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About Griffin daily news. (Griffin, Ga.) 1924-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1977)
Page 8 — Griffin Daily News Tuesday, September 20,1977 Extra points Joe Namath: Kams' robot By The Associated Press Joe Namath, having escaped the stench of New York me diocrity, has the opportunity to achieve a second stardom in Ix>s Angeles ... if only Chuck Knox will let him. Namath, once a six-figure man in a five-figure era, now the idol of the panty-hose, pop corn and perfume pitchmen, is being turned into another kind of pitchman by the coach of the Rams—an ineffective robot running an unimaginative of fense. There are questions about his mobility and his velocity. But there are no questions about his eyes. He is an acknowledged master at reading defenses, at sensing impending blitzes, shifts in coverages. So why does Knox insist on sending Namath the signals from the sidelines? Weeb Ew- Sports roundup By The Associated Press Baseball Jackson AL’s ‘Player 9 NEW YORK — Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees, who hit .417 with five home runs and nine runs batted in last week, has been named the American League’s Player of the Week for Sept. 12-18. Tennis Jeane Evert wins PENSACOLA, Fla. — Top-seeded Jeanne Evert scored an easy first-round victory over Charlene Grafton of Gulf Breeze, Fla., 6-2,6-1 in the $6, 000 Women’s Tennis Profes sional Championships. In other opening round matches Leslie Charles of Great Britain, seeded No. 3, defeated Robin Kahn of Washing ton, D.C., 6-3,3-6, 7-5 and Sweden’s Ingrid Bentzer upset eighth-seeded Lindsey Beaven of Britain 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. Teacher defeats Manson LOS ANGELES — Former UCLA star Brian Teacher defeated Bruce Manson of Southern Cal 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 in first round action in the SIOO,OOO Southern California Open Tennis Championships. In other matches Tom Leonard of Laguna Nigel, Calif., beat Steve Krulevitz of Balitimore 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 and Van Winitsky of Miami ousted Geoff Masters of Australia 6-2, 6-3. King, Mayer named MVP’s NEW YORK - Billie Jean King and Sandy Mayer of the champion New York Apples were named World Team Tennis’ Most Valuable Players for 1977. It is the second straight year the two have captured the MVP honors. Mayer beat out Ray Ruffels while Ms. King edged Virginia Wade and Chris Evert. General Ex-racing secretary dies LOS ANGELES — Webb A. Everett, former racing secretary at Santa Anita, Bay Meadows, Tanforan, Golden Gate Fields and Del Mar thoroughbred race tracks, died at the age of 81 after a long illness. Sports transactions — By The Associated Press Basketball National Basketball Association DETROIT PISTONS - Signed Bob Lanier, center, to a five-year contract. INDIANA PACERS - Signed Mike Flynn, guard. KANSAS CITY KINGS - Signed Otis Birdsong, guard, and Eddie Owens, forward. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZ ERS — Signed T.R. Dunn, guard, and Ricky Brown, for ward. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS - Waived Frank Olyenick, guard. Football National Football League WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Reactivated Jerry Smith, tight end. Waived Bill Larson, tight end. HOekey World Hockey Association EDMONTON OILERS - Ac quired Don Tannahill, forward; Peter Donnelly, goaltender and Ron Chipperfield, center from bank and Bear Bryant, two coaches who know Namath’s talents all too well, wouldn’t do it that way. “I don’t believe in sending in signals,” said Ewbank, Nam ath’s coach during the Jets’ su per seasons. “I believe in a good game plan and then having a good quarterback who can call the signals, and that’s what I had in Joe. “Maybe if I had a quarter back I didn’t think could do it I might change my attitude—but Joe’s an excellent quarter back,” Ewbank added. » And if Weeb was coaching Namath in Los Angeles, who would be calling the signals? “If I were there,” he said without hesitation, “I know he’d be calling them.” Bryant, Namath’s coach at Alabama, drawled: “Namath is more able to call plays than I Quebec. Acquired Lou Nistico and Jeff Jacques, forwards, from Birmingham for Pete Laf ramboise and Danny Arndt, forward, and the rights to for mer Calgary defenseman Chris Evans. Baseball American League BALTIMORE ORIOLES - Acquired Nelson Briles, pitch- Florida leads SEC in stats BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP> - Florida has played only one football game this season, but the Gators’ 48-3 conquest of Rice gives them the lead in Southeastern Conference team scoring, offense and defense. Four SEC teams average bet ter than 20 points per game: Alabama 29, Mississippi State 21, Louisiana State » Wd Ten nessee 20.5. In defense against scoring, Georgia follows Florida with 11.5 points allowed, them come Vanderbilt with 12.5, Kentucky 14 and Mississippi State 18.5. would be. I’ve always felt like a quarterback, any quarterback, is right there on top of the situation and the team may have more confidence in him.” What Knox is doing is like putting the Mona Lisa in a motel or a Picasso in a parking lot. It’s a waste of talent. Last year the Rams’ quarter backs took the heat not because they didn’t have ability but be cause they couldn’t wing it un der adversity. Foresight, not hindsight, has always been one of Namath’s trademarks. And Knox has put blinders on him. Namath, ever the diplomat, isn’t second-guessing his boss. But he dislikes the sideline re straints. “You know, when you’re suc cessful, it’s very difficult to change things,” he said of the Rams, division champs the past four seasons. “I preferred call ing my own plays over the years, I can’t argue with suc cess. “We went through six games in the exhibition season and I have to say we didn’t put a lot of points on the board. The quarterbacks were calling all the plays then. So, hey, we’ve got to do something to get more points. The coaches feel more confident with them calling the plays.” In the Rams’ 17-6 loss Sunday in Atlanta, Namath started out throwing, showing he still had the arm. He put Los Angeles on top with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Harold Jackson, a per fect pass into the end zone that covered maybe 45 yards in the air. After the TD, things changed. Namath spent the rest of the afternoon throwing flare-outs, fullback screens and other short dump-off stuff. Why? “I’m not gonna answer ques tions that are going to be con troversial about the play-call ing,” he said. “I work here. I do what I’m told to do.” Knox said even less. He said nothing. If you look at Namath’s ca reer statistics, you find a some times electrifying, sometimes mediocre quarterback. But when you look at Namath him self, you know you’re looking at a man who transcends the game he plays. Which is why he is so unlike Unitas, another super quarterback who wound up a bitter man playing in near obscurity for a losing team. “Joe, he’s a very special per son,” said Al Ward, the general manager of the Jets. “Never been anybody like him, outside of maybe Muhammad All. Whatever makes charisma or presence — crowd appeal, sex appeal — Joe has it.” But if Knox doesn’t give him a free hand, Joe may not have it for long. er, from the Texas Rangers on BOSTON RED SOX - Ac quired Bob Bailey, infielder outfielder, from the Cincinnati Reds on waivers. National League CINCINNATI REDS - Ac quired Frank Newcomer, pitch er, from the Boston Red Sox and sent him to Indianapolis of the American Association. Vandy recorded the league’s first shutout of the year with its 3-0 effort at Wake Forest. An early showdown in the SEC could come Saturday when Florida clashes with Mississippi State at Jackson. They’re the league’s only unbeaten teams. Other conference games this week pit Alabama and Vandy in Nashville and Auburn at TIWWMCt. In other games, West Virginia invades Kentucky, Southern Mississippi plays on the Ole Miss home turf, Georgia goes to South Carolina and Rice moves into Baton Rouge to play LSU. S* -Brel ■ w| j9999KKKKJ Begins training Ernie Shavers uses basketballs and sparklers to simulate bombs as he opens training in New York for his Sept. 29 title bout with heavyweight champion Muhammad All. Sheavers is training at Madison Square Garden in New York. ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ SPORTS ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ Michigan still No. 1 By HERSCHEL NISSENSON AP Sports Writer Despite Coach Bo Schem bechler’s plea to newsmen to “do me a favor and vote us out of first place,” the Michigan Wolverines are still college football’s No. 1 team. Michigan and Southern Cali fornia held onto the top spots in Monday’s Associated Press col lege football poll while Okla homa and Ohio State, who tangle Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, moved into the 3-4 posi tions, replacing Notre Dame and Alabama. Michigan had more trouble than expected in beating Duke 21-9, evoking the following com ment from Schembechler: “I hope you fellows do me a favor and vote us out of first place. I’d really appreciate that.” Nevertheless, the Wolverines received 42 of 64 first-place votes and 1,094 of a possible 1, 280 points from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters. Five first-place votes and 1, 032 points went to Southern Cal ifornia, which beat Oregon State 17-10. Oklahoma, the preseason leader, had dropped to fifth in the first regular-season poll last week by edging Vanderbilt 25-23 but jumped back to third with seven first-place votes and 955 points by crushing Utah 62-24. Meanwhile, Ohio State leaped from sixth to fourth with two first-place votes and 877 points by trouncing Minnesota 38-7. Penn State, a 31-14 winner over Houston, jumped from 10th to fifth with five first-place ballots and 717 points while the losers slipped out of the Top Ten, from ninth to 19th. In rising to fifth, Penn State edged past Texas A&M, which defeated Virginia Tech 27-6 and went from seventh to sixth with 708 points, and Texas Tech, up from eighth to seventh with two first-place votes and 631 points after trouncing New Mexico 49- 14. Colorado, which buried Kent State 42-0, joined the Top Ten, going from 12th to eighth with 435 points. Texas flattened Vir ginia 68-0 and also cracked the Top Ten, vaulting from 18th to ninth. The Longhorns earned the remaining first-place vote and 287 points. Alabama sank from fourth to 10th by losing to Nebraska 31-24, Bullpups whip S. C. ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Jessie Hill’s interception and 42-yard return resulted in a second pe riod touchdown Monday and boosted Georgia to a 20-3 victo ry over South Carolina in junior varsity football. South Carolina scored bn a 33- yard field goal by Brit Bayn ham in the first quarter before Georgia came back to take the lead on Chris Welton’s two-yard pass to Robert Miles in the second period. Hill then intercepted Garry Harper and raced for his score moments later. Georgia added a safety and a two-yard scoring run by Donnie McMickens in the third period. It was the season opener for both schools. but the triumph enabled the Comhuskers to move back into the Top Twenty. They are in 14th place. Notre Dame fell from third to 11th by losing to Mississippi 20 13. Completing the Second Ten behind the Irish are Mississippi State, Florida, Nebraska, Washington State, Arkansas, West Virginia, UCLA, Houston and Brigham Young. Washington State, Arkansas and West Virginia made the Top Mississippi players selected in SEC By ED SHEARER AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) - Mis sissippi, a shining light in a generally dismal weekend of Southeastern Conference foot ball, used an upset victory over No. 3 Notre Dame to sweep The Associated Press Southeastern players of the week honors Monday. Defensive tackle Charlie Cage made 14 tackles and as sisted on seven others, twice dropping players for losses, to earn the Lineman of the Week award. Back of the Week honors were shared by the Rebel quar terback tandem of Bobby Gar ner and Tim Ellis, the almost forgotton reserve who came off the bench in the final five min utes to spark a scoring drive that provided the 20-13 victory. Gamer, the starter, hit on seven of 13 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown and set up another score with a 52-yard pass. Ellis hit on three of four attempts for 68 yards, plus the 10-yard, game-winning touch down pass. Curt Presley bowls 239 Curt Presley bowled a 239 game and a 602 series in the Moose 1503 Bowling League. Other high bowlers included Leo Rothbauer 203 and Joe Broski 200. The Outer Guard and the Junior Governors split, 2-2; the Inner Guard lost to the Trustees, 1-3; and the Gover nors defeated the Past Governors, 4-0. G.C. Spencer to call it quits as active driver after Dixie 500 G.C. Spencer, whose 32-year racing career will end in November, has been named Grand Marshal for the 18th annual Dixie 500 at Atlanta International Raceway, Sun day, November 6. The 52-year-old veteran driver from Bluff City, Tenn., announced recently that he will retire as an active driver following this year’s Dixie 500 and his future racing ventures would be limited possibly to that of a car owner. “The Dixie will be my last one,” said Spencer. “If you see me around with a car, somebody else will be driving it after that.” Spencer’s racing career Twenty for the first time. Washington State defeated Michigan State 23-21 after downing Nebraska the previous week while Arkansas dumped Oklahoma State, last week’s No. 15 team, 28-6 and West Vir ginia upset No. 11 Maryland 24- 16. Last week’s Second Ten con sisted of Maryland, Colorado, Mississippi State, UCLA, Okla homa State, Pitt, Georgia, Texas, Florida and BYU. Other linemen cited for out standing play Saturday were George Plasketes and Brian Moreland of Mississippi; Ozzie Newsome of Alabama; Amos Fowler of Southern Mississippi; Willie Jones, James Heggins, Ron Simmons and Mike Schu mann of Florida State; Mackel Harris and Reggie Wilkes of Georgia Tech; Wes Chandler and Charlie Williams of Flori da; Ernest Gray of Memphis State, and Don Latimer of Miami. AP’s top 20 By The Associated Press The Top Twenty teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, season records and total points. Points based on 2018-16-14-12-109-8-7-6- 54-3-2-1: I.Michigan (42) 2-0-0 1,094 2.S.Calif. (5) 2-00 1,032 3.Oklahoma (7) 2-00 955 4.0hi0 St. (2) 2-00 877 5. St. (5) 2-00 717 6. A&M 2-00 708 7. Tech (2) 2-00 631 8. 2-00 435 9. (1) 2-00 287 10. 1-1-0 219 11. Dame 1-1-0 206 12. St. 2-00 204 13. 1-00 190 14. 1-1-0 161 15. St. 2-00 129 16. Arkansas 2-0-0 108 17. W. Va. 2-00 83 18. 1-1-0 80 19. 1-1-0 73 20. Young 1-00 64 started in 1946 “running anywhere or anything I could.” In 1958, he made his first Grand National appearance in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and had driven in 408 Winston Cup events going tino the 1977 season. “G. C. has been a tremendous credit to the sport of stock car racing throughout his career,” said A. I. R. General Manager Larry Hogan. “With his driving career ending here, it is very fitting that he should be honored during race week and on race day.” “He is one of the true ‘old timers’ in racing who can still run with the best as he proved during this year’s Atlanta 500 Outdoorsman Bow season opens Oct. 1 By BILL SCHULZ Associated Press Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Low tem peratures have been awfully close company with the 50s around here the last couple of days — and that brings out the baser instincts of the man who has endured two months of highs in the 90s and lows in the mid-70s. But the chill incubates thoughts of fall, colored leaves, and deer season. It means if you are one of those who take up the bow and arrow and seek your quarry, you should be getting ready now. The bowhunter who regularly gets his deer is the one who is already out there practicing ev ery day. The bow season opens Oct. 1, and stays around most places through Oct. 29. The rookie needs more time than the veteran, who needs to polish his skills, not develop them. Buy your tackle — that’s right, tackle, just like fishing gear is called tackle — from an expert. Many would-be archers, who would never buy a camouflage jacket that doesn’t fit right, slap down their cash for a bow that doesn’t fit. Your measurements, height, length of arms, and others, mean as much when you buy that bow as they do when you buy the jacket. You really increase the odds in the deer’s favor if you have a bow with a 28-inch draw, when with your arms your natural draw is 30 inches; or when you have a 45-pound bow and arrows made to go with a 60-pounder. So now, hopefully, you’ve got the right equipment. Learn to use it. You should practice about 30 minutes each day. If you’ve got a decent backstop, your back yard is as good a place as any. You don’t need wide open fields, most killing shots are made inside 20 yards. Take your time with each shot. Hold your draw to strengthen the muscles in your arms and shoulders. The stronger you are, the bet ter chance you have of holding your arrow on target until that buck works through the brush to a hole where you have a clear shot. An awful lot of bowhunters use a tree stand. If you plan to do so, practice shooting down at your target. The arrow has a different trajectory from a tree Soccer sign-ups scheduled Sign-ups for the Griffin- Spalding County Recreation Department’s Youth Soccer program will be conducted Sept. 24 through Oct. 8. Sign-ups will be conducted daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Community Center in City Park. Girls and boys ages 6-16 prior to Nov. 30 are eligible to register for the program. Requirements for registration are that the registrant must be ac companied by one parent, must have a birth certificate and must pay a $3 registration fee. when he put No. 49 in the top 10 and again during the Southern 500 when he had the fastest Dodge in the strating field,” said Hogan. “He is well liked by everyone involved in racing and will be missed.” Most of Spencer’s career has been as an “independent” on the NASCAR circuit and admits he has driven virtually every make of car to compete on the Grand National tour. “I’ve had two or three rides in the Mercury,” said Spencer, “and even drove for the Petty in three or four races. I also drove for Cotton Owens a little bit. In fact, I’ve driven everything except the Matador. But about stand than it does on leve ground. Shoot down a hillside or from a deck. Also, practice your shots fror different distances. If you do al your shooting from 15 yards, it’ virtually guaranteed that th only deer you see will be at 2 yards. But your best bet is to join local archery club — and shoe once or twice a week with folk who have been through it be fore. Georgia Tech schedules Memphis State ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Tech and Memphis State will meet on the football field five times from 1980 to 1984, a Tech spokesman announced Monday. The games in 1980, 1981 and 1984 will be in Atlanta, while the 1982 and 1983 games will be held in Memphis, he said. All of the games will be played on the last Saturday in September. Although Tech and Memphis State have competed in base ball, basketball and other spring sports as part of the Metro-7 Conference, they have never met in football. 2.3 million see college grid games KANSAS CITY (AP) - A record 2,385,893 spectators turned out last weekend for the 77 games involving at least one Division I team, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced. The per-game average last weekend was 50,986, 70.6 per cent of capacity, raising the season per-game average to 50,801, or 757 above the average a year ago at the same stage of the season. The biggest crowd for the weekend was the Michigan-Duke game with 104,072 total. Second largest was the Ohio State- Minnesota crowd of 87,799 while the Tennessee-Boston College game drew 83,263. Cheryl Fields bowls 544 Cheryl Fields bowled a 207 game and a 544 series in the Monday morning Bowling League. Other high bowlers included: Gail Bush, 192 and 532; Chris Hudgins, 188 and 514; Annette Rothbauer, 204 and 521; Joy Caston, 176 and 517; Pat McGuire, 191 and 546; Shirley Bowden, 182 and 505; Agnes Deßenedittis. Other high games includes: Lynn Patterson, 170, Mary Hambrick 171, Laura Doster 169, Barbara Stinson 168, Faye Bevil 166, Carol Cox 178, Ann Flournoy 176, Jeanne Jones 166, Wanda Huggins 176, Martha Johnson 186, Nellie Pitts 194, Fab Manning 177, Pat Harrison 172 and Dot Stewart 170. Suburban LP Gas defeated Griffin Industries 3-1; All-Star Knitwear defeated Reeves Cleaners 3-1, Bobby Dunn’s Tree Service and Lewis Truck Service split, 2-2; Leon Bates Realty downed Tallowmasters 4-0, Spalding Amusements topped Holiday Inn 3-1 and Western Sizzlin stopped Women of the Moose 4-0. 90 percent of the time, I com peted as an independent.” There have been many highlights during his long career, but the one Spencer remembers the most came during the World 600 in 1966. “I was leading the race near the end,” Spencer recalled, “but was involved in a wreck with David Pearson. I came down pit road hollering for tires and had to change all four under green and wound up second. I sure thought I had one.” Spencer is a native of Owensboro, Ky., but moved his racing operation to Imman, S.C., in 1957. In December, 1965, he moved to Vluff City, Tenn.
