European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 25, 1969, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and stripes saturday january 25, 1969 health problem Nam Aili again say is he May quit the game new Vork a Joe Namath of the new York jets forcefully reiterated thursday his intention to consider quitting pro football for a business venture and revealed that the major reason was concern for his ailing legs. The legs Are the main problem Namath said dispassionate Lyas he elaborated on the hint he dropped in an off hand manner wednesday. It s been a Long season and with rest they might be better. But the Way 1 feel now retirement is something that has to be considered. I know this talk could be misconstrued but it is definitely not a contract  s something that s just simply logically sound to  Namath is considering is several business offers that have been made particularly in the entertainment Field since he Quarter backed the jets to a stunning upset Over the Baltimore Colts in the super bowl. The reason Namath is consid ering the offers is his realization that he is definitely the mos attractive personality in the sports Field at the moment an therefore in the Best possible position to command attractive propositions outside the sports  also is the realization that his legs could pull his Ca reer up Short any Day he has undergone three operations on them and plays in pain. That s apparently what first made him hint at retirement wednesday when he said Jimmy Brown got out while he was still healthy. You want to make it while you re on top before you get  re emphasized his position at a luncheon at his bachelors Iii night spot in mid Man Hattan where an airline com Pany announced that the Jet Star and Mickey Mantle of the new York Yankees would represent new York City in the third annual astr Jet Golf classic feb. 14-16 at the la Costa coun try club near san Diego Calif. Doctors must decide what i said wednesday was quoted verbatim As it was  Namath said. There s not much to elaborate. If i can play 1 can t play. I la just be physically not capable. The Doc tors will have to decide that. "1 know i could t have played in the second half of the All Star game at Jacksonville if had to Namath was not used during the second half coach Wally Lemm following his plan of hav ing Namath work the first half and Miami s Bob Griese the Sec first round of Pebble Beach Calif. A heavy afternoon Rains forced cancellation of the first round of the $150,000 Stag Cros by Golf tournament thursday with about one half the players already finished with their round. The professional golfers association announced the cancel lation at 6 55 . Est continuing the series of rain problems which started last saturday atthe Kaiser tournament in Napa  event finally was reduced to 36 holes with Mille Barber winning the reduced prize of $13,500 on the basis of his score after Friday s round. Washed out at the Crosby were leading scores of two under  70 by Billy Casper the leading Money Winner of 1968, Ond  said another big fac Tor in any decision he woul make would be his teammates there would be a sense of let Ting them Down if i quit. But j Don t want to play the Way i  Namath said he already had told Weeb Ewbank the jets coach and general manager Olheis intention to consider quit Ting he added that Ewbank an the owners would be the first to know of any decision he might make. Roundup of nil games wings tie Brt Lins 2-2 on 2nd Mahovlich goal thursday night in National hockey league Detroit up Frank Mahovlich s second goal just 1 45 into the final period offset two second period goals by Ken Hodge As the streaking Bosto Bruins and hot Detroit red wings skated to a 2-2 tie fiery  tie extended Boston s unbeaten Streak to 12 games while Detroit has lost but once in its past nine games. The East Divi Sion leading Bruins longest unbeaten Streak is 23 games in the1940-41 season. Mahovlich s 29th goal of the season came on a play similar to his first goal when the Detroit left Wing took a pass from Gordie Howe on the opposite Side of the net and slammed the puck past goalie Dejohnston. Hodge who has now score two goals in each of his three appearances in Detroit this season fired both in a Span of two minutes and 26 seconds of the Middle period to give Boston a 2-1  wings goalie Terry Sawchuk making his first appearance since last nov. 16, Only had to turn Back 20 Bosto shots while Detroit was plaster ing 38 at Johnston. Mahovlic presented Sawchuk with 1-0 Lead with 1 53 to play in the opening period. The excellent opening session was marked by a Brief free for All in which Detroit s Renel Clerce punched it out with Boston s Wayne Cashman at the same time Dallas Smith of the Bruins was penalized for hooking. Cashman Drew a major for the fracas while Leclerc was Given a major and a misconduct. New York up Rod Gil Bert scored two goals and Jean Ratelle added a goal and two assists thursday night As the new York rangers responded Tonew coach Emile Francis with a 3-1 Victory Over the los Angele Kings. Vic Hadfield the third Mem Ber of the Gilbert Ratelle line set up All three goals to give him a career High of 23 assists for the  Joyal scored the Only goal for the Kings who had their three game winning Streak , the club s general manager took Over the reins for at least three weeks when Doc tors ordered Bernie Geoffrion to take a rest because of a painful stomach ulcer. Ratelle and Gilbert gave the rangers to 2-0 Lead in the first period after taking passes fro Hadfield. Ratelle beat los Angeles goalie Gerry Desjardin with a 5-foot Backhander at 7 28 for his 13th goal of the season and Gilbert followed at 14 26 just a few moments after he missed an easy shot in front of the King net. Joyal s 16th goal came in the opening minutes of the second continued on Page so rangers coach ordered to take 3-week rest new York a Berni Geoffrion coach of the new York rangers of the National hockey league was ordered by doctors Friday to take three Bernie Geoffrion. Forced vacation writers cite ioe9s courage new Haven Conn. Up Joe Namath of the new York jets who overcame personal injuries to Lead his team to the world championship of professional football thursday was named Winner of the George Halas award As the most courageous player of the Yearby the professional football writers of America. Namath who played the entire year on terribly weak Knees also was bothered throughout the season by a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand but never missed a game while leading the jets to the american football league championship and a 16-7 Triumph Over the Baltimore Colts in the super bowl. The 25-year-old quarterback of the jets beat out Sonny Jurgensen of the Washington redskins in the balloting for the award. Jurgensen a Veteran quarterback played the entire season with a plastic cast around his rib  players received votes including one for any Eagle quarterback weeks off following his collapse last week. The announcement was mad eat a news conference before the rangers los Angeles  will be replaced by Emile Francis general Manger of the club who doubled As coach last  had been widespread rumours that Geoffrion would be replaced As coach of the rang ers when the club fell into Las place in the nil s East Divi Sion earlier this month. Club brass refused to comment on the situation at that time. How Ever at a news conference at which Geoffrion broke int tears Francis declared Geof Frion would remain As coach after he returns. Geoffrion collapsed inthe dressing room following a game in Oakland last  was taken to a Hospital where his condition was de scribed As a Lack of sugar con tent in the blood brought on bythe flu and irregular eating Hab its. He also suffers from a severe Case of stomach ulcers. Francis took Over the club for last saturday s game in St. Louis but Geoffrion returned Torun practice sessions tuesday and wednesday. Luid Gron out at Seattle Seattle a Little Gerr Lindgren the four time two mile Winner in Seattle s rmnua1 indoor invitational track neet will be absent from saturday night fifth annual event. A pulled ten Don in the left Heel which helped keep Lindgren out of the 1968 olympics has not healed. Harry Toscano. A 28-year-Okipro from new Castle pa., who has never captured a top Money prize and Mac Mclendon 23, of Montgomery ala., who Las year won the first pro tournament in which he  the delay of the first round officials said the final found of the 72-Hole tournament would be played monday Al though the television schedule Calls for programs on saturday and sunday. Rain fell steadily during Chelate morning but Early in the afternoon it became a Down pour. First play was suspended at the spy Glass Hill course Dur ing  sweep water from the  came the cancellation the pea wanted to  haired a 38-32 at the Cypress Point course while tos Cano carded 35-35 and Mclendon a 34-36, both at Pebble each. Fairways Border Ocean both courses have fairways bordering the Pacific Ocean on this Monterey Peninsula. The round was called off jus five minutes after Mclendon finished. Casper an Early starter missed the heavy rain and Toscano had it Only for the 16th,17th and 18th holes of his round. Other top scores that Wen Down the Drain were 71s by Mike Hill John Stevens and Lee elder. Arnold Palmer had carded a74 at spy Glass Hill while Jack Nicklaus making his first 1969tournament appearance was on the Pebble Beach course when play was halted. Defending Champion Johnny Pott had run into trouble at that layout and carded a 75 which now Means nothing. Hill and Wheeler Farish of Pebble Beach along with ital Ian open Champ Roberto Ber Nardini and his Amateur part Ner Richard Snideman also a Pebble Beach had Best Ball  of 62 in the pro am Divi Sion. Toscano remembers two years ago the third round of the Crosby was rained out and Toscano Well remember that Gale. To came to the 18th of Pebble needing a  to Finis the round with 107. So i hit out of Bounds Burthen they called it off said Toscano. "1 would have taken a110 at least if i had  Casper s memory went Backoo last year. On the 16th at Cypress he tried an Over the Ocean shot and the Ball fell into the sea. He took a five finished continued on Page so Rigney i hospitalized Pebble Beach Calif. A manager Bill Rigney of the baseball California Angels was hospitalized thursday after he complained of feeling Fain while playing in the Bing Cros by National Golf tournament. Or. Donald Scanlon said lateral Monterey Hospital that Rig Ney was in Good condition with rapid pulse rate. He said Rigney would be kept in the Hospital overnight As a precautionary measure. Rigney paired with professional Paul Haney said he be came faint Midway through the round. The doctor said Rigney might be Able to resume playing the tournament