Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 49

Spartans have their hands full: Michigan State, which has had its troubles offensively, plays No. 1 1owa, which leads the country in total offense, Saturday. Page 3D. Sports Phone, 1-976-1313 Friday, Oct. 4, 1903 "Our problems don't warrant anything as dramatic as a quarterback change.

That does not mean I can't plant my size-14 (foot) up (Tony Eason's) rear end when he makes a dumb throw. But everybody is involved in our i i inability to move (the football) ULJ Patriots coach Raymond Berry PRO FOOTBALL 6 HORSE RACING 8 MOVIE GUIDE -11 Call with sports news: 222-6660 I DETROIT FREE PRESS? Tigers sweep Jays weep Hitch Jl fllbom Evans is finally hearing those three little words to And now, three words about Darrell Evans. Home Run King. OK. So he doesn't have the title clinched yet there are still three games left but he'll get it, as long as God makes little green apples and Piggy loves Kermit and somewhere over the rainbow, way up high, good things come to those who wait.

Because Evans has been waiting 38 years. And nobody deserves it more. By GARY SANTANIELLO Free Press Sports Writer Just when it appeared the road to Toronto's first AL East pennant was going to go through Tiger Stadium, the Tigers threw up a roadblock. Detroit completed a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays Thursday night behind the six-hit pitching of Walt Terrell and Tom Brookens' two-run triple in the fifth. The Tigers' 2-0 victory before 23,381 at Tiger Stadium marked Toronto's first three-game losing streak since the All-Star break, and left the Blue Jays' magic number at two.

They need to win one game in their three-game series with the Yankees this weekend in Toronto to clinch the division title. The Yankees beat the Brewers, 3-0, Thursday night. The Tigers held the Blue Jays to three runs in the series. "We are." said Tigers manager Sparky Anderson, "capable of playing good." To which Brookens added: "We did everything every night." TERRELL, IN PITCHING his career-high third shutout and fifth complete game of the season, was helped by three double-play grounders, including one with two on and none out in the sixth. "Walt always seems to do that when he's in trouble," Brookens said.

"He comes back whenever he has to." Trailing, 2-0, in the sixth, leadoff hitter Tony Fernandez singled and Lloyd Moseby walked, putting two on for Toronto's 3-4-5 hitters. But Ranee Mulliniks grounded into a See TIGERS, Page 4D This is a professional, a leader, a guy who'd keep an even keel in an earthquake, who always faces the cameras, good or bad, who epitomizes the words gentleman, dignity, grace. Which may explain why even a few sports writers smiled Wednesday night when Evans A jiff' A sV s. yx A I. I I mar, cracked his record-setting 40th homer of the year.

It soared towards the seats of Tiger Stadium on a glorious arc. Gone. Out. No questions asked. One for the good guys.

Evans watched it go. He clenched his fists and raised them to his head, then quickly pulled them back and finished running the bases. That, by the way, was a big display of emotion. For Darrell Evans. Swat Man.

Free Press Photo bv MARY SCHROEDER Next-best thing to a flag Now sure, it would be nicer if Detroit were celebrating another division title right now. The Tigers finished their home season with a 2-0 victory over Toronto. From left, Alan Trammell, Tom Brookens, Darrell Evans, Walt Terrell congratulate each other after game. Jays need one win vs. Yanks to clinch "I'd trade this for that in a second," Evans said Wednesday night.

Tigers-Yanks Monday? Toronto didn't clinch its first AL East pennant in the three-game at Tiger Stadium so it's probably fitting that the Tigers could help decide the division outcome. If the Yankees sweep the three-game series against the Blue Jays this weekend in Toronto, they will force two games Monday afternoon. The Blue Jays would play a makeup game against Baltimore in Toronto; the Tigers would travel to New York for a makeup of last Thursday's rainout. If Toronto and New York were to win Monday and remain tied, they would meet in a one-game playoff Tuesday to decide the AL East title. That would create a problem for the best-of-seven AL playoffs, scheduled for Tuesday through Oct.

16 with two off-days. The likely matchup for the Detroit-New York game would be Jack Morris vs. Bob Shirley. WDIV-TV (Channel 4) has the first option on televising the game, but if it declines, PASS could televise it, But they're not. And with all the bad news on baseball's doorstep this season, we shouldn't let Evans' feat get swept aside too easily.

Tell the juries to take five. Put the lawyers on hold. Drugs. Money. Put them aside, just for a moment.

I Let's remember that a home run is still the talking. Slam! went his hard, plastic helmet, bouncing off the top step of the dugout, as Bell stalked off the field following Toronto's third straight defeat. IN THE CLUBHOUSE, where 10 cases of champagne went un-chilled and un-spilled, pitcher Dennis Lamp approached Bell and spoke softly to him. Most of the conversation couldn't be heard, but Lamp walked away See BLUE JAYS, Page 4D By JOE LAPOINTE Free Press Sports Writer George Bell, Toronto tough guy, was rounding second as the final out was made in deep center field Thursday night in Tiger Stadium, sealing the Blue Jays' 2-0 loss to the Tigers. Bell, a Most Valuable Player candidate, boasted last spring that the Jays, not the Tigers, were the team to beat in the American League East.

And he rejects interviews by shoving away reporters' notebooks, glaring at them and announcing: "No press, comprendel" Thursday night, Bell let his helmet do the biggest play in the biggest sport in the most sports- crazed country in the world. It is baseball's Stud Meter. One swing. Pow! The most macho you can get while wearing a cap. And this season, at 5 NFL players Haywood's comeback age 38, in a year that many predicted he would simply crust and fade away, Darrell Evans has more home runs than anybody.

More ends with Pistons' cut than Dale Murphy, Pe By JOHNETTE HOWARD Free Press Sports Writer dro Guerrero. Darryl it ij cy, fLv A Darrell Evans Strawberry that WINDSOR Following a talk with whole pile of young muscle. Pistons coach Chuck Daly, Spencer Haywood's comeback bid from a two- It has to be sweet, because Evans came here under the toughest of circumstances as the year layoff ended by mutual agreement Thursday, six days after it started. And Haywood left the way he deny shaving points for drugs DENVER (AP) Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Butch Johnson and four of his former teammates have denied any involvement in an alleged scheme to shave points in exchange for cocaine, as outlined in an FBI agent's memo in December 1982. Johnson said Thursday he had "never come close to doing anything like that." A Miami newspaper reported Wednesday that the FBI and the NFL were investigating three-year-old allegations that five current or former Dallas Cowboys fixed games in return for cocaine.

The players were identified by a Dallas newspaper as Johnson, Danny White, Tony Hill, Tony Dorsett and Ron Springs. The allegations surfaced in a report by former FBI agent Daniel Mitrione, but the FBI ignored them because officials walked in: smiling, joking, the center of attention, his thoughts already on new things to accomplish. But he also left with something he were running by me like I was a flagpole. I'm satisfied. If there had been some young kid going home right now, and me out here doing my I would have felt bad about that." Haywood said he interviewed for the Pistons' TV color analyst job a week ago (Kevin Loughery was hired), but decided he'd rather continue trying to play.

For now, Haywood said he plans to return to his real estate business and hopes to meet with Mayor Young to discuss an idea to build a Riverfront officeapartment complex. "This is not hard," Haywood said. "I've got a wife and baby at home right now saying, 'It's over? And me? I think this was wonderful." Also cut Thursday, as expected, was rookie point guard Kenny Patterson. Free agent guard Freeman Williams is receiving a longer look thanks to guard John Long's nagging hamstring injury. didn't bring with him: a final answer to the nagging question of whether he could play again in the NBA.

It just wasn the answer he hoped Tigers' first dip into million-dollar free agency. He was a rich curiosity, like afarmer bringing home a cherry-red Corvette. Everyone expected fireworks. Instead, Evans hit just 16 home runs and batted .232 last year. And he started this year in a terrible slump.

There were whispers. What a waste. He's through. The Tigers had him all, but traded. And how did he handle it? I Grace.

Manners. Courage. You try being asked "What's the matter?" by a dozen reporters every, night. Or being told the team owjier has called you' a "bad He never balked. Never bit back.

He is a baseball player. He kept swinging. He'll keep the ball in play The reporters were around him again Wednes for. "I knew (I couldn't) after the third Spencer Haywood Johnson to start: Vinnie Johnson, the most impressive player in training camp so far, will start in place of Long in the Pistons' 8 p.m. exhibition-season opener Saturday in Tampa against the Houston Rockets.

The other expected starters: power forward Rick Mahorn, center Bill Laimbeer, forward See SPENCER HAYWOOD, Page 8D day. Your mind tells you you can do something but the body is a different subject," Haywood, 36, said with a laugh, a travel bag slung over his shoulder. "My performance just wasn't thought the information was too vague. Mitrione has since pleaded guilty to federal charges of bribery, conspiracy and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. See COWBOYS, Page 8D there.

After my second groin pull, guys day night, swarming him in the hallway. He tried to get back to his locker. But evry time he took a step, there was another questioi. So he stood and Tricks, talent make U-M's defense go answered inem an, wnne nis teammates aressea. He had just become the first man to hit 40 home Egrr rf 7Y ir?" Mm Ml; runs in both leagues, how did it "Oh, it was great, really great," he said, "Run ning around those bases.

I ll nt ver forget that. And you're 38 years old. "Yeah, but maybe you get better as you get older. I hope so, anyhow." 11 The obvious question. What did it all mean? "Well," he said, "I love this game.

All I want is to keep playing it. I really want to play longer. If this helps me get that chance, it's great." 1 love this game. Evans can say that, and you believe him. You really do.

In this age of cynicism, Fortha defense, Michigan's best defensive team, in 1940, allowed five touchdowns and 34 points In a 7-1 season. Among the NCAA's best defensive teams were Duke in 1938 and Tennessee In '39, which were not scored on until Rose Bowl losses. Duke went 9-0 before giving up a point and losing to Southern Cal, 7-3, In the 1939 Rose Bowl. Tennessee was 10-0 and held opponents scoreless until losing to (JSC, 14-0, in the 1940 Rose Bowl, i The only college team to finish a season without allowing a score was Albany (Georgia), a Division II school that was 9-0 in 1960. 1.

.1 c-n that may be the highest compliment you can give a ballplayer. I A fan returned the record home run ball to Evans. A reporter asked whalj he'd do with it. By TOMMY GEORGE Free Press Sports Writer ANN ARBOR One hundred and five Division I-A and 87 Division I-AA schools play football. This season only one Michigan has not allowed a touchdown.

How have the Wolverines accomplished this feat in three victories? A more productive, long-driving offense has helped the defense rest and start with good field position. Defensive coordinator Gary Moeller's schemes and preparation have been pivotal. Raw talent has been essential. And spirited, unified play by U-M defenders has been the catalyst. "Our philosophy on defense is based on movement," said Moeller, who hopes for plenty of it in Michigan's Big Ten season opener at 1 p.m.

Saturday against Wisconsin at Michigan Stadium. "The No. I thing is pursuing the football. "Big plays is the only thing that hurts a defense. It's the one thing you have to eliminate, and we've done it by hustling to the ball.

Each week we've improved in practices and in games, and that's encouraging. And what you can't over-emphasize is that it's not always the fastest guys "I don't know," he said. "I better not let my kids get hold of it." "Yeah," someone remarked, "they'll wind up playing catch with it or something." Evans laughed. Then he stopped laughing. "Well, actually," he said, fthat's good.

That's what ought to happen to it." Kids playing ball. Daddy playing ball. Nice thought. Hopefully, in years to come, we'll remember it that make a good defense but the ones who can also think. We play a complicated scheme, and the mental aspect of it is what makes it click." MICHIGAN USES three down lineman two tackles and a middle guard and four linebackers.

Its outside line-See MICHIGAN, Page 8D came from the Home Run King of 1985. Free Press Photo bv MARY SCHROEDER Tackle Mark Messner chases and sacks Maryland quarterback Stan Gelbaugh in Michigan's 20-0 victory. Coach Gary Moeller said, "Messner in his first year is really coming along." Three words about Darrell Evans. He deserves it. i A..