The Michigan Daily-Saturday, August 7, 1982-Page 11
WRIGHTMAN SPURNS BEARS
USFL signs irst major player
CHICAGO (AP)- George Allen maintains former weren't looking for the sky." Wrightman's intentions Thursday night by
UCLA star Tim Wrightman's signing yesterday with But Wrightman conceded money had as big an in- Wrightman's agent.
the Chicago Blitz of the U.S. Football League instead fluence on his final decision as his uncertainty over a "THAT'S AN enormous amount of money for a
of the Chicago Bears won't "Open a can of worms." possible strike by National Football League players third-round football player," Finks said.
"The Bears were looking out for the Bears," the 6- and the fact that Allen, a veteran NFL coach, would "The Bears could have made Tim Wrightman's
foot-4, 220-pound tight end said at a news conference. be coaching the USFL's Chicago entry. season," said Bears Coach Mike Ditka. "Tim
"Tim Wrightman was looking out for Tim Wright- Allen termed Wrightman's signing a "historic day Wrightman wouldn't have made the Bears' season."
man. . . . he's the first major player signed by the league, Finks had informed Wrightman that the club would
"I HAVE NO hard feelings against the Bears and I the first with total credibility." withdraw its last offer if he did not report to training
am sure they won't have any against me," continued The Bears said Wrightman signed a two-year con- camp by noon today. Had he missed that deadline;
Wrightman, selected by the Bears on the third round tract for $400,000 but Wrightman declined to provide said Finks, he would have had to play for the NFL
of this summer's collegiate draft. "I thought they figures. Bears spokesman Ed McCaskey said minimum salary of $22,000.
might have been more liberal in their offer. We General Manager Jim Finks was informed of ALLEN, WHO earlier had said the USFL would not
compete head-to-head with the NFL in the collegiate
talent pool, denied signing Wrightman would "open a
can of worms," or signal the start of bidding wars
reminiscent of the days of the American Football
League which eventually merged with the NFL.
But, he added, "I never thought we'd have a chance
to get a player of his caliber. The Bears had a chance
to sign Tim Wrightman and they failed. That's their
problem."
Allen also vowed that the Blitz would have a
veteran NFL quarterback under contract within two
weeks and Wrightman indicated that would be for-
mer Washington Redskin passer Billy Kilmer.
Phoenix awarded USFL franchise
NEW YORK (AP)- The United States Football
League has awarded a franchise to the Phoenix area
and deferred plans to operate a franchise in San
Diego, USFL Commissioner Chet Simmons announ-
ced Friday.
The Arizona team, as yet unnamed, is owned by
Jim Joseph, former owner of the USFL's Los Angeles
franchise. Bill Daniels and Alan Harmon, who for-
merly owned the San Diego franchise, will operate
the Los Angeles team.
A oto LEAGUE OWNERS Thursday approved the
TIM WRIGHTMAN (left), former UCLA tight end and a third round draft choice of the Chicago Arizona franchise and plans are being made for the
Bears, announced yesterday that he has singed a two-year contract with the Chicago Blitz of the team to play at Arizona State University's Sun Devil
newly-formed United States Football League. George Allen (right) will coach the Blitz. Stadium in Tempe.
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Their faces tell the story
Kathy Baker (right) and the crowd react as she drops a 10-foot birdie putt on
the 18th hole during yesterday's match to give the U.S. the title in the 22nd
Curtis Cup Gold Competition. Greg Norman (above) spins his putter in reac-
tion to missing a birdie putt during second round action in the PGA Cham-
pionship.