Page 10, The Retriever, November 26, 1980

Tanton. "If you think that the bubble is ready to burst now I would disagree with that because, as I say, there appears to be no limit SPORTS to what people will stand for." However, Tanton believes we should not feel totally gloomy about sports today. "We _~d • •• relief; we need fun; we need games and this is what we have," said Tanton speaks about. • • • .Sports Tanton. "It is not as much fun as it was, but it is bigger than it ever was. Major League Baseball the 1ast two years drew 43 million people each year. They used to all of the events that people follow However, today's sports do by Patrick PanneJ/a Okay? He is now trying to convince draw half that six or seven years so avidly and want to know all have problems. "The business people that he took doses of ago. Baseball is on an un­ about. It is fun to be on the inside; has changed a lot. I think the big '.'The newScasters probably make some hormone to reduce all that precdented upswing right now. to be with the newsmakers .... to be reason for that is money," exphin­ mare money. but we have mare weight and when he gets on a People who think that it is all over, at the World Series and to talk with ed Tanton. "Twenty years ago, fun." regular diet, he will be Muhammed that we have gone to hell because Tug McGraw right after the final because there was not big, big, big Vince Bagli. W BA L Television game as I did, and to talk to Bert money involved, it was more Sportsbroadcaster December. Jones right after the Colt games on human. Sports were on a more "One hundred million people watch the 1976 Sundays." human scale. People who made What is the sportswriters' main $7,500 a year working at Super Bowl. We have to assume then that a Bill Tanton's the name, and being job? Bethlehem Steel, in those days, honest about sports is his game. "We are there to chronicle all of could relate to Raymond Berry lot of people also want to read about it." SOUNDS PHONY? From what he this and to try to make some sense making $18,000 a year playing end said .last Wednesday as a guest of it, because you care," said the for the Colts; better than a guy Bill Tanton speaker in the "free hour" series experienced writer. "One hundred . today who makes $30,000 a year held in Lecture Hall I, Bill Tanton Ali of old and he will fight again million people watch the Super can relate to Claudell Washington Claudell Washington is going to is dedicated to defining the truth Bowl. We have to assume then that who will make $750,00 next year against somebody and make make $750,000 a year, are wrong." about sports. another eight or ten million a lot of people also want to read playing for the Atlanta Braves. Crazy little captions, memorable This is a man who has covered the dollars. There appears to be no end about it. When the broadcast is Washington cannot play the out­ stories from yesteryear. ... TAN­ Baltimore sports scene since 1956. to what people will tolerate." over, maybe the last play of the field, he has deteriorated as a TONISMS. This is the man who has been the Are the fans getting the shorter game-was, you know, to wet your hitter, but the sports world today is "We once had a football player on Sports Editor of the Evening Sun end of the bat? appetite. What happened there? so insane that athletes like Claudell the Colts named Jimmy Orr. To­ since 1967. This is a man who has "We pay because the ticket prices Why did so and so pass? Who are making $750,000 a year. day he is a croupier in Atlantic written his own sports column have to go up; we may have to pay recovered the ball? So we write MAKES YOU WONDER." City, in one of the gambling since 1960. more money to buy a product that about all that; you read it and it\ Indeed it does. caSInOs. Jimmy was a guy who And, he loves his job. "It beats advertisies on television or radio to loved the high life ... wine, women "There are signs of craziness all sponsor the games so that Claudell and song. One year the Colts were through sports. Larry Holmes and Washington will make $750,000. "The newscasters probably make more having a lousy season, Don Shula Muhammed Ali fought for the This is what we live with. Essential­ was the coach," recalls Tanton. Heavyweight Championship. That ly, we are a bunch of damn fools. money, but we (sports reporters) have more "Shula knew he had some guys on was the worst fight I ever saw in my • But we like it this way, and we are thf' club who were not training, fun. " life," claimed Tanton. "Muhamm­ going to go on being fools," states ed Ali was so washed-up that he Vince Bdgli, WBAL Television Broadcaster could not fight at all. He lay on the "People who made $7,500 a year working ropes the entire fight; he did December 1976 nothing. He quit after ten rounds, at Bethlehem Steel, in those days, could but (Tanton raises his hand) he working for a living," chuckled great because this is what sports are collected eight million dollars. relate to Raymond Berry making $18,000 a Tanton. "It is a great thrill to go to today." year playing end for the Colts; better than a guy today who makes $30,000 a year can THE $ V~~G relate to Caudell Washiington who will make $750,000 next years playing outfield for the Atlanta Braves." FACE LIFT. Bill Tanton (Before) ($59 Later) NEED CAR INSURANCE? Thousands in the Baltintore area With Bausch & Lomb Soflens Contacts, prefer Criterion. Here's why: you do something nice for your eyes and give your whole face a lift. y CONVENIENT PAYMENT P.lANS I JI MONEY SAVING DEDUCTIBLES Now you can finally switch from glasses to famous Our low dCMll1 payments and ... 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