Page Twelve THE MICHIGAN DAILY Thursday, July 17, 1975 A thietes battle in the courts Forbes' defense rests . Rozelle Rule challenged MINNEAPOLIS (P) - Dave Forbe the Boston Bruins took the witr stand in his own defense yesterday told the jury he did not use the butt of his hockey stick to attack He Boucha of the Minnesota North S in a game last Jan. 4. The defense rested after Forbes' timony on the seventh day of a t in which he is charged with aggrav assault with a dangerous weapon his hockey stick. The trial was cessed until 9 a.m. today, at which t attorneys will make their final a ments and Hennepin District Ju Rolf Fosseen will give the case to jury. Forbes said he had been the vic of a "sucker punch," a blow from hind, thrown by Boucha. That inci touched off a fight that sent both p ers to the penalty box. Forbes conceded he had fumed o the incident, feeling he had been barrassed by being dumped to the s of "I was upset. I was thinking I should ness make some move to even the score," and Forbes said. end Forbes said that fights and the abil- nry ity to fight back are an integral part of tars hockey, taught to players as young- sters. Intimidation is part of the game,. tes- he said; and the player who doesn't rial fight back becomes an easy mark for ated his opponents. - Forbes said an unusual placement of re- player benches and penalty boxes in ime the Metropolitan Sports Center, home rgu- of the North Stars, makes it inevitable idge that players must cross paths as they the leave the penalty box to return to the benches. tim He admitted throwing the first punch be- coming out of the box, a blow that dent seriously injured Boucha's eye and led lay- to the indictment against Forbes. "I guess I would have had the hockey ver stick in my hand at that moment," em- Forbes said, but he denied any intent ice. to use it as a weapon. MINNEAPOLIS (A) - Former pro football player George Burman, now an economics professor, says the disputed Rozelle Rule impedes athletes. Burman, who has a doctorate from the University of Chicago and is an as- sistant professor at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, testified yes- terday during trial of a suit brought by 15 present or former National Foot- ball League players. The plaintiffs seek to overturn the Rozelle Rule, also called the option compensation clause, contending it holds them in virtual bondage and vio- lates federal antitrust statutes. The NFL, Commissioner Pete Rozelle and club owners are defendants. Burman was asked by players' at- torney Edward Glennon if the Rozelle Rule "works as an impediment to a player." Burman replied it did, both holding down a player's salary and "re- stricting his movement and his bar- gaining power to essentially one team." The rule applies to those who play out the option year of their contract, usu- ally at a 14 per cent salary cut, with- out signing a new contract. They be- come free agents the following May 1. If they line up a contract with a new club, their former team must be com- pensated. If the two teams involved. cannot come to terms on the players or draft choices involved in compensation, the commissioner intervenes. Burman was picked in the 15th round in 1964 by the Chicago Bears after he was graduated from Northwestern Univer- sity. A backup center and offensive lineman, he also played with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Red- skins before retiring in 1973. A rebuttal witness for the plaintiffs, he said he never had played out the option himself. He based his comments on his NFL experience and education in labor economics. Williams equals 100 meter mark SIENA, Italy 1P)-Steve Williams of the United States equaled his world record in the 100 meters last night, clocking 9.9 seconds in a windless but humid stadium. Williams beat out tvo fellow Americans in the highlight performance of the 16th edition of the Siena track and field meet. Houston McTear placed second and Steve Riddick third, both clocked in 10 seconds flat.8 The three also clashed in the 200 meters, an unscheduled race placed on the program at their request and won by Williams in 20.3. Riddick was second in 20.7, followed by McTear at 20.9. In the high jump, Tom Woods of the United States placed first at 7 feet, 3 inches as American Dwight Stones, the world record holder turned in a disappointing 7-1/, finish- ing third. Enzo del Forno was second with 7-3 to establish an Italian record for the high jump. The discus was won by another American, John Powell, in 61.20. Jim Bolding of the United States won the 400-meter hurdles in 49 seconds flat to beat out France's Jean-Claude Nallet, timed in 49.7. Kuhn' s MILWAUKEE (P) - Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn's contract renewal was in jeopar- dy yesterday when American League owners stood rigid in opposition to him. A decision is expected today. The National League club owners votedunanimously to give Kuhn another term in of- fice. The commissioner failed to land the necessary nine of twelve votes required from the American League. With Charles O. Finley of Oakland and Baltimore's Jerry Hoffberger leading the op- position, Kuhn reportedly only received eight "yes" votes. The American League vote, however, was not a final one and could change before the meet- ings conclude today. American League club own- ers adjourned their meeting on the Kuhn issue about 7:45 p.m. (CDT), last'night and will take the matter up again this morn- job in jeopard ing before the major leagues hold ther joint session. Lee MacPhail, AL president, tried to skirt the Kuhn issue after the day-long meetings. At first he said, "I have no statement at this time." But when pressed, he said, "The matter is still under consider- ,' ation. It has been left in abey- once." While not naming the Kuhn issue, McPhail did admit that one nrincinal item did dominate his league's meeting. Kuhn became baseball's fifth commissioner on Feb. 4, 1969, when he succeeded Gen. William Eckert, who had been fired. Kuhn was then given a seven- year term starting Aug. 3, 1969. Under baseball rules, the com- missioner's renewal may be considered between six and 15 months before the term expires. BASEBALL commissioner Bowie So the matter was placed on the Kuhn failed to get the neces- agenda at baseball's summer, sary votes for the renewal of meetings, which got underway his contract from American yesterday. League club owners, yesterday. SPORTS OF THE DAILY Thornbladh obtained by Lions By The Associated Press DETROIT-The Detroit Lions announced yesterday that they have obtained former Michigan fullback Bob Thornbladh from the Kansas City Chiefs in ex- change for a 1976 National Football League draft choice. Thornbladh was a second- round draft pick by the Chiefs in 1974 and was used as a line- backer on specialty teams last season. The Lions also announced that veteran defensive back Lem Barney signed his 1975 contract. The 29-year-old Barney is en- tering his eighth year with the Lions. Connors injured LOS ANGELES - Jimmy Connors, acknowledged king of men's tennis, was suffering from a painful injury in his lower right leg when he lost the Wimbledon singles title to Ar- thur Ashe, his. doctor said yes- terday. .Dr. Andrea Cracchiolo, .a UCLA orthopedic surgeon, said Connor's problem was diagnosed as chronic anterior comport- meat syndrome, "which can cause from moderate pain to such severe pain and swelling ketball Commissioner Dave De- that surgery is required." Busschere said yesterday there Dr. Cracchiolo said he be- definitely would not be an ABA lieved the injury occurred "at team in Memphis for the 1975- the beginning of Wimbledon and 76 season. got progressively worse during It had been uncertain whether the week. He was on some med- the financially plagued Mem- ication during the finals, but I phis franchise, a member of the think it had to affect him. If league since the 1971-71 season, he had won; I dion't think we wudrtr fe t dsa would have heard about pit." would return after its 'dismal attendance showing of last sea- Namath unsigned son, and the new commissioner NEW YORK - Quarterback confirmed it. Joe Namath huddled with New- "The city of Memphis wil not York Jets officials yesterday have an ABA franchise next afternoon but there was no ap- season," DeBusschere said. He parent agreement reached on a did not elaborate, but said he. new contract. would have a further statement Namath, a free agent as of within a few days. last May, was accompanied by lawyer Jimmy Walsh at the AbramOwicz signs meeting. The National Football CARLI League Jets were represented SLE, Pa.- The Wash- by club President Phil Islin, ington Redskins have signed General Manager Al Ward and free-agent wide received Dan- council Nick Barovick. ny Abramowicz, a nine-year Islin said afterwards, in a National Football League vet- brief statement, "We met for eran who owns a league record two hours without reaching of at least one catch in 105 con- agreement. No definite date has secutive games. beep set for the next meeting Abramowicz, who caught 25 at this time." , passes for San Francisco in No Memphis next year- 1974, was released by -the 49ers NEW YORK -- American Bas- last month. BOB THORNBLADH rips through the line for the Wolverines on this 1971 play against Virginia. Thornbladh who played most of his college career backing up Ed Shuttlesworth was o- tained by the Detroit Lions yesterday.