European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 23, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                July 1977 the stars and stripes Page 21 nil denies All reports that wha merger talks have been thrown but new York a a National hockey league fac finding committee investigating do proposed merger with the world hockey association is examining questions and problems involved an nil spokesman said the spokesman termed premature reports that the merger agreement had fallen adding that the nil Board of governors was expected to Convene a meeting within the next few weeks to hear a status report from the fac finding com there were reports that eight of the in nil clubs now oppose the agreement which would have allowed six wha teams id join the playing in their own dial Tion and competing in the playoffs for the Stanley it would take Only five Nega Tive votes to Block any identified As currently opposing the plan were Vancouver Chica los the new York wanders and an islander spokesman called his teams position Neutral were not opposed to it but were not for it yet he we want to so All of the facts and in wha president Bill Macfarland said eight of his leagues teams expect to Complete application forms by the end of his week at part of the merger he said in an interview with the Hamil ton Spectator that the Quebec Cincinnati Edmonton Winnipeg Houston new eng land Birmingham bulls and Cal Gary cowboys were working on the Indianapolis racers have said they will not participate in a the nil gave us their old application forms which have basically the same information they things like Arena population and financial aspects of the teams and Macfarland said in an interview this we Are anticipating the new application forms later ibis week and by then we should have All or most of the necessary in formation on in that Case we should have everything completed by the end of the Macfarland said As far As the wha is concerned the application forms Are in order based on assumptions we arc we feel we have everything completed but we Are still relying on the nil for once All the documents Are completed and submitted to the nil then the expansion Issue will Bounce Back into the nil is most concerned with the financial stability of our although the teams in the wha lost Money last the owner Sand principals making the applications Are on a sound financial the make to in the wha Dales Are acceptable but some of the buildings Are Short of nil new England and Winnipeg will be Wefing seats Over the next three Yean to bring them up to the minimum required by the right Calgary position int the Nordques said recently they would rather wait for a year of the merger Deci Sion because Urey didst want to see their representatives on their Knees to the at a wha Board of trustees meeting Here the club decided to join the rest of the Ben the Whas chairman of the said once the nil receives the completed applications the nil will Call a Board of governors meeting within id Macfarland Hopes the Issue will be settled next just in the wha has several combinations of one for a six team another for seven and one for eight Namath works out in bandages quarterback Joe with knee heavily goes through a Brief workout at the los Angeles rams train ing Camp in Namath pronounced himself healthy but n Little injury to Dorsett Are nil training Camp highlights by the associated press a pair of some big name hold outs and an injury to a Man who has yet to run his first play in the National football league were the highlights thursday at training Camps throughout the Dallas Tony the bes known Rookie entering the league this suffered a sprained knee White carrying the Ball during scrimmage against san Diego and will be sidelined three to four the helsman trophy Winner last season when he played at carried four times for 10 Yuanfa in the Sfax Emend called reckless by Bill Martin san Francisco a there is no doubt Pittsburgh be outs coach Chuck Noll was trying to damage George Atkin son when he linked him to a criminal ele ment in professional a Federal court jury was told Noll was nobody attorney Willie Brown said in final arguments at atkinsons million slander he knew what he was there is no question he had to mind doing serious damage to atkinsons he showed absolute reckless disregard As to what might happen to Atkinson in his Steeler attorney James said Nolls explanation of what he meant by criminal element those who wantonly break the rules shows that his words were aptly applied and correctly used District judge Sam Conti said thursday be would Send the nine Darold Case to the four woman civil jury the Oakland raiders Veteran defensive is seeking 41 million each from the Steeles and Noll because of re Marks Noll made following 8 raiders game last in an emotional closing Brown asked the jury to give Atkin son Back his the conduct of Atkinson is not something which should Merit the kind of criminal Lor that has been put an him by Brown it be Clear Noll had in mind doing considerable damage to Brown it is Clear he meant for Atkinson to be held up to ill although he noted Noll had moderated his statements during testimony in the Brown said Noll and the Steeles should be punished for letting this thing go for so Long without telling the world what they really Brown also challenged testimony by National football league commissioner Pete saying there was Bias by the league office in favor of the Steeles and against Atkinson and the in his final Mclnnis called the trial a War for control of the a War for the repudiation of Pate Hielle and a War for supplanting of the is Laliah you must consider Noil had inno cent intent and he had no malice when he made the criminal element statement be cause in his testimony he named his own with sad and expected Macon nos Atkinson will suffer no damage As a result of the Mclnnis i do not think anyone would con Sider Atkinson would encounter any thing but Prosperity in the also the teeters withdrew their is million counterclaim against at Kinson for injuries suffered by Oakland Lynn Swann in the game last tint steel cars counterclaim had con tended Atkinson deliberately tried to injure Swann when he clubbed the Fleet receiver Over the head in the Oklah Pilu Burgh game 11 at the Lime the claim was swam had indicated he would but during he trial he testified that he would play this that gave the Steeles no basis on which to claim their James acknowledged final witnesses thursday included John vice president for film production of nil who described How films of the Atkins Swann incident were selected for inclusion in a highlights episode on monday night football the next recalled Lor Brief rebuttal testimony were Steeles president Dan Rooney and raiders owner Ai the Buffalo Bills traded Center Mike Montler to Denver for an undisclosed but High 1s79 draft a fou year had asked the Bills to Deal him to Denver after accusing Buffalo of my heart referring to his contract negotiations with the the bengals traded third year running Back Stan frills to the new Orleans saints for an undisclosed draft was the 2 ground gainer for the bengals in but was hampered by an injured knee last season and rushed for Only 200 the los Angeles rams reported us major including Bob their top draft a 6foom All America line Backer from Ohio claimed that and even third round draft choices on other clubs have been offered More Money to sign than the rams have uttered also on the rams holdout list were line Backer Jack wide receiver Harold Light end Charlie Center Rich Saul and guard Tom one player returned to Camp and was reinstated after being thai was offensive tackle Darryl Carlton of this has to be the last said Carl who reported to Camp overweight and refused to run wind sprints last prompting his Ive gone astray too the Baltimore Colts signed free agent tight end Mack a seven year Veter Cleveland signed its 1 draft Robert a linebacker from Texas who agreed to a series of five one year and Detroit got some bad news when running Back Lawrence Gaines underwent his second knee