A roundup of the week Oct. 6-12
BASEBALL—The California Angels held a three-games-to-two lead over the Boston Red Sox in their best-of-seven American League Championship Series, and the New York Mets and the Houston Astros were tied at two games apiece in the National League playoffs (page 18).
PRO FOOTBALL—Dallas handed NFC-Eastern Division rival Washington its first loss in six games this season, a 30-6 drubbing in which Steve Pelluer, playing for the injured Danny White, passed for 323 yards, the most by a Cowboy quarterback since Gary Hogeboom's 389 yards in '85. The Giants won their fifth straight, routing Philadelphia 35-3, to move into a tie for first with the Redskins. St. Louis remained in the division cellar despite ending its five-game losing streak with a 30-19 win over Tampa Bay as Neil Lomax passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Both teams are now 1-5. Walter Pay-ton became the first player in NFL history to gain 20,000 yards by rushing, receiving and returns as he led NFC Central-leading Chicago to its sixth consecutive victory this season, 20-7 over Houston. Minnesota (4-2) held on to second place with a 27-24 overtime defeat of San Francisco, ending the 49ers' three-game winning streak. Detroit evened its record at 3-3 after a 21-14 win over Green Bay, which suffered its sixth straight loss. Fullback James Jones gained 99 yards on 29 carries, and rookie Garry James scored his first NFL touchdown to lead the Lions to their second straight win. In the NFC West race Atlanta broke a tie for first and moved ahead of the Rams by beating L.A. 26-14. The Falcons never trailed after Gerald Riggs's touchdown run with 2:16 left in the first half. New Orleans picked up a second victory, edging winless Indianapolis 17-14. Colts quarterback Jack Trudeau fumbled on the Indianapolis 12-yard line to set up a Buford Jordan third-quarter touchdown, which put the Saints ahead for good. The Jets, battling AFC East rival New England, staved off a Patriot comeback to defeat New England 31-24. New York's Johnny Hector set a club record with 40 carries and tied another with his three one-yard rushing touchdowns. Miami (2-4) ended a three-game losing streak to move into third place in the East after a 27-14 victory over Buffalo, losers in 20 straight road games. In AFC Central action, Bernie Kosar passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns to help Cleveland to a 20-7 win over Kansas City. Denver, atop the AFC West, remained unbeaten for the sixth straight week, equaling its 1977 start, as it trounced 1-5 San Diego 31-14. Jim Plunkett threw two touchdown passes for the L.A. Raiders, who won their third straight, 14-10 over Seattle.
HOCKEY—In an effort to curb violence on the ice, the NHL Board of Governors imposed tougher penalties for fighting, high-sticking and slashing as the league's 70th season began. Defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal started with successive losses: 7-4 to Toronto, whose center Tom Fergus had a hat trick and two assists, and 5-4 to Edmonton, whose center Wayne Gretzky got his first two goals of the season. Calgary, the Cup runner-up, got off to a 1-1 start with a 5-3 win over Boston before falling 6-5 to Hartford in overtime. New Jersey came from behind to spoil the Rangers' home opener 5-3 and then topped Boston 5-4. Last year's team scoring leader, Greg Adams, came up with two goals in 54 seconds to give the Devils their second win. Philadelphia coach Mike Keenan gave rookie Ron Hextall "a vote of confidence for his work in preseason" by making him the starting goalie. It was a good move: Last year's AHL rookie of the year had 55 saves in two victories as the Flyers edged Edmonton 2-1 and trounced Washington 6-1. Randy Cunneyworth scored his first NHL hat trick to lead Pittsburgh to a 5-4 win over Washington, and Doug Bodger put in his first goal of the season 50 seconds into overtime as the Penguins nipped the Rangers 6-5.
HORSE RACING—LADY'S SECRET ($2.10), with Pat Day up, won the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park by half a length over Coup De Fusil. The 4-year-old daughter of Secretariat, who ran the 1¼ miles in 2:01[3/5] to break the stakes record, won $189,600 for the victory (page 62).
Capote ($9.40), with Laffit Pincay aboard, upset previously unbeaten Gulch by 1¾ lengths to win the Norfolk Stakes and $193,680 at Santa Anita. The 2-year-old colt ran the 1[1/16] miles in l:45[1/5].
SAILING—America's Cup: The challenger selection trials for the 26th America's Cup began this week off Fremantle, Western Australia. In a week of uncharacteristically light breezes—except for Sunday's 40-knot event-canceling gale—Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes emerged with a 6-0 record while New Zealand was also undefeated in six races. The New York Yacht Club's America II had the next-best record at 5-1, followed by a surprisingly strong performance by England's White Crusader at 5-2. The defender selection trials begin October 18th.
TENNIS—JOHN McENROE beat Kevin Curren 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to win $44,000 and his third straight Grand Prix event, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Steffi Graf defeated Helena Sukova 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to win a WITA event in Zurich.
MILEPOSTS—ANNOUNCED: By the Kansas City Royals, that DICK HOWSER, 50, who missed the second half of the season after brain surgery, will return to manage in 1987. Mike Ferraro, a coach who had filled in on an interim basis, was fired.
CONVICTED: In State Supreme Court in Manhattan, junior middleweight boxer LUIS RESTO, 30, and his manager and trainer, CARLOS (Panama) LEWIS, 40, of second degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy. Lewis had removed half the padding from Resto's gloves in a 1983 match between Resto and Billy Collins Jr. The manager was also convicted of tampering with the outcome of a sporting event.
NAMED: As manager of the Baltimore Orioles, third base coach CAL RIPKEN Sr., 50. He replaces Earl Weaver, 56, who retired last week.
RESIGNED: After five years as Maryland athletic director, DICK DULL, 41, amid athletic department policy changes following the June death of basketball star Len Bias and a subsequent study that investigated the weak academic performances of many Maryland athletes.
RULED: By a state court jury in Riverhead, NY., that Martina Navratilova did not injure photographer Art Seitz during an incident that followed the tennis star's upset in the quarterfinals of the 1982 U.S. Open. Seitz, who sued Navratilova for $2 million, was awarded $50 for the cost of his exposed film.
DIED: NORM CASH, 51, Detroit Tiger first baseman from 1960 to '74, whose .361 average won the American League batting title in 1961, the same year he became the first Tiger to hit a home run over the roof of Tiger Stadium; an apparent drowning victim, while boating in Lake Michigan.
Wallace Wade, 94, Alabama football coach from 1923 to 1930, who led the Crimson Tide to two Rose Bowl wins and one tie and a 61-13-3 record; of pneumonia; in Durham, N.C. From 1931 to 1941 and from 1946 to 1950 Wade amassed a 110-36-7 mark at Duke and was known for bringing the 1942 Rose Bowl from Pasadena to Durham after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (page 66).