CADILLAC PONTIAC WTM AMYOMT SALES 385-6000 RT 1201RT 31 McHENRY SERVICE 385-3700 PARTS: 385-4201 RTS PRgBE) Merlin Olsen HBO looks at American sport champs By Steve K. Walz Outstanding accomplish ments of such great Ameri can athletes as Babe Ruth, Muhammad All, Eddie Arcaro, BilUe Jean King and Joe Namath will be celebrated in "Champions of American Sport," an exclusive HBO sports program, scheduled to debut in early 1983 on the cable network. The show will be hosted by ex-NFL star Merlin Oleen, now featured on the NBC drama "Father Murphy." The show is bas§d on the "Champions of American Sport" exhibi tion organized by the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery. CHA CHA ON FILM -- Twentieth Century-Fox will produce a film based on the life of Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney, the only two-time fuel-dragster champion. The film, which will be released in 1983, stars* Bonnie Bedella as Miss Muldowney. Other stars cast in the project are Beau Bridges, Hoyt Axton and Dean Paul Martin. WESTERN SHOOTOUT -- San Diego State takes on Utah in an NCAA gridi ron battle, to be aired Sat urday on the TBS cable network. San Diego State FRIDAY, OCTOM* if © P-M. Migntw ® Thm'« Company ® MOV* *tbo Hr*t TtaM' ®Mn @3 Signature 6D ESPN Sport* Contor @j) ® AU In the FomUy ©Andy Griffith tB B«nny HHI Show 03 Investor's Action Iteo 7K)opm eeo© Dukoi of Hoxiord SI €0 S) Powers of Matthew Star Matthew and Walt are lured to Italy to recover a top-secret item. (60 min.) © plays a wide-open offensive game that can quickly put an opponent out of action Utah is considered to be a growing football power Players to keep an eye on include Shn Diego State quarterback Rick Haneon and Utah receiver Tony Graham. ESPN EVENTS -- ESPN has debuted two new series this month -- "Future Sport" and "Ski School." "Future Sport,' which is hosted by tennis expert Vic Braden, focuses on the relationship between science and sports. "Ski School," which coincides with the begin ning of the fall ski season is geared to teaching the recreational skier the finei points of the sport. ©1M2 Compulog ROCK ON By Ethlle Ann Vara REVIEWS Dira Straits -- "Love Over Gold (Warner Brothers) -- If. by titling this album "Love Over Gold," Dire Straits inti mates it won't make artistic compromises for commercial success -- well, that's borne out by the LP's content. After all, you're not likely to get many hit singles off a record where the shortest song is six minutes long. But when you take one of the greatest rock guitarists alive (Mark Knop- fler) and give him free rein, the results can be achingly beauti ful. Straits co-founder David Knopfier has left the band, and a new rhythm guitarist (Hal Lindes) and a keyboard player (Alan Clark) have been added. The sound is fuller, but unmistakably Dire. Santana -- "Shango" (Columbia) -- After one album that sounded like cloned Genesis, Devadip Car los Santana and Co. return to their Latin/African origins for a welcome homecoming. Ethnic rhythms abound in this rocker and. while the tunes may not have the intensity of "Oye Como Va" or "Jingo," the cuts are much better than "Winning." Tonl Basil -- "Word of Mouth" (Chrysalis) -- Toni Basil is best known as a choreographer/dancer (she created the Lockers troupe, for one) and her debut album is also a video project. But even without the visuals, it's a delightfully off-the-wall, peppy, bright and captivating record. From the Chapman-Chinn composition "Mickey" (a cult hit in California) to interpreta tions of such obscure classics as David Essex's "Rock On" and Love's "Little Red Book," Toni Basil Miss Basil has a wonderful time and passes along the feeling. A perfect little gem of a record. Barry Manilow -- "Oh, Julie" (Arista) -- This is either a commendable departure , or an inside joke. Here is Barry Manilow, darling of the blue rinse set, recording a rock album. What's more, it's • a rock mini-album or EP, and no other bankable act has ever recorded one of these. He skill fully covers Shakin' Stevens' rockabilly hit "Oh, Julie," and then proceeds to sing the 1957 chestnut "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself' a Letter." Who's kidding who? Don Henley -- "I Can't standstill" (Asylum) -- After Glenn Frey's paean to party ing, co-Eagle Don Henley reveals who was the brains, of that outfit after all. It's a subtle and introspective work, touch ing on subjects as unlikely as public education, TV news and nuclear war. The album fea tures guest artists Warren Zevon, Bill Withers, Jjhn David Souther, Benmont Tench f the Heartbreakers) and eve.. session musician in Los Ang^ les. The LP is especially endearing in comparison tQ the garbage Henley had previqusly done away from his former band ("Heavy Metal"' or "Leather and Lace.") _ @1982 Compulog *