PEOPLE

When R. Alan Brown won a drawing held by the Washington State University Cougar Club he reluctantly turned down the prize, a free seat on the WSU flight to the Ohio State game. Brown takes good care of his teeth, and the departure date conflicted with a dental appointment. But when he showed up for the appointment with Dr. Mike Weyer of Spokane, he was told the dentist was not in. "You see," the receptionist said, "there was an empty seal on the Cougar plane and he's in Columbus, Ohio for the game."

A full-length movie about the late Vince Lombardi, produced and directed by George C. Scott, is now being planned. Ernest Borgnine is mentioned as the actor most likely to play Lombardi. This could be the only time a character has been typecast on the basis of a gap in his teeth.

Ex-football players had a big week. First, Judge Walter Hoffman, who had said, "I will do my duty if it costs me my last friend on earth," sentenced resigning Vice-President Spiro T. Agnew to a three-year probation and a $10,000 fine. Nicknamed "Beef," Hoffman had considerable early experience at bucking opposition as a Penn guard and as a referee. His first big decision came in the 1948 North Carolina-Tennessee game at Knoxville when he called back Volunteer Hal Littleford's 83-yard touchdown run on a clipping penalty, resulting in a win for the visiting Tar Heels. Films showed the call to be correct, but Hoffman had to be escorted by guards from the stadium.

Now being escorted—by Secret Service agents—is Gerald Ford, President Nixon's nominee as Agnew's successor. The new center of attention, a center and linebacker and Most Valuable Player at Michigan in 1934, has kept on the ball by jogging and swimming. He learned of his selection, in fact, while standing dripping after his morning dip.

Vanderbilt football Coach Steve Sloan admits to being a comicbook freak. "I love 'em," he says. "If I get caught reading the comics at the newsstand, I say I'm getting them for my little boy. They've been pretty good companions, but I'm not sure whether I should take them on plane trips this fall." Sloan's special favorites? Kid Colt, Rawhide Kid and Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.

Ray Cuzzone Jr. of Lakeland, Fla. asked his girl friend Lori Cianci to accompany him for a round of golf at the Skyview Country Club, planning to give her a few tips on how to play the game. But it was young Cuzzone who learned some kind of lesson. On the 12th hole Ray's drive hit a tree, rebounded 60 yards and struck Lori on the chin, opening a cut. Looking for something to stop the bleeding, Ray seized the towel on a ball washer, gave it a fierce yank and broke the pipe supporting the washer. It flew up, hit him on the forehead and made a considerable gash. The couple were rushed to a hospital, where the) required 14 stitches.

Back in July when the Mets were in last place and the Yankees in first, the Leo Burnett ad agency of Chicago enlisted New York Managers Ralph Houk and Yogi Berra to get across their point that most big-league teams fly United. Incongruously—or prophetically, if you happen to believe the copywriters—Berra (Easy Go) grinned ebulliently in the billboard ad while Houk (Easy Come) looked rather downcast. And wouldn't you know it? In a flip Houk tucked tail and went to Detroit and Berra came on as a genius. Nothing like it in the trade since the man wrote, "There's a Ford in your future."

James Dickey, author of the novel Deliverance, says he feels terrible about all the drownings in the wild Chatooga River, the scene of his book. Apparently inspired by Dickey's tale, hundreds of people have been canoeing the river. Eight of them have drowned in its rugged rapids and falls in the last 13 months. "They wouldn't have gone up there if I hadn't written the book." Dickey says. "There's nothing I can do about it. I can't patrol the river. Most of the people don't know the first thing about white-water rivers. They are out on a lark, just like the characters in Deliverance. Those people weren't prepared either."

Egil Krogh Jr., the former deputy assistant to the President for domestic affairs and undersecretary in the Department of Transportation, now under indictment for directing the operations of the White House "plumbers," again won the two-mile run around the Ellipse, which is the high point of National Jogging Day. Krogh finished in 11 minutes and 30 seconds, six seconds faster than last year.

Rice Coach Al Conover, with some fanfare, named last Saturday the Owls' official Fathers' Day. But it was not quite what it sounds. Conover invited every priest in the Houston diocese to sit on the sidelines with his squad. Rice's opponent happened to be Notre Dame. But it didn't work. The Irish still won 28-0.

Now everybody knows that fights are not a proper part of hockey, but just to be prepared the Baltimore Clippers hired a former boxer to train the team in the manly art of self-defense. No self-offense at all, you understand. Lee Halfpenny, the instructor, had seen only one hockey game in his life, but he is certain he taught the boys a thing or two. For results, watch the penalty boxing.

TWO PHOTOS