European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 05, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday october 5,1989 the stars and stripes Page 19 nil old timers begin new year by Ken Rappoport a hockey writer the Torch has been passed by Lanny Mcdonald Fol lowing the Calgary flames Stanley cup Victory last season. But the fire still Burns for Many other nil veterans. Notable in that group arc Guy Lafe Zurof the  and Larry Robinson of the los Angeles Kings a pair of 38-year-Olds who arc acting decidedly younger As the nil season begins. Mcdonald a 16-year Veteran and big crowd plea scr with the flames retired at age 36 after finally winning his first Stanley cup. Rul Robinson begins his 18th season and la flour his i6lh As the nil opens thurs Day night with nine games. Guy Lapoint. An assistant coach with he Nordi ques was a def Anseman with Montreal when Lafleur joined the canadians in 1971. He finds it remarkable thai time has seemingly not strained Laflour s spirit. He s exactly the same As he was then Lapoint said. He s just As inspired just As madly in love with hockey just As dedicated to the Job. I Don t know How he could have stopped playing for As Long As he did. It must have crushed  Laflour who starred in Montreal for 14 years As one of the game s great forwards quit hockey for three years following an acrimonious split with the canadians. But he made a comeback with the rangers last year not Long after being voted into the hockey Hall of Fame. Signed As a free agent ill the nordic us this year Laflour has returned to the province where he won Folk hero status in the 1960s. I under Michel Bergeron who was also his coach with the rangers. Laflour is Likely to receive ample ice Lime especially since he was recently placed on the right Side of a line entered by Peter Stastny. The nor piques Tup offensive player. An Experiment with Stastny at right Wing has been abandoned. I think it will work out Well said Lafleur who is equally enthusiastic when his future As a nor Dique is raised. I came Here and i want to stay Here. I m tired of moving. I m Here to stay because the Quality of life is Loo important in  Robinson. Meanwhile has found a new life in los Angeles following 17 illustrious years in Montreal where he was recognized As one of the Best  the league. Like Laflour he signed As a free agent after a less than Friendly split with the canadians. Robinson fell unwanted in Montreal and was bitter about the a the c Ana Dicks handled contract negotiations. He signed a three year contract with the Kings with an option on the third year and said he expected to play Al least two More seasons in the nil. He still has thai Good shot from the Point and i thought he did a Good Job Quaner hacking the Power play Kings coach Tom Webster of Robinson s play in exhibition games. He was just a steadying influence which is exactly what this hockey club   and Robinson will be shooting for mile stones this season. Lafleur has a legitimate Chance to move up three spots to no. 7 on the career goal scoring list.  scored 18 goals last year currently is Lola with 536 goals. Just ahead of him on the career list arc Stan Mikita 541. Maurice Richard 544 and John Buck 556. Robinson needs 14 assists to reach a career 700. Laflour s Nordi ques open the season at Buffalo an Robinson s Kings Host Toronto. In other openers Detroit is at Calgary. Pittsburgh is at Boston Montreal is Al Hartford the new York is Landers visit Minnesota new Jersey is at Philadelphia. St. Louis is Al Chicago and Edmonton is at Vancouver. A s from Page 17 a s Carney Lansford gets support from teammates after catching Popup at Edge of dugout. Steals including 52 of 58 with Oakland. I m part of it but it s our big go s w to gel it going Henderson said. That s our style Oakland manager Tony la Russa said. We re a very aggressive  Stewart allowed five hits struck out six and walked three in eight innings Stewart. Who has three consecutive 20-w in seasons has won nine of his last 11 decision against the Blue jays. I Felt better As the game went  said Stewart who threw 46 pitches in the first two innings "1 really did t get it going at the  Dennis Eckersley who had 33 saves de spite missing 40 games got the last three outs in a no save situation. Game 2 of the playoffs is scheduled for 8 06 get wednesday. Todd Stool Lemyre 7-7, is scheduled to Start for the Blue Jay against Mike Moore 19-11. The playoffs shift to the sky dome on Friday. The Blue jays won 20 of their last 26 Home games. Ernie White. The last original Blue Jay gave the Blue jays a 3-1 Lead when he led off the fourth inning with a Home run. It was the last hit Stewart allowed. Oakland closed the Gap to 3-2 in the fifth when Lansford singled with one out stole second and scored on Dave Parker s oppo site Field broken Bat single to left. In Post season play last season Parker did not Haven rib in 27 at bats. The a s have won five straight playoff games after getting swept in 975 and 1981. But they were heavy favourites in the world series last season and lost in five games to los Angeles. Can Rickey Henderson make a differ ence if vie win 1 think i can create some things Henderson said. I came to the world series last year and i did t see  the pitching Duel that was expected got off to a shaky Start As neither Stewart nor stick had command. The key to me was the first  said. When i saw i was t getting that inside cur Mcball i had to make a  stick walked Henderson leading olt the first inning. Henderson swiped second but stick got out of the Jam. George Bell who started in left Field despite a sore right Elbow led off the Sec Ond with a single and moved to third on Fernandez hit and run single to left Field. With Whilt baiting. Fernandez stole Sec Ond. Whilt hit a 3-2 pitch to Center Field for a sacrifice Fly. Kelly Grubor walked  Lee Maz Illi struck out. Liriano singled Home Fernandez to make it 2-0. Dave s starts can be a Little rough sometimes Mcgwire said. But in the end he s usually  in 30 of Stewart s 37 starts this season he pitched into the seventh inning. The a s. 54-27 Al Home came right Back in the Bottom of the second when Dave Henderson led off with a Home run deep Over the left Field Fence. Dave Henderson is probably another version of Reggie Jackson in postseason play Stewart said. He is the definition of a Money  hit the bail Well in the second half and the playoffs and world series Hap pen to be in the second half Dave Hen Derson  added two runs in the eighth when Gall go scored on Duane Ward s wild pitch and Lansford singled Home Rickey Henderson. The clubs combined for seven stolen bases four by the a s to set an Al playoff record. Both teams arc aggressive la Russ Asaid. It was Good  athletics can take new or. October to the Bonk Oakland Calif. A months change quickly and so do heroes. Dave Henderson is the new . For years the title belonged to Reggie Jackson. Jackson led Oakland to three consecutive world series and helped the new York Yankees win two More. In game 6 of the 1977 series against los Angeles Jackson hit three Home runs to tie babe Ruth s record. He wound up As the Only player to hit five in one series and appeared in 17 postseason series played 72 games hit 18 homers and drove in 45 runs. But who is Dave Henderson the Oakland Center fielder won t appear on Many All Star ballots and his name does t come up in discussions about baseball s Best outfielders. But come october he is the Man to watch. In game i of the american league playoffs tuesday night Henderson hit a Homer and single to help Oakland and Dave Stewart beat Toronto 7-3. Henderson spent the Start of his career in obscurity As a member of the Seattle mariners. His Best year with the mariners was 1985 when he hit 14 homers and drove in 68 runs. He landed with Boston during the 1986 season and ended up a Star. The California Angels were one strike away from wrapping up the playoffs in five games that year when Henderson hit a two run Homer off Donnic Moore to put the red sox ahead 6-5. The Angels tied the score but Boston went on to win the game and the Pennant. In the world series Henderson was Io-for-25 with two homers and five Bis. The a s signed Henderson As a free agent in Decem Ber 1987, and he has helped them win two Al West titles and a Pennant. In the playoffs last season against Boston Hender son hit .375 with one Homer and four Bis. The a s lost in five games to los Angeles in the world series but Henderson hit .300. The world series this year was the main  Henderson said. I had Money before i got Here so that was t a main goal Henderson said. A Money player who has enough Money. Both arc rare