The Missoulian Missoula, Montana Tuesday, June 06, 1972 - Page 9
Chess Champ?
Bobby Fischer, American chess master who'll meet Boris Spassky of Russia for the world championship in Iceland in July, hits a serve while competing Monday in the second annual Dewar's Sports Celebrity tennis tournament at La Costa Country Club in Rancho La Costa, Calif. His partner is Gail Goodrich of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team. The tournament was won by Hank Greenberg and Bob Boyd, Southern California basketball coach.
The Los Angeles Times Los Angeles, California Tuesday, June 06, 1972 - Page 47
Greenberg, Boyd Win Net Tourney
Rancho La Costa (AP) — Hank Greenberg, 60-year-old former slugger of the Detroit Tigers, and Bob Boyd, USC basketball coach, won the Dewar's Cup in the second annual Sports Celebrities Tennis Tournament Monday.
Climaxing a 16-man round-robin doubles tournament with changing partners, they defeated Gail Goodrich of the Lakers and O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills, 6-0, in the final match at La Costa Country Club.
Several sports figures competed, including Bobby Fischer, U.S. chess grand master, who is preparing for a July 2 world championship match against Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.
Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida Tuesday, June 06, 1972 - Page 35
Is Tennis Everybody's 2nd Game?
It's hard to say what, exactly, is the cause of tennis' recent popularity upsurge. More and more celebrities are taking it up — why? Maybe because tennis is a purgative, a way to rid yourself of the tensions that build in your everyday life. The men pictured here don't have your everyday tensions. Above is Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, whose grimace of concentration tells you it's an election year. At right is chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, who's relaxing before going into serious training for his world title match with champion Boris Spassky of Russia.
Progress 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.
