THE MICHIGAN DAILY P®ge Eleven THE MICHIGAN DAiLY Page Eleven -tadt # e4*.ect4 -- -1-- Got dem Ole ..« baseball blues -- --- ---john papanek-i__n 1ESUS, another baseball season around the corner. And just like always, sportswriters are cranking out endless drivel about holdouts, walkouts, salary disputes and what have you. Vida Blue retires at age 22, Richie Allen turns badboy again, Denny McLain will bomb with a new team. Casey Stengel has crabs. Who cares? Obviously somebody must, but damned if I can figure out why. I love baseball, don't get me wrong. But to me baseball is more than a game, it's a whole experience that's pure pleasure to take in while stretching out com- fortably in the sun on a Sunday afternoon. It has a tradition that really doesn't get you down. In 130 years it has hardly changed a bit, with scores of fresh young faces joining major league baseball every year with all the en- thusiasm that the kids had back in the '20s. - Only, it's a damn shame what has happened to the game. Not the fact that the Aarons, Yaztrzemskis and Mays' are pulling in $150 grand a year. It's perfectly apparent that they deserve every penny. A look at the National League's attend- ance figures for 1971 shows that the circuit attracted over 17 million customers, an all-time record. It's the interaction between players, front offices, and 4 fans that gets me down. It's easy enough to see -the evolution of a sport like baseball from a recreational game to a spec- tator sport. It's our nature to prefer watching someone else do something well, rather than working at it ourselves. The big business nature of professional sports has taken a lot of the enjoyment out of it for me. When I go to a ball game, I want to see great players playing baseball. Whether Tom Seaver wore his Sears Double-Knit Suit to the ballpark doesn't concern me at all. And if Jerry Grote doesn't like blacks, orsif Ernie Banks is an Uncle Tom, or if Mickey Mantle likes to look up girls' dresses, that's their business. , . , So if .ida Blue thinks he worth $92,000 after achieving super-stardom as a rookies, he's entitled to. But I don't want to hear his boss Charlie Finley saying that the fans are going to have to pay the difference in higher ticket prices. If they want to see the team play, they'll pay the money. They did in 1971, and attendance at professional sports shows little signs of dying. If baseball's reserve clause (the clause in a baseball play- er's contract that makes him the exclusive property of his team) was revoked, Blue could play for the A's one year at Fin- ley's highest offer,,then re-negotiate with any other team as a free agent. When Curt Flood was traded from the St. Louis Cards to the Philadelphia Phillies, he challenged the reserve clause in court, in spite of the fact that he commanded a salary of $90,000. Flood compared himself to a slave and argued that no matter how much he was being paid, it was immoral for him to be bought and sold, and forced to move from city to city at the whim of his employer. Flood's case is still on appeal. Now there is a new wave of discontent in major league baseball and the owners are grumbling again. The players are seeking to increase their retirement pension fund, and 24 teams have already agreed to strike should the owners refuse to settle. The owners, probably the last vestiges. of American slave trade, are griping that all the $100,000-plus salaries are breaking them. Thus it is the faps who will suffer in the long run. Now this argument is unacceptable, because ticket prices are going to go up no matter what happens. And 'this being a country full of spectators and hero worshippers, the owners needn't worry about dropping attendance as long as the quality of the game remains at a high level, and the talent isn't spread too thin by expansion. The players have a valid stand. It isn't the superstars who are fighting for the higher pension; in fact, some of the top players, "Uncle Toms" to their teammates, have allied with the owners to avoid the strike so they can collect their big money. It's the little guys who are behind this fight. The guys who don't last in the majors more than five years or make more than $20,000 a year. What's wro;ig with $20,000 a year, you ask? Well, nothing, except that it can end at any time - either with an injury, disagreement with baseball brass, or simply a loss of ability. A major league ballplayer has played baseball almost all his life. Say he graduates from high school and signs a contract. If he's lucky, he'll make the majors in three or four years. If he lasts five years, he's eligible for a .pension. If not, it's tough luck. But once he's out of the game and doesn't have the name to be a sportscaster or an executive or a coach of some kind, he's got nothing. He's got no education because he spent all his time playing ball. The owner got hold of him, exploited his talents, and when the player was washed up, got rid of him. It's damn tough to be a ballplayer if you're not a star. Al- ways on the road, no time to spend with your family, having to take a lot of crap from people who might be a lot less intelli- gent than you. Then you face that ultimate ignominy. You're fair game to be bought and sold indiscriminately like your great-grandfather might have been down in Alabama a hun- dred years ago. Wings 0l~ Toronto I. U wins SID CLEMONS GETS DOWN with good Progressive Rock From Wire Service Reports front. NEW YORK-Goyette picks up The Red Wings, who have had the loose puck, fires it in the De- to rely on such stalwart defense-, troit zone. Rousseau beats his man men as Ron Stackhouse-and Larry to the puck, he's behind the net. Johnston, almost won the game but The Rangers are dangerous. A their third-period play -was too un- pass in front to Hadfield, he scores! That was the goal that brought the high-flying Detroit Red Wings back to earth last night as the New York Rangers came back from a two-goal deficit to pull out a stunning 2-2 tie. Detroit goaile Andy Brown was outstanding in the nets as he turn- ed back shot after Ranger shot, until Vic Hadfield realized he could still skate without his two injured linemates holding his hands. Play- ing without Rod Gilbert and Jean Ratelle, Hadfield scored twice in the final three minutes of play to send the Motor Cityites' playoff hopes spinning. Until the outburst by Hadfield, Brown had done a fine job of nurs- ing the slim 2-0 lead fashioned by his mates in the first period. Nick Libett, playing well under the pres- sure of the race, connected for his 31st marker at the six-minute mark. Mickey Redmond scored his 42nd goal with only three seconds remaining in the stanza to send the Wings buzzing into the locker- room. The second frame saw the action completely dominated by the New Yorkers as they fired 15 shots at Brown, the unmasked marvel, who stood his ground amid some faulty defensive play by his men up - -- - - i believably anemic. Instead of trying to add to their margin, the Detroiters came out like chickens and tried to sit onf their goose egg. When the Rangers' Jim Neilson drew a penalty the Red Wings attempted to stall and waste the time. * * * Toronto tears TORONTO-The Toronto Maple Leafs struck for four goals in the first period to upset the injury- riddled Boston Bruins 4-1 yester- day and maintain their hopes for a National Hockey League play- off berth, The triumph, combined with Detroit's 2-2 tie with the New York Rangers, gave Toronto a two-point lead over the Red Wings in their battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Di- vision. Toronto hosts New York Satur- day and is in Boston Sunday. The Red Wings have their final game Sunday at Chicago. * * * tlaily sports NIGHT EDITOR: CHUCK DRUKIS tional Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Seals jumped out to a 3-0 lead on frst period goals by Ivan Boldired and Rick Smith and a second period tally by Peg Leach. Ron Schock scored for the Pen- guins to make it 3-1, but Stan Gil- bertson regained the three-goal lead for California a short time later. The Penguins then poured in four straight goals, the first by Syl Apps late in the second period. Pittsburgh came alive in the final frame as Greg Polis scored his 27th goal of the season and Nick Harbaruk came up with the tying point. The Penguins dominated the contest, holding the Seals to 20 shots on. goal. * * * Hawks tie CHICAGO-Rival coaches Billy Reay of Chicago and Scotty Bow- man of Montreal nearly came to blows at the conclusion of a wild 5-5 tie in a National Hockey League game last night. Serge Savard had pulled the Canadiens into a tie at 19:21 of the final period and the teams were leaving the ice at the final horn when Reay and Bowman ex- changed words at center ice. Reay moved toward Bowman and shoved him before officials came between them and herded them off the ice. The game had no bearing on the final National Hockey League standings. Montreal learned that it would finish no higher than third when news arrived between the second and third periods that the second- place New York Rangers had tied Detroit 2-2. WNRZ at NOON 102.9 on Ann Arbor .":.:"4..."..::x: . ."r. .....,............ n..... .. ::. r:4."...**.".". ..}.."'.".".v::::...".":""...."o.:rR ."s {S 4.>Se+'r Does "Good Friday" Have Significance For You? If you are seeking a meaningful and contemporary way to recognize this day: COME EXPERIENCE THE CRUXIFIXION THROUGH CONTEMPORARY MEDIA AND LITURGY TIME: Friday Evening, March 31, 7:30-8:30 P.M PLACE: 1st United Methodist Church, State ana HuronA? A FEW APARTMENTS STILL AVAILABLE *e 909 CHURCH YouLiveInTisC;?::iy- You:Can.Help Change.I. ! Penguins pounce PITTSBURGH (A') - The Pitts- burgh Penguins, trailing twice by three gpals, rallied in the final period to defeat the California Seals 5-4 last night to weep alive their hopes for a berth in the Na- 3M Brand PHOTOCOPIES, THE LOWEST PRICE IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE! 3c per copy-4c for books 3 cents (Bos ton bakes Hawks, TERMPAPERS Creative Research LOWEST PRICES IN TOWN BOSTON tP)}- Unleashing their patented fast breaks every time they were needed, the Boston Cel- tics returned to the National Bas- ketball Association playoffs they once ruled with a 126-108 victory over the Atlanta Hawks here last night. The victory gave the Celtics, the NBA's Atlantic Division cham- pions, a 1-0 edge in the best-of-7 first round series over Atlanta., runner-up in the Central Division. Michigan's diamondmen in the rough, see page nine. If the issue was in doubt beyond the first quarter, the Celtics set- tled it early in. the fourth period when a spurt sparked by John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White broadened a 95-83 third quarter leadetoda 119-96 margin within six minutes. Havlicek, who had a game high 32 points, led the Celtics on their first splurge- of the night when they shot from a 30-28 disadvant- age at the end of the first quarter into an eight-point lead -in the first two minutes of the second period. Atlanta controlled much of the early going solely on the perform- ance of Lou Hudson, who scored 17 in the first quarter but was halted effectively thereafter by Don Nelson and Tom Sanders. Hudson finished with 29 points. After Atlanta narrowed the gap to 62-57 early in the third quarter Havlicek, Cowens and reserve Steve Kuberski, who had 15 points and 13 rebounds, set the Celtic. on another fast breakingcharge. Within six minutes Boston had opened an 87-67 lead and Atlanta never seriously threatened again. ! For Boston, winning for the fifth time in as many games against the Hawks this year, White added 25 points while Cowens, who led a strong Celtic rebounding effort! with 16, had 23. WaltBellamy had 20 for Atlanta and Pete Maravich had 17. The series resumes Friday night in Atlanta. S C ORE S I EXHIBITION BASEBALL Cincinnati 12, Philadelphia 6 Texas 6, Atlanta 0 Boston 5, Houston 3 Los Angeles 6, Minnesota 2 Milwaukee 5, Cleveland 1 Kansas City 6, Detroit 2 San Francisco 8, Chicago (N) 6 ABA BASKETBALL Virginia 123, Memphis 99 Indiana 128, Pittsburgh 113 313 S. State St., Ann Arbor, Mich. 761-5880 0 PI ECONO-CAR SPRING WEEKEND SPECIAL Get with it . .. it's springtime! Shed the coats and boots and head for the country in a new Ford or Chevy. From Friday noon through Monday noon pay only: Howard signs paet a POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (P) - Frank Howard, the slugging out- fielder - first baseman of the Texas Rangers and their No. 1 gate. attraction, reportedly has agreed to sign for $120,000, the same salary he received last year. Ranger spokesman Bert Haw- kins , said Howard's salary last year was $120,000 and it's "the same this year." Ranger owner Bob Short said earlier yesterday that Howard is now the second highest paid play- er in the American League. Carl Yastremski of Boston Red Sox made $167,000 last year, Hawkins said. The $120,000 for a one-year con- tract Howard is expected to sign is about midway between the $96,000 Short offered and the $150,000 Howard sought. Howard said he will begin workouts today and wants to play right away, although Hawkins said that was not probable. SPR NC $17.50 and only a Mile ECONO.CAR USE YOUR. VOTE' City Council Election This Monday CALL 663-2033 ID 1 I i I E i cif ', I { ', I[( Give The Bear a reak You're the only one who can. Because all Smokey can do is ask you to help prevent forest fires. He can't break your matches. Or douse your campfires. Or snuff out your cigarets. Only you can. So, please, lend Smokey a hand. And maybe while you're at it, lend him your voice too: tell people to give the beara break. He deserves it. So does America. BE YOUR OWN LANDLORD THIS SUMMER ! LIVE IN A CO-OP I.t_ ____R____B___ 9 Because it's my country. IC I - And it'sgetting dirty. That's why - 8 , r Good food, good company, reasonable rates, free washing machines, singles available. Approx. $42/member/mo.-Approx. $50 per guaranteed single/mo.--Plus Food, Costs, Approx. $32/mo. Inquire: INTER-COOPERATIVE COUNCIL 3-N Michigan Union-662-4414 I I - lI A NEW EXPERIENCE IN CO-ED LIVING THETA XI is now Co-ed r > s I