Sports fan speaks out
THE BATTALION
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 19T4
Page 9
Stress says pro draft' should be abolished
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2,652s I m concerned that anylx)dy in
any industry can draft: anybody to
training work,” sa y s Stan Stress, a
rs C. 55-year-old real estate man in San
Glen Diego w ^° * s lobbying to end all
ruardj'drafting of college and high school
-4,2j- athletes into professional sports.
ns ^! Twenty times in the last two years
. Stress sent 200 to 300 mailings urg-
mior i n 8 ^at the draft be abolished. His
earn^ mailing list included President
est c Nixon, every member of the Sup-
id ^ reme Court, all senators, many con-
on horSr 1 ^ 5111611 ’ no^or TV networks and
irfyj wire services and some media
en( |( members.
risaJpWhy is Stress so critical of the
draft system? “Because, ” he said in
an interview, “it is the devil. ”
Stress’ concern was stimulated
when he read of Duane Thomas’
contract with the Dallas Cowboys
denoting successive salaries of
$18,000, $20,000 and $22,000. In
this he discovered that Thomas,
who signed for a $25,000 bonus,
“had been placed in bondage.”
He began in January 1971 to send
out letters. Some also came in.
“Elroy Hirsch wrote and called me
extremely stupid,” said Stress. A
representative of the President said
it was a matter for Congress.
Leonard Koppett (a New York
Times reporter) said the pro draft
clearly was illegal but had not been
SALE
tested.
“A doctor, lawyer, teacher or
businessman can practice where he
wants and for whoever he wants.
That is the case in all professions but
pro sports. I don’t see movie studios
drafting Richard Burton or Rachel
Welch.”
Stress said in an open letter to the
people of the United States, “Pro
sports are to sport what prostitution
is to sex. ” He also wrote in an open
letter to college presidents, “In the
only court case (Spencer Haywood,
a basketball player) challenging the
college draft, the court ruled the
four year rule to be illegal, period.
To pervert the court ruling the Na-
25?
tional Basketball Association insti
tuted a rule by which a superstar
player who can prove ‘poverty’ can
be an exception. In football there
are no exceptions.”
Last week Stress wrote an open
letter to Roosevelt Leaks, the All-
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American running back from Texas.
He told Leaks in the letter that had
he been eligible for the NFL draft
last year he would have been a No. 1
draft choice. However, no football
player can be employed until he has
finished his college eligibility.
Stress stressed that Leaks’ knee
Mantle, Ford on roster
Old-Timers get
ready for game
Three names synonomous with New York Yankee baseball
supremacy in years gone by—Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and
Billy Martin—have agreed to play in the inaugural Old-Timers
Game at Arlington Stadium on Saturday night, July 6.
The trio joins an illustrious group of former Yankees who will
meet the Texas Stars, a squad of former major league players born or
living in Texas, for the two inning contest to be played prior to the
American League game between the Texas Rangers and the New
York club.
Earlier invitations were accepted by Joe DiMaggio, Allie
Reynolds, Bobby Richardson, Tommy Henrich, Ed Lopat, Gene
Woodling, Joe Collins, Hank Bauer, Tom Ferrick and Gil
McDougald.
Texas Stars in the fold include Jimmy Piersall, Solly Hemus,
Bobby Bragan and Paul Richards.
Ticket demands to date indicate a huge throng will be on hand to
witness the sparkling performers of yesteryear.
Mantle, Martin and Ford own a vast array of honors and re
cords.
Mantle, who now lives in Dallas, won the American League
Triple Crown in 1956 and was the league’s most valuable player in
1956-57-62 and named Major League Player of the year in 1956.
Mickey, who hit 536 home runs in his Yankee career, appeared in 12
All-Star Games.
He also played 65 games in 12 World Series and hit a grand slam
homer in the 1953 series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. His records
include most homers (18), most runs (42) and most RBI’s (40).
Ford was the winningest pitcher in Yankee history with a
236-106 record and won the Gy Young Award in 1961, the American
League Pitcher of the Year title in 1955, ’61 and ’63. His World
Series accomplishments include total series (11), games pitched (22),
innings (146), victories (10), strikeouts (94) and consecutive shutout
innings (33.2), which erased Babe Ruth’s record.
injury made his career a huge gam
ble. He also suggested in the letter
that Leaks sue the NFL and WFL
for damages totaling two million dol
lars because his career could have
been jeopardized by the pro draft
rule.
Leaks could not be reached.
There has been no information re
leased stating whether any action
will be taken or not.
Obviously, somebody has been
listening to Stress’ complaints. In
December of 1973, Democratic
Senators Sam Ervin of North
Carolina and John Tunney of
California sponsored a bill to outlaw
all player drafts held by pro sport
leagues and to protect the constitu
tional rights of pro athletes.
The late Democratic Congress
man Emanuel Cellar of New York,
sponsored a similar bill in the House
of Representatives. Both bills have
been examined by subcommittees,
but with Watergate the prime issue
of Congress there could be some
time before action is taken.
Staubach lengthens
contract with Pokes
The Dallas Cowboys assured
themselves Saturday of a first class
quarterback for an unannounced
number of years with the signing of
Roger Staubach to a new contract.
Hank Schramm, president and
general manager of the NFL club,
said Staubach was signed to one of
the longer multi-year contradts, but
no length was specified.
Schramm said, “He’s one of the
players of our future and we’re quite
happy to have him under a new con
tract. ”
Staubach, 32, was out of big-time
football for four years while serving
in the Navy after graduating from
Annapolis.
The announcement ended all
rumors that Staubach might be one
of the players negotiating with the
new World Football League.
The WFL already has signed
three of the Cowboy’s top players
and there have been hints that
further signings would shock Dallas
fans.
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WFL names
local man
to officiate
A good look at the new World
Football League shows that it is
striving to- get the best of every
thing, including officials.
Among those chosen to wear the
new blue, white and gold official’s
uniform is Bryan’s own Dr. Jay Wil
liams. He has served his community
as the director of the Parks and Re
creation Department of Bryan and
is a local civic club leader as well as
being active in the Baptist Church.
His qualifications stand out as he
has received his bachelor’s and
doctor’s degree from Texas A&M.
He also has 18 years experience in
officiating football and basketball on
the college and high school level.
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