PEOPLE

Bernie Ulman, an NFL referee for 11 years, may now be addressed as professor by any player wishing to do so. Next term he will teach a course at Essex Community College near Baltimore entitled Pro Football for the Specataor. Ulman says the course is open to everyone, and "that includes sportswriters and broadcasters." No one need feel inhibited. "Whenever I speak anywhere," he says, "I ask the audience for one big boo. That way they feel at ease." As equal time for those comments on crowds and the Fourth Estate, it seems fair to note that Essex does not offer credit for taking Ulman's course. The college does, however, give credit for a course in dancing the polka.

Jean Terrell, the lead singer for the Supremes, was at ringside watching Muhammad Ali work out. When Ali spoke to her in a friendly fashion, a girl sitting next to Jean nudged her in the ribs. "Tell him he's the prettiest thing going," the girl suggested. Jean shrugged. "What's the use?" she asked. "He already knows it."

Several years ago Stock-Car Driver Richard Petty announced an open house for the fans, and 15,000 showed up at his place in Level Cross, N.C. (pop. 1,660). Word got out that the Pettys were holding another open house, and Petty had to ask 51 radio stations to send out a frantic message: no open house, just the annual convention of the Richard Petty Fan Club. Some 300 came from 17 states, representing 6,500 paid-up members. And so did North Carolina Governor James Holshouser, who handled an air wrench on the front tire in the pit-crew race, part of the entertainment. His Honor was doing well, too, until he bent over to pick up the spare—and split his trousers right up the middle. Quick as a wink three large highway patrolmen ringed the guv, off came the pants and into the breech came Mrs. Lee Petty (Richard's mama) wielding a fast needle. A small accident. Yellow flag, all the way.

For the first time since 1950, England failed to reach the qualifying finals of the soccer World Cup, and for Goalkeeper Peter Shilton, distraught in front of 100,000 spectators and a television audience of millions, it was more than failure at a sport. Although England dominated the Wembley Stadium match most of the way, Poland scored on a breakaway goal by Jan Domarski and, needing a win to qualify, England could manage no more than a 1-1 tie, and 'alf bad was too bad.

World chess champion Bobby Fischer launched a guerrilla attack from right of center on Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos during a ceremonial game opening the Philippines International Chess Tournament. Christina Ford and Imelda Marcos, wife of the president, were there to watch, and all across the board things were warmer than they had been on that other island, Iceland.

The front foursome of the Atlanta Falcons includes a couple of fairly eccentric members. Defensive End Claude Humphrey, one of the toughest players in the league, frequently appears at dog shows, exhibiting Doberman pinschers. And John Zook is a former sky diver. The story is told that Zook's parachute once failed to open. Falling faster and faster, Zook ripped the pack open with his hands, pulled out the chute and threw it free so that it opened just 500 feet from the ground. Ten more jumps and that was enough sky diving for Zook.

The Arizona State golf team includes Brian Shanks and Cody Hooker.

Thomas C. Garrett, a Spokane bank assistant vice-president, recently climbed Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, making the ascent of the snow-capped, 19,340-foot peak with Ralph Mackey of Everett, Wash. "Winds were up to 50 knots, and the chill factor was 50° below," Garrett says, "so I stayed just long enough to plant an Expo 74 flag and apply Expo decals wherever I could." Hmm. Garrett's father-in-law, Roderick Lindsay, is chairman of the board for the Spokane exposition, which has an environmental theme. Definitely a sticky situation.

Warren Capone, the outstanding Louisiana State linebacker, says he may be a relative of the late Al Capone. Warren's grandfather Mike entered the United States through New York when he emigrated from Italy around the turn of the century but did not stay in the city. Mike's brother remained behind in New York, however, and was never heard from again. Presumably he could well have settled in Brooklyn and have had a son named Al. "My grandfather went to see Al Capone in New Orleans once," Warren says. "Capone said he didn't have any relatives."

TWO PHOTOS