AProgress Bulletin Pomona, California Tuesday, June 06, 1972 - Page 23
Segura Amazed With Power From Celebrity Tennis Trio
Rancho La Costa, Calif. (UPI) — Old pro Pancho Segura shook his head in envy and said. “I'd like to have about half the strength and power these boys have.”
The game was tennis and he was talking about 0.J. Simpson, the Buffalo Bills star running back, Rick Barry, the New York Nets basketball star and Los Angeles Laker guard Gail Goodrich.
The three athletes were among 13 sports figures who took part in Monday's Dewar's Sports Celebrity Tennis Championships at La Costa Hotel.
“All they would need is work and practice,” said Segura. “They've got the natural ability.”
The winner of the tournament was the oldest player in the field, 61-year-old Hank slugger and Hall of Famer. Greenberg teamed with MER. Greenberg teamed with Bob Boyd, University of Southern California basketball coach to blank Simpson and Goodrich 5-0.
Pepper Rodgers, UCLA football coach, and Barry coupled to win third place in the round-robin doubles tourney. The player who drew the most attention, and even signed autographs for some of the athletes was Bobby Fischer, international grand master in chess, who rarely emerges from his training seclusion.
Others who competed were: Whitey Ford, former New York Yankee pitcher; Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett of the San Diego Chargers; former Laker Elgin Baylor; pole vaulter Bob Seagren; Gene Washington of the San Francisco Forty niners; Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Merlin Olsen and former teammate Deacon Jones; miler Marty Liguori and former San Diego Chargers coach Sid Gillman.
