Detroit Free Press du lieu suivant : Detroit, Michigan • Page 35

Ilova suspension en, then eff: The Los Angeles Dodgers suspended pitcher Steve Howe Saturday night, but a medical test cleared him of illicit drug use and the Dodgers lifted the suspension. Details are in Sportsworld, Page 2D. Hsndsy, July 13, ZZ3 mm fin CLASSIFIED 9-19 COMICS 20-21 WEATHER 21 Standings and stats, Page 4D. Sports Phone, 1-976-1313 Lj DETROIT FREE PRESS Call with spoilt newt: 222-6660 I) Open i5th i- aison snares J0i George iLiUI Puscas SOUTHPORT, England (AP) Tom Watson's gutsy stretch drive the drive he couldn't mount at the U.S. Open nailed down the 112th British Open Sunday.

Watson subdued a dozen challengers with a 70, a single British Open finishers The mile-high city greeted USFL title game soberly DENVER 4- On its wildest days, mile-high down playoff the whole day." His big shots were a 12-foot birdie at No. 16 that gave him the lead for good, and a 2-iron On 1 8 that set him up for a par. "The way I won it makes this much more satisfying than last year," he said. "I put it to the players today. Last year it was handed to me.

I took the tournament this year." AND HE TOOK a little piece of golf history, too. His winning 9-under 275 on the dunes and sandhills of the Royal Birkdale Golf Club made him the first American and only the fifth player to win the Open five times. Watson's previous British Open triumphs had come in 1975 at Carnoustie, in 1977 at Turnberry, in 1980 at Muirfield and last year his last victory of any kind at Troon. All are in Scotland. See BRITISH OPEN, Page 3D town Denver can rise another foot or two into the clouds.

It docisn't compare to New Orleans, or even Miami, for uninhibited football celebrating. But the Watson 67 68 70 70 275 Irwin 69 68 72 67 276 Bean 70 69 70 67 276 Marsh 69 70 74 64 277 Trevlno 69 66 73 70 278 Ballesteros 71 71 69 68 279 Hennlng 71 69 70 69 279 I I stroke under par but enough for a one-shot victory. He played a brilliant back nine despite rising winds and some of the fiercest competition in the event's history. Seven men led or shared the lead during the final round, and, at one point, 13 golfers were within three strokes of the lead. But Watson burned the back nine in three under.

"I made up for the last nine holes at Oakmont not a very good nine holes with a very good last nine holes at Birkdale," he said. "Looking at the leader board looking at all those natives can turn it on when they're inclined. They weren't inclined Sunday, the USFL's crowning day. No banners or balloons were flying, no bands were marchini in the streets heralding the showdown between the Michigan Panthers and the Philadelphia Stars. i In its infancy, the USFL title game had no significant impact on the host city, nothing remotely resembling The British Open will be remembered for more than Tom Watson's stirring fifth title.

There was Hale Irwin's whiff of a one-inch putt. And the vandalism on one of the world's finest holes. See stories on Page 5D. the $60 million; a Super Bowl can bring to a town. great players it looked like Tom Watson Except for an estimated 3,000 visitors following their teams from Philadelphia and Detroit, there was no heavy influx of out-of-town fans.

Hotel lobbies were Trammell's quiet, the streets all but deserted; there wasn't even a boisterous party to be found It was somewhat different at the Panthers Regency Hotel headquarters, several miles away. The partying there was long and raucous Saturday night, and it was $ore arm renewed with a morning-afternoon barbeque in the wait for the kickoff. A huge post-game party was planned, but it depended on the outcome I I I II HIM I I I'l "K-f 0 ww? mr im r. Uf puts him on George Alien didn't hang around bench again "When we win," said Panther tackle Allen Hughes, "will Mayor Young have a parade for us in downtown Detroit?" Maybe not. After all, owner Al Taubman spurned Detroit by naming his team the Michigan Panthers Late Saturday, USFL commissioner Chet Simmons lifted the Denver-area TV blackout, wiping out any possibility of a late rush for tickets.

Simmons said he was willing to settle for a crowd of 45,000 in Mile High By BRIAN BRAGG Free Press Sports Writer SEATTLE Shortstop Alan Trammell was sidelined again Sunday because of his Stadium, capacity 75,412 Chicago Blitz coach George Allen, the first "big strained right arm. Trammell, who made two hard throws Friday night, didn't play Saturday because he couldn't loosen the arm in pre-eame name football personality to join the USFL, left Denver in a huff Friday, shortly after he arrived. Allen was miffed because he had been dropped from the USFL's competition committee (the rule-makers), along with two other coaches, Boston's Dick Coury and Oakland's John Ralston Expansion took a new twist for the USFL on the final il i A ftt vli ip warmups. Manager Sparky Anderson left Trammell off the lineup card Sunday without consulting him. "I've got a rule I follow," Anderson said.

"Once you're hurt, I'm not going to come and ask you. You come to me if you can play. t.S. "tl ITITll Mltif L.a-., Free Press Pholo bv MARY SCHROEDER About 100 Panther fans arrive in Denver Sunday morning for the USFL title game. George Allen uay 1U 1Uil of Japanese businessmen bid for a franchise for Tokyo.

ABOUT 300 FROM DETROIT ARM 'It's not as farfetched as it sounds," a league spokesman" said. "They offered to pay all the additional Alan Trammell air travel expenses incurred by teams coming to To kyo." "If vou eo to a olaver everv dav and ask Fans follow team to Denver That move put pressure on a group seeking a him, 'Can you play, can you pretty soon he's going to iay'Hey, he wants me to franchise for Honolulu. The Hawaiians offered to pay play so i oetter say yes. visiting teams' airfare from the West Coast. But both Tokyo and Honolulu will have to wait at "Then vou find out later he's hurt himself worse because he wasn't really ready.

So I Jeast until 1985. Sunday afternoon the last of six new franchises was granted to Memphis, which joins Pitts aon i ao tnat. burgh, Houston, Tulsa, Jacksonville, and San Antonio as the league's new cities next season Trammell didn't participate in infield practice Sunday. He told the coaching staff, "The owners have plenty of other problems dealing however, that he was available for late- "The Panthers are more exciting than the Lions and coach (Jim) Stanley is a better coacli than Monte Clark. They've got Holloway and Carter and they take chances." Louie Lotz, Panther fan Inning lineup changes.

with each other," said one insider who had worked in major sports for years before joining the USFL. I "Unlike owners in other leagues, these guys have Trammell has missed 19 starts because of the arm, which he injured June 17. After returning to action last Monday, he played absolutely no idea what their game is all about. The game doesn't interest them. They are businessmen, pure and simple, and they can be cutthroats.

It's a five games before the injury flared again. TAGGING THE TIGERS Dan Petry (8- By TOMMY GEORGE Free Press Sports Writer DENVER If the Panthers induced Detroit fans to make the 45-minute drive to the Silverdome a few months ago, it was something special. So it's safe to describe their following at the USFL championship as amazing. More than 300 fans from the Detroit area either drove to Denver early last week or flew here Sunday morning. Brothers George (16) and John (18) Zie-linski of Mt.

Clements have relatives in Denver. They got together Tuesday with friends Mike Elso, 18, and Louie Lotz, 17, also of Mt. Clements, and decided to drive here to support the Panthers. The four attended the Panthers' practice Friday. "We left Wednesday night and got here Thursday night it was a 24-hour drive," said Elso, who said he took off a few days of work to make the trip.

"We had the money and needed the vacation. And we had seen the Panthers about four times this season. Next year, we're buying season tickets." Wednesday night, stopping Thursday in Kearney, Neb. They arrived in Denver Friday morning. "I like the team, and I kind of know Novo (Bojovic), Lacy and (John) Corker," Hank Jones said.

"I'm a football fanatic I'm a season-ticket holder with the Lions and Panthers. "I've seen this team come from rock bottom. It's been like watching kids prog- ress, grow up from babies to adults. I wouldn't have missed this (championship game) for nothing." The younger Jones came to see his favorite player. "A.C.

(Anthony Carter) he's just a good fellow and a good ball player, from what I've seen," Tamenund said. "I think this game is important because if they win, they'll be around next year. If not, I think they may fold. I'm optimistic." Sue Baker, 62, of Dearborn, flew into Denver Wednesday to visit her daughter. But she also had the Panthers in mind.

"I've been planning to see my daughter the past two years," she said. It took the Michigan Panthers to get me here." problem in their meetings. They don't seem to have the 6) will pitch for the Tigers in Oakland league interest at heart. Everybody's out for himself." Monday night, opposing lefty Tim Conroy 2-2). The two dueled 10 days ago in Detroit.

Neither got a decision as the Tigers won on a John Wockenfuss homer off reliever Steve flew places to call home Two of 12 club owners want to switch their teams to Baker in the eighth It'll be Jack Morris (9-8) vs. Chris Codir- LOTZ LIKES the Panthers' diverse offense. "The Panthers are more exciting than the Lions and coach (Jim) Stanley is a better coach than Monte Clark," Lotz said. "They've got Holloway and Carter and they take chances. And seeing (Ken) Lacy and (John) Williams run is more exciting than watching Billy Sims run up the middle." Hank Jones, 61, and his son, Tamenund, 18, of Detroit, began the journey by car new cities.

Dr. Ted Diethrich, the heart surgeon who the Blitz, is disenchanted with Chicago, where he oli (5-6) Tuesday night and Juan Berenguer (4-2) vs. Steve McCatty (3-4) on Wednesday claims the media downgraded his team and made it atternoon impossible to do well at the gate. Diethrich wants to move the team to Arizona, where See TAGGING THE TIGERS, Page 3D he operates two heart clinics, but the USFL already has i a icani in mucin. "The owners can't let him move anyway," says the iiimuci, uetausc vuitagu is une vi me mice inajui Flight 5805 put Panther fans in the spirits television markets, and our contract with ABC-TV requires that we maintain a team there." Breakers president Robert Caporale wants to pull out of Boston because of an inadequate stadium.

He might be allowed to do it, because USFL is eager to put a team in Indianapolis, where a new Silverdome-type stadium in nearing completion. cH niire Downey mAAjmimmL mm I Curiously or perhaps not no Indianapolis group has sought a USFL franchise. The city has been seeking an NFL franchise for years and is high on the list if the old league decides to expand again Right up to the last 48 hours, there was a question whether the Panthers' 38-member cheerleader squad was going to' make it to the championship game. DENVER The TV crews were in the aisles, the cheerleaders were in their seats, some passengers already were in their cups and United charter Flight 5805 was almost ready for takeoff. It was bound for Denver and about to bring Michigan Panther lovers along for the ride.

They were going to the USFL championship game, although the TV people gave them a sendoff as if they were the hostages going back to Iran to meet the ayatollah for tea. The cameramen clogged the forward cabin and took pictures. A Panther cheerleader yelled: "We're gonna make cat food outta 'em!" It was 7:30 in the morning and the group was ready to go. The flight package included round-trip transportation, a hotel room, a ticket to the game, a shuttle to the hotel, a breakfast and, to get on to the more important business of the day, an open bar on the plane. The fans were ready for the Rockies.

Gonna fly now. CRAIG AND GREG had driven 180 miles Sunday morning from West Branch. They were sure the Panthers would swat the Philadelphia Stars, as sure as their Thumb Pest Control, passed out death sentences to bugs. Everyone in the nearly filled plane was just as positive late passenger who should be here any minute. So, when he walks on the plane, let's let him know how we feel about him." AT THIS MOMENT, Ron Lemire of Mt.

Clemens had double-parked his truck outside the terminal. He checked in at the counter to make his seat selection for Flight 5805. "It left," the ticket clerk said. Lemire looked at his watch: 7:30. He thought the plane was supposed to go at 8.

The agent double-checked and found the plane hadn't yet pulled from the dock. Lemire was told to hurry. He ran outside, parked the truck, ran back in, and ran for the gate. "Even O.J. wouldn't have caught me today," he said.

Nobody considered him another Simpson when Lemire boarded the plane. "Here he is!" Dana Miller announced. "This is the guy who made us late!" Lemire was booed all the way to his seat. The plane took off, to great applause. Breakfast was served, which some passengers regarded as a needless interruption between drinks.

They walked down the aisles in T-shirts that read: "Stroh's: Breakfast of Champions." A woman in the rear kept carrying on about champagne. Several people with kazoos played "How Dry I Am." See DOWNEY, Page 60 Although owner Al Taubman has been lavish with his team, he held back on the cheerleaders' trip. "They'll get here (they did, Sunday morning)," said general manager Jim Spavital. "We were just seeking a and was willing to drink to it. Maybe drink more than once to it.

Someone on the public-address system said the plane was late getting off the ground because: "We're waiting for Bobby Hebert." The Panther quarterback already was in Denver, of course. A flight attendant, Shere Darmopray, asked: "Who's Bobby Hebert?" The chief flight attendant, Dana Miller, got on the intercom. "First of all," she said over the noise, "try to cheer up." More cheers. "OK," she said. "We're going to Denver, the home of Coors beer and the Denver Now boos.

"But aboard the aircraft today we'll be serving Stroh's Light and we're on our way to support the Michigan Panthers." Now cheers. "One thing, though. You may be wondering why we're still waiting to take off. Well, we're waiting for a i sponsor for' them. Philadelphia got an airline (TWA) to pick up the tab for the Stars' cheerleaders.

We repay sponsors with a trade-off, like advertising in our program." Finally, sponsors were found for the cheerleaders' trip. The troupe arrived, and in a variety of bikinis took over the hotel pool, thus ending all conversation about the Panthers and Stars." i.