European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 07, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse Saturday june 7, 1980 the stars and stripes Poge 23 officials reluctant to Rock the boat the Maryland racing commission has spoken and so we Musl look to saturday s Belmont Slakes to deter mine How much genuine risk was wronged by Codex in the widely debated Preakness brushing incident three weeks ago. A Codex Victory generally expected in the longest and toughest of the triple Crown tests would perhaps soften but certainly can not Drou n out the cries of outrage which have risen in the risk s behalf. The Fleet Chestnut filly the second of her sex in 106 years to win the Kentucky Derby has become a National cause Cal Curc. Not Only those Richards who failed to Cash winning tickets at Baltimore but millions of people who Don t know a paddock from a fetlock have swarmed into the fray. Nobody likes to Sec a Guy Lake advantage of a lady. Nevertheless the Maryland commission reviewing the controversial race on an Appeal by genuine risk s owners found no reason this week to alter the pc Akness outcome California s Codex the Winner by 41 lengths Over the filly. While Bert and Diana Firestone talked of seeking redress in the courts it appeared that the final Appeal will have to do the i i Milc racing strip at Beautiful Sylvan Belmont. But regardless of the outcome of the race it will no Settle a question that comes to everybody s mind Why in most sports where judgment is a Factor a heavy weight boxing championship baseball s world series olympic diving gymnastics and figure skating events not to mention the three jewels in racing s triple Crown in there a tendency to office to with kid gloves the Rule of thumb appears to be Don t upset the Appl Ecart. Avoid controversy at All costs. Unless the abuse is outrageously flagrant look the other Way. Stewards have looked at photographs of the Pyrcak Ness race still and moving until their eyeballs Burn. They saw jockey Angel Cordero or. Bear out slightly in the path of the onrushing genuine risk turn ing into the stretch. They saw Cordero lashing his mount vigorously with a crop that came close to if it did t much the filly s dilating was no visible proof of actual interference. Yet the whole world saw genuine risk hesitate then Low her desire to run. Something definitely happened. What w As it was it sufficient to take Codex number Down the highest track authorities said so be it. The feeling Here is that Codex would have won anyhow. But Thill is not the Crux of the dispute is this would the ruling have been the same if it had been just an Ordinary eighth race at Pamlico if not Why not Why should special events be decided under private special rules in the combined 326 years of the triple Crown events the bal Mon the oldest dating Back to 1867. With the pc Akness to 1873 and the Derby to 1875 there s never been a disqualification fur a track incident. Yet . Tracks including Churchill Downs. Pamlico and Belmont. Report Between 10 and 20 disqualifications in a single racing t there an inconsistency Here such a its have no rhubarb policy is not unique to horse racing. In Prie fighting it s not enough for a challenger to build up an Edge in blows struck and damage done. He must virtually decimate the tit Schuld or to wrest away his great Muhammad am knows this As much As anyone. His decision Over Doug Jones when he then Cassius Clay was heir apparent in 1963 was highly questionable. Most ringside is argue that Jimmy Young gave Ali a lacing at Landover. Md., in 1976 and there Are those who insist Ken Norton scored three victories Over him but got Only Don t loss out argumentative managers and ballplayers in the world series the last and one of the rare incidents was the Yankees Billy Martin in 1976 and it s common knowledge that fewer flags arc thrown in the super bowl than in regular season football in events such As gymnastics diving and figure skating where politics thrive is so wedged in establishment Stone that favourites can fall Flat on their faces and still survive. It s just the name of the game. Tow Aswelt cd part Mcaa championships dash record bids erased by wind Leader of the pack Mike Fri Lon 524 of Oregon lends the Fulton As i ult to maintain his Lead Field in an Early Lap of a and Sidney Mam 482 of a Juanota qualifying beat at the Mcaa track and won the heal in 3 43.37, the fastest of fiem championships at Austin Texas. 12 qualifiers. A photo by Bert Rosenti Ial Austin. Texas a Mike Robur son of Florida state University and James Sanford of Southern California displayed some sensational sprinting thursday night at the Mcaa track and Field championships. But their performances were marred by Strong prevailing winds and will not be recognised. Roberson a 23-year-old senior from Winter Park fla., Blaed to a clocking of 19.95 seconds in a trial heat of the 200 meter dash. The wind however was 3.39 meters per second far above the allowable two meters per second. Had Roberson s time been acceptable it would have broken the collegiate record of 20.83, set by Clancy Edwards of Southern Cal two years ago and would have an a reached the world Mark of 19.72 Stab shed last year by Italy s Pictro my inca. Sanford winning another trial heat of the 200, also had a Fust Lime 20.21, in beating defending Champion Greg Foster of Urcla. Foster was second in the heat in 20.36.the wind was 2.76 meters per second. Earlier Sanford was even More impressive turning in a Lime of 10.00 in a trial of the 100-meter dash and running a legion the trojans 400-meter relay team that set a stadium the 100, however the prevailing wind was 3.39 meters per second. Sanford the world s lop ranked sprinter and the collegiate record Holder with a Lime of 10.02 at the Urcla invitational on May 11, also had a wind aided 9.88 clock ing on May 3 in a dual meet against Urcla. The world record is 9.95, set by Jim hints in the 1968 olympic games at Mexico City. Roberson Winner at the world univer sity games in Mexico City last year in 10.07, had the second fastest qualifying time in thursday s heats with a 10.09, also wind aided. Among the others gaining the semifinals were defending Champion Jerome Deal of Texas Elpaso and three time indoor 60 Yard Champion Curtis Dickey of Texas am. Earlier Southern Cal s 400-meter relay team including Sanford his brother Mike Kevin Williams and Bill Green set a re Cord for the University of Texas memorial stadium with a time of 39.12 in the trials. In leading the is qualifiers for Friday s semifinals the trojans eclipsed the stadium Mark of 39.21 set april 5 in the Texas relays. Southern Cal established the collegiate record of 38.69 on feb. 23 in los Angeles. The trojans also hold the Mcaa Mark of 38.6 set in 1967. While the showings of Sanford in the sprints and the efforts of its 400 meter relay team appeared to boost South Ern Cal s title Hopes inc trojans chances were jolted at the same Lime when the school announced in los Angeles thai 800 meter standout David Mwanza of Kenya continued on Page i new coach Robertson says pistons can be a Winner Pontiac Mich. Up Sony Robertson was named the 18th coach in Detroit pistons history thursday and put himself on the spot by saying last year s team which won Only 16 games could turn into a Winner this like this team Robertson said of a pistons squad Hal went 16-66 under first Dick vital and then Richie Adubato. Who look Over when Vilalte was fired 12 games into inc franchise s 23rd year. I think we can win. I m not talking Aboul Down the Road i mean this year said Robertson 50. Who left a Job As assist ant to Del Harris of inc Houston rockets to sign a Multi year contract for an Undis closed salary to ouch the pistons the native of fort Smith. Ark. We made his College reputation with a 10-sur i65-k6 record at Louisiana tech. Was the first coach of inc new Orleans a but lust that Job when the expansion team got of Loa 1-14 Start. He moved up from to compile an 11-15 record with the Chicago bulls when Larry a ustillo was fired As their coach at the end of the 1977-78 season. I feel secure Here and i think this club is going places Robertson said. When i was Here two Days for my interview i saw More positive things going on than i be seen another place i be
