Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 49

1-D DETROIT FREE PRESS Friday. Sept. 23, 77 5. WILBUR Lions Give Hoopes Boot, Sign 5th Punter of Year i. CHOCK 3.BOBBWK BY JACK SAYLOR Fret Press Sports Writer Oops Hoopes is gone and the Lions' kicking merry-go-'round spins merrily along.

The punter that dropped off at the Silverdome Thursday was free agent Wilbur Summers, fifth of the season for the Lions. He has had previous tryouts with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, but for the last three weeks has been, ah, er, at leisure, as they say in show biz. Mitch Hoopes departed in the wake of the public charge by coach Tommy Hudspeth that he "choked" in his one-game performance in the Ljons' losing effort in Chicago. "Coach said he dug such a hole for me there was no other way out," Hoopes said as he departed for St. Louis (his previous stop) to collect his clothes and go he knows not where.

"I think the coach pretty well put an end to my career," said the unfortunate Hoopes. "I'd like to say this: The guys on this team are heroes they stood up for me. "The fans really should come out and support them. I Lions' Punting Picture can't say much about the coaching staff, but these players are great." HUDSPETH SAID he remembered Summers from his days of trailing college talent and says he is "a better mechanical punter" than Hoopes. Summers was drafted by Denver in 1976, then cut, then brought back to training camp this summer.

Waivers were asked again and Buffalo picked him up for a trial. He averaged only 35 yards for 12 kicks before being cut again, although some deliberate out-of-bounds punts kept his average down. "I'm not going to say anything against Hoopes I put him in a bad spot," Hudspeth admitted. "I'm gonna live with this one." In their own inimitable style, the Lions greeted the newcomer Thursday with needles well-honed, a tape over his locker reading "Punter-of-the-Week" and a huge cheer for his first punt at practice. But the players also have a way of taking a teammate to their bosoms (as witness Hoopes' parting remarks) and Summers took it all good-naturedly.

"I FELT LIKE I never really was given a chance to make it at Denver or Buffalo," said Summers, a rangy (6-foot-4), blond, 23-year-old product of the University of Louisville. "It didn't matter how I did, I never felt I had a chance to make their teams. "I feel good about it here at least if I do well, I know I'll have a job. I haven't felt that way in two years." Summers became No. 12 on the Lions hit (or miss) parade No.

Kicks Avg. Longest Chuck Ramsey 6 33.1 39 John Stuff lebeem 15 34.5 45 BobBialik 17 34.9- 46 Mitch Hoopes 6 39.2 48 WilburSummers Total 44 35.1 of kickers since training camp started. Why should a good college kicker have so much trouble moving into pro ball same shape ball, same number of players, same size field? Pressure appears to be the answer. "Kicking in the NFL is just a different ball game," Hudspeth observed. pressure is more intense." ASSISTANT general manager Rogers Lehew; a talent sleuth who has watched a lot of capable collegians fail to make it with various of pro teams, agrees.

"It's a matter of pressure not only more pressure put on the kicker by the other team it's pressure from coaches, teammates, press and fans," he said. "It's a lot different kicking at Podunk U. than in front of 80,000 fans at a pro game. "Also, the pros ask a punter to do more things kick 1 'em short, kick 'em long, put it out of bounds. In college, it's mostly Just raring back and kicking it as far as he can.

"They work more on coverages in the pros," Lehew added. "And each coach has his own preferences. Some want more hang time, some just want it kicked 40 yards or so down the field. Please turn to Page 2D, Column 3 Reds Showed They9 re Not Dynasty Material I- rr ONE MAN'S OPINION: Big Red Machine So much for this dynasty. Did you ever see a ball club literally fall 1 0 games out of it in first 1 0 days of the season and stay there all year long the way the Cincinnati Reds did this season.1 LeFIore, Tigers Cool Red Sox Flag Dreams, 5-4 It makes me think back to that rainy day in New York, in the middle of last year's World Series, when Sparky Anderson was trying to give us guys something to write about.

He decided to tell us that his team was one of the great teams in the history of the National League. It sounded impressive at the time, but it was one more misuse of the word "great." The Reds were on their way to their second straight World Championship. They were cleaning up everyone in sight the Phillies in three straight in the playoffs and the Yanks four in a row in the Series. That was an impressive run and once you've done that, maybe there isn much incentive left. But this never kept those old Yankee teams from winning again and again, year after year, and now, as the years pass, we realize what a truly tremendous feat it was for the Yanks to win Cell all those pennants.

I get tired of hearing about these short-term dynasties. We've had only four in my time, the Yankees, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Celtics and Green Bay Packers. Somehow, I can't find room for the Oakland A's, even though they won four straight pennants and three consecutive World Series. BY JIM HAWKINS Free Press Sports Writer When they sit down this winter to discuss the most productive Tiger hitters in recent years, the name of Ron LeFIore will inevitably come up. LeFIore saw to that Thursday evening as he singled twice and tripled, driving in one run and scoring another himself to help the Tigers dampen the Boston Red Sox' pennant dreams, 5-4.

LeFIore, who singled off the glove of Boston third baseman Butch Hobson his first time up, bounced a base hit past shortstop Rick Burleson in the fifth for his 200th base hit of the season. Not since Al Kaline won the American League batting title with exactly 200 hits in 1955 22 years ago has any Tiger player done anything like that. And just to prove it was no accident, LeFIore tripled his next time up to ignite the Tigers' four-run rally in the seventh inning that eventually was the difference in the game. "It's a great accomplishment, said LeFIore, who has also scored 98 runs and is a cinch to become the first Tiger to reach 100 since Norm Cash, Rocky Colavito and Kaline in 1961. "It means a lot especially after the start I had," he continued.

"But I've been hitting the ball very consistently lately. "I had the opportunity to play with Al Kaline and he gave me a lot of tips. I've always asked for advice, and I've always been able to use it." The A's were talented but they seemed too flaky to have the Ron LeFIore Tigers' 200-Hit Club UPI Photo by DAN DMITRUK Tiger first baseman Jason Thompson (right) gets a handshake after hitting his 30th homer of the season to become the first Tiger to hit that many since Norm Cash in 1971. staying power that true dynasties possess. Will Hudspeth Clam Up Now? Tommy Hudspeth Well, old Mitch Hoopes is gone and the poor guy must be wondering what hit him in his brief stay with the Lions.

I've never known any coach to publicly charge one of his players with choking up, the way Hudspeth did with Hoopes. Hoopes, I suppose, could have asked his coach just what his record was in college and that would have evened up things a little. I think Hudspeth was sorry he spoke out, and in the future I can see him claming up to the press. There arc ways a coach can be critical without being cruel. The thing I wonder about is that Hudspeth hasn't said much about those bad snaps Hoopes was getting from center Mark Markovich over in Chicago, or why Jon Morris doesn't handle the snaps on kicks.

Hoopes had to pick up three "grounders," and if anything, Hudspeth should have complimented him on his fielding. Go, Middies! It was Michigan 70, Navy 14, a year ago and our own Curt Sylvester is so impressed with Michigan's might, he has given me 55 points for a buck in Saturday's game. Curt overlooks one point: Navy has one of the finest coaches in the land in George Welsh and he isn't going to let this happen to his team again. In fact, I bet another buck Michigan doesn't score 40 points against the Midshipmen. Isn't that right, George? George, George, talk to me THE BRITISH CUT TyCobb (9 times) Charlie Gehringer (7) Harry Heilmann (4) Hank Greenberg (3) Harvey Kuenn (2) Bobby Veach (2) Sam Crawford Dale Alexander Roy Johnson Pete Fox Gee Walker Barney McCosky Dick Wakefield George Kell Al Kaline Ron LeFIore The triumph by the Tigers, who have now won three in a row in their drive to nail down fourth place in the AL East Division, dropped the third place Red Sox three full games back of the idle New York Yankees.

The Baltimore Orioles, who presently occupy second place in the East, beat Toronto, 7-1, Thursday to climb to within a game-and-a-half of the Yanks. It was the Red Sox' fourth Please turn to Page 6D, Col. 4 JOHNWEITZ ACQUIRES A BRITISH ACCENT iJ AL East Pet. GB New York 93 59 .612 Baltimore 92 61 .601 l2 Boston 90 62 .592 3 as well he might when he's tailoring in Donegal tweeds and herrirg bones (blended of Dacron GAMES.REMAINING NEW YORK (10) Horn (7): Cleveland 4, Sept. It, 27, 21, Oetroit 1, Sept.

30, Oct. 1, Awav (3): Toronto 3, Sept. 23, 24, 25. BALTIMORE (9) Home (3): Detroit 3, Sept. 27, 2.

Awav (): Cleveland 3, Sept. 23, 24, 25; Boston 3, Sept. 30, Oct. BOSTON (10) Home (7): Toronto 4, Sept. 27, 21, Baltimore 3, Sept.

30, Oct. 2. Awav (3): Oetroit 3, Sept. 23, 24, 25. wool for our American way of life).

The silhouette is squared on top, with a full chest and just a little taper at the sides. A very comfortable cut, by the way. It's here Orioles Win, in a nice assortment of fall shades, in a uactarl ware inn at $165. From our Gain on Yanks Speaking English collection. BALTIMORE (AP) Lee May cracked a three-run homer and Mike Flanagan pitched a six-hitter as the Baltimore Orioles defeated Toronto, 7-1, Thursday night to move to within l2 games ot tirst-piace New York in the American League East.

The Orioles have won 15 of their last 19 games and have nine games to play. New York, idle Thursday, has 10 games remain Talk Show One of the unheralded sports shows in this town is Chris McClure's "Sports Forum" on WCAR Sundays from 1 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's too bad it is on at such an odd hour since he has good guests and not only does he let them talk 'but he has a way of keeping the conversation going whenever there is a lag. His most recent guest was Dick Vitale, who really doesn't need outside aides to say what's on his mind.

What's so nice about Vitale being on the radio is that you don't have to turn on the radio to hear him. You get to save on your car battery. Spartans Need a Promoter MSU They're still lagging in East Lansing in the matter of promoting their product. When the Spartans opened at home against Purdue, they did not have a band to entertain the people. That's because the students were not on campus.

So it was left to Purdue to provide the halftjme show. Last Saturday, it was a little better with an alumni band recruited to play for the home folks. That was better than nothing. Question: Do you think Don Canham would allow Michigan to open at home without a band? Fearless Forecaster Give me Ralph Wimbush of the Oakland Press to make my football selections. The'guy is uncanny.

He makes the picks for his paper and for the Washington State-Michigan State game, he went away out on the limb. His pick: "State." Take that, Greek. Pistons Whatever the Pistons do this season, they have to be better off in one respect. That's the fact they have a real general manager running the team and staying close to the scene at all times. That can't do anything but help.

Now the question is, how good a GM is Bob Kauffmah going to be? At least he knows the game better than any GM the Pistons have ever had and that's a big plus. In fact, Kauf man is the only basketball man the Pistons have ever had running their operation, which should tell you something about why this organization has never won a thing in its 20 years of existence. Word for Bill Davidson: Let the guy do the job, even if he makes some mistakes. No stepping in on major decisions. Let him handle them, or get someone else.

The Swami Boy, it's a good thing our man is recovering from that appendicitis operation in Bon Secours Hospital. Or else I was going to get all over him for failing to rank Clarkston High School, one of the GREAT powers in the state, in his Class A ratings. The Wolves are 2-0 and just getting warmed up. Whatever became of North Farmington? (Aw, I still love you, Ron). ing and has a two-game edge in the loss column.

May connected for his 26th homer in the sixth inning after Toronto catcher Alan Ashby dropped a foul pop to open the way for four unearned runs. Both May and Ken Singleton, who had an RBI single prior to the homer, have 95 RBI. Baltimore scored a fourth-inning run on a two-out bloop single by Dave Skaggs and added two more in the fifth off Dave Lemanczyk, 12-15, on a two-out, two-run double by Andres Mora. Flanagan (13-10) won his fourth consecutive decision and his 1 1th in his last 13. He struck out eight and didn't allow a runner past first until Otto Velez hit his 15th homer in the seventh.

Lemanczyk, who had beaten the Orioles twice in three HUGHES HATCHER decisions this season, stranded three runners in scoring position prior to the RBI single by Skaggs in the fourth. Mark Belanger was headed for home with a second run in the inning on Al Bumbry's single. But before he reached the plate, Skaggs was caught off second after rounding the bag and was tagged out on a throw from leftfielder Steve Bowling. MAY, THE LEAGUE'S RBI champion last year, has driven in 15 runs in his last 10 games. His homer, which finished Lemanczyk, was the 299th of his major league career.

Murray had four hits for the Orioles, extending his hitting streak to seven games. He scored after rapping singles in the fourth and fifth, and doubled in the sixth following May's homer. Dave McKay had three hits for Toronto but was wiped out each time on double plays. Alan Ashby grounded into two twin killings and lined into a third. i MOST HUGHES HATCHER STORES OPEN EVENINGS.

MOST HUGHES HATCHER STORES OPEN SUNDAYS,.