Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 12

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1986 3C plf His toyir of duty is a most commipDete Sheehan sBiootis 69, Deads by 1 at Sarasota After sparkling career, Durbin's ready to quit By MARC TOPKIN St. Patartburg Timat Stiff Wrltf Scores, 2-C United Prett International v- 1 1 hi i XV' sponsors are increasing their contributions. Seagram's Cooler will sponsor the U.S. Open in 1987 for $1 -million.

The Miller Brewing which has been involved in bowling for 21 years, will stage three pro tournaments for $150,000 each and an amateur event for another $150,000. Add in the company's advertising budget, and Miller's contribution to the sport will exceed $l-million this year, said spokesman Bob Bertini. Miller is also offering the Lite Slam, a $l-mil-lion bonus to any bowler who wins the three Lite Beer events Miami, Milwaukee and Cleveland. A bowler who wins two of the three gets $50,000. The Firestone Tournament of Champions will offer a $50,000 first-place prize this year, the PBA's largest.

And Mike Aulby broke new ground in 1985, winning six titles and becoming the first bowler to win more than $200,000 in one year. With $l-million tournaments, $50,000 first prizes and $200,000 winners, one would think bowling is headed for the big time. Durbin is not so sure. "They are big steps," he said, but added, "Pro bowling is still not where it should be, financially, or as far as moving up in the sports world," he said. Chuck Pezzano, a charter member of the PBA and its unofficial historian, said the reason for that perception is that bowling is frequently compared to golf and tennis.

Those sports attract crowds counted in tens of thousands, while bowling tournaments may draw just several hundred. Pezzano said a solution would be to build bowling arenas that would hold about 3,000 fans. Durbin is not sure what the answers are. "I really don't know what we could do other than what we are doing now," Durbin said. "We're visible on TV, we're available to sports writers, we're available to the public in pro-ams." One area where bowlers do suffer, he said, is a lack of promotion.

He said the PBA should hire an ad agency to work with bowlers. "We need better promotion of our stars," Durbin said. Earl Anthony, who won 41 PBA titles, was virtually an ambassador to the sport when he was MIAMI Mike Durbin remembers the beginning. He's enjoyed the middle. And now he recognizes the end.

Durbin won the first of his 14 Professional Bowlers Association titles in Tampa in 1967 and collected $5,000. Friday, the 44-year-old was among the spectators at Don Carter's Kendall Lanes. The top 24 bowlers were still shooting for the $27,000 first prize. Durbin was eliminated from the Lite Beer Classic field Thursday, but picked up $1,170 for finishing 33rd. Durbin has been on the tour since 1966, but said he is ready to step aside.

"I'm doing everything I can to get off the tour," Durbin DOUIIiny "fid Friday. "I've had enough. mmmmmmm 8 wor fr someone else, or I'll get a place of my own." Durbin, who also provides commentary for ESPN 's coverage of the summer tour, said he is unsure of what he will do. "My future is still a question mark," Durbin said. "I'll stay in bowling one way or another." Durbin will remain involved with the sport, but said he has had his fill of the touring pro's lifestyle.

"I've just gotten tired of the pressure and the travel and being away from home all those weeks," Durbin said. He has a wife and three children in Ohio, and wants to spend more time with them. Durbin ranks among the PBA's top 10 all-time money winners with $711,430, but said, "It's still really hard to make a living on the PBA tour. You have to win to make a living out here. You can't be a .250 hitter." The ball, however, is getting a little easier to hit.

BOWLERS ARE competing for more money than ever before. There are television contracts with ABC (winter tour), NBC (fall, currently up for renewal) and ESPN (summer). Commercial SARASOTA Defending champion Patty Sheehan shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday to take a one-stroke lead at the halfway point of the LPA's $200,000 Sarasota Classic. Sheehan, seeking to become the first to win the 11-year-old tourney twice, had an opening round 68 for a 36-hole total of 7-under-par 137. One shot back at 138 was Stephanie Farwig, who scored a 68 Friday to go with her opening round 70.

Another shot back at 139 was Allison Finney, who also had a second round 68 after opening with a 71. Tied for fourth at 3-under-par 141 were Jan Geddes, who had the low round of the day at 66 to go with her opening round 75, and Patti Riz-zo and Barb Thomas, both of whom had 70s Friday to go with first round 71s. The field of 144 was cut at the end of Friday's round, with 83 players matching or bettering the 149 needed to play the final two rounds. Sheehan fashioned her round with two birdies, an eagle and a bogey. She carded the eagle on the par-4 16th hole when she hit a pitching wedge into the hole from 98 yards out.

"I hit my drive through to the right and hit the pitching wedge," she said. "It hit about a foot left, bounced about three feet and then spun back into th hole. It was really neat. But tourney officials and spectators around the green said the ball actually hit three-feet above the pin on the fly and spun back into the hole. Timet filas Mike Durbin captured a PBA-record third Tournament of Champions title in 1 984.

in his prime. Anthony retired in 1983, but now, at 47, he is still in demand for exhibitions. The sport has yet to replace Anthony with a new "Mr. Bowling," even though bowlers like Durbin, Mark Roth and Marshall Holman have been very successful. Durbin, who is the only player to win the Tournament of Champions three times (1972, 1982 and 1984), said the sport would benefit if one bowler could emerge as a standout.

"I think it would help bowling if we had someone like that," Durbin said. "It would help to have a superstar, or two or three superstars, as far as the public taking an interest." Increased interest would also help bowling fight another dilemma. "Bowling has an image problem," Durbin said. "We're not visible enough. We're not recognizable enough to command the big dollars like other sports." "It's come a long way," Durbin said, looking all the way back to 1967 at Tampa's East Gate Lanes, "but it has to go a lot further." Ozio makes most of bowling day in Miami UPI Patty Sheehan shot 3-under par Friday at Bent Tree.

nfi Unhappy Cards consider move to New York: report Attociated Prett NEW YORK The St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League, unhappy with the revenue generated by undersized Busch Memorial Stadium, have entertained offers to move the club to New York City, according to a published report. The Cardinals' general counsel, Thomas J. Guilfoil, told the New York Times Friday that Cardinals owner William Bidwill "began to listen to people who were interested in bringing a team to New York City" because "of the stadium situation in St. Louis." New York was left without a football team when the Jets moved to East Rutherford, N.J., home of the football Giants, for the 1984-85 season.

Busch Memorial Stadium holds 51,392 for football, making it the smallest stadium in the NFL. There have been discussions regarding a new stadium in suburban St. Louis. TV: 3 p.m., By MARC TOPKIN 8t, Patariburg Timet Staff Wrhar liams, a 26-year-old non-winner from California who is a four-time world horseshoe-pitching champion; and Mark Baker, a 24-year-old Cali-fornian who won this event in 1984 and finished second in four 1985 events. "I bowled tremendously good tonight," Ozio said.

The two-time PBA titlist wrapped up the top spot with a stunning 7-1 performance in Friday afternoon's session. "I can't even believe how good I'm bowling," Ozio said. "I've got a good shot, and I'm also making a lot of good shots, and that's what really counts out here." Ozio is familiar with the feeling of making the final. He qualified second at the Showboat Invitational two weeks ago in Las Vegas, but lost to eventual champion Gary Skidmore. Ozio made two TV finals last year and won in both St.

Louis and Tuscon. Bower also has experienced winning. He has competed in three championship rounds, and won all three events. Two were Resident Pro Championships, which don't count as national events, and the other was the 1985 True Value Open in Indianapolis. He started bowling well Thursday, when he went from 65th place to eighth.

He continued the hot streak Friday, moving up to second. NOTES: Sarasota's Gil Sliker led Tampa Bay area bowlers with a 34th place finish and a check for $1,160. Other finishers include: St. Petersburg's Tom Milton, tie for 37th, Tampa's Tom Crites, 51st, $990; St. Petersburg's Ken Levin, 84th; Tampa's Mario Moley, 90th; Palmetto's Kent Wagner, 92nd and Hernando Beach's Sam Zurich, 156th.

Birdie on 18 puts Mize up by 1 shot Scores, 2-C United Prett International LA JOLLA, Calif. Larry Mize birdied the par-5 18th hole Friday to take a l-stroke lead over Danny Edwards with a 10-under par 134 at the end of two rounds of the $450,000 Andy Williams San Diego Open. Mize shook off a 3-putt bogey on the par-3 8th hole and finished with a rush on the final half of the Torrey Pines South course. MIAMI David Ozio had planned to spend today in a boat on Lake Okeechobee. But instead of looking for bass, he'll be fishing for the $27,000 first prize in the Lite Beer Classic here at Don Carter's Kendall Lanes.

Ozio went 11-5 in his match games Friday to zoom into the top position for today's 3 p.m. nationally televised final of this Professional Bowlers Association tournament. Joining the 31-year-old Texan in the five-man field are, in order: Darryl Bower, a 30-year-old non-winner from Pennsylvania; Amleto Monacel-li, a 24-year-old Venezuelan who finished second in three PBA events in 1985; Walter Ray Wil NEW 1986 Citation 17' Boat RY!" 120hp OMC Stern Drive "THERE IS NO MYSTE LAKE FOREST PINELLAS COUNTY'S FASTEST SELLING TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY YOU can SAVE up to $4,000 if you ACT ONLY $2,900 INITIAL INVESTMENT $414.00 MONTHLY UNITED a co fjnK 60 months to pay OPEN 7 DAYS INCLUDING PRINCIPAL INTEREST. iwiurt i a 1 799 U.S. 1 9 Clearwater Gulf View Mall, Port Richey TAKE HASSLE AND WORRY OUT OF SERVICE CHOOSEST.

PETE AMCJEEPRENA UL 3 I Chetk All How AddCooW I (Mo. lal. I Peak Anti Freeze Gal. Dealer Inquiries Welcome I Check AH Check nec vor nugc IP CowPltp I Check thernHM4o 10.05 flush $ytm Jf Ml Ml Mi MM Ml (MR MM MUMMH Ml Ml (Ml IMi Lube, Oil Filter Brake Inspection All ftf ifndwJet: .10.90 i Kltl Mh in ck, Liti I OtoW mxM tttgMy I Impact Show, Otumt Cyndir( I I Ifupetf Mostw CyWor 4 Howh Minor Turin tin fEledtonie lanttion 1 CheoM St Pctcrsbur I tAtvupwrt.ChKt'r 4Cyl. PlL m.

bc to fm, a Cyf. "349 450-34th St. No. 53J-1 141 J2S-2 141 TAMPA J2 3-3474 Tjffflf EXCITING 2 AND 3 BEDROOM TRI-LEVELS with living area up to 1,629 sq. ft.

CONVENIENT MID-CQUNTY LOCATION nestled among trees, lake, and a 60-acre park. BUILDER PAYS CLOSING COSTS POINTS with special financing arrangements. FEATURING: OVERSIZED 1 2 CAR GARAGES SPACIOUS LAUNDRY ROOMS WITH LAUNDRY CHUTES WOOD DECKS VAULTED CEILINGS SKYLIGHTS COMPLETE APPLIANCE PACKAGE GREAT RECREATIONAL FACILITIES INCLUDING SO'xSO' POOL, JACUZZI, AND MUCH MORE ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA Proceeds to All Children 's Hospital February 7th-9th Admission: $5.00 per day Feb. 7, 8, 9 $15.00 VIP Weekend Pass (Includes Pit Past) WW AO PRICES STARTING AT $57,900 Children under 6 FREE when accompanied by an adult Tickets available at all Select-A-Seat outlets or at the Gate (Comer of 66th St.

94th Ave. 'Payment based on 8 A.R.M. financing over 40-year period. (813) 546-4602 10-5, Sun. 12-5.