European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 29, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Blues Are saved july 1977 the staffs and stripes 25 Louis a Ralston Purina has reached tentative agreement to Pur Chase the Louis blues National hockey league it was announced Hal chairman and chief executive officer of Ralston said his firm will Purchase Alt blues Stock from majority stockholders Sidney Salomon and Sid Salomon and other Stockhold ers and assume outstanding obligations Al Acosto about a mlle coach and general Man Ager of the will become president and general Dean we stepped in in what we thought was a Las ditch Las resort Dean from our evaluation it was either to slopped in or the blues left one of he blues biggest financial head the heavily mortgaged will be reined by the blues from a group of louts businessmen and sport service of the cousins mortgage and equity investments of Atlanta will acquire ownership of the Arena from the Salomons and lease u to the new joint Dean declined to elaborate the complicated and Complex questions holding up final one Issue yet to be is the successful Resolution of certain Union contracts Dean we do not think its otherwise we  be Ralston Purina reaches agreement to Purchase nil Louis club having this press Dean said the Purchase had been approved by the company Board of directors and that All of the blues debtors would basal psf he said the pet and animal food company did not expect to lose Money on the in the last fiscal the company had sales of billion and a profit of calling the blues a civic appealed for fans to come out in see the hockey the Salomons brought the franchise to Louis in 1967 and were Active in Uio clubs operation until Early the Salomons faded into the background san Francisco tint Frey looks Luu he the sliding Lenny handle out by a mile Bat the new York met Wai Safe on theres Many a slip his four thinning steal wednesday when Fotey dropped Ibe throw from Catcher Gary Umpire de Sundol eyes the play u the mets handle was injured on the play and had to leave the photo Dibbs win at Louisville net by Mike Clark a to seeded Gulllermo Vilas of Argentina rallied from a slow Start wednesday to Post a 3 Victory Over unheralded and unseeded Frank Gebert of West Germany in a first round match of the Louisville International Tennis in a second round match later in toe Day second seeded Eddie Dibbs of Miami needed just 49 minutes to Dis Patch Victor Amaya of who came to Louisville off a Victory in Washington staggered in the first set before Gebers Sharp but the French open Champion collected his serve and Volley game in the next two sets to win the match Vilas won a pair of service Breaks in taking the second set and recorded another break in jumping ahead 10 in the third Gebert rallied briefly for a 21 Lead by treating Vilas and then holding his own but it was All Vilas after Walton leads Hickok voting new York a Center Bill who led the underdog Portland Trail Blaz ers to the National basketball association championship Over the Philadelphia scored a narrow Victory in the june ballot ing for the Isth annual Rae Hickok professional athlete of the year Walton received 27 firs place votes and 153 Points in edging golfer Hubert who7aptured the Green had 26 firs place votes and Points in the bal baseballs Rod Drew of the Minne Sota twins was third with 1464 although he polled 36 first plate Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies Jean the rider of triple Crown Winner Seattle edged out his mount for fifth although Karen Taylor s Coll did manage More firs place previous monthly winners Are jockey Steve Boxer Jimmy golfer Tom Watson and Indianapolis 500 Winner Down Vilas rallied to hold his own service for then used a pair of double faults by Gebert to win a break and a 32 each player held service in the next three games before Vitas won the gome and the match on another double fault by Vilas troubles in his first round match were typical of he opening Days of this in which four seeded players already have 9 John Alexander of Australia lost to Henry seventh seeded Phil Dent of Australia had an easy time in defeating John Marks in another first round seeded Wojtek Fieback of a finalist Here last used five service Breaks in cruising to a 61 Victory Over Larry Dierker on disabled list Louis i up the Louis Cardi nals have placed right handed starter Larry on the 21day disabled list with a sore left last year when they named Francis Gener Al manager and Francis has run the club since coming from the new a in nil president Clarence Campbell this is a Gratifying thing As far As nil concerned because cause it gives us the Type of ownership that any pro sports league would hic to louts has always been one of the Nils Best towns from attendance Point of View and any problems Lehiy had was not because of Lack of Campbell also said he was Happy that Francis will remain As general manager because this will give Louis Knowle Gable knee injury retires skins lorry Brown Byton Whitfield up running Back Larry who gained More than Yards to Lead the Wash Ngum redskins to the 1972 super surrendered to chronic knee problems and has retired from professional football redskins coach George Allen said the final year of Browns playing contract will be honoured and that the 29yearold state graduate will work with the clubs Public relations speaking at dubs and George Allen and i arrived at a joint decision with team physician Stan Ford Levine that it would be physically impossible for me to endure the stress and Strain of another football said Allen characterized the retirement As for the Good of everyone and added Larry deserves to go out on top and not the redskins Al time leading rusher with gained of them in his first five he ran for Yards in 1970 to become the first Redskin to Ever run More than Yards in one season and his us Yards in 1972 took Washington to the super 511 and 204 first injured his right knee during the 1973 preseason in a scrimmage with the Philadelphia but recovered to gain 860 Yards that year the knee was re injured in the 1774 inaugural against the new York giants when Fie was Tut by Brad Van me gained just 430 Yards that 3si the following season and just 58 on 20 carries i came to Camp purposely because i had a said Levine fell that if 1 had played this i would have damaged my knee and it would have put me in a very awkward physical Condi Browns retirement apparently leaves John an expensive free agent a Quisti Orrial As the redskins Only established but Allen refused to talk about the saying this is larrys Day thais something Well find out Dawn the but i will say there air Cal going to be Many Larry Browns Down the Atkinson pays fines Santa i George at Kinson returned to the Oakland raiders preseason Camp wednesday after paying fines levied against hint by the National football league for alleged dirty the raiders the controversial defensive who lost a slander suit last week against Pitts Burgh Steeles coach Chuck had been expelled from Camp by the nil and missed workouts tuesday afternoon and wednesday