Evening star., 1963-01-24

The Don Smith is imports
man, reformed sportswriter.
is not to suggest that Huff is
inarticulate and couldn't write
the book himself, but it's got
to be smoother with" Don
Smith lending a hand.
BEST Plays of the Year
1882" by Robert Riger, is an
other that has just hit the
bookstalls. An artist and pho
tographer gone goofy over NIL
football, Riger took a game a
week during the 14-game sea-
son. illustrated and analyzed
them, and came UP with a
corking good book.
4
Riger has some quoteworthy
quotes scattered throughout
his book. This one, for example,
from Red Hickey concerning
the size, strength and gentle
manner of big men in the
league.
That's why the good Lord
did the right thing" he said.
He put the lion in the little
fellows-the Arnetts, LeBarons
and Tarkentons-so they could
survive. He made the big men
gentle. Damn! If He'd ever put
that lion in the Marchettis or
Nomellinis, they would just end
up. -"
Presumably, Hickey meant
to say they'd end up In court
on a murder charge.
Linebacker Joe Schmidt Of
the Lions, one Of the best at
his particular business, is quot
ed as saying the Colts wasted"
Lenny Moore by switching him
from a flanker to a regular
backfield position.
"Lenny Moore is the balance
of power in the Colt attack"
Joe said. HE is the key to
their winning or losing. (John-
n.y. Unitas is always great. But
only by playing on defense
against Moore can you know
his potential. On every play he
gives you fits"
A&
Obviously, Carroll Rosen-
bloom thought the same thing
if firing Weeb Ewbank as head
coach.
Opinions Of players and
coaches about other players
and coaches are sprinkled
plentifully through Riger's
book, but the reader doesn't
have to accept these opinions.
We can't, for example, rate
New York's Darrell Dess as the
best offensive guard in the
league, as does Phil King in
Riger's book. Coach Vince Lom-
bardi takes Fuzzy Thurston
and Jerry Kramer as the two
best, and well go along with
him.
Wen second Erich Barnes
observation about Bobby Nit
chell.
"You blink your eyes and he's
gone" Barnes said of the Red
skins speedster.
&& IS
Players have good reason to
write books, If not to make
them, although nobody ever
got rich off a sports epistle.
The pay isn't so much that
they can afford to loaf
through the winter and spring,
awaiting the start Of another
season. They've got to get out
and hustle for the elusive buck.
lone Of our biggest problems
signing draft choices is off-sea-
son opportunities for them"
Coach Bill McPeak of the Red
skins said recently. Their
second question, after asking
how much Wen pay, is whether
they can get a job. It's giving
us trouble"
The Redskins Alumni As
sociation Is combing the city
for possible openings for new
men, but the response has not
been overwhelming thus far. If
the situation doesn't improve
it may come to the point where
q rookie will have to write a
book before denting a headgear
in an official game.
&&&
Speaking of signings. Nc
Peak is having more trouble
than he anticipated with his
1862 selections. Fullback Billy
Joe Of Villanova, No. 8. re-
portedly will sign with Denver
in the American League and
End Drew Roberts Of Hum
boldt, No. IS, will go with Oak
land. End Allen Schau Of West
ern Michigan. No. II, already
has cast his lot with Canada.
McPeak also is discovering
that a majority Of the Red
skins regard their five victories
and two ties as prima facie
evidence that they deserve a
raise.
YOU'D like TO make what
some Of them think they're
going to make next season" "
Bill quipped TO one sports
uyritar