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SPORTS:* %u2014GARY HOENIG%u2019SBottomLineThe Knicks have finally signed 7%u2019 Marvin Webster, ending for now their seemingly endless search for a savior. No doubt some discontented fans may return to the fold, particularly since the Knicks and Webster need prove no mystical powers for another two months. But the pinky-ringed high-rollers and Brooks Brothers pseudo -hoopjunkies that shell out S12.50 a seat at the Garden will need more than a promise to keep coming. Frontrunners are never satisfied by other than oonstant success.Watching somber Marvin W ebster deal diplomatically with reporters at the press conference called to announce his signing, one was reminded of how much energy is directed by sports executives toward these frontrunners. Television executives. Advertising salesmen. Corporate ticket holders, who use their seats to grab a tax deduction and impress an occasional out-of-town client. People whose passion for the games they pay for is about the same as that felt by the average john for the masseuse in the local sex shop.No sports management has been more guilty of that pandering than has Madison Square Garden and its conglomerate owner, Gulf + Western. Blessed with a sophisticated basketball audience that loved the game ind the way the Knicks played it, the Garden simply raised ticket prices until the true fans, the black hipsters and sneakered beer-drinkers, couldn%u2019t afford a ticket. When age and injuries ended the Knicks short reign at the top, the frontrunners stopped buying all those seats. And management went into its frantic act to buy its way back to respectability.Spencer Was the FirstFirst they produced Spencer Haywood, a talented scorer and rebounder who was going to replace Dave Debusherre. Haywood, a sensitive man who was an Olympic hero at age 19, was certainly a worthwhile acquisition, but to hope that he could single-handedly restore a decaying Knick team to the top of the game was unrealistic. Plagued by injuries and then by self-doubt, Heywood is now no longer capable of being even himself. He has made a sincere effort to do whatever management has asked him to do. But when it was clear he would not be a savior, he became a corporate non-person.Bob McAdoo camt to the Knicks with an extraordinary history as a prolific scorer on a winning team. His Buffalo Braves had pushed championship Celtic teamfs to the limits in two playoff series. McAdoo had more than held his own at center, despite not being as active defensively as some coaches might have preferred.McAdoo%u2019s coming to the Knicks was a veritable coronation. He played almost forty minutes a game last season, and scored 30 points virtually every night despite being mercilessly pounded on the instruction of opposing coaches. But McAdoo did not lead the Knicks to a championship, and so he, too, has become a non-person.Eddie Donovan, the general manager who engineered the drafts and trades that gave birth to the great Knick teams, was rehired by the Garden to do that job again. Donovan signed several players whose intelligence and unselfish style of play fit in with the Knick concept he remembered. But his efforts were constantly thwarted by Gulf + Western%u2019s insistence on buying stars whose style did not fit in with that concept. The Garden has been trying to replace Donovan for two years now.Jim McMillian and Jim Geamons are intelligent and unselfish players who work best on teams where players work with one another to accomplish their goals. Neither is an extraordinary scorer or leaper; both excel at defense and moving without the ball. Both seemed to disappear among the hodge-podge of individual styles that characterized last year%u2019s team. McMillian hasn%u2019t even been contacted about signing a new contract; Geamons has been offered to several clubs in trades and is considered a major disappointment.It%u2019f Marvin%u2019s Big Break?Earl Monroe spent six years in New York proving he could play either .as a team player or the team%u2019s dominant scorer. The game%u2019s most exciting player ever at his position, his magic and virtuosity has often been all that kep the fans watching. But as he got older and the Knicks remained mired in mediocrity, Monroe, too, was downgraded and ignored by management. A free agent, he has yet to sign for next season.So now Marvin Webster gets his chance at the cross. Webster gave up a lot of good feeling for a lot of cash in coming to New York, and, in the end, he probably made the right decision for himself. After all, he wasn%u2019t negotiating with the city of Seattle, but with an egotistical millionaire named Sam Shulman. But it is clear that he is more than a iiuie apprehensive about the decision he has made.McMillian, McAdoo, and Monroe joined Willis Reed in greeting Webster at the press conference. There were smiles and talk of championship seasons to come. Maybe one of them should have warned him. Enjoy it all now, Marvin. They%u2019ll love you in the playgrounds. But if you don%u2019t win it all, you better clean out your locker. There%u2019s no room for losers in a frontrunners%u2019 stadium.SomberMarvin%u2019sBurdenPhoenix Pro-Grid Picksa.F.C. EastNEW ENGLAND: Blessed with a mobile defense and gritty offense. Terrific pass defense. Harold Jackson replaces injured Darryl Stingley at receiver. Could win it all.BALTIMORE: Injuries to Bert Jones, and Bill Troup, first and second string quarterbacks, could hurt, as could Lydell Mitchellous. Lof of defensive players living off old reputations. Bradshaw not a good quarterback on a weakened team. Running attack suffer* because lineman not up to old quality. But still a rugged team to play.Cincinnati: Could have won it all, but injury to quarterback Ken Anderson hurts. Tough on defense; has big play people on offense.Could beat a few teams, could also fall to below the Seahawks.Seattle: Still an expansion team, though offense is competent. Not going anywhere yet.N.F.C. EASTDallas: Wh/it else can you say. They should sit out the season and wait for the Super Bowl. Both units are superior, there is depth ataffair. Baltimore is a team divided, and the volatile internal situation will not help their title chances.MIAMI: A top contender until injuries downed Bob Griese and two defensive starters. Needs a miracle to stay in contention long enough for Griese to still help when and if he does come back this seasop.JETS: Not this year, but look out in 1980. Should scare everybody but beat almost nobody that counts. Richard Todd best young passe? in conference. Injured contenders, beware.BUFFALO: Now they don%u2019t even have O .J. Maybe the worst team in football Coverall, because of inept management in the past. Terry Miller may help some fans forget O.J. by season%u2019s end.A.F.C, CentralHouston; Devastating defense led by Robert Br&ile and Elvin Bethea. Flashy offense triggered by Don Pastorini, Heisman winner Earl Campbell, and receivers like Ken Burrough and ex-Jet Rich Caster. Should edge aging Steelers and injured Bengals.Pittsburgh: Aging, but dangerRunning attack spotty last season.Cleveland: BettMr than most people think, but may be in toughest division. If either Steelers or Bengals suffer further injuries, might surprise.A.F.C. WESTOakland: Has it all. Crazy hitting defense, wily gambler at quarter in Ken Stabler, huge offensive line. Last year%u2019s loss to Denver a freak. Raidlrs will most Iftely be%u00bbthere t%u00a9 play Dallas in Super Bowl.Denver: Great defense, best linebacking corp in game. Secondary only adequate. Has good runners but offensive line has been completely rebuilt. Can any team win twice in a row with Craig Mdrton at quarterback? Could collapse completely with key injuries.San Diego: Has pretensions to title-which hardly seems realistic. Good quarterbacks and receivers, and Lydell Mitchell will help weak running attack. Defense sound but not exceptional. Wrong division for sleeper contender.Kansas City: Completelyrebuilding. Unknown quantity.Then, the GiantsThe Giants are still a mystery team. It is difficult to figure how much talent this team really has, and what management strategy really is.The team has an easy schedule and could win a lot of games this season. Or the team could collapse completely, and lose to a lot of stiffs, in which case everyone will be fired and the whole rebuilding charade will begin again.The guess here is a little bit of both: A 8-8 season will not prove much, but it is eminently reachable; anything less would be a disappointment.DEFENSE: A great front four, in Martin, Mendenhall, Gregory and Troy Archer. Archer is hurt, but Gary Jeter is playing well as his replacement. The linebackers are also terrific, particularly all-pro Brad Van Pelt and Harry Carson, who is the best young middle linebacker around. The secondary is something else, however, and injuries and uncertain coaching decisions make this a significant if. This is where the Giants are alwaysgiving up key third down yardage in important situations.OFFENSE: Very iffy. Goldsteyn or Pisarcik or Pisarcik or G|>ldstityn and maybe, in the end, neither. The backs are adequate but small, unless Larry Csonka makes a miracle comeback. The offensive line is improved, but still erratic. Is J.T. Turner really the answr at tackle? Gordon King was mucked about at a new position, and now seems confused about where to play.The receivers are swift but somtimes get the dropsies. The offense needs the defense to win games. One big plus: The best kicking game around, with superpunter Dave %u2018Jennings and gutty Joe Danelo kicking field goals. OVERALL ASSESSMENT: Defense in football is like pitching in baseball; it means about 70 percent of the game. The Giants front seven is as good as tne best in football, and that can make up for a lot of mistakes on offense and in the secondary. But don%u2019t count on a playoff contende; the Giants are still a .500 club at best. %u2014G.H.every position, and Tony Dorsett will play more this year than last. Revolting.St. Loots: A lot of ifs, especially concerning Bud Wilkinson%u2019s return to Coaching and pro debut. Flashy offense, gritty defense. But collapsed completely at end of season last year. Loss of Terry Metcalf will hurt.Washington; Over-the-hill gang goes completely over the hill. This team has gotten more mileage out of reputation than any in history. Should beware of Eagles and Giants who may pass them. Jack Pardee has unenviable task of rebuilding team with no draft choices. Where have you gone, George Allen?Giants: See below.Eagles Jaworski an innovative young quarterback. Some good young backs and a good receiving corps. Bergey best linebacker in game. Eagles still a losing team.N.F.C. CENTRALChicago: Could take it all. Scary defense, plus daring quarterbacking of Bob Avellini and super runner Walter Payton. Payton%u2019s pay dispute may hurt club.Minnesota: Getting old and decrepit. Tarkenton may not be able to come back from injury at 37. Defense already overage. Too late for these dinosaurs to win another title.Detroit: Another rebuilding team with a new coach. Unknown quantity with a reputable defense.Green Bay: A disaster. Bart Starr is living in the past.Tampa Bay: Overrated defense. Promising offense, if they can find someone who. can stand playing quarterback long enough. Only team that can prevent Buffalo from winning worst team title.N.F.C. WESTLos Angeles: Rams are ripe for a fall, but who is going to beat them? Weakest division in football should set Rams up for another playoff disappointment. Allen firing will not help.San Francisco: Joe Thomas is cleaning house here as he has done elsewhere, and if his track record is indicative, ha%u2019ll have a contender in 1980 and be fired by 1981. 49erswiii be reniiy ennui, Una aCaaOu.Atlanta: A strong defense and no offense. June Jones, a rookie, takes over from injury-prone Steve Bartkowski at quarterback.New Orleans: The. pits. %u2014%u00ae%u2019.H.Page 24, THE PHOENIX, September 1,1978