The Jackson Sun from Jackson, Tennessee • 33

1LDU USSU Initial bonus off 'disappo er inling.v another option if this doesn't work out with Arum." COLLINS TOLD The Sun Monday that he would not settle for less than a $15,000 bonus just for signing. If a contract is agreed upon, Collins and Beard will return to New York for a press conferencejat-the Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom on Aug. ,19. i'i t. Beard will fight either in the featherweight (122-126 pounds) division or the junior featherweight (118-122 pounds) division as a professional.

He fought in the 119-pound division as an amateur. Top featherweights include World Boxing Council Champion Salvadore Sanchez, World Boxing Association Champion Eusebio Pedroza and former WBC Champion Danny "Little Red" Lopez. Rocky Lockridge, a Beard victim in the National Golden Gloves and the AAU Championships, is ranked No. 9 in the world and will soon challenge Pedroza for his title. The top junior featherweight is Leo Randolph, a 1976 Olympic Gold medalist.

"If Jackie can be stationary at 122 pounds, we'll drop him down a division," Collins said. "It would be better for Jackie because he is so short (5-foot-5). Those guys in the featherweight division would have more height and reach." By BILL COX Sun Sports Editor Rayford 'Collins -and Jackie Beard took a giant step into the professional boxing world Tuesday. They met with promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, Inc. in New York City.

1 Arum, one of the top boxing promoters in -the world, said Collins and Beard were very receptive to his contract xffer. But Collins said he was disappointed with the bonus Arum offered. "Arum's first offer was for $10,000," said "Mold them, 'No way. If Jackie isn't worth $15,000, he isn't worth After they looked over Jackie's career they immediately changed their offer to $15,000." "WE HAVE A contract, but we want to get with our attorney and' make a few changes, said Collins, who returned to Jackson at a.m. following a six-hour delay because of bad weather at.

New York's La Guardia Airport. "Their offer isn't as good as we expected." Arum gave no details of the draft contract with Beard, saying only that it was "in with contracts offfered other amateurs who may turn pro this fall. Collins and Beard left for Squaw Valley, Calif this morning where Collins will be training a squad of Junior Olympic boxers and Beard will be a guest speaker. They will remain at Squaw Valley through Aug. 13 and then travel to Santa Clara University in California for the National Junior Olympics Multi-Sports Festival Aug.

15-17. teur boxers to three-year contracts as part of program. Arum'has already signed standouts such as. Johnny Bumphus (reportedly for Bernard Taylor and Ramos. He is also talking with Jerome -Coffee.

-DURING A telephone interview from his Manhattan office Tuesday afternoon, Arum, said, "I think the fellows we're, signing are so; good they can challenge world title someday." Arum said he was optimistic about his meeting with Collins and Beard. "I had' a very, very good meeting with Jackie and Rayford," he said. "They understand our program and want to study the con-tract and get back with me. The contract provides the fighter with a bonus and a guaranteed number of fights each year for three years at a minimum amount of money per year." Collins said he will discuss the contract with Allen, a former boxer and boxing official who now manages Nashville boxer Clint Jackson. Arum said he wanted an answer by the end of this week, but Collins said no decision would be made until the first of next week.

Collins said he needed time to evaluate Jackie's overall situation. "We refused the first offer they made," Collins said, "The Muhammad Ali Club has also contacted me about Jackie, so we have A- I Jackie Beard v- first offer refused Collins said he will negotiate the contract by telephone with his attorney, Nashville's Stanley Allen and Arum. Arum, with financial assistance from the American Broadcasting Corporation hopes to sign eight of the nation's finest ama Look out! Glenn Abbott, 1 7, shouts a warning as two players charge the Seattle Mariner dugout Tuesday. Mariners first baseman Bruce Bochte, right, tumbles after catching a foul off Bobby Clark of the Angels, while catcher Larry Cox, left, helps cover the play during the second inning at Anaheim Stadium. Story on Page 2C.

Divisional winners in Church League 'announced West Jackson Baptist Green and Methodist won divisional championships in the. Jackson Church League slow-pitch softball tournament Tuesday. West Jackson defeated First United Methodist 16-1 for the National Division championship and Lambuth-St. Luke's defeated Englewood Baptist. 74 for the American Division championship.

West Jackson scored 11 first- inning runs en route to its easy victory over FUM. Neil Ross, Greg Yates and David. Waller each collected three hits to lead West Jackson's 21-hit offense. Rick Perry led FUM with three hits in three at bats. Lambuth-St.

Luke's lost the first game to Englewood Blue 12-1, but rallied to win the second game and the title. Joe Rasberry led Englewood's first-game victory with two hits. Bob Hamilton and Andy Hall led Lambuth-St. Luke's second-game victory with two hits each. Hillcrest Baptist's Jackie Vaughan won the National Division batting title with a .576 average.

Highland Park's Woody Newman won the American title with a .724 average. Mears to speak at Huntingdon HUNTINGDON Ray Mears, athletic director at the University of Tennessee at Martin and former head basketball coach at UT-Knoxville, will speak at the old Huntingdon High School cafeteria Thursday at 7 p.m. His topic will be Motivation in Sports. Admission will be $2 for adults and $1 for children. All proceeds will go to the UTM athletic fund.

Thursday's program is sponsored by the Huntingdon Jaycees. VI meets Germantown MEMPHIS Jackson Village Inn, 46-11, plays Germantown King Cotton, 18-20, at today in round one of the American Legion baseball West Tennessee Regional Tournament. The second game will feature Millington Telephone, 31-20, against Union City. The. double-elimination tournament will be played at Tony Gagliano Field on Mount Moriah.

Jacksonians win first flight in tourney CHAPEL HILL Jackson's Gene and Barry Pearce won the first flight of the first Tennessee Section PGA Father-Son Championship at Henry Horton State Park here recently. Sixty-six teams participated in the event. The Pearces shot a two-player total of 316, 28 over par. North Side team to meet A meeting for the North Side Jr. High football team will be at 6.30 p.m.

Thursday at the school gymnasium. Physicals will be given 4:45 p.m. Thursday at the Jackson Clinic. Newcomb moves to Alabama CULLMAN, Ala. Vester Newcomb, who was fired as head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin in May, has moved his family to Alabama where he hopes to find work in sales or private business.

Newcomb said Tuesday that his son, Mac, actually chose Cullman as their new home because of the town's high school football program. "We didn't want to leave Martin, but it was best," said Newcomb. "We checked out several cities in central Alabama and finally let Mac choose. He started football practice Monday." Cullman is 45 miles north of Birmingham, Ala. Its high school participates-in division 4-AAAA.

The younger Newcomb, a junior, is playing split end and defensive back. mmmm -J AP Laserphotc ton UTAA football program activity humming 1 lww and I can't see that changing." Giltner, an Associated Press All-America linebacker at UTM in 1970, begins his second season as a Pacer, coach. The Humboldt native coached at Chester County High School before accepting his UTM post. In a telephone interview he commented on Newcomb's firing and the latest changes in UTM 's football program. "The firing was just an unfortunate incident that came up," Giltner said.

"We just have to go on and ride with the tide in this business. Coach Newcomb was good about the whole thing with us. He didn't put any pressure on us to take sides. He has helped us with ing all he could and has been very supportive." AMEDEE'S arrival has been accompanied by several improvements in the Pacers' football facilities. "It has been amazing how everything-has happened in such a the football program; Everyone seems to be jumping on the bandwagon.

It's just great. "We've sold over 1,000 season tickets so far. The most ever sold before this year was about 300. We're also making a lot of stadium improvements." Giltner said all seats on the home side at Pacer Stadium would have back rests this season. The old press box on the visitors' side has been torn down, and a second deck is being installed on the home side press box thanks to a $20,000 contribution from several Union City residents.

UTM's dressing room and training room are being remodeled, painted and air conditioned. The paint and air conditioners were donated by Martin residents. A new weight room is also in the works beneath the football offices. The coaches and managers are filling in an old swimming pool with 420 tons of donated dirt and sand so construction can begin on the weight room. By DAN MORRIS Assistant Sports Editor MARTIN When Vester Newcomb was fired as head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Martin in May, his assistant poaches were prepared for the same fate.

"There's no doubt about that," said Terry Giltner, defensive coordinator and linebacker coach. "We were all worried about our jobs." LYNN AMEDEE, HOWEVER, quickly erased those fears in June when he was hired as UTM 's new head football coach. "Coach Amedee told us we were welcome to stay, and if we do the job, stay as long as we want said Giltner. "He said he had been on the. other side of the ball so long he knew what it was like.

"So 1 feel good about, the situ a tion. He gives us a lot of authority and confidence in ourselves. He has treated us as fair as possible, and as far as I know, there have been no problems. He's super to work with, "ONE OF THE MOST impressiv aspects of our presentation to the Ohio Valley Conference expansion committee last week was the magnitude of our community support," said UTM Chancellor Charles Smith in a Tuesday news release. "The contributions of these businesses and others are certainly helping Coach Amedee with his plans to have a first-class football program at UT-Martin." Amedee says he's excited by the support coming in from the community and the improvements being made.

"We think things are going real well," he said. "We've been working hard on the remodeling, besides trying to talk a little football. We're anxious for things to get started this fall." UTM football players report to practice Aug. 16. Approximately 140 athletes, including walk-ons, are expected at the Pacer camp.

Jerry Giltner "community showing real enthusiasm' hurry," he rioted. "Th community is showing re aid eh thusiasm towards "1 Pryor said hitting was a definite strong point. Top batters are Sammy Rogan, Darryl Turner, Miller and Dias. Gallatin will start Steve Scott today. Jackson Coach Jerry Wood will start Claude Transou.

Those two pitchers are quite different. Transou, a tall right-hander, has speed that can "overpower hitters. Scott's fastball isn't as fasti but he has excellent breaking pitches. "He won't give you anything good to hit," said Pryor. Jackson plans the.

following lineup: Antonyo Glenn, catcher; Terry. Theus, first Tyrone Williams, second base; David third base; 1 Carlos Cole, shortshop; George Ward, left field; Sandy Parks, centerf ield; and Glen Forrest, right By JEFF, CLARK Sun Sports Correspondent CLARKSVILLE Two teams with similarities will play at 6 p.m. today in the Little League state tournament here. Jackson's American League All-Stars will play Gallatin's Kiwanis All-Stars in a first-round game of the single-elimination tournament. BOTH HAVE GOOD hitting and 'erratic pitching.

Gallatin also has a good defense that boosted it to the state tournament. "Our defense was the key to our team," said GallatinCoach Terry Pryor. Top defenders include shortstop Keith Dias, third baseman Brian Miller, secondbasemah NeU Johnson and centerf ielder Jeff Cooper. Jackson, Gallatin square off OPENING CEREMONIES WERE scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., although there may be a rain delay. It.

has been raining here since Tuesday afternoon. Erwin will play Eagleton at 4 p.m., Jackson and Gallatin will play at 6 p.m. followed by Fountain City and Tullahoma at 8 p.m. The Erwin-Eagleton winner will play Clarks-ville, which received a first-r6und bye, at 6p.m. Thursday.

The other two winners will play at 8 p.m. Thursday. The, state championship will be played at 7:30 p.m.V Friday. The. winner will advance to St.

Petersburg, on Aug. 18 for the Southeastern Regional, where Tennessee will receive a first-round bye. today's quote 'This isn't the end of the earth. When things go bad, they fire the manager. That's the way baseball is.

But I'll be back. Til manage in the big leagues again. I know I will. Yes 1 will. Darrell Johnson, fired Monday by the Seattle Mariners as their manager and replaced by Maury Wills, as he vowed Tuesday to manage in the major leagues again.

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