Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 29

DETROIT FREE PRESS Tuesday, Feb. 3, '70 1 J) Helped Lead Lions to 4 Tides in '50s Jack Christiansen Gains Mall of Fame 0 BY GEORGE PUSCAS Frit preu ExKutlvt Sports Editor Jack Christiansen, leader of the great pass defense which spurred the Lions in their run to four championships in the 1950s, was named Monday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Three others were elected along with Christiansen, and will be inducted into the Hall at Canton, 0., Aug. 8. The others were Hugh McElhenny, who played the last of his 13 seasons with the Lions; Pete Pihos of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Tom Fears, former pass-catching whiz of the Los Angeles Rams and now head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

CHRISTIANSEN, who came to the Lions from Colorado State University in 1951, gained all-pro recognition in six of his eight seasons with the club. He was the leader of a widely heralded gang of ball hawks that included Yale Lary," Bob Smith and Jimmy David as members of "Chris' Christiansen gathered 46 Interceptions in his years with the Lions, but his record as a punt return specialist is even more impressive. He holds most of the National Football League's records for punts returns, including the season high mark of 21.47-yard average in 1952. His career average of 12.75 yards on 85 returns is a fraction behind George McAfee's 12.78 record for the Chicago Bears. His punt return touchdowns In a career (eight), in a season (four in 1951), and in a single game (two, twice) all are NFL records.

CHRISTIANSEN appeared in five straight Pro Bowl games during his career, and in the 1956 game, he raced 103 yards with the opening kickoff for a West touchdown. During the 1960s, he was head coach of the San Francisco 49ers for five years. He is now an assistant coach at Stanford mifmm. mm swagta Bellamy Absent; Hawks Still Win Special to Rio Free Presi GREENVILLE, S.C. Nothing could be finah than to get out of Carolina for the travel-weary Pistons.

The last-place Detrolters came to this textile town Monday night and had the wool pulled over their eyes by the Atlanta Hawks, 125-121, to finish five games In as many days. The Hawks used the victory to snap a four-game losing Streak and pull themselves back into a tie for first place in the NBA's Western Division which they had led from Nov. 2, until Sunday. The Atlanta skid, which resulted In 10 McElhenny Is rated by many as one of the pro game's greatest all-around players. He took the NFL by storm in his rookie 1952 season when he averaged seven-yards a try as a fullback with the 49ers.

His 10.69-yard average on combined attempts rushing, receiving, returns and interceptions in 1952 is the second ranking performance in NFL history. He is ninth on the Hall of Fame's all-time rushing list, and had 274 pass receptions and 360 points In his long career. He was the most valuable playe.r in the 1958 Pro Bowl game, and later played with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and the Lions He is now on the 49ers" broadcast team. FEARS, WHO played with the Rams for nine seasons, was one of the principals in the Rams' famed three-end offense, which started a new i AP Photo known for his defensive prowess, Chris was one of the most dangerous of open field runners. OFF AND RUNNING Jack Christiansen takes off on a 50-yard punt return against the New York Giants during a game in the 50s.

Although more well Pete Pihos Brewer Makes Wings losses in 13 games, resulted in Sunday's trade with the Pistons for Walt Bellamy, but the Hawks got themselves righted without him. Bellamy decided he needed an extra day before becoming a Georgia Peach, so the Hawks gutted it out on the 42-point shooting of Lou Hudson and a pair of late clutch baskets by Walt Hazzard. Happy With Assists Neiv Piston Cast A Welcome Change Hugh McElhenny DETROIT HAS lost three in a row, four of the five games in their elongated weekend and five of six overall, and in this one, as has been the case, the Pistons stayed in it only to falter at the finish. The loss came despite a strong performance by the Pistons' second- stringers. Dave Bing, who had 25 points and nine assists, got solid backing from McCoy McLe- Turn to Page 3D, Column 2 BY JACK BERRY Frte Press Sports Writer Carl Brewer Is 50 points behind Bobby Orr in the National Hockey League scoring race and isn't quite likely to catcfh Boy Wonder but he's starting to do the things the Red Wings hoped he'd do.

And that makes the Red Wings happy. BREWER IS carrying the puck and making plays and in the last five games those plays have been converted into eight of Detroit's 15 goals. The trend in pro football. One of his running mates was Elroy (Crazy Legs) Hirsch, named to the Hall of Fame In 1968. Fears' 84 catches in 1950 Is the second best single season 1 performance in the NFL.

He was known for making the key catches In big games three receptions in 1950 brought touchdowns that beat the Bears for the Western Division title; a 73-yarder the following year beat Cleveland and gave the Rams the NFL championship. Like Fears, Pihos was an end with a nine-season eareer, and also like Fears, he led NFL receivers three straight years. In other respects, the two were different. An nd and fullback at the University of Indiana, Pihos joined the Eagles in 1947 as a two-way end. He won ail-Turn to Page 2D, Column 5 days in Toronto when he was regarded, in rival rinks, as one of the more despicable characters of all-time.

Brewer hasn't shown that fire here. Rather, his experiences with the Canadian National team and playing and coaching in Finland last season seem to have converted him into a pacifist. His style would best be described as serene although management is far from that they're constantly worried that he'll chuck it and walk out one day as he did in Toronto. Carl is a complex person and has said that hockey isn't "the be-all and end-all." That it isn't, but the fans and owner Bruce Norris are rather disturbed that the team hasn't even been fourth best Turn to Page 4D, Column 5 Wing3 won four of the games. At the rate Brewer is going, he will be Detroit's best play-making defenseman since Red Kelly.

Brewer has assisted on 28 goals and that's better than any of his seven seasons as a Toronto Maple Leaf. If he keeps it up, he'll have a good shot at breaking the Red Wing record for assists by a defenseman, set by Kelly in 1950-51 when he assisted on 37 goals in 70 games. Brewer has 30 games remaining. "He's carrying- the puck more and better," Red Wing manager-coach Sid Abel said Monday of Brewer. "We've been talking about it all year but now he's starting to do it more.

"THE SURPRISING thing DETROIT a ATLANTA Blrdsei 3-3 25 Caldwell 4-4 12 Davis 4 4-4 14 Greser 1 2-2 Dlschinor 4 11 Bin9 10 5-1 Hewitt 4 4-4 Komivel 4 1- McLemra 710-12 24 Guerin o-o 7 0-0 Moor 4 4-7 14 Hazard 2 1-2 5 Hudson 14 10-11 42 Mueller Walker 4 4-4 11 Newmark 3 2-3 I Ohl 3 0-0 4 Totals 43 35-41 121 Tom Fears Totals 49 27-29 125 35 2 30121 20 34 29-125 DETROIT 27 Atlanta 42 and it has surprised Carl too is that he hasn't scored more goals. "He made one of the pret tiest plays I've seen all sea son Sundav in Oakland. He MlSSlllil teSKS i.ii?,: la- "fc. Nta I'll IN OUR OPINION, THE PISTONS made themselves a couple of decent deals. All you have to do is ask yourself this: How would you like to see them come back with the same cast of characters next season? When you trade for draft choices, you are dealing in intangibles.

You can never be sure what you're getting, or, in this signing skirmish between the two leagues, even if you're going to get the players, But at least there is the hope that things will be better, and that's more than the Pistons could hope for if they came back with the Bellamys, Mileses and Hairstons, all malcontents. Things really couldn't be much worse for the Pistons. They're dead last in the Eastern Division and they've been a team of unhappy, disinterested and high-I ly-overpaid players. Some of them are still getting too much dough for what they do but you can't get rid of everyone. It reaches a point where you've got to have five players around for the opening tip-off.

What gets me is what did Walt Bellamy ever do to earn $80,000 a year, except to grow up to be 6-11 and play some indifferent basketball for most of his nine years in the league. i And Eddie Miles is crying because the Pistons didn't trade him sooner, three years ago, he said, when he i was still a young man. This Is what is known as the old team spirit thinking of the team before yourself. It's indicative of the attitude of many Pistons. Sure, everybody plays for themselves in any sport, but there is also a time when you've got to give the team a thought or two.

Too few of the Pistons ever reached this point. They were making big dough, so I what's the difference how the team does. It's better to win, but not urgent. Everybody still led the good life. Scenery Change Often Helps LET'S BE FAIR IN appraising these deals, too.

It will be easy to point out how well Bellamy does with At-' lanta or Miles with Baltimore but you must remember that they weren't doing it for the Pistons, nor did they ever indicate that they would. The same with the Debusschere deal. Everybody raps the Pistons for that one, wondering how they could give up a player of his quality for someone like Bellamy. Well, don't forget this big Dave had lost interest in Detroit, too. He wasn't performing as well as possible for the Pistons, and he was lucky to find the spot he did with the Knicks.

He simply needed a change of scenery and got it. Turn to Page 4D, Column 7 went through their entire team and should've scored but he shot over the net," Abel said. Brewer has only one goal this season and that was a big one. Me scored on a slap from the left point with two seconds remaining to earn a 5-5 tie in Montreal In a game Carl Brewer in which Montreal led 4 0 after the first period. While Brewer is playing bet' ter, Abel and just about everyone who has watched him thinks Brewer can still Look, Ma, No Skis! ASPEN, Colo (ill Paul Copello, insurance administrator for the U.S.

Ski Association, worked for several months formulating a new ski theft policy, then took a weekend skiing vacation here to rest up. Shortly after he arrived here, his new $250 skis were stolen from a rack outside the lodge. improve. "He's not playing up to his capacity," Abel said. "I know he can do better." THAT PERHAPS is the most frustrating aspeot of.

the Red Wings this season. Brewer is giving the team what it really needed the ability to move the puck out of their own territory and put the heat on the other club. His style has changed drastically, however, from his BUTTON, BUTTON, YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT BUTTONS On this six-button (one-to-button) double-breasted sport coat. Pure wool, cut with wider, fuller lapels, deep center vent and flap pockets; in smart navy flannel; sizes 13-20 at 39.95. 36-42 regular at 47.50.

from our boys' and student shops (I "1 I 'Ea. I AP Photo Howe before sliding ARBORLAND BIRMINGHAM EASTLAND GRAND RAPIDS GRAND RIVER GREENFIELD JACKSON LINCOLN PARK LIVONIA MALL MACK MOROSS MACOMB MALL NORTHLAND OAKLAND MALL PONTIAC MALL WESTLAND WONDERLAND UNIVERSAL CITY'WESTBORN'WOODWARD MONTCALM WOODWARD NEAR STATE Wayne Muloin (4) and Gortlie under Smith into the net. ALL STORES OPEN TUESDAY WED. TO 9 P.M. Except Woodward (ntar State) I Birmingham open to 5:30 KEAL SCREEN: Goalie Gary Smith of Oakland had little chance following the bouncing puck on this shot.

The puck skittered between the legs of defenseman.