Sports Snapshots: February 13, 1960

John Wooden and UCLA--a rags-to-riches story this year, temporarily went back to rags against the top-ranked Cal Bears, 53-45, before an overflow Berkeley crowd of more than 7,200. At one point, Cal swelled its lead to 46-26 before the Bruins closed the gap in the final stretch. Ice cold shooting was the story for Wooden's squad, going over 10 minutes in the first half without a bucket. It marked the 19th victory in 20 outings for the Golden Bears, who undoubtedly retain their number one spot.

In other college news, Oscar Robertson (pictured) continues his torrid performances, popping in 31 points to rescue Cincinnati from a close call with the St Louis Billikens. Robertson hit 11 straight points in the waning moments to give the Bearkats the come-from-behind victory. The record-setting Big O easily leads the nation in scoring (36.8 ppg prior to the last contest), while West Viriginia's sensational Jerry West has compiled a near-30 point average. The Mountaineers love their guy, who is an exceptional rebounder for someone 6-3, and who controls the tips when jumping against often taller opponents (like 6-6 Satch Sanders of New York U the other night).

In the pros, the Minneapolis Lakers and St Louis Hawks are set for a two-game series in Los Angeles. It was so arranged by Minneapolis team president Bob Short after he noted the tremendous turnout for a recent Philadelphia-Minneapolis clash there. Despite a driving rainstorm, nearly 11,000 enthusiastically observed the game. St Louis, well out in front of the pack in the Western Division, includes the great Bob Pettit, Slater Martin, and Cliff Hagan, while Minneapolis, sagging with a 16-40 mark, still boasts superstar Elgin Baylor and Hot Rod Hundley.

Pete Rozelle (pictured), the newly appointed commissioner of the NFL, apparently won't possess the power his predecessor, Bert Bell, had. The 12 owners of NFL clubs desire a different direction, and the newcomer is expected to be more of a spokesman than a strong-armer. He'll need the approval of 11 of the 12 for any significant maneuver.
Rozelle, at a prior post in San Francisco, apparently spent so much time at the Iron Horse Restaurant that the owner had a private phone for him. A plaque above it now reads, "From this phone booth, Pete Rozelle left to become czar of all football."

Dick Gallagher, new general manager of the Buffalo Bills, possesses full confidence the rookie American Football League will develop some great teams, and in a hurry. Formerly with the Cleveland Browns, he notes, "The old All-America Conference was formed in 1946 and in 1948 the Browns had one of the best teams in pro football history...I'm thinking of players like Lou Groza, Dante Lavelli, and Marion Motley, three of the greatest in the history of the game."

Cal stunned the football world in its hiring of mysterious Marv Levy one week ago as its new coach. Greats like Duffy Daugherty, Bud Wilkinson, Ben Schwartzwalder, and Sid Gillman confessed to not having even heard of him before the announcement. One guy sure knew about him, though. Wyoming’s Bob Devaney snapped, "Cal got a helluva coach. Personally, I am glad Cal hired him because that gets him out of my hair."
Levy garnered a 6-3 record at New Mexico, a place where success of any kind is rare. UCLA’s Bill Barnes, who also never heard of Levy, gave kudos nonetheless. "He sure did something I couldn’t do at UCLA. He beat the Air Force and as far as I was concerned, the Air Force was one of the best teams I saw all year."
Devaney, when asked why he himseld refused the Cal job, exclaimed, "I had a better deal—and more money—at Wyoming!" Which makes you wonder if the new Golden Bears’ coach will have enough support to succeed regardless of smarts.

The world champion Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping muscled giant Frank Howard (pictured) can crack their lineup. The 6-7, 245 pounder blasted 44 round-trippers, some possibly still orbiting, at various levels last year. He's been moved to first base, where the great Gil Hodges, 13-year holder of the position, will tutor him.

Most of the Winter Olympics--held in Squaw Valley, CA--will be nationally televised live for the first time ever. Millions of viewers will be watching the series of broadcasts by the Columbia Broadcasting Service.

Rocky Marciano, the unbeaten heavyweight champion, announced he is going into motion pictures. The ring retiree will perform in "College Confidential," starring Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows and Mamie Van Doren. Film director Albert Zugsmith said Marciano would play a "rough-and-ready deputy sheriff."