European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 01, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 22 the stars and stripes saturday october 1, 1977 has knocked off Cincinnati new England Cleveland is the nil Surprise by United press International most preseason discussions about the acc Central this year entered around the Cincinnati bengals and the Pittsburgh Steeles. Some experts liked the bengals explosive offence with Ken Anderson pass ing to Isaac Curtis. Others favored the Steeles defense led by Jack Lambert and Joe Greene. Nobody paid much attention to the Cleveland Browns. Now no one is ignoring them. Cleveland has been the surpise team of the nil so far this season with victories Over Cincinnati and new England both considered playoff contenders in its first two games. The Browns get their third straight stiff test sunday when they Host the Steeles. I expected us to be 2-0," Cleveland coach Forrest Gregg said following the Browns 30-27 overtime Victory Over new England monday night. But i know a lot of people had an idea there was no Way we could be 2-0." the Browns turned things around a Long time ago but playing in the Tough acc Central made it difficult for them to at tract attention. After a 3-11 record in 1975, the Browns finished a surprising 9-5 last year missing the playoffs by one game. They have won 10 of their last 12 regular season games. An 18-16 upset of the Steeles last season started Cleveland on a string of eight Vic tories in its last 10 games to stay in the playoff picture until the last weekend. That game was also the Steeler s last regular season loss until their 10-game Streak was broken sunday by a 16-7 defeat to Oakland. Following their monday night game the Browns have one fewer Day to prepare for the Steeles a situation which does t please Gregg especially after two difficult upset victories. Playing Pittsburgh anytime is not pleasant said Gregg who faces an even tougher Challenge next week against Oak  s upset of new England saw four ties and four Lead changes and was decided at 10 15 of overtime by Don Cockroft s third Field goal a 35-yarder. The unusual part was Gregg elected to try for the winning Field goal on second Down at the patriots 18-Yard line Over the objections of quarterback Brian Sipe. Gregg told Sipe i believe Well just take our three Points and go Home. I m  five turnovers and five a a sacks undid the Steeles against Oakland. Pittsburgh a a Terry Bradshaw who hit tight end Bennie Cunningham with a 43-Yard pass for Pittsburgh s Only score suffered a bruised thigh and two sprained toes but is expected to play against Cleveland. In other games sunday Buffalo is at Baltimore Cincinnati at san Diego Den ver at Seattle Houston at Miami new England at the new York jets Green Bay at Minnesota new Orleans at Chicago the new York giants at Atlanta Philadelphia at Detroit St. Louis at Washington san Francisco at los Angeles and Tampa Bay at Dallas. Oakland is at Kansas City monday night. St. Louis and Washington keys in recent years to the pfc Winner or wild card team each rebounded last week from opening game losses to score victories. Jim Bakken kicked three Field goals in St. Louis Triumph Over Chicago after four misses in an opening shutout loss to Den ver. Miami and Houston is the Only game be tween nil unbeaten teams. Houston s aggressive defense will be tested by Miami s multiple offence featuring wide receiver Nat Moore who scored All three dolphins touchdowns in a 19-15 Victory Over san Francisco. The Only other season the Dol-1 pins won their first two games was 1972 when they were super bowl champs with17-0 record. Victim of Lee s charge John Lee left of the san Diego chargers grabs Mike Livingston of the Kansas City chiefs to cause a Fumble during their game at Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City. Leroy Jones of the chargers picked up the Ball and scored. The chargers won the game 23-7. A photo by Eric Prewitt Napa Calif. A Dale Douglass whose last tournament title came in 1970, shot an opening round 66 thursday for the first round Lead in Napa s annual pro Golf tour event and was pursued closely by Sev eral other players desperate for Victory. It s the first time i be put a decent score on the Board in a Long time the 41 year old Douglass said after his six under Par round in the Silverado country club s South course. Larry Ziegler and Mac Mclendon posted 67s, also on the South course to tie for Sec Ond going into Friday s second round of the $200,000 tournament. Mclendon is 44th on this year s Money winning list but Zieg Ler is a Distant 92nd. Tom Watson the tour s leading Money Winner matched Par with a 72 but was looking up at More than three dozen play ers ahead of him and said More Power to  Douglass made four birdies in a Row on he front nine took consecutive bogeys at the Lith and 12th holes but bounced Back with Birds on the final two holes including one at no. 17 when he sunk a 20-foot putt. Most of the first round leaders played the South course 200 Yards Shorter than Silverado s North course which measures Ahl accepts firebirds of defunct Nahl Springfield mass. Up the american hockey league thursday announced the acceptance of the Philadel phia firebirds of the defunct North Ameri can hockey league into the Ahl for the season which begins oct. 15. Gordon Anziano vice president of the Ahl said the Board of governors approved the entry unanimously at a meeting in Boston wednesday and the firebirds management confirmed thursday it would meet the Ahl s terms. The terms were no announced. On tuesday the league unanimously a Umbarger sold Back to Tex. Oakland up _ the Oakland a s have sold Pitcher Jim Umbarger Back to the Texas hangers or an undisclosed amount of Cash. Proved the Sale and Transfer of the Rhode Island reds franchise to Binghamton . Anziano said it s unusual for the league to take such action so close to the beginning of the season but it did so be cause it believed Binghamton and Phila Delphia had housed solid Nahl franchises last season. Both of those franchises were very successful in the North american hockey league and we expect they will be in the american hockey league he said. James Matthews owner of the defunct Binghamton dusters of the Nahl and Andre Veilleux of St. George de Beauce Quebec purchased the reds for what an Ziano described Only As a six figure  Anziano said the league s nine teams will be split into two divisions. The Northern division will consist of the Nova Scotia voyageurs the Maine mariners Springfield indians and the dusters. The Southern division will consist of the Hershey bears Rochester americans Hampton gulls new Haven nighthawks and the firebirds. Full schedules will be available to the Public in about a week Anziano said. Leafs reactivate Ellis Toronto a the Toronto Maple Leafs have lured right Winger Ron Ellis Back from a two year retirement the National hockey league club announced. Ellis 32, retired at the end of the 1974-75 season after 11 years As one of the club s top right wingers. He had scored 276 goals and 258 assists during his career and was noted As one of the top checking wingers inthe league. 6,819 Yards and also plays to Par 72. Grier Jones was an exception. He shot a 68 on the North course and was tied with Pat Fitzsimons Gibby Gilbert and Jeff Mitchell who All opened play on the South course. A Large group of golfers at 69 included Mark Lye a 24-Yearold tour Rookie from Napa who caddies four times in his Home town event once for George Archer who also opened with a 69. Jerry heard Billy Casper Lou Graham Art Wall Roger Maltbie and defending tournament Champion . Snead also were at 69. Those with 70s included Rod Funseth Bruce Lietzke Rod curl and Ker Mit Zarley. Johnny Miller whose Golf game has gone shockingly sour this year shot a 77. The players switch courses Friday and after the Friday night Cut to the top 70 players the tournament will end with rounds the final two Days on the North course. The event formerly the Kaiser International is being sponsored this year by an Heuse Busch. Watson looking at the scoreboard filled win so Many rounds in the 60s, said "72 is not a very Good score. I la have to drive a lot better to have any Chance at  he has won five 1977 tournaments including the masters and British open but observed thursday ill Tell you one thing it s harder now than at the beginning of the year. I m  Watson has won $305,428 this year com pared to Douglass total of $8,039. The leaders Dale Douglas Larry Ziegler Mac Mclendon Gibby Gilbert Jeff Mitchell Greer Jones Pat Fitzsimons Mark Lye Jerry heard Lou Graham Roger Maltbie George Archer Bill Casper Bill Pelham Art Wall j. C. Snead Bud Allan Ron Cerrudo Bob Zender Alan Taple Dwight Nell Steve Taylor Andy North Bruce Lietzke Bill Calfee Rod Funseth Don Iverson 30-3666 34-3367 33-3467 35-3368 35-3368 36-3268 33-3568 35-3469 32-3769 32-3769 32-3769 35-3469 35-3449 32-3769 35-3469 33-3669 32-3769 33-3669 36-3369 35-34-49 35-3449 35-3449 34-3670 36-3470 38-3270 37-3370 34-3670 continued on Page 25