European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 22, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday. December 22, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary Usel residue Flavoured nil s season the penalty was s3 cheap enough for the nil s Lead attorney to offer to pay it out of his pocket on the spot. And with thai judgment pro football became a one league spoil again this fall. As the Usel faded from View swallowed up in a sea of red Ink and a bargain basement antitrust award its stars did inc Only thing they could do signing with the nil. Their arrival and the introduction of a controversial instant replay Rule gave Llie old league an interesting new look for in 66th year. With thai season approaching its conclusion it seems a Good Lime to review the Impact of inc two innovations an instant replay if you will of the nil s most intriguing new wrinkles. For Yean television replays of close officiating Calls had stirred controversy in a league that prefers smooth sailing to troubled Waters. In an Effort to plug that leak the nil decided on inc experimental replay Rule a one year venture by the Competition committee to quiet the officiating complaints. It Dis covered however hat the Rule often created More problems than it answered. The same might be said of at least some of the imported Usel players. Replays ran into trouble first with communication from the Field where the Calls were made to the press Box where they were reviewed. In at least one instance pass incomplete crackling Over the Walkie talkie became the pass is Complete giving inc los Angeles raiders a touchdown in a game they won by a touchdown. After that embarrassment officials on the Field and upstairs switched to less confusing terms to avoid further misunderstandings. Sometimes officials explained away possible re play reversals with the explanation that the whist Ehud  some players wondered Why they had trouble hearing Hose whistles. Through is weeks and 210 games the league said 349 plays had been closely reviewed and 36 Calls had Beon reversed. Using an average of 160 plays per game for 33,000 Calls through 1s weeks that Means approximately one Call in 950 had been changed by the replay Rule. The Usel had experimented with replay technology in its three year quest to grab a piece of the pro football Pic. So it was ironic that in the year of the Young league s demise the nil would introduce the Rule As Well us some of the rival league s Best names signed at prices considerably higher than what the Federal jury awarded the Usel. Their payback in wins and losses however sometimes was consider ably less. Quarterback Jim Kelly became pro football s High est paid player when he agreed to a five year 18 million contract with lowly Buffalo. The Bills had won just two games in each of the previous two seasons and were looking for a Quick turnaround. Everybody said get in Here and sign because we re tired of losing " Kelly said when he joined the Bills. I can t Promise you a super bowl because you re Only As Good As the people they put around you. If i gel some help i definitely think we can take this team to a super  that lofty goal will have to Wail for a while. Kelly is fifth among acc passers with 3.332 Yards and the Bills have been Only marginally better wit him posting a 4-11 record and changing coaches from Hank Bullough to Marv Levy in mid season. There Are two ways to look at the Bills record in the first season of the Kelly Era. You could say the had doubled their Victory total for each of inc pre Vious two seasons. Or you could say they had lost seven More games than they had won. Running Back Herschel Walker got a five year �5 million Deal from Dallas but there won t be any additional postseason income because the cowboys Are going Home after sunday out of the playoffs for Only the third time in 20 years. Walker s arrival arguably gave the cowboys the Best 1-2 running Back alignment in the league. Wit Tony Dorset already in place it seemed that Dallas would run roughshod Over the league certainly Over their own pfc East division. This is a great mile Sione for his team said Tex Schramm president of the cowboys when he signed Walker. We have us a great player nobody has Ever had two superstars like this in the same Backfield coach Tom Landry said. I m real excited. The Best Way to extend my career is to get a great player like  Walker held up his end of inc bargain. Going into the final game he had rushed 146 times for 734 Yards caught 72 passes for 807 More and scored 14 touchdowns Despic playing three games Wilh a bad ankle. Dorset his Knees banged up produced 683 Yards Rushing and 248 on pass receptions. The cowboys however Haven t flourished miss ing the playoffs largely because of a porous defense ind finishing with a non winning record for inc first time in two decades. Two other name Usel stars running Back Kel Vin Bryan and quarterback Doug flu lie came More cheaply than Walker and Kelly. Washington paid Bryant s3.7 million for four years and Chicago is paying Only a fraction of Lulic s fancy si.4 Mil lion contract while his Usel Boss builder Donald Trump picks up the remainder. And although their regular season contributions were minimal they Al least will still be in business when the playoffs Start. Bryant Hurt a knee Early and missed a Large chunk of the season. With one game left before the playoffs he had rushed jus 64 limes for 250 Yards. That was hardly the kind of production redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke expected when he joyfully welcomed his new acquisition in August As the missing link in the redskins super bowl  flu lie languished in something of a football limbo for half the season unwanted by the los Angeles rams who held his nil rights. Then just before the trading deadline he was swapped to Chicago for a Middle round draft Choice a Deal that incumbent bean quarterback Jim Mcmahon greeted less than enthusiastically. In proved to be a fortuitous Trade however when Mcmahon went Down with a shout Der injury and Flutie became a Handy insurance policy. Pistons Power past 76ers by the associated pre Philadelphia with Vinn Ejohnson scoring 14 of his 18 Points in the final Quarter the Detroit pistons came from behind saturday night to Post a 98-88 Aba Victory Over the Phila Delphia 76ers. Trailing 71-66 Ai the end of three quarters Detroit outscored the mixers 12-0 in the opening four minutes of the final Quarter to take an 78-71 Lead with 8 01 left in the game. Philadelphia went almost five minute without a Basket in the fourth period until Julius Erving hit a 12-foot jumper to make the score 78-73. Detroit then ran off the next six  Robinson led Philadelphia with a game High 23 Points. Charles Hartley added 22.the Victory was the pistons fifth in a Row and their seventh in eight games. In other Aba games Bucks 120, celtics 100 Milwaukee Ricky Pierce scored 29 Points and Paul Prescy added 25 to Lead Milwaukee past Boston for the Bucks fourth straight  Mchale led inc celtics with 26 Points. Hawks 111,spurs9 Atlanta Cliff lev Ingston scored six of his 12 Points during a 13-0 first Quarter run that put Atlanta ahead to stay As the Hawks snapped a two game losing Streak Wilh a Victory Over san an � Dominique Wilkins led the Hawks with 28 Points and wit Man added 27.mavericks Iso lakers 119 Dallas Rolando Blackman no Roundup scored 39 Points including seven in a 2vz-Minutc Span in the third Quarter to Lead Dallas to a Victory Over inc los an Geles lakers. The lakers played without Center Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Who returned to los Angeles earlier in the Day because of recurring corneal erosion syndrome in his right Eye. Ear. In magic Johnson led los an Geles with 32 Points. Plain 123, Hicks 99 new York Rookie Chuck per son scored 34 Points 12 More than his previous High As Indiana posted its first Victory in new York in four years. Indiana which had lost 11 straight to the kicks in Madison Square Garden outscored new York 42-25 in the fourth Quarter breaking open a close game and ending a six game Road losing  91, bolls 89 Chicago Karl Malone hit a 15 foot jumper with 21 seconds left and he added a free throw Wilh four seconds remaining to Lead Utah Over Chicago Malone s driving Layup with 1 03 left had tied the score at 88. Chicago s Michael Jordan led All scorers with 27 Points. Bullets 113, clippers 101los Angeles Jeff Malone scored 29 Points and Moses Malone added 22 As Washington handed the Losangeles clippers their 17lh defeat in 1s Aba games. Reserve guard Darwin Cook sparked a 19-10 run Early in the fourth Quarter with seven of his i i Points and capped it with a three Point play thai gave Washington a 98-85 Lead with 5 31 left. Forward Michael Cage led the clip pers with 23 Points and 11  i2b, wirrlors112 Denver Bill Hanzlik scored 26 Points and Lafayette lever added 20 to Power the Denver Nugget Over the Golden state warriors. The nuggets broke away from a close game in the second Quarter on an 18-2 run that gave them the Lead for  the warriors closed to 77-73 in the third period Hanzlik led a 13-0 Nugget spurt. Golden state was never close after  Cooper contributed a season High 24 Points for Denver. Chris Mullin scored 17 Points All of them in the first half to Pace the warriors. Kings 122, suns 114 Sacramento Calif. Guard Reggie Theus Sank 8 of 10 tree throw attempts in the final 64 seconds to assure Sacramento a Victory Over Phoenix. Thus had a season High i assists As the Kings never trailed in the contest. Sacramento s biggest Lead of 14 points18 seconds into the final period was shaved to three at 106-103 on a Walter Davis jumper Wilh 3 11 to go. But Sacra mento s Eddie Johnson responded with two Quick baskets to put the Kings up by seven  Derek Smith led Sacramento with 27 Points. Davis paced the suns with 28 Points including his Cam s last 12 Points in the final 4 26 of the first half Horner declines arbitration Atlanta a Pitcher David Palmer has accepted the Chance to go los Alary arbitration with inc Atlanta braves but first baseman Bob Horner and Pitcher Doyle Alexander declined remaining on the free agent Market. Palmer Detroit s Jack Morris and  Bob Forsch All pitchers were the Only three major league free agents accepting the arbitration option in the hour before Friday night s Midnight deadline. Players who accept arbitration agree to sign for 19s7 at the determined salary. Free agents who Don t accept May continue negotiating with their present clubs until Jan. 8. The braves May negotiate with Palmer an 11-game Winner in 1986, in an attempt to sign him before arbitration. Homer and Alexander remain dissatisfied with the braves contract  team reportedly has withdrawn its 14,5 million three year offer to Horner which would have meant a pay Cut com pared to last year. Alexander has declined the team s reported offer of a two year si.6 million Deal. If Horner or Alexander do not come to terms by Jan. 8, they cannot negotiate with the braves again unlit May i. Homer s agent has said the slugger would like to leave uie last place braves and play for a belter learn general Man Ager Bobby Cox hoi said the team is pre pared to play without him