Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 69

Thursday, Ike. 14, 1978 9 SPORTS PEOPLE Persell Wo. 1 again Western Michigan tailback Jerome Persell is named Mid-American Conference offensive player of the year for the third time. Page 2 Titans whip Vaync University of Detroit coasts to an easy basketball victory over crosstown rival Wayne State. Page 9 HORSE RACING 12-10 0 17-19 FINANCIAL DETROIT FREE PRESS COMICS I UA.WW I II II HI 3 Ami- p- i 0' if 5 Vs a ft I rf i liiilWitrtriTiriitait-Ai-rri- iiritirr in downtown Detroit.

Beginning at left, Stanley braces atop the barrier near the 400-foot mark at Tiger Stadium, leaps In this series of shots captured by the late Scotty Kilpatrick, Mickey Stanley's athletic ability is frozen for posterity. These photos, one of the best series in Detroit sports history, grace the walls of the Lindell AC, a popular watering spot for the ball and winds up hanging over the top of the fence in his chase for the long drive. mi Mickey Stanley rop veteran Figers v-f v. Puscas By JIM HAWKINS Free Press Sports Writer The inevitable finally became official Wednesday when the Tigers reluctantly released longtime favorite Mickey Stanley. More than 1 3 years of loyal service, four Golden Gloves, and a ballpark full of fond memories were no longer enough to offset the fact that Stanley is a 36-year-old veteran whose skills have admittedly faded.

Although he can still catch a ball as well or better than any outfielder the Tigers possess, his arm is dead. His bat, never awesome, is no longer considered even adequate against righthanded pitching. And last week's acquisition of right-fielder Jerry Morales plus utility outfielder Lynn Jones left no room on the roster for Stanley. THAT LEAVES only John Hiller as the last of the Old Guard, the Tigers who won the 1968 World Series. And Hiller plans to retire at the end of next season.

Ironically, it was two years ago Wednesday, to the day, that Stanley's close friend and former teammate Bill Freehan got the ax. "I guess," quipped Stanley with typical flippancy, "December 13 must be our D-Day." Stanley, who had known since the season ended his future with the Tigers was definitely in doubt, nevertheless was surprised when general manager Jim Campbell told him he was through. "I'm disappointed, but I'm not bitter," he admitted at his See STANLEY, Page 6D I i JiViiiamiii in Free Press Photo by JOHN COLLIER Dennis Polonich watches the puck (arrow) hit the cords as he skids past fallen Atlanta goalie Rejean Lemelin for a first-period goal that put the Wings in front, 4-2. They're using big bucks to draw a foe for Hearns Just between us Looking around the table, you notice everybody Is a big shooter. And then the croupier says, "Your dice." So you are entitled to take what follows as a high-rolling fantasy, or a big gamble.

Olympia is preparing to put up $500,000 to get Thomas Hearns a welterweight title shot. Would you believe that? This is the outfit that would whack you 10 cents additional for popcorn at playoff time, so now it would put up a half-mill for Thomas Hearns? "Sure," says Emanuel Steward, manager of Hearns, the Hit Man from the East Side. "It's in the works." They will have to buy their way into a title fight, there's no other way. Everybody senses that now. Around the hemisphere, very tough guys have heard of Thomas Hearns.

They figure the Purple Gang still lives and he is its new leader. He scares 'em off; they feign illness or retirement to avoid meeting him. "So what is there to do except put up big money?" says Steward. Make a deal they can't refuse. "Carlos Palomino is the champion and the No.

1 welterweight contender is Wilfredo Benitez. They're fighting next month in Puerto Rico. "I'm going down there with Bruce Lahtl (Olympia's fight promoter) and we're offering the winner $500,000 to meet Hearns." That's a ton of money for a welterweight fight, or any fight, exclusive of heavyweights. "The welterweights are the next hottest class right now," says Steward, "and that kind of money is no big gamble anymore, not here in Detroit. "Hearns has proven what we've always believed given a good title contender fighter, Detroit is the best fight town In the country.

We know Hearns would justify that kind of guarantee at the gate." They won't count on TV They are not counting on national television, says Steward, but it is clear enough that once such a fight is made, the TV promoters would come hustling, picking up maybe half of the outlay. Hearns has belted out his first 14 pro opponents, all Mickey Stanley Flames score in final second to tie Wings, 5-5 By TOM HENDERSON Free Press Soorls Writer The Atlanta Flames scored a pair of goals in the final two minutes Wednesday night including a goal by Guy Choui-nard with just a second left to capitalize on a big mistake by Errol Thompson to pull out a 5-5 tie in a contest that should Sunday when the Black Hawks scored twice in the final four minutes to pull out a tie with the Wings. THE TYING GOAL, Chouinard's second tally of the night, came with the Atlanta net empty and the Flames pressing all around little Jimmy Rutherford. Shots whistled wide, deflected off defensemen and off Rutherford before Chouinard turned on the light as the crowd of 1 5,023 was about to stand in cheers. Instead, the fans trooped out of Olympia booing.

The Wings looked as if they had locked up the win when have meant two points in the standings for the Red Wings. After all, any time you come from two goals down and have a 5-3 lead with two minutes to play, you are supposed to get the win. But, then, practically the same thing happened in Chicago they cleared the puck out of their end with half a minute to play. Thompson got the puck all alone at center Ice, but wheeled wildly and shot. The puck missed the Atlanta net by 25 feet for an icing call.

That brought the puck back into Detroit's end with 27 seconds to go and the Wings never recovered. "We made too many mistakes in that last 15 seconds," said Detroit coach Bobby Kromm, wiping his eyes in frustration, if not disbelief. "Especially Thompson. If anyone had to have the puck then, it should have been Thompson. But he shot it and It resulted in another faceoff in our end.

"(Dale) McCourt lost the faceoff and that was It. We had two faceoffs and lost two faceoffs (in the last 30 seconds)." NO ONE DARED mention how good fallen captain Dennis Hextall was on faceoffs. "If a first-year pro made that mistake, you could understand It," said Kromm, unable to get the image of Thompson's play from his mind. "But someone who has been in the league for seven years, you'd think they'd be schooled or discliplined." Thompson readily, and angrily, fessed up to the faux pas. "It's my (blanking) fault.

I'll accept it," he said loudly, Spartans bury WMU, 109-69 within four rounds, and now he's No. 7 in world rankings, No. 3 in the U.S. Few ranking fighters are available to him. By CURT SYLVESTER Free Press Sports Writer "There are only two others we re interested in now," KALAMAZOO It was the Michigan State traveling road show basketball team.

And it was some show the Spartans put says Steward. "There's Clyde Gray, who's No. 2 in the Ring ratings (there are more rating lists than All-America teams) on. and Harold Weston, No. 2 in the World Boxing Association.

Plavin? on the road for the first time this season, the "We want to get one or the other for a fight within the Spartans vent through their entire act Wednesday night, ripliohtinp a Read Fieldhouse crowd of 10.139 and taking a next 60 days, and after that, we'll go for the championship whenever the holder takes our money." Unlike most, Steward is not worried that Hearns, who is pitifully mismatched 109-69 victory over Western Michigan. Jay Vincent scored 27 points, had 10 rebounds and missed only five shots all night. Greg Kelser scored 24 points and missed only three shots. 6-3, 147 pounds and only 19 years old, might outgrow the welterweight class before a title fight comes his way. "He has no trouble at all making the 148-pound limit, And F.arvin fMae c) Johnson, the main attraction ior tne offensively," said Heathcote.

"But at least we played with more intensity than we have been." The Spartans' shooting throughout the night was extraordinary to say the least. They hit 63 percent for the game and that shooting, along with an early press that resulted in MSU steals and WMU turnovers, quickly put them out of reach. MSU scored 14 points in a row in the early going to take a 21-6 lead. When the Broncos twice went more than four minutes without scoring, the difference grew to 38 points, 56-18, at the half. ALTHOUGH MSU outscored Western Michigan by only two points in the second half, there was never any question who was in control.

And as lop-sided as the game was, Johnson felt it was worth while. "We knew we could win, but we went out and played," he explained. "We could have just gone out and beat them by 20, but we wanted to get something out of it." The loss was the fifth straight for WMU and dropped them to 2-5 for the season. "We got a lesson in about every phase of the game," said coach Dick Shilts. "They're a super team, one of the best in the country." The primary objective of the Spartans was to prepare for Saturday night's road game at North Carolina.

If it plays in Kalamazoo, will in play in Chapel Hill? the manager says. "When he works out, he never bothers to third-largest crowd ever at Read, was back in command after his off game against Cal State-Fullerton Saturday. wear a sweat suit. He always under the weight, so I figure denying he was trying to score on the play. "I've been around long enough to know what I'm supposed to do.

I tried to flip the puck off the boards and rebound it to the net. I was turning around and tried to flip it to the boards and waste a few seconds." Instead, the puck rocketed off the end boards, way wide of the net. "I knew right away," said Thompson with disgust. "I should have been taken off the ice and crapped upon. But it's over and done with.

You can't brood. Two rights don't make a wrong. Or two wrongs don't make a right. Whatever it is. I'm all confused." And so, one of the Wings' practically patented comebacks was wasted.

Well, not wasted. The Wings did get one point, leaving them three points back of Pittsburgh for third place In the Norris Division. The streaking Penguins, riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, the longest in the league, whipped St. Louis Wednesday, 3-0. THE DEADLOCK was the second in a row for the Wings and gave them nine for the year, tops in the league.

It also gave them a 1-0-2 mark in their last three games. he'll be a welter for a couple years yet." Johnson hit seven of nine snots, got nine reoounas, scorea 19 points, fired off 14 assists and reduced his turnovers to a mere three in 34 minutes. "Fvprvnnft wants to see the Soartan machine, the third- Are HEW rules lethal? Now if the ladies will please leave the room, 2 will take ranked team in the country." said Johnson. "Ten thousand people came out to see the Spartan machine." up a matter of vital import to life on the college campus today. EVEN COACH JUD HEATHCOTE.

who had reservations Don't worry, mother; it not what you think. Those of us who remain know, of course, that dealing after the first two victories, could find little fault with the Spartans' performance. "I don know if we were good aeiensiveiy or iney were oaa with women in sports today is a matter as delicate as defusing a bomb. If you can't be careful, you'd better be lucky. So we approach cautiously Moments ago, I was talking with Don Canham, athletic blems director at the University of Michigan, regarding latest Area coaches report no pot pro By CHARLIE VINCENT Free Press Sports Writer Three Michigan college basketball coaches say they have "If I caught anyone of them doing it (smoking marijuana) then I'd have to take some encountered no problems with marijuana use by their teams, despite a federal study which shows it's likely some players smoke pot.

In the wake of Indiana University's dismissal or tnree ifel disciplinary action, the same as MH with drinking hut you players for using marijuana, Michigan State's Jud Heathcote, University of Detroit's Dave Gaines and Wayne State's Vern Payne all said that in their years of coaching they have never had to deal with that particular problem. warnings from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. HEW is shaking people again. "Right now, we're confused," says Canham.

"There's one interpretation of the HEW announcement that says if we're spending $1.5 million for a football program with 1 00 athletes, we must spend a proportionate sum for 50 girls in field hockey." It would come to $750,000. "We just can't live with that; half our programs would die." Track, swimming, baseball, golf teams would disappear for both sexes. Canham is not screaming bloody murder, not yet, not the way he did several years ago when he led an NCAA assault on the White House to quell the feminists of HEW. He got sympathy that time because right behind the desk in the Oval Office stood a fenow in blue blazer and yellow slacks. Gerald Ford told HEW to be reasonable and sensible, and if it could not do that, to simply hush up.

Now he just waits for clarification of what HEW really intends, but he is leery. "The friction," says Canham, "is caused by militant women who don't have any idea at all what the situation Is." Famous last words. I flexible with kids. The sort of disciplinary action taken would depend upon the situation." LIKE GAINES, Heathcote denied ever having to deal with the problem. "No one on my team has ever used It, to my knowledge," ha said.

"I would definitely take some disciplinary action, but what It would be I don't know. It could be any of a myriad of things. "I guess some of us old guys are living In the past." Payne was most emphatic in his dislike for the use of the drug. "We've got three rules that we adhere to," he said. "One Is no drugs; two is don't miss class; and three is don't be late for any basketball-related function.

"Drug use is the most serious problem and you've got to treat it as such. If they want to do it, that's their choice, but not in our program realize it is a changing society, but it is very important to us to keep drugs out of our program." PAYNE CONCEDES a coach can not possibly know every See GRASS, Page 40 nave to leave me aoor opencu a crack." U-D coach Dave Gaines Theodore Vernier, the special agent in cnarge or tne uetroit office of the Drug Enforcement Administration, however, cited a 1975 report done by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, which indicated one out oi seven persons 12 and older has used marijuana. A more recent study pinpoints the age of heaviest use between 16 and 21, roughly the age bracket of college basketball players. Gaines, however, was the only one of tne tnree coacnes wno they're going to do something like that they ought to do it by themselves and not publicize it. "If I caught anyone of them doing it then I'd have to take some disciplinary action, the same as with drinking but you have to leave the door opened a crack.

You've got to be even hinted that marijuana might be used by members of his squad. "I've never known anyone on our team to use it, nesaid. ir 4 hMamm ir'irti'ir' ifni in niir.iil 'f. irxnt 1 i ey tt nv i.