Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 31

.4 Utts-' Thay'ie state's bast: The 1983 Free Press All-State girls basketball team and coach of the year appear on Page 5D. Sports Phone, 1-976-1313 Today's television highlights: CBS 12:30 p.m. Football: NY Giants at Washington CBS 3:45 p.m. Basketball: Louisville at N. C.

St. NBC 4:00 p.m. Football: Cincinnati at Minnesota CBC 8:00 p.m. Hockey: Washington at Toronto Saturday, Dsc. 17, IC33 1 00 so Call with sports news: 222-6660 ENTERTAINMENT 7-9 MOVIE GUIDE 10 COMICS 10,11 1 DETROIT FREE PRESS Martin firedo Berra hired.

fc George JPuscas I 1 ATcheering thought: If Steinbrenner dumps Billy from Yanks for third time victory over the Kansas City Royals last summer. That was one of the stormy episodes that marked Martin's year as manager. He was suspended twice during the season by then-AL president Lee MacPhail, first for three days in April for kicking dirt on umpire Drew Coble and then for two games in August after calling umpire Dale Ford "a stone liar." He destroyed a toilet with a bat after the Yankees lost a game in Cleveland and became embroiled in a dispute with a researcher from the New York Times. Steinbrenner came close to firing him after the researcher charged that Martin had used abusive language to her. Steinbrenner changed his mind after a number of witnesses defended the manager.

Martin, 55, survived that crisis and completed the season. The Yankees finished third in the AL East behind the World Champion Baltimore Orioles and the Tigers. Steinbrenner's other managers have been Ralph Houk, Bill Virdon, Bob Lemon (twice), Dick Howser, Gene Michael (twice), and Clyde King. Houk, Virdon and Howser are now managing other major league teams. Lemon, Michael and King remain on the Yankee payroll in other capacities.

Libns lose, so will Pack Just between us Biggest overlay in weeks is the Lions minus nine points against Tampa Bay on Sunday. The way the oddsmakers figure it, the Lions get three points for honie field advantage, three for a clear edge in kicking, three more because overall the Lions are a better team. That's fine on paper, but don't wrap your Christmas in it. It could be a difficult, tense hour for the Lions, who lose a lot of "big games" because they're usually playing with their backs against a wall. Despite injuries, Tampa Bay has a tough defense, and if the Bucs shut down Billy Sims who hasn't had a 100-yard game against them in six tries what then? If you'd bet the farm on Eric Hippie's passing on any given Sunday, that could be one more farmer out of Nor would I count on Bill Capece, the Bucs' kicker who muffed an extra point and field goal against Green Bay last Monday night, doing the same favor for the Lions.

That joker is five-for-five in late-season Buc victories over the Lions (20-17, knocking Detroit out of the playoffs in 1981, and 23-21 in 1982). But he may not get a crack at the Lions since the Bucs have signed another kicker, Dave Warnke Late game means lots of booze So what do the Lions have going for them? Defense. Look back six weeks or so, and you'll see one of the smarter moves Monte Clark made all season was shifting William Gay from end to tackle, alongside Doug English. Muscle up the middle and side-to-side. The Lions have been tough to beat except when they're beating themselves offensively ever since You want a better bet, point-wise? Take the Bears (minus one) against the Packers.

In recent weeks, the Bears have become the second-best team in the NFC Central. They should finish off the Packers in their 1 p.m. game, making the Lions champions as they take the field at 4 p.m. against Tampa Bay No matter what, the Lions were going to sell out the game so it could be televised for the local audience. Not at the last moment, but early in the week, club owner William Clay Ford bought several thousand tickets for distribution to charitable groups, then left a buy-order for whatever was left at the 4 p.m.

Thursday deadline. Nice gesture, smart move Yogi Berra (left) has been named to replace Billy Martin as manager of the Yankees. Owner George Steinbrenner fired Martin Friday. Evans likely will be a Zzvi Eras, Tta fcffclisre steak up Darrell Evans was used mostly at first and third base for the San Francisco Giants In 1983. Here's how Evans' 1983 statistics stack up against those of the Tigers who played first and third base the most last season.

Pi Player Pes, Games HRs Darrell Evans 142 30 82 Enos Cabell Tom Brookens 1B 3B 121 138 5 46 "Oh, my," says a waitress at the Silverdome's Main Event bistro, "I think I'll wear a helmet Sunday, because that crowd will be liquored up before it even gets here." It's always that boozy at late-afternoon or night football games. Toughest bar brawl of the year, she says, was between two women at the Lions-Vi- Hnoe Mnnrisv Wioht onmo That darn Darns Idle tackle plays victim to loosen Lions NEW YORK (AP) Billy Martin's third tenure as manager of the New York Yankees ended Friday when he was fired by owner George Steinbrenner, who named first base coach Yogi Berra to replace him. Martin, who has four years left on a five-year, $2 million contract, will remain as an adviser. The announcement came during a press conference at Yankee Stadium and marked the Uth managerial change Steinbrenner has made in 10 years. It is the second time Berra, 58, a Hall of Fame catcher, has been named Yankee manager.

He led the Yankees to the American League pennant in 1964 but was fired after New York lost the seventh game of the World Series to St. Louis. He managed the New York Mets from 1972 through 1975, taking that team to the National League pennant in 1973. He is one of only three major league managers to have won pennants in both leagues. The others are Joe McCarthy and Alvin Dark.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT came a few hours after Steinbrenner met with commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who is investigating the owner's comments and behavior during the pine-tar bat incident that cost the Yankees a hit here, By BILL McGRAW Free Press Sports Writer He's a smart, disciplined, aggressive, power hitter who likes low fastballs. His fielding at third base and his running are below average, but he's got a good glove at first. His enthusiasm and determination make him the type of guy a manager likes to have around the clubhouse sort of an Enos Cabell who hits home runs. That's what National League scouts who have scrutinized Darrell Evans over his 15-year career have to say about the newest Tiger. Evans, a free agent who hit 30 home runs for the San Francisco Giants last season, agreed to terms late Thursday night.

He's Free Press Photo pv MARY SCHROEDER Phil Darns hasn't played a down during the regular season, but he's a valued Lion just the same. sports sound off The Lions have been in this position before they need to beat Tampa Bay to make the playoffs. Two years ago, they couldn't do It. Will the Lions win this year? Yes, 83 percent "I'll bet Mike Downey's beard on It," "When a team works this hard to get where they are, you can't give up on them. They're not giving up on themselves." "I know they're gonna win.

It's gonna be greatl" "They'll go all the way and win the Super Bowl." "Billy Sims will get 150 yards The Lions 28, Tampa Bay 10." Mo, 12 percent "The Lions have a certain mystique about losing." "They'll choke with the pressure on them." "The Lions won't go anywhere until they get a head football coach who knows what he's doing and won't freeze up on big plays." (Percentages based on about 180 calls) Next question: Tuesday 1 tr i 'I AJ 11 UPI Photo Ay. .277. .311 .214 Darrell Evans Even coach Monte Clark got in on it a couple of weeks ago hinting to the rest of the players that Darns had tattled after the Coke-pouring incident. But, as linebacker James Harrell, one of Darns' tormentors, says: "There's an old saying if nobody messes with you, it means they don't like you." BY THAT STANDARD, the Lions are crazy about Darns, a barrel-chested, 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive tackle. All of it's in fun, of course, and Darns doesn't seem to mind.

"It started back in training camp," Darns said. "And when I went on injured reserve, they started gettin' on my back. But it keeps me on my p's and q's and it's all fun and games. I enjoy it." The latest tale of abuse came out of a practice session last week when it was snowing and the Lions were practicing See PHIL DARNS, Page 50 distant replay I'wkrrn Wmp iiiu. I Iw 9 utritln aimt LOS ANGELES (AP) The Green Bay Packers sailed to their first National Football League division title in 16 years Saturday, winging to a 35-21 victory over Dec.

17, 18S0 the Los Angeles Rams Bart Starr and Boyd Dowler connected with a spectacular 91 -yard pass in the second quarter. It was the go-ahead score for the long-starving Packers and the first of three explosive touchdowns by Green Bay In the second quarter The jubilant Packers carried their coach, Vince Lombardi, halfway across the field after the final gun. It was their eighth triumph of the season against four losses, a tribute to the regime of Lombardi since he took over at Green Bay in 1959. Green Bay lost the 1960 NFL title game to Philadelphia, 1 7-13, but won five of the next seven league championships through 1967, Lombard's last year as Packer head coach. Over a nine-year span, his teams also won six division titles and were 141-39-4 for a .783 winning percentage.

Compiled by Bernie Czarnieckl I By CURT SYLVESTER Free Press Sports Writer The name is Phil Darns and, although he's been with the Lions all season, there's a pretty good chance you've never heard of him. Darns has been on injured reserve since the start of the exhibition season. Although he's practiced with the team, he hasn't played a single down in the first 1 5 games and he won't play against Tampa Bay on Sunday. But Darns has a special role with the Lions: He's the guy everyone loves to pick on. They pour Cokes on his head, they throw snowballs at him, they gang up on him and wrestle him to the locker room floor.

"It don't take a reason," said fullback Horace King. "All Darns has to do is speak up or be around and somebody will pick on him." scouts say the first major free agent the Tigers have signed. "It's great," manager Sparky Anderson said Friday. "We selected one guy and we signed him. That's not bad.

Bill (Lajoie, the Tigers general manager) did a hell of a job." EVANS, 36, is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound, lefthanded hitter. He batted .277 and had 82 RBIs in 142 games last season. He also had 84 walks, 15 game-winning RBIs and a .516 slugging percentage. He was streaky, though, batting .423 in May and .333 in August, but .21 1 in September-October; .222 in July, .230 in June and .200 in April. Anderson declined to say where Evans would play for the Tigers, but he has been a first and third baseman for much of his career.

Last season, he spent 32 games at third (six errors in 79 chances) and 113 games at first (seven errors in 1,074 chances). Evans probably will bat third or fifth, said Anderson, who like most Tiger officials, are fantasizing what Evans might do with the 325-foot rightfield fence at Tiger Stadium, considering he hit 132 homers in seven full seasons at Candlestick Park. The rightfield barrier is 335 feet away in the stadium near the bay, but the breeze, fog and chill make it a hitter's hell. See DARRELL EVANS, Page 30 Vet Evans is Tigers' 1st 'big name' free agent Reprinted from Friday's late editions Free Press Staff and Wire Reports Darrell Evans, a left-handed power hitter selected by 17 clubs in the free agent draft, has agreed to terms with the Tigers. An agreement was reached "in principle" by phone.

The Tigers would not disclose terms of the contract, but it is though to be a three-year deal worth $750,000 a year. Evans' agent, Jerry Kapstein, said early Friday morning that "we haven't signed a contract yet, we haven't reduced it to writing." But he added: "That is no cause for alarm. We will hammer out the exact language and the Tigers will send the contract to me in California for Darrell's signature." KAPSTEIN SAID Evans was going with the Tigers because "the chemistry has been real good between (general manager) Bill Lajoie and myself." Kapstein also said he had been in contact with manager Sparky Anderson, owner Tom Monaghan and former owner John Fetzer. "The Tigers are receiving in Darrell Evans an outstanding person and, as baseball people know, he's a clutch player," Kapstein said. Evans, 36, played first and third base for the San Francisco Giants last year.

He had 82 RBIs, 30 home runs and a .277 batting average. See TIGERS, Page 3D Darrell Evans' fielding statistics 1983 batting Page 4D. and extra points Saturday William Clay Ford reaUy meant tQ scratch each other's eyes out their faces were a mess." -There was a bigger bustup in the press parking lot involving a dozen guys. Nope, no "personalitities" I recognized. They whopped each other so thoroughly there was no winner; exhaustion finished them all You see that, then notice league-leading crowds at the Red Wings hockey games, and at the Pistons, who are No.

3 in pro basketball attendance, and you are reminded of Alex Karras' observation: "What the hell else is there to do in Detroit?" Of course, Alex never tried the symphony Certainly I remember where I was when the Lions won their last division title. I was supposed to be following them on television as they rallied from 27-7 to beat the 49ers in San Francisco in a 1957 playoff. When the winning touchdown was scored, I was in a bedroom, changing a diaper. A flock of new fathers wrote in thanking me for passing along this advice: When changing diapers, shove a chip of Fels-Naptha soap and a handful of baby powder up your nose, then close your eyes and feel your way. It wasn't original a cop friend who worked at the morgue prescribed it Lions can beat the Redskins Come to think about it, among the new fathers was Ford, then a director of the Lions.

I remember teasing him about changing diapers, but I'm not sure he ever assumed the duty. The baby was W.C Ford Jr. Billy is now 26, or as old as the Lions' last title. When you hear those periodic rumors that Ford will sell the Lions, forget them. Young Billy, bright like his daddy, is the Ford in the Lions' future.

He grew up with the franchise, and it will be his someday. Now that he's working in Boston, Billy has Lion games taped and mailed to him for viewing. Says he: "There were a few I was tempted to burn." Sounds like his daddy, at times You don't have to remember where you read it, but the Washington Redskins will not win the Super Bowl. I still think the Lions can beat them though there are several teams (Miami, Dallas, maybe the Raiders) I don't believe these Lions could handle Win or lose, the Lions will have a Christmas celebration after the Tampa Bay game. Except for last year, the party has been their sad farewell until the following summer.

Sometimes, even the coaches didn't return I haven't encountered anybody who has considered the possibility of the Lions and Bears losing Sunday, and Green Bay walking off with the Central Division title. That's nice, but it could happen. Tell me I didn't say that Dashetbsll talk Saving face for the old coach "If I didn't make them, I didn't even want to go back up to the locker room." -De Paul guard Jerry McMillen after hitting two free throws to give No. 13 De Paul a 63-61 victory over third-ranked Georgetown. A minute earlier, he had the crowd moaning after rushing a 15-foot jump shot when coach Ray Meyer was looking for a lay-up to break a 59-59 tie.

The trouble with giants Is the little guys "I was mad when we came out in the second half. All those little guys kept hitting my hands and one guy kept running underneath me." 7-foot center Akeem Olaiuwon of the Houston Cougars after finishing with 1 1 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots in a 71-55 victory over St. Mary's of Texas. At the half, Olajuwon had only one point, two rebounds, one block and two goaltending violations..