veteran lineman, George Allen, head of the Geriatric Hall of Fame, just might step in May 1 and invite ol' Lar to join his Over the Hill Gang in Washington. Coincidentally, the Redskins' home is just a couple of long touchdown runs from some acreage Hand owns on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, near tjie North Carolina border. "It was really for invest-ment," he pointed out, "but my wife would like to get back that way and if I got the right job BY JACK SAYLOR Free Press Sports Writer When it comes to negotiating a contract, Larry Thomas Hand can be as ornery as he is when zeroing in on an enemy quarterback.

The Lions' veteran defensive lineman played out his option one other time in his career before coming to terms. But in the end, all has been well and the tough former New Jersey bricklayer has put in 12 seasons with the Lions. The question before the jury or rather, Lion management now Is: Will they go for 13? Hand played out his option for the second time fast season the only Lion to finish the 1976 season unsigned. He distinguished himself at defensive tackle before suffering knee damage and missing rather stay here. "There are a lot of things I like about Michigan, too," said Hand, an ardent outdoorsman.

"I like the hunting and fishing and we have a lot of good friends here. I represent a couple companies here and I just wouldn't pull up stakes and leave." Hand's knee surgery was the second of his career and the surgeon said this time wasn't as bad as the first. "There's no lack of stability," Larry reported. "The cast was on just less than four weeks and I was laying block at home with my dad the following Thursday. I took the brace off then and it's been off ever since.

I was real fortunate." Larry Hand players. I know one of the teams was trying to get me last year. Sometimes, different players' names get thrown out," he smiled. the final four games, rie under went surgery and has made a rapid recovery although he Here in the nation's Touahest (3 Car Town, Rochester's WE ARE CLEANING OUT OUR STOCK ROOMS THOUSANDS OF TIRES MUST Jhn Butcher is cm easy gay to Ms Z. SSJ.

ssi I He knows that the man you buy a car from has to be more than just good. Because this is Detroit, Car Town, U.S.A. And in car town, just being good isn't good enough. You've got to offer people solid reasons Real Good Reasons -to buy their new car from you. And remains unsigned.

THE JOKER in the pack is that Hand will turn 37 just before training camp opens in July. Will the Lions make a real effort to sign him or will they let him pull a MacArthur and fade away into free agency on May "As far as playing out my option, I didn't do that to leave Detroit," Hand explained this week. "I was just haggling on the contract thing. "Before last season, I felt I wanted to play three or four more years. Then I got hurt, so I waited to see about the knee.

I have no doubts now that I can still play. "I'm still thinking about three more years, hopefully. There is no reason I can't. I know what other players can do, and I feel I still have the ability to start and be a regular here or somewhere else." The 250-pound Hand, who came to the Lions out of little Appalachian State (N.C.) College, is one of the quickest defensive linemen in the business, relying on his swiftness and guile to out-maneuver bigger offensive linemen. He made a successful adjustment two seasons ago to tackle (after a decade as an end) with no loss of effectiveness, and he leaves no doubt he wants to continue his career.

"BUT I DON'T know what the situation is here," he said. "I kind of think at least I hope the Lions still want me. I had a little trouble negotiating a contract. "It's a matter of. what I feel my worth is.

Russ (Thomas) IP Ma? a HUE Jim's got 'em. He specializes in the kind of fair, honest dealing that keeps people coming back. Combined with the kind of 4 dependable service that keeps them wvf: on the road. Topping it off, he's got a whole line of A 1977 Oldsmobiles led by the Oldsmobile Cutlass, the car that Car Town has made their number one selling mid-size. You can't just be one of the crowd here in Car Town.

You've got to be better than good. No one knows that better than Jim Butcher See him soon 1 Mark your calendar mm Bill Rowan Oldsmobllt Southgate, Ml 48195 "282-3100 Bob Saks Oldsmobile Farmington Hills, Ml 48024 478-0500 oeiyourciocK Mg I Key Oldsmobile Warren, Ml 48092 751-6100 Drummy Oldsmobile Oelroil, Ml. 48021 772-2200 Action Oldsmobile Livonia, Ml 48150 261-6900 GREATER DETROIT OLDS DEALER5 Don't miss out on these Superior Oldsmobile Fleck Oldsmobile Hargrove Oldsmobile John Lee Oldsmobile Ann Arbor, Ml. 48104 greatest tire values in town Detroit. Ml 48235 Ponliac, Ml 48055 Wayne, Ml 4B1B4 rui.7nnn rw.mni 7P1-3630 971-8100 Palmon Oldsmobile Cenlrel Oldsmobile Bill Lee Oldsmobile Rosedale Oldsmobile Myers Oldsmobile Grosse Pointe Park Ml 48230 Hamtramck Ml 48212 Ml Clemens.

Ml 48043 Detroit Ml 48227 Utica Ml 48087 1 821-3000 365-5500 465-0456 272-6212 739-8520 Suburban Oldsmobile Merry Oldsmobile CharnocK Oldsmobile Glassman Oldsmobile Gage Oldsmobile II ALL SIZES AND Trnv 4B084 Rochester. Ml 48UW uearDorn, mi oi: ouumneiu, mi 399-3200 354-3300 643-0070 651-9761 565-6500 doesn feel the same way. 1 know roughly what others have signed for. I look at others' credentials and ask, why? It doesn't make any sense. "I hope everything works out.

I know I can play." For only the second time in his career, Hand has employed an attorney (Brian Smith) to negotiate for him. "I don't even know if they've talked lately I've been busy with my sales job. 1 hope they can settle it before May 1," he said. HAND FEELS someone will seek him out should the Lions not be interested. "I've talked to different Come 8 IU IMC TYPES Best tire buys for all driving conditions Every pocketbook size Steel radial Bias ply Double belted Retreads Take-offs Used tires Whitewalls Blackballs American and Foreign Cars AND GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH MICHELIN FREE MOUNTING Site Repleces Sale Price F.E.T.

175-13 BR78-13 $48.95 $1.99 ER78-14 $55.95 $2.30 195-14 FR78-14 $59.95 $2.51 205-14 GR78-14 $64.95 $2.66 215-14 HR78-14 $70.95 $2.95 205-15 GR78-15 $68.95 $2.84 215-115 HR78-15 $72.95 $3.13 225-15 JR78-15 $75.95 $3.29 230-15 LR78-15 $86.95 $3.33 MICHELIN ZX Size Sale Price F.E.T. 155-12 $34.95 $1.39 145-13 $32.95 $1.23 165-13 $40.95 $1.61 155-14 $39.95 $1.87 165-14 $44.95 $1.70 185-14 $50.95 $2.24 155-15 $42.95 $1.66 165-15 $47.95 $1.82 18570-13 $51.95 $1.90 till liilllili ALL Cohvell Grabs KC Pins Lead KANSAS CITY (AP) -Paul Colwell of Tucson, averaging better than 234 a game Wednesday afternoon, grabbed the lead after the first round of the $75,000 King Louie bowling tournament. Colwell, holder of eight professional association titles, had games of 258, 235, 192. 256, 224 and 244 for a six-game block of 1,409. Colwell's best finish in six tournaments this year was 12th in last week's tournament in Gretna, La.

Hall of Farmer Dick Weber was second, eight pins behind Colwell. Weber, a 48-year-old grandfather from St. Louis, had games of 245, 245, 235, 247, 186 and 243 for a 1,401 pinfall. Joe Hutchinson of Scranton, was third with 1,394, followed by Curt Schmidt of Fort Wayne, with 1.381 and Ed Wyatt of Neosho, with 1,373. Defending champion George Pappas of Charlotte, N.C, who also won here in 1974, was sixth with 1,334.

Six more qualifying games were scheduled for Wednesday night and six Thursday noon. The 128-man field then will be cut to the top 24 for eight match-play games Thursday night and 16 Friday The top five advance to Saturday afternoon's nationally televised finals. First prize is $8,000. MAN TIRE PURCHASES MOUNTED ANYTIME AFTER CLEARANCE LIMITED STOCKS IN SOME SIZES and TYPES SIM! ISCISH Firestone's Se.ol.int Charte NO FINANCE CHARGE 30-60-90 DAYS Watch this space every week for helpful tips from the tire professionals and get your money's TODAY'S TIRE TIP Improperly balanced tires can cause vibrations and abnormal wear. Make sure your tires are balanced.

,40,000 Mile Limited Warranty Micriilln't Wtrranty lor 'X' Radial Hihw. rt llnr Tira and 'll' Radial PiS.rnr Tira shown hart covtri traad lira lot 40,000 milt, ol waar within 4 manlha Iron, data ot pur-chan, whan tiia It utad on ptntr vahicltt in normal Hrvica In Ilia Unltad Stalts. Cidil or rotund (at Mlchalln't option) It tqual to currant "Michalin Suuaitad bchanto Prico" multiplltd by ptrcantaaa of Htrrantad mlltaa not run on tiro. "Wo don't sea a second best" LIVONIA I DEARBORN ROSiVILLE MADISON HGTS. NORTHWOOD I ALLEN PARK MT.

CLEMENS Plymouth at 22681 Newman MacombMall 32670 John Shopping Cent er ,0225 Peiham RO Grat.olat MiddlbU "'itary Shopping Center and Mile Rd atTidge at Allen Rd Market St 437-5000 178.7300 294-5800 585-400 549-0900 381-3470 468-4571 MICHIGAN WARREN PLYMOUTH RD. WARREN JEF FERSON GRAND RIVER WAYNE at nth at at Tech Plaza at at 32640 Michigan by Tiger Stadium Conner Evergreen Shopping Center Manistique Chicago At venoy 963-5900 925-9500 836-4332 5734710 822-4400 933-4400 721-2336 DETROIT 1 WOODWARD jw. McNICHOLS WYANDOTTE GRATIOT JOHN RIVER ROUGE 141 70 Greenfield at at Superior at at at 10955 at Grand River Calvert Schaeter Biddle 7 Mile Rd Nevada Jefferson 835-5464 866-4400 864-8511 2840110 521-4000 869-4400 8432992 Tom Zero i if ffi ti I BANKAMERtCARD I Si Tom Seaverof the New York Mets has turned in 38 shutouts in his 10 seasons with the National Leaguers. Ifl R0YAI OAK 201 So. Main al Second 545-5555 Sovthfield Al't Tires Inc.

10 Mil and Telegraph 353-2500 FARMINGTON Center Tire 23534 Farmington Rd. 477-9090 LIVONIA Ciolino Tire 15066 Middlebelt JujI S. ol 5 Mile 261-8151 smog joawi -i Ti fc ii f-i a -1 ran 1 aj aai I -1 -r (-1 a.j.aaoa.a..a.i.