Rural Pennsylvania Newspapers - March 19, 1980
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
Notes, Quotes & Anecdotes
By Jim Hersh, Intelligencer Journal Sports Editor
If you're like most basketball fans, you're wondering why the semifinal games in the NCAA regionals weren't on network television last Thursday and Friday. Here's the answer. The games were sold to some parts of the country by NCAA Productions and ESPN, the all-sports independent network. Local stations didn't take up the offer.
The statistics indicate that Mike Schmidt is getting a bad rap when he's thought of as an inconsistent hitter. Over the past six seasons the Phillies' third baseman has averaged 36 homers, 101 RBIs and 104 runs scored…. The players aren't the only ones feeling the effect of Manager Dallas Green's rugged practices in Clearwater: "'We aren't getting out to the golf course as much as we used to," Schmidt noted tongue-in-cheek. "The clubs around here are complaining."
Parents looking for a safe sport for their child should direct them to swimming and diving. A study by the National Athletic Injury Illness Reporting System showed that only 0.2 out of every 1,000 athletes in swimming and diving each year will suffer an injury that will sideline them for a week. The most dangerous sports? Try spring football, 6.3; wrestling, 4.2, and fall 3.0. Surprisingly, gymnastics, 2.7, is rated more dangerous than hockey, 2.5.
Trivia question: Name the last two rookies to break into the Phillies' starting lineup. Answer later.
Tim McCarver may be getting additional broadcaster duties. The former Phillies catcher is already acting as an announcer for the Phillies radio and television networks, as well as PRISM. The talk has it that he'll also get a chance to work as a color commentator for some of NBC's regional telecasts.... Speaking of ex-Phillies catcher, Dave Rader may be joining that group soon. The team seems to be committed to giving rookie Keith Moreland a shot as Bob Boone's backup. Rader is on the trading block.
Ed Peery, the wrestling coach at Navy, has an odd way to encourage his wrestlers to keep their backs off the mat. He has a sign hanging from the rafters which says: "If you can read this, you are pinned.”… Inside Sports, the new magazine being published by Newsweek, will reappear at a month starting March 31. The first regular edition of the magazine, which will concentrate on feature-length articles, will have an article on Darryl Dawkins by Philadelphia Daily News columnist Pete Dexter.
Golf enthusiasts really aren't enamored by the PGA's new statistical package, which tells which tour pros are the longest drivers, leading par breakers, birdie leaders, etc. The money list is still the only category that really matter.... Former Lancaster Catholic basketball star Ellen Senkowski, who had to overcome a serious knee injury, ended her career at Lafayette College with per game averages of 5.9 points and 6.1 reour bounds this season.
The Phillies' Garry Maddox, who comes from a poor background, is spreading his wealth around with his family. He's carrying four mortgage payments.... No matter how much they have to pay him, I can't believe the Chicago Cubs would let Bruce Sutter go for players like St. Louis' Terry Kennedy and Mark Littell. With Sutter, the Cubs have been respectable, even contenders until September the past few years. Without him, they wouldn't be able to keep a straight face and call themselves contenders.
Elizabethtown College co-captain Doug Brown, the seventh leading scorer in the school's history, has been named to the Middle Atlantic District All-Star first team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Franklin and Marshall's Dennis Westley was named to the second team…. F&M's men's tennis team is rated 10th in the pre-season rankings by the Middle States Tennis Association. Princeton in ranked first.
The Phillies will broadcast all their home games, except Sundays, in Spanish over radio station WHAT, 1340-A.M, in Philadelphia. The play-by-play will be handled by Juan Vene, who has broadcast major league games for 20 years throughout the Carribean and Central and South America. Lilan Diaz and Tony Taylor, when his schedule permits, will handle the color commentary.
Answer to trivia question: Mr. Consistency (don't laugh), Mike Schmidt, and Bob Boone both broke into the lineup in 1973. Schmidt pounded out a .196 average including 18 homers in 132 games. I never said he was a fast starter in the majors.
The 76ers and Boston meet at the Spectrum on March 30 in the last game of the regular season. I'd be shocked if the game has much meaning at all. Chances are that by then the Celtics, who won't play a team with a winning record until they get to Philadelphia, will have a lock on the best regular season record in the NBA.
The Scribe And Mission Impossible
By Ralph Bernstein, Associated Press Sports Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. — This baseball reporter has one nightmare. He wakes up shaking because he's just dreamed that Steve Carlton pitched a and George Hendrick got the only hit.
For the uninitiated, Carlton and Hendrick are members of a minority of athletes who refuse to talk with the media. It's a vexing problem, one that ought to be solved by the presidents, or Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn.
The individual clubs claim they can't make a player talk with reporters. Frankly, it's a cop out by baseball.
When you pay players in the millions dollars you have the right to expect them promote your business. It should be a part of every athlete's contract.
After all, what you're dealing with is not reporter's right to know, but fan interest. The people who buy the tickets want to read what their heroes have to say about themselves and their approach to the game, or their problems.
Whether the Steve Carltons or George Hendricks, or others in the silent minority realize it not, they're public figures. They owe what they have to the fans who pay their inflated salaries.
True, some reporters constantly are seeking controversy. Some go too far into the personal lives of the athletes. The athlete has the same right of privacy away from his business as we do. But he knows who they are, and can be careful in their presence.
A reporter, however, does have the right of fair criticism under the laws handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. It's a way of life in a democracy.
It's been three or four years since Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies granted an interview, although he'll go on post game radio or television shows controlled by the club. Why does he refuse to speak with reporters covering the team?
This reporter swallowed his pride in the best interest of his job and tried to talk to Carlton in spring training recently. I reasoned that some effort should be made to get some thoughts about the 1980 season from possibly the most consistent pitching winner in major league baseball.
I walked to Carlton's locker and said, "Steve, my tape recorder is off, note book is closed, my pen is in my pocket, this is not an interview. Would you give me a minute to see if we can't break down the barrier between you and the media?"
The response was, "policy is policy." And he turned his back on me. I was burning inside. But I retained my professionalism. I said, "thanks" and walked away. What good could come of a loud confrontation and some words later regretted?
Before I approached Carlton, I advised Phillies' Manager Dallas Green of my intentions, and he was delighted that I was willing to try. Obviously, deferring to my 35 years, of experience, Green said, "it's a try, but if the reaction is negative, back off."
It wasn't only negative. It was downright rude. I'd say ignorant, but I know Carlton is no dummy. I respect him as a pitcher. I pity him as a human being. He ignores the suggestions of his manager that he be a leader of the club, and try and handle the media. He says something about having been burned a few times by writers.
So what? Haven't all of us been burned at one time or another in our lives? Do we dig a hole and pull the dirt over us, shut out the world? Carlton wants to be a private man in a public life, which is hogwash.
Expos Clip Phillies, 2-0
Spring Training
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ken Macha drilled a run-scoring single and Tommy Hutton accounted for the second run of the eighth inning with a bases-loaded walk Tuesday as the Montreal Expos defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 in exhibition baseball action.
Catcher Roberto Ramos led off the bottom of the eighth against loser Ron Reed with a bad hop single off shortstop Bud Harrelson's glove and was sacrificed to second by Rowland Office.
Randy Bass was issued an intentional walk before Tony Bernazard loaded the bases with a single. Macha then delivered a line drive single over shortstop to score Rams, with Bass thrown out at the plate.
A walk to Danny Briggs loaded the bases again, and Hutton worked Reed for a walk to drive in an insurance run.
Hal Dues, who spent last season in the minors after elbow surgery, was the winner, pitching the final two innings. Scott Sanderson threw the first four innings for the Expos and Jamie Easterly pitched the next three. Reed was the last of four Phillies' hurlers.
✔ Mark Corey hit a long home run in the last of the eighth inning, enabling the Baltimore Orioles to hand the winless Texas Rangers their ninth straight exhibition defeat, 4-3, in Miami.
Corey's 450-foot blast over the left field fence came off Texas righthander Wayne Comer and snapped a 3-3 tie.
Earlier, the Orioles had battled back from a 3-0 deficit on a single by John Lowenstein in the third inning and Dan Graham's triple in the sixth. I
Texas scored all three runs in the first two innings off starter Sammy Stewart, with second baseman Dave Roberts doubling home one of the runs. Richie Zisk also singled home a run and scored another on a fielder's choice.
Tim Stoddard, who worked the final 1⅓ innings was the winning pitcher. The victory boosted the Orioles' spring record to 5-2.
✔ The Orioles received word Tuesday that Kiko Garcia will not have to undergo back surgery at this time.
The medical decision was made after Garcia was given extensive tests at Children's Hospital in Baltimore. Garcia, however, will remain in the hospital for physical therapy but is expected to return to training camp next week.
The Oriole players voted 37-0 to tell the players association executive board to vote for a strike at its next meeting April 1.
✔ Cesar Cedeno, a five-time golden glove center fielder who played 91 games at first base for Houston last season, says he'd rather be traded than play first base again.
"I feel this way, if I don't play center field for the Astros, I don't want to be here," Cedeno said.
Reading Eagle
Expos Blank Phils, 2-0
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Ken Macha drilled a run-scoring single and Tommy Hutton accounted for the second run of the eighth inning with a base-loaded walk Tuesday as the Montreal Expos defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-0 in exhibition baseball action.
Catcher Roberto Ramos led off the bottom of the eighth against loser Ron Reed with a bad hop single off shortstop Bud Harrelson’s glove and was sacrificed to second by Rowland Office.
Randy Bass was issued an intentional walk before Tony Bernazard loaded the bases with a single. Macha then delivered a line drive single over shortstop to score Ramos, with Bass thrown out at the plate.
A walk to Danny Briggs loaded the bases again, and Hutton worked Reed for a walk to drive in an insurance run.
Hal Dues, who spent last season in the minors after elbow surgery, was the winner, pitching the final two innings. Scott Sanderson threw the first four innings for the Expos and Jamie Easterly pitched the next three. Reed was the last of four Phillies’ hurlers.