European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 26, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday april 26, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary boxing s most flagrant fraud1 returns outside like Irish Mist rain Clouds floated above and below. Up on the 106th floor of new York s world Trade Center in the windows on the world ballroom that Irish Mist of a heavyweight Gerry Coo Ney arrived for this week s announcement of his latest return to the real world a May 31 bout with Eddie Gregg in san Francisco. Not Many boxers can ride an elevator More floors than he s had rounds in his career. But Cooney did. In his 27-1 record with 23 knockouts Over the last decade Cooney has fought Only 105 rounds Only 20 in six bouts Over the last six years Only six in two bouts Over the last four years. After he was stopped by Larry Holmes in the 13th round of their 1982 title bout Cooney disappeared for 27 months. Following Quick knockouts of Phil Brown and George Chaplin in a Brief comeback he disappeared for another 16 months. But now he was on display again his casual diamonds sparkling his casual Demea nor betrayed by darting Brown eyes below a furrowed brow whenever a Tough question was asked. I have a couple Good years left he was saying. I can t let it slip by  he probably has already let his Best years slip by. He s 29 years old with Only two Brief fights in the last four years. But in thoughtless moments monday he talked about How boxing is my life and described himself As an old pro an insult to any Boxer who deserves that honorable phrase. He s not Only not an old pro he s also boxing s most flagrant fraud since Primo camera half a Century ago. But once a White Hope always a White Hope. Over the last four years it s As if Cooney has been an actor portraying a Boxer. And on this Day he appeared to be auditioning for a part on Miami vice As a Boxer. He was wearing a Long sleeved Brown striped White shirt with the Collar turned up fashionably in the Back baggy Khaki pants and White sneakers. Even his Dave Anderson face resembled an actor s rather than a Boxer s. His skin was so smooth that it looked like he had makeup on. Asked to explain his recent 16-month absence Coo Ney spoke of a serious problem at Home not to be talked  he appeared Slimmer than in the past but his weight was 23 5 pounds. He acknowledged that rust iness might have some effect but said he Felt he had More rhythm now adding i Don t get a  he tired in the late rounds against Holmes four years ago. Cooney reappeared Cincio ent atly about 32 hours after Holmes a loser to Michael Spinks for the second time in an International boxing federation title bout announced that he will not fight anymore. Some people believe that if Holmes had regained the if title last saturday Cooney s plans would have been revised. Holmes was on record As unwilling to Grant Cooney a rematch even four years later Assum ing that Cooney could have earned one. Now that Holmes has lost again the scenario for Home Box office s heavyweight series to create one Champion is for Spinks to defend his if title against Cooney in september. But first Cooney a ranked because of inactivity must get by Gregg ranked 12th by the if ninth by the world boxing Council and fourth by the world boxing association. Throughout Cooney s career his opponents always were hand picked like tomatoes. Or Tomato cans. But in order for the if to rank him Cooney s manager Dennis Rappaport knows that his heavyweight must get by a ranked contender. As the 12th and last if contender Gregg fits the description Cooney has to show some credibility Gregg s Trainer Tom Gallagher said. They need us. They need our ranking. They had no place else to  As proof of the sorry state of the heavyweight Divi Sion the if apparently will be willing to Sanction Cooney As a title challenger if he gets by Gregg a 31 year old from new York with a 24-1-1 record including 18 knockouts. Now studying for his master s degree in athletic administration at St. Johns Gregg resents his role As an opponent for Cooney. I intend to fight Cooney not Box him Gregg said. I can hit him More than he can hit  Gregg s loss was an eighth round knockout by James Broad two years ago. About a year ago he earned a 10 round decision Over Tex Cobb once battered by Holmes Over 15 rounds in Houston. After that fight Gregg remembered Cobb told me i would not like to meet you in a dark Alley to me that was More of a compliment than winning the  one of Gregg s co managers Mike Rakoski predicted his 6-foot-5-Inch, 230-Pound Gladiator will Knock out Gerry Cooney with a right hand to the fore head in the fifth  co manager Bob Grossman offered two reasons Why Gregg has never had much publicity he s never been in prison and he s never Given up drugs because he s never taken  As the opponent Gregg has been guaranteed $50,000 for the cow Palace bout that is being advertised As earthquake ii on the 60th anniversary of the san Francisco earthquake. As the attraction Cooney will collect at least $300,000 despite his inactivity despite his tendency for injuries and ailments. I la believe this May 31 bout when the Bell rings for the first round. New York times Langston hurls mariners by a s by the associated press Oakland Calif. Mark Langston of the Seattle mariners needed a Victory much More than the Oakland a s Jose Rijo who lost thursday night despite another spectacular pitching performance. The Monkey got off my Back. This was a big win for me said Langston. He brought an 11.45 Era into the game but worked 7% shutout innings and gained his first Victory of the season As Seattle won 3 1. Rijo allowed Only two hits homers by Alvin Davis and Ken Phelps and struck out 14 batters in 8 /6 innings. That gives him 30 strikeouts in two games two Short of the major league record. Karl Best saved the Victory for Langston 1-2. I made the big pitches when i had to and had some great defense behind me. I d like to think my Cut fastball made the Dif Ference Langston said. I decided to Chal Lenge them with the  Rijo used overpowering fastballs and Sharp sliders just As he did last saturday Al Roundup no night when he struck out 16 batters in eight plus innings at Seattle. But he made a couple of mistakes this time Davis said. I m sure that he d say the fastball i hit was up and out Over the plate More than he wanted. It was a Little bit of me and a Little of him. That was the combination for the  Rijo said i missed a Little on the Home run pitches. But i feel Good about the game. I be worked hard on my control and now i m getting my Slider Over the  Nolan Ryan with the 1974 California Angels and Dwight Gooden of the 1984 new York mets totalled 32 strikeouts Over two games. Rijo 1-1, and reliever Steve Ontiveros combined on a two hitter Davis two run Homer in the fourth and Phelps Solo shot in the ninth. Langston gave up six hits in 7% shutout says he gave 110% innings and Best gave up Jose Canseco s rib single in the ninth. Rijo retired the first 10 batters striking out seven of them before walking Al cow ens in the fourth. Davis then hit an 0-1 pitch Over the left Field Fence for his fourth Homer of the season. Phelps hit his first Home run of the sea son with one out in the ninth finishing Rijo. Ontiveros relieved Rijo and struck out the final two Seattle batters. In the Only other Al game Yankees 2, indians 1 new York Ron Guidry scattered 10 hits and Bobby Meacham scored the tie breaking run in the fifth inning on Cleveland first baseman Pat Tabler s error. Guidry 3-0, struck out four and walked none. He became the first new York starter to pitch More than 7v4 innings this sea son. With the score tied 1-1, Meacham led off the fifth with a walk stole second and scored when Tabler displayed Don mat tingly s routine grounder with two outs. Up photo Mark Langston. Monkey got off my Back from Page 21 five hit pitching of Shane Rawley. Schmidt hit a two run Homer in the first inning off Rick Rhoden and hit his fourth of the year in the ninth. Reds 3, astros 0 Houston Mario Soto pitched a three hitter and Cincinnati broke its four game losing Streak by beating Houston. Nick Esasky hit a Solo Home run his third of the year in the fourth inning off Mike Madden 1-1. The Homer was Cincinnati s 12th of the year one in each of its first 12 games. The reds Are one Short of the major league team record for Home runs in consecutive games at the Start of a season. Parker claims bucs persecuting him Cincinnati a Cincinnati reds outfielder Dave Parker says the Pittsburgh pirates Are ignorant for unfairly persecuting him for the cocaine use he says he ended in 1982. Parker 34, left the pirates after the 1983 season and signed for 1984 with the reds As a free agent. He says the pirates lawsuit that charges he breached his 1979, Multi year contract with the club is an Effort to keep the pirates from paying him $5.3 Mil lion in deferred payments. The pirates said monday they were suing Parker. They say his cocaine use Hurt his base Ball skills and kept him from staying in top physical shape. He violated terms of the con tract by failing to inform the pirates of his cocaine use the team contends. I know exactly what those people in Pittsburgh Are doing Parker told the Cincinnati Post for a column published thurs Day. They re taking a shot in the dark to get out of an obligation. I View this As being very ignorant on their part. They say i did t give my All but i played with broken jaws bad Knees All types of injuries and illnesses. I went out and played hard every Day in an environment not suited to that. All i did was give 110 percent in that town. And those owners want to sue be cause they say i did t give my All. That s  Parker is one of seven major leagues who is Able to play this season because he submitted to punishment ordered by base Ball commissioner Peter Ueberroth for the players who either used or distributed drugs. To avoid suspension for this season they had to agree to give 10 percent of their salaries to drug rehabilitation programs in their cities submit to random drug testing for the rest of their careers and perform Community service related to drug pro Grams