European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 19, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday october 19, 1977 the stars and stripes Page 21 20 7 4 finale has Bradshaw praying Steeles hold off bengals Pitcher de Figueroa. All a misunderstanding Figueroa denies he jumped team by Herschel Nissenson new York a new York Yankees right hander de Figueroa branded rumours that he had jumped the team a misunderstanding monday and said he would be with the club for game 6 of the world series tuesday night. Figueroa reportedly upset Over being replaced As the new York starter against the los Angeles dodgers for tuesday night s game by Mike Torrez cleaned out his locker at Yankee stadium Early monday. There were reports he had left the team but Figueroa denied them. I asked Billy Martin on the plane coming Home last night if i could go Home to puerto Rico today since i was t going continued on Page 23  Pittsburgh a Terry Bradshaw was praying fervently and the Cincinnati bengals were trying desperately. But Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker Jack Ham said it was All just for show in the frantic final seconds of his teams s natio Nally televised 20-14 Victory Over the Beng als monday night. We were just trying to boost the Neil sen ratings. We re in the entertainment business Aren t we Ham said with his Tongue firmly in his Cheek after game ended with bengals wide receiver Issac Curtis being tackled at the Steeler seven Yard line. The Steeles held a relatively comfortable 20-7 Lead going into the final two min utes even though Bradshaw had played the game with a cast on the left wrist he fractured a week ago. Then some things started happening that made me feel awful helpless. I just started praying said Bradshaw who watched Cincinnati score on a blocked punt with 1 24 left and then fall just Short of Victory after a successful insides kick. It s like a lot of games we be played with Pittsburgh frustrating and disappointing lamented bengals coach Bill Johnson. We gave All we could give said Curtis. But a loss is a loss is a  while Bradshaw Quarter backed the Steeles defense knocked Cincinnati quarterback Ken Anderson from the game and then intercepted three passes by backup John Reaves who led the last ditch bid. The Victory boosted the Steeles 3-2, into a first place tie with Houston and Cleveland in the Central division of the National football league s american con Ference. The bengals favored by Many in pre season to oust the Steeles As division champs fell to 2-3 and remained wingless in eight games at three Rivers stadium. Cincinnati got a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining and threat get another in the closing seconds i to beat the clock to the end of the ened to but Faile game. Anderson left the game in the second Quarter with a knee injury after he was hit by Steeler tackle Steve Furness on a pass attempt. Reaves was intercepted by defensive backs Glen Edwards Donnie Shelland Mel Blount. Bradshaw who cracked a Small Bone in his left wrist last week in Houston fumbled his first snap from Center and fumbled twice More during the game. But the steel ers escaped harm each time. Though he passed Only nine times completing six for 117 Yards Bradshaw keyed two Steeler touchdown drives. In the first Quarter he hit John Staliworth with passes of 13 and 7 Yards to Sot up a one Yard run by Rocky Bleier to Ope the second period. Bleier ran two Yards for another Pitts Burgh touchdown with 3 38 left in the first half but Roy Gerela s extra Point kick hit the right upright and Pittsburgh led 13-0. Gerela s miss was far less disastrous than a Cincinnati Field goal try which set up Bleier s second touchdown. Chris Bahr was lined up for a 50-Yard at tempt when the Center snap sailed Way first Downs rushes Yards passing Yards return Yards passes punts fumbles lost Pencil ties Yards Cin 20 35-90 208 22 1536-4 5-41 4-1 8-93 pit 18 50 166 87 61 6-9-0 633 6-3 9-64 individual leaders Rushing Cincinnati Elliott 13-44, Clark 1336 Pitts Burgh Harris 16-73, Thornton 10-35, Bleier 12 29. Passing Cincinnati Anderson 7-11-1, 85 Reaves 8 25 3 142. Pittsburgh Bradshaw 6-9-0,117. Receiving Cincinnati Curtis 5-83, Brooks 3 57 Elliott 3-12. Pittsburgh Stallworth 3-43, Cunningham 2-49, Bleier Steeles Bradshaw. Helpless feeling Steinbrenner says Reggie to stay puts Martin s Fate in Paul s hands by Tony Kornheiser new York not Reggie Jackson will be with the new York Yankees next season George Steinbrenner said monday. He said also that he would leave the Deci Sion to keep or dismiss manager Billy Martin up to Gabe Paul the club presi Dent. Steinbrenner principal owner of the Yankees made these observations in his executive suite at Yankee stadium where his team could Clinch the world series tuesday night by beating the los Angeles dodgers. He replied to questions about the Fer ment that has enveloped the new York team even while a Pitcher de Figueroa was cleaning out his stadium locker and demanding to be traded. Figueroa at first said he would leave immediately for his Home in puerto Rico but then changed his mind. Steinbrenner who used to be a theatrical producer for such hit Broadway shows As applause suggested that the fre quent controversies surrounding the Yan Kees this season created what he called a mental toughness among the players and team executives that enabled the Yan Kees to be so successful in the recently concluded league championship playoff against Kansas City and in the world series. Steinbrenner pointed out that the Yan Kees won twice on the Road in both Kansas City and los Angeles when conventional Wisdom held that the Yankees were too filled with dissension to succeed. Dressed in a White shirt a Blue tie with the by Emblem on it a pair of cuff links that said nyy and a Diamond by ring Steinbrenner held a wide ranging interview that lasted for two hours. He Dis cussed his team his method of ownership and his Public image. Among the Points he made were the following his Public image was that of the continued on Page 23 Over his head. Bahr a former soccer Star from Perm state kicked the Ball twice As he pursued it. Blount finally grabbed the Ball and ran 15 Yards to the Cincinnati three Yard line two plays later Bleie went in. Cincinnati scored before half Irne As Reaves rolling left improvised and late rated to offensive tackle Glenn Bujnoch who rumbled four Yards for the bengals first touchdown. They scored again with 1 26 to play in the game when linebacker Reggie Wil Liams recovered a blocked Bobby Walden punt in the end zone. Melvin Morgan pounced on the ensuing on Side Kickoff for Cincinnati and the bengals managed to get As close As the Pittsburgh seven Yard line on a 25-Yard pass to Isaac Curtis before time ran out. Curtis was tackled by . Thomas Edwards and Shell As the final seconds ticked away. Two plays earlier Curtis dropped an almost certain touchdown pass in the end zone. In the third Quarter Edwards intercepted a Reaves pass in the Steeler end zone and ran it out to the 37-Yard line. Shell made his pass theft at the Pittsburgh 38 and Blount intercepted at the Cincinnati 24-Yard line in the final Quarter. Prior to Blount s interception Steeler Rookie Sid Thornton ran one Yard for a touchdown set up by a 40-Yard pass play from Bradshaw to Bennie Cunningham. Cincinnati 070 7-14 Pittsburgh o 13 0 720 pit Bleier 1 run Gerela kick pit Bleier 2 run kick failed cinbujnoch4 run Bahr kick pit Thornton 1 run Gerela kick Cin Williams recovered blocked punt in end zone Bahr kick a47,950 cose assaulted him on plane columnist claims Philadelphia up Philadelphia daily news sports columnist Stan Hoch Man monday accused Abc to sports commentator Howard Cosell of assaulting him aboard an air plane preparing to leave los Angeles following sunday s world series game. Hochman charged Cosell with slapping him four maybe five times sunday Wight after the two exchanged sarcastic re Marks. A spokesman for the newspaper said Hochman was exploring the possibility of a suit and criminal  any action would have to be taken in California be cause that is where the alleged incident occurred. Cosell called the incident completely and utterly insane. It s crazy. It s a joke. I can t believe this would  he said he saw Hochman who has had a great Deal of fun at my expense Over the years boarding the plane. Cosell said i Stan baby and playfully chucked Hochman under the Chin. Hochman however told port authority of new York police and airline authorities that Cosell attacked him at 9 45 p.m., Only minutes before the american airlines flight departed for new York s Kennedy International Airport. Cosell was walking Down the aisle and i said it s a thrill to be on the same plane with you Hochman said. According to Hochman Cosell replied i wish i had your Talent. I wish i had the Money you re  Hochman said he responded by telling Cosell i wish i could write Home about this  at this time Hochman charged he Cosell was alongside my seat. He reached out with his left hand and slapped me hard four maybe five times around the right ear and  Hochman warned Cosell that if you Ever Lay a hand on me again i la do some thing about it and then he shoved him away. Hochman charged that when Cosell walked away he mumbled the Dregs of the Earth the Dregs of the  the daily news said a witness air Force sgt. Rolante Fulgueras jr., gave Hochman a written statement saying he thought any slap May have been Friendly but to be honest it would have Hurt  Hochman said he was treated at the Kennedy Airport clinic for a headache andean pains