ports Page 16 Tuesday, July 7, 1981 The Michigan Daily Poor leveland City could lose out on All-Stars 4 4 CLEVELAND (AP) - Thousands of souvenir T-shirts and mugs have been stockpiled, hundreds of media creden- tials are being readied, and 50,000 .programs have been printed, all for an All-Star Game almost certain to be postponed, and possibly canceled. "I don't see any way they carq play it on July 14 any more," said Cleveland Indians spokesman Bob DiBiasio, echo- ing the feeling Monday of most officials in the game's 1981 host city. "THEY'D NEVER let the players come back from a strike and play an All-Star game without preparation. The team's wouldn't allow it," said Al Friedlander, vice-president of the Stadium Corp. In New York, Chuck Adams, a spokesnan for baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, said: "The game hasn't been called. We're continuing to re- evaluate it day by day. But obviously, a decision has to be made soon. We're rapidly running out of time." A decision on postponing the game would have to be made by baseball's executive committee, headed by Kuhn and comprising team owners from Detroit, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Kansas City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Pittsburgh. CANCELLATION OF the game would cost the baseball players pension fund about $2 million, according to In- dians President Gabe Paul. But preparations for the game's scheduled date continued at a rapid pace yesterday nonetheless, in the event the baseball strike that began June 12 is suddenly, and unexpectedly, settled. "I'm still processing credentials. We're still getting requests," said DiBiasio. "If they call us like Wed- nesday or Thursday and tell us what's going on with the game, I'll have a news release ready ... to tell how we'll deal with the change." OFFICIALS HAVE not yet set up a contingency plan, though, on how to, deal with the 78,000 ticket holders if the soldout contest is postponed. July 30 is the second rainout date for the contest. The primary rain date is July 15. "Obviously, if the game is played by July 30, the July 14 ticket would be good. As far as refunds, that'll probably ,be the last thing they decide on," DiBiasio said. A MONTH without baseball has been good to Municipal Stadium's natural grass, and the Stadium will be ready to host the game no matter when it is played, Friedlander said. although many of the usual con- cessions salespeople, mostly college- age, have found other summer jobs, Friedlander said there would be no problem in finding enough people to work the game on short notice. The stadium has enough hot dogs, bout 5,000 pounds, in stock to handle the crowd, and other supplies can be brought in whenever needed, he said. A problem will arise, however, if the 1981 game is completely canceled. "WE'VE GOT All-Star helmets, T- shirts, pennants, mugs, cups and pat- ches. If they say, 'No All-Star Game this year,' we'll runa sale for about two weeks and sell the stuff at half price," he said. Loss of the game would cost the Cleveland economy $4 million to $6 million, according to Frank Carrell, vice president of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. More important, he said, would be the loss of positive ex- posure the game could bring the oft- maligned city. "That's the kind of loss you can't equate in dollars and cents, but it's ex- tremely important," he said. Ironically, as the 1981 game's future dimmed, baseball on Monday celebrated the anniversary of the first All-Star game, played in Chicago's Comiskey Park. About three million fan votes have been collected toward choosing this year's team, and according to DiBiasio "There's considered opinion among baseball executives that that's enough. The thing they obviously don't want to do is cancel the game. TH E SPORTING VIEWS Wimbledon titlist McEnroe .. . ._..still not a champion By RON POLLACK JOHN McENROE MAY HAVE ENDED Bjorn, Borg's reign as Wimbledon men's singles: champion last Saturday, but he has a long way to go before he unseats the Swede as a true cham- pion. To be a champion, one must both play like one, and act like one. It is the latter prerequisite that separated Borg from McEnroe at Wimbledon. Following his thrillingfour-set victory over Borg, it appeared that McEnroe had succeeded in fulfilling both of the aforementioned requiremen- ts. His play was certainl / that of a champion, but this was not all that surprising, as his number two seeding would attest. The surprising fact was that he was acting in a very appropriate manner, something contrary to the earlier rounds of the tournament during which his brash actions resulted in fines totaling $13,800. On several oc- casions during the final against Borg, McEnroe's facial expressions showed his unhappiness over a call. However, rather than verbally abuse the par- ty who had caused his dissatisfaction, as he had done so often in previous matches, he was content to directhis attention solely to Borg. But, alas, once the match ended, soy- did McEnroe's outburst of maturity. That night McEnroe boycotted the annual champion's dinner which traditionally closes the tournament. By ac- ting in such a manner, McEnroe undid all the good that his impeccable behavior in the finals had done for his image. Borg, on the other hand, showed that even in defeat he is a champion. Following his loss, he was approached by NBC commentators Bud Collins and Billie Jean King for his thoughts on the match. But Borg said that the moment belonged to McEnroe and therefore told Collins that it was McEnroe that they should be interviewing. Borg was not snubbing Collins and King as, after McEnroe had been questioned, he allowed himself to be interviewed. This was obviously a somber time for Borg, but rather than allow it to affect his actions, he remained thoughtful of someone other than him- self. McEnroe may have taken his title away, but not his class. 'Me-against-the-world' The 22-year-old left-hander said yesterday that he had asked if he could make a brief appearance at the dinner, give the customary speech, and then leave, because he was tired and wanted to spend time with his family. The All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, however, wanted McEnroe to spend the entire evening at the private dinner, and when he refused, they withdrew their invitation, McEnroe said. While McEnroe's reasons for wanting to only make a brief appearance are not inappropriate, and in face are understandable, it is nonetheless another example of his "me-against-the-world" attitude. McEnroe is certainly not the first Wimbledon titlist to be tired and want to spend time with his family. Yet, McEnroe seems to think that he is dif- ferent or special. It does not seem to be asking too much to ask him to spend one night out of his life adhering to a tradition that has been followed by other players over the years. But then that would be asking him to do something that wasn't for himself, which apparently is too much to ask McEnroe. A potential crowd favorite Despite the "bad boy" image that has followed McEnroe since he turned pro, McEnroe has the capability to be a real crowd favorite. He certainly has all the shots and if he could overcome his pen- chant for losing control of himself, he has the type of on-court personality that could gain him the support of tennis fans. One of the few criticisms of Borg is that'he does not allow himself to show any emotion. This is not a criticism made to make Borg a better player, but rather a more interesting performer to watch. It is this complaint about Borg that could allow McEnroe to gain fan appreciation since it is a problem he does not share. During his matches, McEnroe's emotions are clearly on display for all to see. If he makes a bad shot, he will chastise himself. An ace or a winner in an important game or point will result in clen- ched fists as his adrenaline builds. Emotion such as his is a refreshing change, as all to often athletes (regardless of the sport) just go through the motions on the playing field when they know that they clearly outclass their opposition. McEnroe is the antithesis of such an attitude as he is a very intense player who cares about every point, whether it is an inconsequential point during a straight set victory over an unseeded player or a key point during a tough match against a highly regarded opponent. It is this intensity that often results in McEnroe's outbursts and until the time that he can control his intensity and emotins instead of them controlling him, he will always lacka quality of a true champion.