Page 16-Thursday, July 10, 1980-The Michigan Daily samSports Tigers return to action the league. standout performance None of this implies that the Tigers spot and in centerfield can't beat good teams, though. It's just (who should have been that now they're going to have to start his clutch hitting withn showing how good they really are. That the flawless defense an should be no problem if they continue to tstop Alan Trammell. get the outstanding performances that The Tigers square in the lead-off , Richie Hebner an All-Star) and men on base and id hitting of shor- off with the series of the they can stay d be a dramatic BY BUDDY MOOREHOUSE A Dailysports Analysis With the All-Star Game and three days of rest behind them now, it's back to business as usual in the major leagues. It's also time for the second place Detroit Tigers to continue their winning ways. Detroit, 42-33 and 7/2 games behind the league-leading New York Yankees, begin a 14-day road trip tonight with two games against the leaders of the American League West, theKansas City Royals. FROM THERE, the Bengals will head east for a crucial three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. The Bosox are currently in fifth place in the East, two games behind the Tigers. Af- ter the series at Fenway, the Tigers head for the west coast for games with Oakland, Seattle and California. The question in everyone's mind now seems to be, "Can the Tigers continue to win?" A scant three weeks ago the Detroiters were dwelling in the spot that seems to be reserved for the Motown's teams - last place. But a phenomenally successful month of June saw the Bengals claw their way into second place just in time for the mid- summer recess. There are several factors that have keyed the Tigers' surge. First, a rejuvenated pitching staff, led by veteran Milt Wilcox throwing five straight victories, has given the Tigers new strength in their weakest area. Second, the arrival of Al Cowens on May 30 has given the Tigers a righ- handed hitter with power and a stellar glove in rightfield. AND LAST but not least, it must be noted that the Tigers have not exactly played the toughest teams in the league over the last month. Since May 30, the Detroiters have only played five games - all with Milwaukee - against a team with a winning record. The other 30 have been with the cellar-dwellers of they've been getting lately from everyone on the roster. Among the pleasant surprises of the recent surge have been Rick Peters' Yankees in the final regular season, and if close until then it could season finale. Standings. American League EAST W L Pct. New York....51 27 .654 Detroit. 42 33 .560 Milwaukee. 43 34 .558 Baltimore ....... 42 36 .538 Boston .......... 41 36 .532 Cleveland........37 39 .487 Toronto .........33 43 .434 GB 71/2 7%/ 9 9%/2 13 17 81 9 / 111/2 11%/2 12 161 National League EAST W L Pct. Montreal...... ..42 34 .553 Philadelphia .... 41 35 .539 Pittsburgh .......42 37 .532 New York .......-38 40 .487 Chicago .........-33 43 .434 St. Louis........-34 '46 .425 GB 1 11/ 5 9 10 4 7 9 12% No more boxing for Cowboys"~Too Tall' WEST Kansas City ......47 33 Chicago ..........38 41 Texas..........37 42 Oakland .........36 45 Minnesota ........ 35 44 Seattle--....-35 45 California........29 48 .588 .481 .468 .444 .443 .438 .377 WEST Houston ......... 45 33 Los Angeles ..... 46 34. Cincinnati....... 43 38 Atlanta .......37 40 San Francisco ... 37 43 San Diego ........34 47 .577 .575 .519 .481 .463 .420 GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry smiled - not once but many times - while he, waited for the arrival of his prodigal player Ed "Too Tall" Jones, who has returned to the fold. The defensive end flew into Dallas- Fort Worth Regional airport from New York late Tuesday night and was whisked to a back room where he signed a multi-year contract, ending his brief fling with professional boxing. Landry said the 6-foot-9, 265-pound Jones - whom the Cowboys made the No. 1 pick in the 1974 NFL draft - will have to earn his way back into the star- ting lineup. "Right now, he wouldn't step in as No. 1 left end. John Dutton has that slot," Landry said. "But whether there'll be a challenge or whether Dut- ton will move to left tackle, we'll just have to see." Jones said he is excited about the prospect of playing football again. "I've prepared myself to accept a challenge from one of my teammates and I'm in the best shape I've ever been, strength-wise especially," said Jones, who retired from football in June 1979 to pursue a career in boxing, which he called his first love. The Cowboys called members of the media Tuesday afternoon to announce that Jones had agreed to terms, that he was en route from New York to Dallas, and that a press conference would take place at the airport upon his arrival. Jones, who said he weighs 265 pounds now and plans to play at 260, said he had no regrets about boxing, though his career was undistinguished and he hadn't fought since February. Tonight's Games Cleveland at Toronto Boston at Milwaukee Baltimore at Chicago Detroit at Kansas City New York at Texas California at Oakland Minnesota at Seattle Tonight's Games Pittsburgh at New York St. Louis at Montreal Chicago at Philadelphia Cincinnati at Atlanta Houston at Los Angeles San Diego at San Francisco 0 ED 'TOO TALL' JONES, second from left, is shown here at the press conference at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Thursday night where he announced that he would be returning to the Dallas Cowboys next season. The 6-7 defensive end missed last season ina disappointing attempt to break into the professional boxing scene.