The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 40

40 The Boston Globe Monday, November 19, 1979 SPORTS LOG Howe skates around Father Time By RAY FITZGERALD Gordie Howe took a pass from his center, strong-armed his way around a de-ftnseman and deftly poked the puck past the Bruin goalie. Last night for It was Sunday, Jan. 26, 1947, almost 33 years ago. i.f lot- i "I don't know llou guys icill read to him tonight. It'll seem funny for some of us In run at hint he might hesitate, lint the younger guys tl Record.

John II en sink don't think they'd hesitate, if the situation came "I'" i Last night was Howe's first game here since he left the Red Wings after the 1971 season. He came into the Garden about 5:30, looking well like a middle-aged man here to see a hockey game. He talked with a couple of reporters and suggested there is a thin line between braveness and stupidity. He was asked about playing games on successive nights (the Whalers had played Saturday night in Hartford) and said his best performance this season had come in the third game of a three-games-in-four-nights grind. He told an anecdote about oredcring sticks and getting lefthanded ones.

"After 32 years, the wrong sticks," he said. "Mean." said Johnny I'eirson. alien asked to describe lloue in one uoril. Then he added another. "Dirty.

Dirty and mean, but nil It ability. Most mean guys slop right there. Hut Hone uas more than mean. I guess everybody knous that. He instilled respect in hurry.

Howe received a warm ovation prior to last night's game. Not a standing, Bobby Orr-type ovation, but nice enough. He played about 13 shifts, his receding unhel-mtted gray thatch standing out amid his green-helmeted teammates. He had only one shot on net and was not on the ice for any of tfie Whalers' four goals. He was, in truth, not a factor, but there was a vignette to remember.

Howe was carrying the puck over mid-ice and Mark Howe yelled "Gordie, here." I wondered, if I'd played hockey with my father, if I'd have yelled anything but "Dad, here." Somewhere in the game, as Howe, looking tired, dragged himself to the bench, a voice from the upper stands yelled: "When you gonna hang 'em up, you bum? You're over the hill. Get out and stay out." That's not what I was thinking. I was thinking of Mairzy-Doats and saddle shoes and penny loafers and young Frank Sinatra and Dave Ferris and other 1946 things. Watching Gordie Howe stickhandle around Father Time does that to middle-aged men anxious for a nostalgia fix. The goal was Howe's first in Boston Garden.

The center who fed him the pass was Sid Abel, the Boston defenseman was Pat Egan and the goalie was another chorus of "Yesterday," please the goalie was Frankie Brimsek. Thirty-three years ago. Is it possible to put that in perspective, to fit it into a time frame? Think about this: Harry Truman was President. Two months before Howe broke into the National Hockey League, Johnny Lujack and Notre Dame played a scoreless tie in Yankee Stadium against Army with Blanchard and Davis. A month before Howe skated his first shift with the Detroit Red Wings, Johnny Pesky took a relay from Leon Culberson and hesitated for just the fraction of a second Enos Slaughter needed to score the run that beat the Red Sox in the World Series.

"The first time he sho.ted up here," Milt Schmidt, "somebody to mi: 'Don't icorry uhuut the lull, gangly kid. He's not Had adrice. eh't I tan he could play. He tierer bothered anybody unless he teas bothered. Then, look out.

He could lake you out neat and clean, like Zorro." We all know the NHL isn't what it was. It's a 21-team bowl of watered-down chicken soup, with players who a generation ago would have had a hard time making it in the American Hockey League. But it's still the same sport. People still hit other people, hit them hard. The players still use sticks and wear skates and lose teeth and bleed a lot.

Expansion? Yes, as bloated as a ward politician, but hockey is still a collision sport. A 51-year-old should be watching the game on his 24-inch Motorola, the one with the remote control so he doesn't have to get off the couch. A 51-year-old should be bouncing grandchildren on his knee, leafing through scrapbooks, Baseball: Ryan signs loday For approximately the price of an oil well, Nolan Ryan will become a Houston Astro today when he signs a four-year, $4.3 million contract with the club. The 32-year-old free-agent righthander spent the past eight seasons with the California Angels, but has longed to work near his Alvin, Texas, home. The money's not bad either Meanwhile, the Red Sox will win one and lose one in the free-agent market tomorrow.

First baseman Tony Perez, whom the Sox signed to a three-year, $1.1 million contract Friday, will meet the press in Boston. At about the same time, lefthanded reliever Al Hrabosky, a Sox draft choice, will be signing a five-year contract with the Braves in Atlanta The Braves' Phil Niekro pitched the National League to a 7-1 victory over the American League as the two all-star teams concluded their exhibition series in Tokyo. Cincinnati's George Foster, who batted .556, was named the most valuable player in the series, won by the NL, four games to two. There was one tie. Colleges: Syracuse bowl-bound What price defeat? For at least two college football teams, it appears to be an invitation to a bowl game.

Syracuse and Tennessee received such recognition yesterday in the wake of resounding losses Saturday. Syracuse was hammered, 27-10, by Boston College, a defeat that dropped the Orangemen's record to 6-5 and seemingly killed their chances for a postseason bid. But yesterday Syracuse salvaged some prestige when it accepted a bid to meet McNeese State in the Independence Bowl at Shreveport, Dec. 15. Tennessee also was trounced, with Mississippi doing the damage, 44-20.

That dropped the Vols' record to 5-4 with two games remaining, but it didn't deter the Bluebonnet Bowl committee from inviting them to meet 12th-ranked Purdue in Houston Dec. 31 Tim Lausin goal 21 seconds into the fifth overtime lifted Boston University to a 2-1 victory over host On-eonta (N.Y.) State for the championship of the ECAC Division 1 Northeast Regional tournament UMass shut out host Springfield College, 1-0, for the Eastern Assn. for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Division 1 field hockey championship. UMass and Springfield advance to the national tourney to be held at Princeton University Nov. 28-Dec.

1. Bentley lost to C.W. Post, 2-1, in the Division 2 consolation game in Ithaca, N.Y. Col-gale upset host Ithaca, 2-1, for the title Brown's water polo team (20-3-1) has been selected for the NCAA championships next weekend at the University of California-Long Beach Wayland's Alberto Salazar, running for the University of Oregon, will attempt to defend his NCAA cross-country championship today in Bethlehem, Pa. Names: Rozelle blasts Garvey National Football League Comr.

Pete Rozelle responded to a memo by Players Assn. director Ed Garvey charging that the league is rife with racism at its management levels, and predictably, Rozelle's reaction was one of anger. Addressing reporters before yesterday's Cardinal-Eagle game in Philadelphia, Rozelle said, "To single out the NFL for racism is ludicrous. You could single out a number of companies and institutions. If I walked jnto your offices, management or editorial, I'm sure 1 wouldn't find any black faces.

The same with the networks. I would like to see more blacks, but we have to develop a better system of recruiting." Garvey's memo, which was circulated to the league's player representatives and published in Thursday's Globe, alleged that the NFL does not employ enough blacks either in league or individual team management positions. Said Rozelle, "For Ed Garvey to send this out to a selected number of player representatives around the league is potentially disastrous. We're calling it a red herring because he used it to get some of the heat off himself." Bobby Smith, last year NHL rookie of the year, suffered a broken ankle in Minnesota's 4-2 loss to the Sabres Saturday night and will be lost to the North Stars for four to six weeks. Smith had 30 goals and 44 assists last season Winger Murray Wilson refused to report to the Los Angeles Kings' American Hockey League affiliate in Binghamton, N.Y., so the club suspended him indefinitely, effective last night.

Tennis: McEnroe retains title John McEnroe, playing the last four points with a new racquet after having broken his other one in a fit of temper, outgunned fellow American Harold Solomon, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, yesterday to retain his title in the $175,000 Gordie Howe, 51 years old, battles Ray Bourque, 18, for puck in 5-4 Bruin win. (Globe photo by Janet Knott) nodding off during the 11 o'clock news. ill II beef iriili I'll Thejirsl played i the A I help. He looked me and said. Tough nay to must him.

said Hobby Schmautz. "He uus break in. eh. "A' Brilliant Cheevers talks up defense Sports Plus every Friday ed came in the first period off the stick of Wayne Cash- checked strongly in the second and third periods and we had a few bad moments, but our goaltender did it for us." FRANCIS ROSA LIMITED QUANTITIES man. Coach Fred Creighton had just sent Rick Middleton on the ice as the left winger for Bobby Miller and Cash-man.

Miller came off a faceoff in the Toronto end and into the boards behind the goal in pursuit of the puck. "Two of their forwards went to him," said Middle-ton, and Miller kicked the puck to Middleton. "The other forward went to Middleton," said Cashman, "and I was left unprotected in the slot. I got the shot off before Mike Palmateer (the Toronto goalie) knew I had it." It was a 10-foot wrist shot and held up as the only goal of the game until Don Marcotte put a 35-footer into the unguarded Toronto goal. Tne Bruins started the game at a terrific offensive pace and only Palmateer's goaltending held them to one goal.

"We worked hard all night," said Cashman, "we THE NEW NIKON EM Small Business $5.000 $10,000 $20,000550,000 $100,000 UP TO $200,000 OR MORE MONEY AVAILABLE for any good reason For established or new independent business The easiest-lo-use. easiest-lo-own Nikon ever Totally automatic jusl focus and shoot Amaztngiy light and ultra compact great anywhere, anytime SATURDAY NIGHT GAME It was this kind oa a weekend for goalie Gerry Cheevers of the Bruins: At practice he was the world's worst goalie; in the game Saturday night at Toronto he was one of the best. And as is his wont he pointed to his defensemen and gave them the credit for a 2-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs in his first game since Oct. 13. "They let me come out and challenge the shooters the way they backed me up and when your defensemen are playing like that it's not hard to be successful." Center Walt McKechnie of Toronto put it a little differently.

"You not only have to worry about the stops he makes in the goal," he said, "but what he does when he comes out. That's a big part of his act, coming out to challenge the shooters, and he was on us so fast that we panicked a little. He took shots away from us before we got them off. He looks as big as a house when he moves at you." And who can put a puck through, or around a house? Cheevers reached his peak in the third period during a Toronto power play he took point-blank shots from Tiger Williams and Lanny McDonald, back to back, and kept them out of the goal. He cut off the angle on Williams and he came back to his right to take McDonald's slot shot.

The victory was Boston's sixth straight in a nine-game undefeated string and the only goal Cheevers need $1K095 BODY ONLY 50aa n. 1 LENS (216.95 Operating Cap.Expansion Inventory aBuilding Loans NIKON CARRY-ALL IAG. S20.00 SALE 19.95 nsninwAiacuEiu II LENS 1 1 New Equip. Improvements Farm Loans 'Farm Equip. Applications taken by phone John Cooper, 331-5400 ftFTim'tftrxi Toll Frse 1-800-626 6544 I VI I IIIUBBMIII'f A AM II COMMERCIAL CR.EDIT 7 i MICHELIN SEEV3PERIT POLYESTER WHITEWALL SNOW TIRES STEEL BELTED RADIAL SNOW TIRES RADIAL 381 SNOW TIRES SIZE SOC95 s4315 15512 $3770 A78-13 F.E.T.

1.74 F.E.T. 1.50 SIZE PRICE 155x12 43.15 155x13 46.35 165x13 51.82 165x14 54.00 175x14 62.45 165x15 57.34 SIZE PRICE 560x15 28.85 F78x15 40.10 G78x15 43.55 H78x15 "47T3T J78x15 46.69 1.78x15 43.85 SIZE PRICE 175x13 WW 1 58.65 175x14 WW 62.10 185x14 WW 67.00 195x14 WW 71.06 205x14 WW 76.90 205x15 WW 81.75 215x15 WW 83.85 225x15 WW 89li SIZE I PRICE 155x12 37.40 155x13 37.00 165x13 38.95 175x13 42.45 175x14 46.95 185x14 48.35 165x15 43.10 SIZE PRICE A78-13 26.95 C78-13 35.87 C78-14 35.4Q E78-14 37.03 F78-14 39.Q8 678-14 42.43 H78-14 46.22 F.E.T. CHARGE AMERICAN EXPRESS BANKAMERICARD MASTER CHARGE DINER'S CLUB v. 1.70-3.33 F.E.T. 1.582.09 London Grand Prix.

The $35,000 first-prize check raised the 20-year-old McEnroe's 1979 winnings to $585,000, and the win took him past Wimbledon champ Bjorn Borg in the Grand Prix standings Fourth-seeded Bob Lutz trounced second-seeded Pat DuPre, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, in a two-hour, 25-minute match to capture the Taipei Tournament in Taiwan. Autos: Parsons takes LA. 500 Benny Parsons won the $188,000 Los Angeles Times 500 stock car race yesterday at the Ontario Motor Speedway and fifth-place finisher Richard Petty captured his seventh national driving championship by finishing ahead of Darrell Waltrip in the final NASCAR Grand National race of the season. Parsons, winning only his second race of the year, outran four other drivers in a furious finish with several lead changes taking place in the last nine laps, involving second-place finisher Bobby Allison, third-place driver Cale Yarborough, fourth-place finisher Buddy Baker and Petty. The five cars finished within eight-tenths of one second of one another Geoff Lees of England outdueled defending champion Ricardo Patrese of Italy to win the 26th Macao Grand Prix in his first appearance on the Asian racing circuit.

Lees started the 152-mile race in 19th position but steadily moved up and took the lead on the 32d lap of the 40-lap from Patrese. Horses: Jensar Suffolk victor Sara K. Farm's Jensar got his nose in front on the first turn and kept it there the rest of the way to win the featured $12,000 ninth race at Suffolk Downs yesterday. Jensar, ridden by the veteran George Seabo. paid $10.60, $6.20 and $2.20 Followers of The Globe's Sam McCracken were rewarded with three winners including the daily double, the second-race perfecta and the eighth race.

McCracken's daily double choices of Sly Marshall and Wekiva, a 9 to 1 shot, paid $72.20, while his second-race perfecta choice of Wekiva and Happy Stoner produced a $298.20 windfall Jockey Lafitt Pincay scored at Aqueduct with a front-running effort on Sea Farms' Gladiolus in the second running of the $42,300 First Flight Handicap Six horses were killed and three saved in a fire that destroyed an historic 22-stall barn at the Red Mile Racetrack in Lexington, Ky. Martie's Anger took over after the last of 17 fences to win the Colonial Cup international steeplechase and capture the 1979 United States thoroughbred jumping crown at (Camden SC. 70 SERIES STEEL BELTED F32 ALL WINTER RADIALS RETREAiS SG30WT $59 BR78-13 F.E.T. 2.00 WHITEWALL 12 for 3ar F.E.T. BLACK SIZE PRICE SIZES: A78-13.

C78-14. E78-14 GR78-15 75.00 HR78-15 SIZE I PRICE 19570-14 69.20 20570-14 87.60 80.75 00 SIZE I PRICFi DR78-14 64.00 ER78-14 66.75 FR78-14 70.00 6R78-14 73.00 HR78-14 77.95 FR78-15 I 72.00 JR78-15 83.95 SIZE I PRICE 18570-13 55.50 18570-14 63.45 F.E.T. 2 FOR LR78-15 86.60 F.E.T. BLACK GR70-15 78.55 HR70-15 84.85 SIZES: G78-14, H78-14, G78-15, H78-15 WHITEWALL $2.00 ADDITIONAL F.E.T. 2.00-3.19 W3LWU.