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Show "T-'- S The Salt l ake Tribune. Sunday, October 4, 1981 DiGregorio Hopes Dreams Blossom Anew With Celtics It was an itch that BROOKLINE, Mass. (VPI) wouldn't disappear, caused by memories of high achievement and the sudden abandonment of a profession he had entered with the highest of expectations. The irritation came and went, but it hurt the most when Ernie DiGregorio would turn on television and see the green-anwhite uniforms travel up and down the court , passes flying from the gifted hands of Nate Archibald, arching Larry Bird jumpers from the romprj the rebranding cf Ccdnc Moxwcll He could envision himself in control of the ball, one hand pointing directions, the eyes peering for the open man, the quick dart to the basket. For he had been a part of the Boston Celtics only three years earlier, had had tears in his eyes as he repeatedly set baskets on an up John Havlicek for fourth-perioApril afternoon with the nation watching. It was Havliceks final NBA game. It also was DiGregorios Now, three years later, brimming with confidence and eagerness, the former NBA rookie of the year is making yet another comeback. He is 30 years old, he lives on an annual stipend of $50,000 from a contract signed eight years ago. But he is as hungry as ever. People see DiGregorio and ask why Why this d v jj Ernie DiGregorio Hes Trying Again Schayes Gets T o Salt Lake year, and this team, one that might have used him the y at guard? last two years but looks to be I would watch them on tele, lion and keep wondenng what it would be like to play with those guys," DiGregorio says at the Celtics training camp at Hellenic College. "It was awesome to see what they were doing; Id just love to be a part of it When they won the championship, that was it. Everybody loves a winner and I'd like to be a part of it. I picked up the phone and called the coach and asked for a tryout. Nothing more. And here 1 am. Here he is, indeed, bringing with him more memories than any rookie hopeful could possibly have. His collegiate play was legendary, leading Providence College to the NCAA semifinals in 1973 and being named player of the year. top-heav- 1 figure I've got nothing to lose. The worst the n do is say no I've been cut before. But when i ptoplc say 1 have a slun chance, well, I don't believe that still feel I can pass it Mter than anyone else in this lc.mut Rut 1 have to show the coach that. I then-Laker- eo.u h 1 Ijook a! Imu Plunkett, he went from being garbage to being a bero so quickly. It can change awful fast I'm just try ing to do something that I love to do and something thats been awful good to me. Its going to be fun. and thats why Im bark Basketball is fun again." "plus fluid Change transmission fluid Adjust bands Clean screen Replace pan-gask- et Complete road test Where applicable. TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE SPECIAL DONT e:J 5 QUARTS CRfewCSCDAFPS WAIT! Now is the time to maintain your transmission! Bring in this ad and get INTERSTATE TRANSMISSIONS professional craftsmanship. And remember, we also offer: ... Jazz General Manager Frank Layden, who thought Schayes would be in town Friday night, was ready for any break in the stalled negotiations and, to that end, he said Saturday, We were ready today and tomorrow to give Schayes a physical. The Jazz leave Tuesday for Denton, Tex., where they will play the Dallas Mavericks in an exhibition game Wednesday night, so they would like to have Schayes for as many practices as possible before that. and 'sn't li d make sense to anyone why I did did why 1 stayed out But it made sense to me m i ont emed about me , 1 n first-roun- to. pasM wb.it Before he turned pro, he turned in a memorable performance against the Russians in Madison Square Garden, where he was chased around the court by a Soviet guard in the final seconds, each dribble producing dollar signs that eventually culminated in a $2 5 million contract with the Buffalo Braves. It may be the only time a capitalist upped his value with the help of a communist. "If we had had No. 15 on our team, we could have beaten the Americans, the Russian coach had said. rAV By Lex Hemphill Tribune Sports Writer Dan Schayes, something of a late bloomer as a collegiate player, doesnt want to be any later than he has to be as a pro. Although hes still unsigned, Schayes flew into Salt Lake City Saturday with the hope that he will be signed to a Jazz contract within the next couple of days. Schayes agent, Bob Woolf, had said that Schayes would be coming to Salt Lake Friday, but there was a mix-u- p in communications and Schayes had been planning a Saturday trip out here all along. Im just really anxious to come out and start playing, said Schayes from his home in Syracuse Saturday before leaving to fly to Salt Lake. I want to come out and start working out. We have a game Wednesday. Of course, Schayes, the center from d draft choice Syracuse who was the Jazzs last June, cant do any working out until he signs his cbntract. That could happen soon, since Woolf has plans to fly out to Salt Lake Sunday evening and Jazz negotiator Phil Marantz can fly in from Los Angeles either Sunday night or Monday morning. Were very close (to an agreement), and I just want to be out there when we sign so that I can get right to practice and not have to waste another day traveling, said Schayes. Woolf, who has a speaking engagement Sunday morning in Boston, said he will come out Sunday only if they (the Jazz) feel they can accomplish I could come out if they wanted me something. And then there was the 1973-7- 4 NBA season, when he averaged 15 2 points, had 663 assists and led Buffalo to the playoffs. The team soon collapsed and DiGregorio was siupped to Los Angeles in 1977 It was s a move that so infuriated coach Jerry West he refused to show up for the press conference Then it was on to Boston for the final two months of the 1977-7- 8 season. He spumed the Celtics the following year, backed out of an agreement m San Diego U;t year. For three years, his basketball consisted of pickup games at Providence, where be had the keys to the gym. 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