The Michigoo Daily-Tuesday, August 1, 1978--Page 15 FIDRYCH LOOKS FOR SILVER LINING Birdflying By DENNIS SABO Special to The Daily LAKELAND, Fla. - Poor Bird. Poor, Bird. He thinks nobody loves him anymore. Not even the ball the Detroit Tiger pitcher once coaxed into the craziest curves and sliders just two years ago. IT TENDS TO ignore him now and the result is worse than a, um, Bird in a gilded cage. The Bird, otherwise known in America as Mark Fidrych - before Monday Night Baseball made him an all-star - continued his peck-by-peck ap- proach back to major league stardom at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland Friday night, and the result, in his own words, would make ABC's ratings drop more sharply than the four-letter wor- ds the Bird tossed in his wake on the way to the clubhouse. "I got bombed," said Fidrych, in a more mellow moment afterward. "Some days you have it and some days you don't. Today I didn't." Actually, Fidrych's performance wasn't that bad if you don't count the triple, two doubles and the misplayed inside-the-park homerun that cost him his first Class A Florida State League loss, 5-1, from the bats of the last-place Winter Haven Red Sox. AT ONE POINT, the Bird threw nine out of ten pitches for balls, with the lone strike banging off the leftfield wall, some 370 feet away, for a run-scoring double. Fidrych lasted four innings, gave up five runs and four extra base hits, two walks and a wild pitch before 1,500 fans who cordially ushered his depar- ture as if the comeback were complete, not delete the greatness he bestowed on baseball in his rookie among dense clouds season. Life in the minors must not be agreeing with the Bird. Before the game he would offer no comment to any reporter on any subject. When photographers tried to capture him warming his tender right arm that sent him South for the second time this season, they promptly were told where they could fly. "I don't care what Tim (Johnson, Lakeland 'What I miss most is being in the show. They're waiting for you and nobody else.' -Mark 'The Bird'Fidrych general manager) wants. I want what I want. Now get out of the way," the Bird said. FOLLOWING THE game in the locker room, af- ter throwing his mitt and downing a beer, Fidrych reflected on his fall from the big leagues. "What I miss most is being in the show," the Bird said. "They're waiting for you and nobody else. You lose your pride, but you gotta think you're still playing baseball. I'll be happy to get up there and be with my friends again." A more important reason for the Bird's failure was offered by Lakeland manager Jim Leyland, who said Fidrych faltered due to a lack of concen- tration and rhythm, not because of the sore arm plagued by tendonitis that sent him packing for the minors in the first place. In fact, Fidrych said his arm felt better Friday night than in his previous brief - but successful - pitching performance at Ft. Myers where he yielded just two hits in three innings. "I'll be back," Fidrych said, staring blankly at the floor. "I'm just trying to get myself back together. I hope the arm holds up. That's all you've got to hope for." FIDRYCH was scheduled to pitch one more game for Lakeland before a flight back north this week, but Tiger management, concerned about his recent performance, has tacked on yet another Class A start. When he returns, he may be sporting a knuckleball - a pitch he pulled out of his zany bag of tricks Friday. "Yeah, I'm working on it. I'll be ready to do something. I'm in shape and ready to go. You just have to wait for the bosses." At any rate, having a 2-0 record before his arm faltered in April, the Bird knows he's at a crossroad in his career. In departing from Friday's game - exhibiting that same fabled bobbing stride that carried him so many times in happiness - he left with eyes enraged and peeled to the ground, four-letter words planted with each step he took to the clubhouse. DESPITE HIS attitude, advice was still given. "C'mon, get your head together, man," one of his crazies said, a step removed from the Bird's past. "Gotta get the Bird flying again." Fidrych just muttered another inexplicable comment. But with Detroit just a step down the road the advice must have hit home. C'mon, Bird. We still love ya. Daily reporter Dennis Saho is in Florida for the sum- mter. working as an intern for the Tampa Times. sports of the DAILY Kansas tabs Iowan AD By The Associated Press LAWRENCE, Kan. - The University of Kansas has turned to another Big Eight Conference school for its new athletic director, selecting Bob Mar- cum of Iowa State, according to the Lawrence Daily Journal-World and radio station KANU. The newspaper and radio station reported yesterday that Marcum, a 41- year-old associate athletic director at ISU, would be named to the post at a news conference this morning. Marcum, whom the Journal-World said was the overwhelming choice of a special search committee, will succeed Clyde Walker, who resigned May 24 to become athletic director at the University of North Carolina-Charlot- te. Landry inks long-term pact PONTIAC - Greg Landry, 10-year veteran quarterback for the Detroit Lions, signed a new multi-year contract yesterday, officials of the National Football League said yesterday. Details of the agreement were not disclosed. Since he joined the Lions, Landry has played in 98 games, thrown 909 completions in 1,670 attempts, for 11,999 yards and 79 touchdowns. Coach Monte Clark has indicated that Landry, 31, will be the team's starter this year. The Lions also announced seven cuts and one resignation, all of whom were signed as free agents. Those who will not play with the team this year are veteran offensive lineman Larron Jackson, rookie running backs Irv Stevenson and Tim Cun- ningham, quarterback Tom McLaughlin, wide receiver Tony Watson, defen- sive back Ken McAllister, tight end Jim Stowe and offensive lineman Kit Lathrop. The Lions faceBuffalo in an exhibition game on Saturday. "HOW DO you do it, Billy? Yogi Berra seems to be asking in amazement as Martin acknowledges the cheers of the Yankee faithful last Saturday. Martin, who resigned last week, was rehired to manage the Yanks in the 1980 season. WONDERING What to eat tonight? BELL'S hasgreat pizza & grinders! S. State & Packard-995-0232 open from i I a.m. to I a.m. FREE DELIVERIES fron 4:30 p.m. } Summer Daily Sports Staff Sports Editor: Bob Miller Executive Sports Editor: Paul Campbell. NightEditors: Alan Fanger, Gary Kicincki, Liz Mac, Brian Martin, Dan. Perrin, Dave Renbarger. . . We specialize in ladies's and children's hairstyling DASCOLA STYLISTS * 615 E. 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