The Michigan Daily-Saturday, March 25, 1978-Page 7
HOPES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON:
Simpson traded to San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - O. J. Sim-
pson, one of the most exceptional run-
ners in National Football League
history was traded Friday to the San
Francisco 49ers from the Buffalo Bills
for five draft choices over the next
three years.
Simpson, who needs 2,129 yards to
become the league's all-time leading
rusher, was present when the announ-
cement was made by Joe Thomas, the
49ers' general manager.
Simpson brings with him the fattest
contract in the NFL, paying him more
than $733,800 a year - plus performan-
ce bonuses.
"We have surrendered the service of
a superb athlete, but have put our-
selves in the position in this and future
drafts to obtain the kind of quality
players who can make Buffalo a strong
franchise for years to come," Buffalo
Coach Chuck Knox said. -
The Bills, with Simpson, were 3-11
during the 1977 season.
"The decision to trade a player like
0.J. is a difficult one. We had to weight
his undeniable short-range value to the
club against the long-range prospect of
building a challenging football team in
Buffalo. We elected to take the direc-
tion that, in our minds, best benefits the
Bills, Knox said.
Simpson, the NFL's leading active
rusher with over 10,000 yards, "wanted
to play on the West Coast because he
Boston College wins
NCAA icer semi
has many personal ties, and at this
stage in his career, he deserves that,
opportunity," Bills owner Ralph Wilson
said of the nine-year veteran from the
University of Southern California.
"I had some good years in Buffalo,
but hopefully, I can get here what I
couldn't get there, and that is a cham-
pionship," Simpson said after the deal
was announced.
The 49ers gave up five draft choices
over the next three years, but General
Manager Joe, Thomas would not be
more specific, other than to say the
team would keep this year's top pick..
"The thing that appealed to me was
that we didn't have to give up any of our
players or our No. I draft choice this
year,"' Thomas said, adding, "It is still
hard for me to believe that the gen-
tleman sitting next to me is actually
here and is a 9er."
Simpson, 30, was overjoyed at the
prospect of playing pro football in the
city where he went to high school and
played two years at the community
college level.
lie walked into a packed news con-
ference, clapped his hands and said,
"Home at last, thank God Almighty I'm
home at last.'
Wers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.
said the trade was consummated over a
three-week period, culminating in hec-
tic negotiations over the past three
davs.
"I'm ecstatic," said DeBartolo, who
watched home attendance dwindle last
year when the 49ers suffered through a
5-9 season. "'t'his is great for the team
and great for the Bay Area. I'm very,
very happy."
Simpson said he hoped to be able to
play at least a couple more years and
said he had recaptured his enthusiasm
for the gamne.
Before the trade was finalized, Sim-
pson took a physical to make sure the
knee he injtured last season was
technically sound. lie said he passed
the test with no problems, adding that
all he had to do was strengthen the
knee.
Simpson led the NFL in rushing four
times and held the single-game mark at
272 vards until last season when it was
broken by Walter Payton of the Chicago
Bears, who gained 275 yards against the
Minnesota Vikings.
He also holds the single season
rushing record with 2,003 yards in 1973.
He has scored 71 touchdowns in a
career that began in 1969 when he was
the top choice in the NFL draft after
winning the Heisman Trophy as the
nation's top college football player in
1968.
A brilliant college halfback, he shat-
tered 13 Southern Cal records in his two
years there. He gained 3,423 yards on
674 carries and rushed for 709 yards his
senior year, an NCAA record.
He reluctantly joined the lowly Bills
after expressing his desire to play with
a West Coast team. Simpson grew up in
San Francisco and played football at
Galileo High School and San Francisco
City College before going to Southern
Cal1.
He has lived in Los Angeles since the
end of his college days and has ap-
peared in a number of movies and
television programs as an actor.
FORD LEADS BALA]
PROVIDENCE, K.I. (AP) - Joe
Mullen scored after only 28 seconds had
elapsed and Boston College went on to
post a76-2 victory over Bowling Green in
the semifinals of the NCAA Hockey
tournament Friday night.
THE TIIIUMPIi set up an all-Boston
final Saturday night with Boston
College meeting cross-town rival
Boston University for the national title.
Mullen, a New' York City rdsident,
took a pass from Paul Hammer and
popped a 20-footer past Falcon goalie
Brian Stankiewicz on the first shot of
the game.
WALT KYLE added a second Eagle
goal before the period ended, steering
Joe Casey's pass off both posts and into
the net at 13: 16.
Boston ('olege hammered away at
Stankiewicz in the second period with
three more goals, two on power plays.
that drove the Bowling Green goalie to
the bench in favor of Wally Charko.
APPhoto
Pure Enj'oyment'-
This man is Jerry Crawford. He is an umpire. His job is to eject managers that
become too vociferous. Don Zimmer is not in this picture. lie has become tio
vociferous. le has even said the "magic word" to Crawford. The "magic word"'
is unprintable . . . even for the DAILY. Conclusion to the story . . . Zimmer as
thrown out and Crawford has been able to show his imitation of Leon Spinks.
NCED ATTACK:
Pistons down ailing Blazers
It
By The Associated Press
Tigers Trampled
BRADENTON, Fla.-Home runs by Willie Stargell and Bill Robinson
combined with the pitching of Bert Blyleven helped the Pittsburgh Pirates to
an 11-2 exhibition baseball victory over the Detroit Tigers yesterday.
The Tigers, who had won seven in a row, took a 1-0 lead in the second
when Blyleven yielded a run-scoring double to John Wockenfuss.
The Pirates tied the score in their half of the second inning when Stargell
homered off Detroit starter Dave Rozema, whom the Pirates pounded for
six runs in the third with the aid of a two-run homer by Robinson, his fourth
this spring.
Rennie Stennett and Dave Parker each rapped run-scoring triples for
Pittsburgh in that third-inning burst.
Th'e Pirates got four more runs in the fifth off Detroit reliever Bob Sykes.
Phil Garner had the key hit, a two-run single.
Blyleven, who yielded a solo homer in the seventh to Charlie Spikes,
allowed a total of five hits over seven innings. He stiuck out seven and
walked none.
The Pirates are 4-11 in exhibition while Detroit drops to 12-4.
* * *
Knee Knifed
ANN ARBOR--Center Bob Lanier, captain of the Detroit Pistons of the
National Basketball Association, underwent a brief operation on his left knee
at St. Joseph's Hospital yesterday.
The operation, which took about 20 minutes, was "successful, with no
complications," Dr. Gerald O'Connor, an orthopedic surgeon, reported.
"Two 'sizeable bone fragments' were removed from the knee," O'Con-
nor said.
Lanier is expected to be hospitalized through Sunday, a team spokesman
said,'and will spend another 10 days on crutches before beginning a program
of exercises and weightlifting.
It is uncertain whether Lanier will be back in uniform this season, even
if Detroit wins a playoff berth.
The 6-foot-11 Lanier was averaging 24.5 points a game, eighth-best in the
NBA, when he was sidelined.
Kentucky Crisis
ST. LOUIS-On the eve of top-ranked Kentucky's NCAA semifinal game
against Arkansas, two of the Wildcats' reserves sped home because of
family crises.
Coach Joe Hall said the father of Scott Courts had died unexpectedly in
Colorado and Jay Shidler, a part-time starter at guard, left for Vincennes,
Ind., to be with his critically ill mother.
"Right now we don't know when Scott can rejoin us," said Hall.
He said services for the young man's father, Horace Courts, were
scheduled Saturday.
"We hope Jay will be back tomorrow," said Halal. "But right now, their
family problems are more important than a basketball game."
Courts, a forward, has logged 28 minutes playing time this year. Shidler
started two games and has scored 95 points.
"There's no question this has affected our team," said Hall. "It has led
to a feeling of confusion and sadness."
***
Women dribblers
LOS ANGELES -- UCLA extinguished the Blaze, although it wasn't easy.
Now the Bruins shoot for the AIAW basketball championship against a team
that burned them earlier this season.
Carol Blazejowski, the all-time leading scorer in women's collegiate
basketball, poured in 40 points Thursday night but it wasn't enough as Mon-
tclair State of New Jersey fell to UCLA 81-77. Maryland also earned a berth
in the finals with a 90-85 triumph over Wayland Baptist of Texas.
The key players in the championship game figure to be a pair of seniors
UCLA forward Ann Meyers and Maryland guard Tara Heiss. Meyers scored
19 points, pulled down 14 rebounds and was credited with eight assists Thur-
sday night. Heiss had 21 points and nine assists.
"THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT HAS BECOME
THE MAJOR THREAT TO HEALTH. THE DISABLING
IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL CONTROL OVER
MEDICINE HAS REACHED THE PROPORTIONS OF
AN EPIDEMIC"
--Ivan Illich in MedicalNemesis
By LISA KAPLAN
SpecialIto TheDaily
DETROIT - The Detroit Pistons
whipped the world champion Portland
Trailblazers last night in Cobo Arena,
107-95 before 6,029 .fans, despite being
minus the services of their leading
scorer, Bob Lanier.
The key to the game came in the third
quarter when the Pistons slowly pulled
ahead by displaying a remarkable 63
peicent shooting accuracy. The Pistons
also dominated the boards at both ends
of the court, in contrast to the first half.
"IN THAT FIRST half, we were
really sloppy," said Piston coach Bob
Kauffman. "That kind of play gave
Portland impetus to stick with us."
However, not to be overshadowed is
that the Pistons beat what amounted to
Portland's "B" team. The Blazers rag-
tag team sorely missed the services of
Bill Walton and company.
The big redhead was kept company
on the bench with Maurice Lucas, Bob
Gross, Lloyd Neal and Larry Steele all
out with an assortment of injuries.
"THAT TEAM is really decimated
$peed versus Power
Duke confronts Notre Dame;
Arkansas battles Kentucky
with injuries," admitted Kauffman.
"But you still can't take them lightly.
Those guys are all pros, and you know
they'll pick up the slack. It's tough to
shut down a machine like theirs."
Detroit, however, must be credited
for holding onto their 79-71 third quarter
lead and containing the hot shooting
hand of Lionel Hollins in the fourth
quarter.
Hollins, who topped all scorers with 28
points, kept the Blazers in the game for
three quarters as he hit from all ovef'
each time the Pistons threatened to pull
away for good.
THw E PISTONS were paced by Chris
Ford, Eric Money, and John Shumate:
with 20, 18, and 18 points respectively.
"We had the desire and, the hustle
going for us tonight," said Kauffman.
"Now it's just a matter of execution."
SCORES
Exhibition Baseball
Chicago (AL) 2, Toronto I
L~OS Angeles 5.New York (Al.)o
St. Louis to, Boston 4
Texas16 .Kansas Cityt6
California 10, Chicago (N) 5
Montreal to. Houston!)
Pittsburgh I. IDetroit 2
M ilwaukee 0. Oakland(15
San Diego 7, Cleveland 5
San Francisco 1. Seattle:t
NBA.;
Chicago 97, Boston 96
Detroit 107. Portland 95
Philadelphia 1:1. Milwaukee 122
Wahington 107. New Jersey 10
ST. LOUIS (AP) - Kentucky and
Notre Dame face the same problem
today in the semifinals of the NCAA
basketball tournament: cutting off
their opponents' running games.
And Arkansas and Duke will have
their hands full with a different
problem: cutting off their opponents at
the inside pass.
In both cases it's the scalpel vs. the
hammer.
"I think quickness is a great
equalizer in this game," said Arkansas
Coach Eddie Sutton as his Razorbacks
prepared to meet towering Kentucky at
the Checkerdome. "I've always
believed that size is overrated. I think
our speed will create problems for their
defense."
So do the others in the Arkansas
camp.
"They can't match us man to man and
they can't match us in a zone," said
Marvin Delph, one of Arkansas' 6-foot-
4 leapers. "I'm confident that Ken-
tucky's size won't be a problem for us."
The Razorbacks have a 6-11 center in
Steve Schall and a fine 6-7 defense
specialist in Jim Counce, but they are
considered no match physically for
Kentucky's inside muscle, which in-
cludes Rick Robey and Mike Phillips,
both 6-10.
"The triplets, Brewer, Delph and
Moncrief are 6-4 but they play a lot
taller than that. If we can stop Ken-
tucky from getting the ball inside, we'll
be all right. It's not that I'm afraid of
them scoring from in close, but I'm
worried some of our players will foul
out," said Sutton.
Like Kentucky, Notre Dame is a team
that prefers to set up and work the ball
in close. Like Arkansas, Duke is a team
that relies mostly on quickness,
although the Blue Devils do have a 6-11
muscleman of their own in sophomore
Mike Gminski.
The Notre Dame style has been
likened by some to indoor football.
"Notre Dame's size is a problem all
right," said Coach Bill Foster. "The.
last time I saw a team as physical as
Notre Dame was when I was coaching
football.'
The Fighting Irish front line includes
6-9 Bill Laimbeer, 6-9 Dave Batton and
6-8 Bruce Flowers. Kelly Tripucka, a
powerful 6-7 freshman, is another Notre
Dame heavyweight.
In the East Regional, Duke destroyed
Villanova with a lightning-quick fast
break. Notre Dame hopes to stop the
Duke break by dominating the reboun-
ding.
"I don't think they'll be able to get
away with that against us," said Bat-
ton. "We know we have to hit the boards
and we know we have the size to do it."
"They get the ball down court very
fast and we'll have to stop that aspect of
their game," said Irish senior guard
Don Williams. "That's our main con-
cern with Duke."
"We have to control the boards and
stop Jim Spanarkel," said Notre Dame
Coach Digger Phelps, referring to
Duke's junior guard. "Spanarkel is the
guy that makes that team work. He's
deceptively fast and very intelligent.
iHe's the key to his ball club."
Notre Dame, 23-6, will go. against
Duke,r26-6 and the Atlantic Coast Con-
ference post season tournament cham-
ps, in the first game of today's
semifinals.
Top-ranked Kentucky, the
Southeastern Conference champs, who
hold a 28-2 record, meets Arkansas, 31-
3, in the second game.
CANTERBURY HOUSE offers
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Ritual fragments with masks, eggs,
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Guided by KEN THE FOOL and
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Sunset to midnight, Saturday, March 25
Pendleton Room, Michigan Union
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