Namath quits; no more Broadway Joe
I Editor's note: This article was a sports column in
lie Daily Barometer, the student newspaper at
Lgon State University in Corvallis.
[ gene SALING
Lmeter Sports Writer
■ This column is for those who remember Super
Iwllll.
I It's also for those who remember a player that
GUARANTEED a win in that game, and then pro-
iced it.
I This is for those who have seen "superstars"
[me and go like so many dime store comedians,
|t who find true sports heroes a rarity.
■ And to these people, I join in mourning the end
If a truly great career.
I Joe Willie Namath, alias "White Shoes," was the
|t, no doubt about it. Tuesday he announced his
Krement from the National Football League.
I He was, without a doubt, the most exciting (if
lot the best) passer in pro football history during
is glory years.
Had he not had so many problems with his knees,
I would have been the greatest quarterback in
story as well.
[And he was a true sports hero. Face it, there
in'tmany of those around any more.
What, you say? Jimmy Connors, Fran Tarkenton,
ferry Bradshaw, Catfish Hunter, Johnny Bench,
Pete Maravich, David Thompson, Tony Esposito,
fchnny Miller, and all the rest-aren't they sports
trees too?
I No way. Some are good, some are great, some
are even stars, but none of them are true sports
heroes.
There are a few still around, and once in a while
a new one crops up, but there aren't many.
Today's top players are often either robots or
crybabies. And often, they're overpaid.
The "in" phrase used to describe today's top
athletes is "superstar." But the phrase has become
worn and cheapened in its meaning.
The main qualifications for superstars today is to
have an annual salary reaching into six figures, and
to do as little as possible to earn that money.
Namath was a true sports hero. Ironically, it was
he who ushered in the era of the high-priced athlete,
and yet, his contributions to pro football can never
be measured in terms of dollars and cents.
He wa^ signed by the new York Jets of the then
"inferior" American Football League, and within
five years, the NFL and the AFL merged. Since
then, the popularity of pro football has exploded.
Namath was one reason why.
Namath guaranteed a win by his Jets over Balti
more in Super Bowl III, while most people laughed
and figured it would be the Colts by 30.
Well, Joe and his Jets embarrassed the Colts in
that Super Bowl, and most of the sports world was
shocked. But not Joe. Remember, he guaranteed
it, he delivered on his promise and afterward he
was humble and. let the results speak for themselves.
(I had a personal stake in that game. While most
of the people in my junior high agreed with the
"experts," I took the guarantee to heart, bet heavily
on the Jets--nickles and dimes, you understand--
and cleaned up the Monday after.)
W&fe—I
■The ACU-I
tournament
II continue with frisbee
jiich began yesterday at 1.
le competition is based on
Itance and accuracy. For
Ire information
contact
lureen Kearney, extension
r
■The fitness and condition-
jclinic for women will be
lid tomorrow from 7 to
:30 p.m. in Randall Hall
Im and weight rooms. Com-
liinity Services will sponsor
|e event. For more infor-
ntion call extension 232.
The college gym will re
main open to the public on
Sundays and will be set for
different activities.
From 1 to 3 p.m. volley
ball, badminton and other
activities, excluding basket
ball, will be played. Basket
ball can be played from 3 to
6 p.m.
More information is avail
able from the Community
Services office at 656-263I,
ext. 232.
oy held by Jacuzzi
lie Petersen, 12, was in
lin a freak accident on
By when his hair was caught
I College's whirlpool in
II Hall.
Bersen, his brother, „ Tim,
fcb Schnepel came to Sun-
hcreation. Schnepel went
|lie sauna while the other
jtre in the whirlpool. Ap
ply Petersen was going to
Illis hair and because his
[was long it got caught in
■stream.
ft then Schnepel came out
I sauna and turned off the
|lPMl and then pulled the
IH forced the water out
jchnepel turned Petersen's
■Ward so he could breathe
"Someone came running into
the P.E. office," Steve Maynard,
the locker room attendant on
duty, said. "He said a guy was
drowning and asked if we had
some scissors to cut his hair
with."
"We went down there and I
gave the scissors to Schnepel be
cause he was closer and could
get at it better," Maynard said.
"He (Eric) was really shook
up," Maynard said. "The cut
really looked deep. It was pretty
bad."
Both an ambulance and the
Mulino Fire Department Rescue
Squad responded to the call.
Paramedics bandaged Petersen's
head and he was taken to the
hospital. He was later released.
SPORTS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
p basketball
Wed.1
Fri. 3
Blue Mtn.
7:30
Linn-Benton 8:00
Pendleton
Home
R basket
Fri. 3
Mon.6
Linn-Benton 6:00
6:30
Mt. Hood
Home
Gresham
Sat. 4
Tournament 1:00
Seattle
ing
^Community College
Football fans might also remember one of the
other great moments Namath provided the sport of
football. Who can forget that classic Jets-Colts game
in the early 70's where Namath outdueled Unitas and
threw for almost 500 yards?
Or that great Monday night game against Oakland
four years ago where Namath, with a backfield hob
bled by injuries and no defense to back him up,
almost singlehandedly defeated the Raiders with a
performance that left even Howard Cosell speechless?
I can give a little personal insight to the real Joe,
not the playboy-image, high-living, commercial, Broad-,
way-oriented Joe who was always presented in the
press.
At a celebrity golf tournament in the late 60's
Namath was sitting alone at a table drinking a coke
during a tourney banquet, while most of the rest of
the celebrities there were drinking, loud and gener
ally overbearing.
My parents were at the tournament, and my mom
bravely walked up to him to get his autograph for
me, not knowing what to expect.
He not only gladly signed, he talked to her for a
few minutes and was polite and pleasant the whole
time. He was one of the few "stars" at that tourney
who gave such a positive impression to my mom,
a tough woman to impress.
Yes, Namath was a true hero.
He played 13 seasons on a pair of knees most
people wouldn't have lasted five years on. And he
kept on playing not for the money, but because he
loved the game.
Pro football won't be the same without him.
Hoopsters lose three more
About the only bright news
for the College's Womens Basket
ball team was that they lost a
close game to Lane Community
College, 59-56.
Playing their best game of the
season, the Cougar gals came
back from deficits of seven in the
first half to trail 26—23.
In the second half, Clacka-.
mas got behind by 14 but rallied
and would havehad a good shot
at winning the game if there had
been more time remaining.
Tammy White led the Cougar
ladies with 17, while Jan Buse
and Erin Gambee had ten each,
and Cindy Kirkpatrick had eight
points.
Buse also grabbed 14 re
bounds and Gambee had ten to
lead the team.
Cindy Corkumand Lori Quick
led Lane with 18 points each.
The difference came from
the free throw line as Clack
amas connected on only 12 of
29 free throws for a .407 per
cent.
However, for the rest of the
week, the Cougars were beaten
by very strong clubs from Port
land State University and Clark
College.
Against Portland State on
Thursday, the gals were never
really in the game as the Vik
ings won 66-39.
Clackamas trailed at the half
34-15 and got behind by as
many as 35 points before pull
ing off a late rally in the final
seven minutes to close the gap
to 27.
"I was really proud of the
girls in that six or seven minutes
because they showed me that
even though they were way be
hind, they will refuse to give
up," said head coach Nancy
Mikelton "They tried to come
back even though winning the
game was unlikely."
Buse had a strong game at
the post position as she scored
18 points and grabbed 19 re
bounds.
White, on the other hand,
the team's top scorer for most
of the year; did not score a
point.
Against Clark College last
Saturday, Clackamas was simply
beaten by a very strong team.
Playing against one of the
top womens teams in the North
west, according to Mikelton, the
Cougars didn't really stand a
chance, as they lost 82-36.
The game at the outset was
much different than the final
outcome as Clackamas only trailed
by four at 12-8 before Clark's
speed proved to be too much for
the Cougar gals.
The difference in the game
was the fact that Clackamas had
53 turnovers.
"When you get girls playing
who really haven't had the game
experience, one turnover tends
to lead to another. This leads to
mental lapses, and for some reas
on, the girls seem pressured to
shoot too quickly and then they
rarely get their best shot," said
Mikelton.
Cougar turnovers led directly
to Clark baskets as they were
to connect on 39 of 73 shots or
53 percent.
Ruth Peeke had 16 points arid
guard Joyce Robertson hit 13
of 16 shots and 28 points, to
lead Clark.
Clackamas was only able to
make 14 of 37 shots, or about
half as many as Clark was able to
get off, for 37 percent.
White was 6 for 8 for 14
pointsand Buse had 13 rebounds
to lead the Cougars.
The Cougars next game is
Jan. 31 at home, against the
University of Portland. They are
then a part of the basketball
double-header
against
Linn-
Benton on Friday, Feb. 3
The
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