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Show After Eight Years and a Title, Billy By Jayson Stark So it was inevitable that one day Knight-Ridde- r Newspapers PHILADELPHIA From the day he coached his first game for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1977, it was obvious that Billy Cunningham was not going to be one of those people who would still be out there at age 75, drawing Xs and Os on a little clipboard. Billy was never really a career coach, 76ers General Manager Pat Williams said Tuesday. He wasnt like the Dick Mottas, the Gene Shues, the Cotton Fitzsimmons, the Jack Ramsays. He grew to be a devoted coach, a tireless coach, a demanding coach. He grew, in some views, to be even a great coach. But he was never a man who needed to coach to survive. - e jialt Section B Cunningham would walk away from coaching Tuesday, that day came. Cunningham resigned Tuesday. He resigned, he said, because he felt it was time just to move on into other areas of my life. He resigned without specifically recommending a successor and without leaving a perfect candidate on the horizon. He resigned after eight seasons, afvictories ter 454 regular-seaso- n (ranking 12th among coaches in NBA st (454-19- sign. out hearing the second-guessin- g from his locker room, hearing Andrew Toney say he was tired of being yelled at, hearing Toney add that next year Cunningham was going to have to change his tactics, at least a little. Cunningham said, however, that he was not convinced that he had worn out his welcome with his players. It all depends on the individual, tribune Oilers Trip Flyers, By Barry Wilner AP Sports Writer scheduled for Philadelphia. We have to put everything into In a game EDMONTON, Alberta winning the next one to get the series that featured virtually everything, it back home, said Keenan. We ll play our hearts out. figured that the mastery of Wayne Gretzky would make the difference. One of Edmontons power-pla- y Gretzky scored a pair of power-pla- y goals was by Paul Coffey, giving him goals to lift the Edmonton Oilers 10 for the entire playoffs, a record for to a 3 victory over the Philadelphia defensemen. The previous best of Flyers Tuesday night that brought nine was shared by Booby Orr and the defending National Hockey Brad Park. League champions within one victory Gretzky got one in the second periof their second straight Stanley Cup. od to boost the Oilers ahead for the first time, then clinched the victory If the Oilers, leading the series can win here Thursday night, they with another in the third. will annex their second consecutive Gretzky, who scored three goals in Game 3, pounced on a loose puck in championship in five games. The Flyers, who passed Edmonton late in the the slot at 12:53 of the middle session regular season to win the overall after Coffeys long shot had been points title, must capture three in a blocked. Gretzky put a backhander row Thursday, then Sunday and past goalie Pelle Lindbergh to the far next Tuesday in Philadelphia. side to make it The Oilers have won 15 straight At 3.42 of the final period, Mark home playoff contests. Only the 1941-4- 2 Messier skated into the Flyers zone Toronto Maple Leafs, who lost the and sent a backhand pass to Gretzky, first three games to Detroit and ralwho fired a wrist shot over the glove lied to win the Cup, have ever overof goalie Bob Froese, who replaced come as much as a 1 deficit in a Lindbergh to start the third period. final series. The furiously paced first period on the The Oilers had been had just about everything a hockey power play entering the game but game can offer. Just as in Game 3, scored on four of six tries with a manplay was wide open, with frequent for both power edge in Game 4. breakaways and teams. We got back into it with two power-play The Flyers struck first 46 seconds goals, said Gretzky, whose team trailed 1 in the first period. in as Rich Sutter got his first goal of We kept skating and skating, exactly the playoffs. Fuhr made a superb pad the opposite of the third game. save on a Derrick Smith slapshot and They were very disciplined and also blocked Ron Sutter on the reaggressive in their penalty killing. bound. The puck skidded behind the They were playing a tight box and we net, where Rich Sutter grabbed it and kept trying to jam the puck into the sent a backhander in front which middle with no success. "We started to throw the puck back to the point and it opened things up for us. Gretzky has been flying in the Oilers tWb victories here and has placed himself at the forefront in the race PARIS (AP) Returning to the for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the scene of his greatest triumph, Yanplayoffs most valuable player, one of nick Noah again thrilled the crowd at the few honors he has not won. Roland Garros Stadium on Tuesday Im very satisfied with my play in as he led a phalanx of favorites to this series," said Gretzky, who has 15 victory in the French Open tennis goals in the playoffs and a record 43 championships. It was on the slow, red clay courts points. "Im happy to be able to contribute, playing for the Stanley Cup. here two years ago that Noah became It gives me a lot of the first Frenchman in 37 years to Also very satisfied with his perforcapture the mens singles title. And with the capacity crowd cheering mance Tuesday night was Grant Fuhr, who stopped Ron Sutter on a him on, Noah came from behind d penalty shot and could Tuesday to defeat Libor Pimek of Czechoslovakia not be faulted on any of the Flyers goals. Posting even easier victories were I definitely think I have an advanJohn McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Jimthe top three seeds in tage on a penalty shot, said Fuhr, my Connors the mens singles and Martina who has stopped all three hes faced in the NHL. All I have to do is stand Navratilova and Chris Evert Lloyd, seeded first and second, respectively, ; there and wait for him to make a - move. in the women's field. Coach Keenan Mike McEnroe, who reached the final Flyers stressed that if the Flyers can win the here last year, only to lose to Lendl, 6- ousted Ronald Agenor of Haiti next game, the final two would be 5-- 3-- 1, 4-- 3-- 3-- I made the deci- sion. I started thinking seriously about it, Id say, about Christmas time And if anything, I think that helped me the rest of the year, knowing this was going to be my last season and that Id like to really go out on top He did not go out on top. He went Resigns he said 'There were times during my career as a coach when I wondered if my players hao just heard my voice too many times But the funny thing is. the people who did respond, the people I didn t have any problems with, were the players I've had for the longest period of time. So I don't think that was a problem. Cunningham also denied that his relationship with Katz had been a problem, as was reported in an article in Tuesday's Philadelphia Inquirer. That article quoted a source close to the team as saying that Cunningham and Katz didnt get along and that the owner had pressured Cunningham to quit. Katz said the Inquirer article was Sports Page 4 29, 1985 May Wednesday Morning ally But this year Cunningham denied, however, that any of that had anything to do with the decision. He said, in fact, that he had decided to get out before the loss to the Celtics. This was something Ive been thinking about during the course of the season, he said during a news conference Tuesday. It's something Ive thought about every season, actu history), after amassing the third-bewinning percentage .698) of any active coach. He won an NBA championship two years ago. He won his 200th, 300th and 400th games faster than any coach in NBA history. He won 66 playoff ak t games, more than any coach except Red Auerbach. But he ended his coaching career with a disappointing defeat in this month's playoffs against Boston, with players grumbling about him louder than ever, and with one source close to the 76ers implying that Owner Harold Katz had pressured him to re- C. For Recorded "core-- the whole league. offered the fact that Cunningham had not asked for a cash settlement on the one season remain$400,000-a-yeing on his reported contract That, Katz said, is something most men would not have coach in As proof, he ar done. When he signed that contract after the NBA title season of tv o years ago, Cunningham was the highest-paicoach in pro basketball. Now, a week away from his 42nd birthday, he d See Call ocal 237-202- B-- Column 3 ort Information . Call l totally untrue, although he said he had not read it. He conceded that he havent always and Cunningham But he also on everything. agreed contended that Billy and I have the best relationship of any owner and 1 2:17-200- 5 5-- 3 bounced in off the skate of Oilers defenseman Charlie Huddy. Edmonton tied it at 4.22 when Coffey established his record with a slapshot on a power play. But the Oilers Pat Hughes and Messier were penalized within 42 seconds, handing the Flyers a two-ma- n advantage. They cashed in for only their second power-pla- y goal in 20 tries when Todd Bergen blasted a past Fuhrs glove. At 8.32, referee Kerry Fraser who was substituting for Andy Van Hellemond, out with a bad back whistled Flyers defenseman Doug Crossman for holding. When Coss-ma- n complained, he was given an additional two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. But the Oilers were virtually helpless early in the power play and Ron Sutter broke free when he knocked the puck away from Coffey. He never got off a shot as Messier hooked him to the ice and Fraser awarded Sutter a penalty shot. It was only the third penalty shot ever in the finals and the third which failed. Sutter, who also missed a penalty shot against the New York Islanders during the season, attempted to put a wrist shot between Fuhrs legs but the goalie got his right leg pad on the puck. Philadelphia came right back, though. Huddy fell down at his blue line, allowing Smith and Murray Craven to break free. Smiths pass into the goalmouth was deflected in by Craven despite Coffeys attempt to hook him. 50-fo- ot er Assocloted Press Laserphoto Oilers nettender Grant Fuhr makes a leg d pen- pad save on Ron Sutters first-perio- alty shot. The Oilers overcame a two-goPhiladelphia lead to score a 3 victory. al 5-- French Open: Noah Rekindles the Flames first-perio- 6-- 7, 6-- 1, 7-- 6-- 4. 6-- 0, Lendl stopped South African Eddie Edwards Connors battled his way past Wolfgang Popp of West Germany and Lloyd eliminated Australias Janine 1 d in Thompson matches. Navratilova was the first player to reach the third round when she defeated veteran Virginia Wade of Britain 0 to post her second victory in as many days. But three seeded players were k ousted on the second day of this Grand Slam tournament. Roberto Saad of Argentina, who had to fight his way through qualifymam draw, ing to reach the upset Jimmy Aria of the United States while American Debbie Spence surprised the womens ninth seed, Catarina and Lindqvist of Sweden, 2, 7-- 6-- 6-- 6-- 6-- 6-- 6-- 3, 7-- 5, 6-- 1, 6-- first-roun- 6-- two-wee- 128-ma- n 16th-seed- 6-- 7-- 6-- 4, 7-- Denmarks Tine eliminated No. 12 Woodbury, Conn., Scheuer-Larse- 6-- 2, n Barbara Potter of 6-- 6--1. The Noah outlasted the 5 batPimek in a three-hou- r, tle. I am absolutely thrilled to be back playing this kind of tennis here at Roland Garros, Noah said after his victory. It is especially good because when I was out of action for six months, I wondered whether I was going to play tennis again. A combination of leg and stomach muscle injuries sidelined the Noah, who failed to win another singles title after the 1983 French Open until two weeks ago when he was victorious at the Italian Open. "Today I had a great time on court," said Noah, who showed no tear that afsigns of the fected him during the Italian tournament. I was nervous, but I expected to be nervous. In fact, I was a little worried because I didnt begin to feel the pressure until last night, which was a little late for me. 6-- Noah explained that he had decided not to defend the doubles title he won with countryman Henri Leconte last year because he wanted to avoid the added physical strain. While Noah was having a great time on the packed center court, Arias, considered one of Americas top clay-couplayers, was being thoroughly beaten on an outside court. rt I didnt feel as if I had been in a match, Arias said. Clay is one of my favorite surfaces. Im really disappointed. Arias, 20, won the Italian Open on clay and the U.S. Clay Championships two years ago. Saad, who began taking tennis seriously when he started to beat the leading college players in the United States five years ago, said he since had lost two years of his career through injury. Pound for Pound, Zale Ranks Alongside Rings Best Experts generally agree Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest fighter, pound for pound, in the history of professional boxing. As a clever boxer who could i knock out an opponent with either hand, Robinson had no equal at his weight. In the ring, Robinson had class and skill. But Robinson had a couple of John Mooney rapS against hls brilliance. He earned the nickname Runout Ray for causing so many postponements of his fights. And Robinson had a history of losing his championship when he was a heavy favorite and then regaining it by knocking out the guy who had beaten him by decision. Randy Turpin, Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basillio all beat Robinson for the title and lost the title back to Sugar Ray. Only Paul Pender was able to make it two in a row over Robinson after Sugar Ray gained championship stature. With all respect for Robinsons obvious class in the ring, my nomination for the greatest fighter, pound for pound, (and remember I said fighter) is a guy born Anthony Florian Zaleski, who fought under the ring nick native of Tony ZV, and was named the Man of Steele. Zale celebrates his 72nd birthday today, and, chances are, before the birthday cake, he'll be giving boxing instruction at the Catholic Youth Organization in Chicago. Zale fought 89 professional bouts and lost seven by decision and was stopped three times, by Johnny Pha-gain 1935, by Rocky Graziano in a championship bout in 1947 and by Marcel Cerdan in another title bout in n 1948. wars" The three still produce fond memories of great battles whenever veteran fight managers and writers gather. Zale won two of three bouts with Graziano, but each fight ended in a knockout, and in the first two, the winner looked like the loser after the fight. In a way, the Tony Zale story is the American dream. Tonys dad, a steelworker in Gary, Ind was killed when s- Tony was two. He was killed while I 'VwA riding his bike to lXj get medicine for Zalfr-Grazia- - - who was bat-- ( Cj Tony, the measles. Jj Ji His mother, eight 'C'A months pregnant, was left with a family of six soon to be seven with no insurance jThe widow Za- - leski walked home from her husband's funeral with five dollars in her purse. In contrast to the "kiss and tell stones by children of famous parents which flood the markets these days, Zale said of his mother, Seven kids. She washed clothes. She took in washing. She worked when she could get a job. But all the time she was our mother. She bought a cow which we kept in our backyard so we always had milk, even when we didnt have any money. She was some woman. She gave me my determination. After high school graduation, Tony tried fighting but wound up in the steel mills. He was back in the gym a year later, where his manager had to caution him against overworking. Three years later, Zale beat Geor-gi- e Abrams for the world middleweight championship. As champion, Zale brought a refreshing breath into a sport which had been brutal and sleazy much of the tjme. down. Referee Ruby Goldstein If hes boxing and makes a mistake, his manager, Art Winch, once stopped the fight as Zale complained, He never should have stopped it. The told a group of fight writers, Tony should only lose by being do it be champion Ill Please right savs, patient. counted out. next time. The third bout was all Zale as he a "He is that kind of a fighter real gentleman, except he could kill knocked out Rocky in the third round, thus becoming the first to regain the you in a fight." middleweight championship since and in the enlisted Zale navy Stanley Ketchel in 1908. served as a physical training instrucGraziano tried to get Zale a part in tor at Great Lakes Naval Training station near Chicago. A promoter of- the Rocky Graziano movie, Somefered him $25,000 for a bout, but Tony body Up There Likes Me with Tony refused, saying, It wouldn t be right playing himself and Paul Newman for me to te fighting for money while taking the part of Rocky. fellow sailors were dying on the burnTony threw a punch which grazed Newman's chin and the producer ing decks in the Pacific. waved Zale out of the ring, handing his manager We lost $25,000, him $1,500 and his walking papers growled. Despite some tough breaks, Zale But we did the right thing, Zale never complains, and he still argues, corrected. Boxing makes you live better, cleanFor five rounds, in their first fight, er and Tighter. Graziano, the favorite, pounded Zale offers a bit of argument, too, Zale unmercifully. But in the middle those who would outlaw boxagainst of the sixth, Zale drove his right into ing, since despite more than 200 amamidsection was and that the Rockys teur and 89 professional fights which fight. Graziano had a few bruises were "wars" he still is a lot sharper at while Zale was a mass of blood and 72 than of boxings critics who bruises. Handlers had to carry him never many donned a glove. into the showers, he was that spent. Happy Birthday, Champ " In the rematch, it was all Zale ;n the early rounds and he sliced Observation Ward Rockys face and closed his eyes. But Gene Fullmer told the Like 34 in he was and the heat the age indoor arena seemed to sap the veterTuesday, "I have several relan and in the end, Rocky hit him 11 atives who are uglier than I am, and straight times but Zale Refused to go they never had a glove on. 2-- 1 Foot-printe- "Im 23 now, and I should at 21, he said. have been doing this victory, Following his straight-se- t McEnroe expressed surprise that he will have to play another singles match on Wednesday. Normally, the top players get a day off between singles matches. I really dont quite understand it, and I don't know what to say, the talented from New York said. But it certainly doesnt help. Other seeds advancing were three Swedes No. 6 Anders Jarryd, No. 7 Joakim Nystrom and No. 14 Stefan Edberg. In the women's singles, other seeds gaining the next round included No. 4 Manuela Meleeva of Bulgaria, No. 5 Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia, No. 7 Claudia Kohde-Kilscof W'est Germany, No. 10 Bonnie Gadusek of the United States, No. 11 Steffi Graf of West Germany and No. 13 Kathy Rinaldi of the United States. But the victory of an unseeded women player, comebacking American Andrea Jaeger, drew more attention than most of the seeded players. Jaeger, once one of the top three players m the world, returned to the scene of her last Grand Slam appearance and came awaywith a 5 conquest of fellow American Shawn Foltz. Jaeger, who will turn 20 next week, said the victory on the slow, red clay court would make up for last year, when she defaulted her opening-rounmatch, complaining of a sore arm. At that time, Jaeger was overweight and had her shoulder swathed in ice. She hardly looked like the worlds womens tennis player with dozens of titles and more than $3 million in career earnings. She even announced that she might give up tennis "After that, a lot of people wrote that I was burned out and all that. But it was just that half the time I played, I was in pain, she told reporters after her two-hoduel Tuesday with Foltz, a right-handfrom Indianapolis, Ind. "Its hard to enjoy matches when youre worried you might not be able to move your arm the next day. Jaeger, who also withdrew halfway through the Los Angeles Olympic Games last summer, moved to Gainesville, Fla., where she enrolled in a zoology course at Sante Fe Community College. She said she wanted her comeback to coincide with the French Open so she could wipe the slate clean. "Some people didn't really believe I was injured last year when I defaulted," she said with a touch of bitterness. left-hand- er h 6-- d third-ranke- d jr ) ( |