European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 29, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday january 29. 19bb the stars and stripes commentary nobody s going out on super limb f _ . I a  a. Rant t Nisuke John Elway bomb away. Yes. He wins. No doubt he swagger. Hul where his sense or super bowl future sadly missing. He Sirull cd off san Diego Jack Murphy stadium s Field tuesday i asked the Denver quarterback if he had a guarantee for sunday s nil title game with Washington. No Elway said amid a swarm of reporters. Then he reconsidered. Ill guarantee Well give it our Best shot what is thai sounds like a political statement. One of those Well look deeply into the Revenue option deals. Come on. Does t Elway know the Way to super immortality if he does to Joe Namath did. He guaranteed a super bowl Victory in 1%9. When Namath Cliv cred he did t have to throw another pass Broad Way Joe was on the Road 10 the Hal of Fame. Think of Namath s Genius. He pondered two of Lions. I he could have said nothing. His jets were huge undergoes to the Colts. If new York lost he was Sale from ridicule. If new York won he was a pc sharing i he could predict Victory. If the jets lost Namal h would hear Dcarl Sion. 1 f they won. No one would Ever forget Joe  chose the second option. The Jos beat the Colts 16-7. Nineteen years later you see Joe Bucky Fox Willie on Abc telecasts and think of one game the super bowl he predicted right. Ii takes guts. You guarantee Victory and the other team seethes. Your own coach tells you to coot it. You belter have a Backbone As Strong As your ,. Elway prefers to keep his prediction private. Then make his passes Public  backup Gary Kubiak docs the same drop Back i won t make a prediction but 1 Hope we play better than last  a painless stand since the Broncos lost to the giants 39-20 in the 1987 super bowl. Since the Broncos and redskins were open to questions tuesday i tried to gel a Namat Hesque prediction. You d think do itch Manly. The redskins hard talking defensive end would put his muscular neck on the line. Not quite. ,."we be Wen bred real Well said Manly the sarcasm aimed at Jimmy the greek and we think we will  s no guarantee. You can t think. You Nave to How about Washington s other defensive end. Charles Mann i Don t predict he said. Wac gives top award to Tyson Ali a York. Of Mike Tyson and sugar Ray Leonard accepted awards from the world boning Council but Man Clous Marvin Hajj or had other things to do. He was said to be in Cali fornia making a movie Tyson the undisputed heavyweight Champion received the abcs Boxer of the year award wednesday. The 21-year-old Tyson 33-0 with 29 knockouts unified the title by beating Tony Tucker for the International Box ing federation Crown last aug. 1 with a 12-round decision. Also in 1987, he beat Bon Crasher Smith Pink Lon Tournai . Tyson made the second defense of his undisputed title last Friday night by knocking Oul former Champion Larry Holmes in the fourth round at Atlantic cily no. Tyson s next defense will be against Tony Tubbs on March 21 in  Leonard Kagler middleweight title fight last april 6 Ini Las vegas. Nev. Was voted the fight of the year. Leonard came Oul of retirement and scored a disputed 12-round decision Over Hagler to Wint Elitle. "1 want to thank Jose Sulaiman and the wac for allowing me to fulfil a dream to fight Marvin  said Leonard who retired again after the then hi1 added with a smile Jose who knows maybe i la need you again. Wac president Sulaiman said Hagler was on the West coast making a movie. Hagler initially protested the results of the split decision then withdrew the pro test Hagler has nol fought since but pro Moter Bob arum has been Ming to lure him into a rematch against the current middleweight Champion Thomas Hearns. Hagler slopped Hearns the third round of an Panl is 1985 world middleweight bout. Hagler attorney said earlier ibis week that Bis client has no immediate plans to come Oul of retirement. Heavy fight Chin Talon Mike Tyson learn Ullh his wac Boxer of the year trophy. Redskin defensive tackle Darryl Grant i predict Well have a hard fought  How Aboul Washington linebacker Mel Kaufman ill just be Happy if we win. Whatever it takes. One Point s  guard Keith Bishop could hardly believe the question. Bleep i m nol Gonna make a Prudic said Bronco Center Mike Freeman i m not Mak ing a prediction for this game. 1 just want to win. No prediction said Denver guard Stefan Humphries the less you bite off the less you have to it s not my  started Denver linebacker Karl Mecklenburg. At least he added depth i in Peel us to win the game i think we have the Frame of mind to win the game. Last year this was All new. Last year we came out 45 minutes before the kick put. They were letting doves go Cvar thug. I was telling the line judge. Arc we going to play the game it took us Oul of our  1 tried one More player. Darrell Green. As 1 approached him the Fleet Redskin cornerback ran away saying try to catch  i managed to ask my question he an swered no prediction then disappeared Bencalla the  Guys have no foresight. No bold. No Gold. Nan ugh knew that. , m picking Denver Over Washington 30.7. There painless. Nol that i d bet or anything.ttsurl4lul&lflmi Phil Niekro hints he s not finished Atlanta a Phil Niekro 3 emotions appear to be mixed after at and the Atlanta braves could Noi get to Gether on a non playing Job. He say he is Content As a business Man but hints that his Knuck Leball can Stilt flutter at the major league level. Niekro who will be 49 on april i promised to retire As a Pitcher alter Mak ing a Farewell appearance with the Brave last sept. 27.he had a 318-274 record in 22 sea sons in of them with the Milwaukee and Atlanta braves. The too offered by the Draves was not what Niekro had hoped for. The club wanted him to manage Inthac Low minors or be a minor league pitching instructor. Niekro had soil it in manage at least the club s Greenville team of the class a Southern league but that Job was Given to former braves coach Russ Nixon. That whole thing did l work out. But Here s always tomorrow a new Darr. I have no idea what their plans Are Nickroo said in an interview monday adding that he is not bitter and has kept his avenues open. I be talked with a couple of Guys and got a lot of offers said Nickroo who recently look a position As executive vice president with a Small Georgia firm that manufactures fishing equipment i be really been Busy with that and Haven t had time to think Aboul it he said but i be been in baseball 27-25 years and something will open up for me in baseball. I could have had other jobs managing in the High minor with other organizations but turned them Down. The braves arc in my blood but i m not going to Force it. Well just wait and see said Nickroo. Right now they hive All their men in place now with their own  braves general manager Bobby con however said he would Welcome Niekro As a non player at Atlanta s Snong train ing Camp when it opens next a Ionuti. App Talo