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The llPEl Sun, Friday, Oct.

Another baseball season is ending. From two leagues on- ly four teams remain alive. Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies are all talented and deserv- ing. Just one however, can become world champions. Which will it be? We can on- ly guess.

Tommy Lasorda's first year managing the Dodgers could- n't have been more success-

'ful. His team quickly out- distanced Cincinnati, and coasted to the pennant. Managers Danny Ozark of Philadelphia and Whitey Herzog of Kansas City also guided their teams to easy titles. They reached first after mid-season, but once- there were never threatened. Billy Martin of the Yankees is much more controversial. His team fought for the pen- nant while he fought for his job. At his best, however, he is an unequalled baseball man. All four teams will have excellent leadership in their championship bids.

Pitching is crucial in the World Series, just as in the pennant races. Yankee start- ers Mike Torrez, Don Gullet and Ron Guidry are tops. If he's off the injured list Catfish Hunter may also be effective. Reliever Sparky Lyle's value is unquestion- ed. Philadelphia hurlers though, aren't far behind. Steve Carleton has over twen- (y wins, but firemen Gene ;arber and Ron Reed have better earned run averages. Larry Christenson and Tug McGraw also get people out. In Los Angeles there is ex- Cellent firepower in Doug Rau, Tommy John and Don Sut- ton. Mike Garman provides good relief. Kansas City's Andy Hassler, Dennis Leonard and Jim Colborn are only slightly less effective, and Doug Bird is truly a Royal reliever.

Former Yankee squads .were famous for the batting of

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Ruth, Maris and Mantle. This year's team has equal power. Fleet footed Mickey Rivers has a batting average in the .' clouds. Reggie Jackson is now socking instead of sulking. There is also catching Thurr man Munson, Lou Pinella,

Paul Blair, Graig Nettles

and Chris Chambliss. Each of them qualify as stars, but

don't underestimate the opposition. RoyalS'George Brett, Al Cowens and Hal McRae are all around 300, while John Mayberry and Amos Otis are still cap- able. Philadelphia hitting was the National League's best. Greg Luzinski has power to spare. Bake Mc- Bride, Dave Johnson and

Bob Boone can also handle themselves. Schmidt, Size- more, Maddoz and Hebner come in handy too. The Dodgers have almost twice as many homers as last year. Reggie Smith has the best statistics, but Steve Garuey and Davey Lopes aren't far behind. Ron Cey can also provide leadership. '

Now that we've met the teams, what about predic' tions? Luzinski, Carleton and the great defensive infield will carry Phila- delphia to the Series. The Yankees will also make it. The winner? I'll root for the Phillies, but the Yan- kees will have too much talent. Look for NeWtYork in six games.

This year's baseball has been called a “Rabbit ball” and a "pitcher's nightmare.“ League officials however, in- sisted that it meets all re- quirements..Maybe so, but it's still fun to hit. A new sin- gle season homer record has been set, and we can expect a few more in the World Ser- ies. '

Hamilton's Jimmy Edwards and Doyle Orange are the C.F.L.'s best running com- bination. They'll take the team to the play-offs, and who knows how far they'll go?

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Ken Norton and Jimmy Young are training for their Nov- ember 5 bout. Both won ren cently during the same card, and immediately they began a game of psychology. Norton. was particularly outspoken. “He can't punch. I know he can't hurt me.“ Jimmy however isn't frightened. The winner, probably Young, could well ' be the next champion.

Shouldn't professional sports be open to anyone ta- lented enough? Greg Neeld, who has sight in only one eye, was drafted last year by the Buffalo Sabres. Ther N.H.L. however, denied him a try-out. The youngster's suit against the league was re- cently dismissed in court. Thus, fans are denied watch- ing a youth, who unlike some, has real desire. The decision is an unforgiveable inconsis- tency. People aren't supposed to discriminate because of physical handicaps. Besides, Bobby Clarke is-a diabetic and he's allowed to play. '

Canadian hockey is threat- ened in more places than Europe. Boston coach Don Cherry says American players display more desire than

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ours. “The American boy is

a lot hungrier, a lot tough- er. He hasn't polished his skills as finely as the Can- adian player, but he makes up for it in desire.“ Cherry thinks that within four years the United States will sup- ply a quarter of the N.H.L.'s players. If another quarter is from Europe, what about us? Our economy will be in real trouble when even the hockey players are unemploy- ed.

The chief reason for esca- lating sports salaries has been players' agents. Do they serve any function aside from increasing ticket prices? Do they even help the players? Richard Sorkin is a case_in point. He has been convicted of larceny for losing $360,000 belong- ing to seven athletes. Sorkin admitted only to misinvesting the money, but he lost part of it gambling. I realize that some agents are vital to their clients. They dOn't however, deserve huge sal- aries any more than the players. Sports Could do without both powerful agents and millionaire athletes.

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