Fire fights Hawaii in home finale by Leo Zainea

A Big Bonus is in sotre for remaining followers of the Chicago Fire, losing its way into a World Football League playoff format seemingly devised by Larry, Curly and Moe.

Chicago's opponent for the home finale is the same team printed indelibly on your tickets, the Hawaiians. Used to be in recent weekds a fan could pencil in his own preference, and msot often be right.

What was to be the latest in a string of "must games" for the 7-9 Fire no longer is. The league's new playoff setup lets everything in but the kitchen sink. Eight of the 10 teams can now qualify, and even the Fire will be hard put not to make it now.

Commissioner Gary Davidson and the WFL's governors decided on the generous format Monday to add a little excitement to the troubled league's closing weeks. At the same time, Davidson announced the WFL's most valuable player would receive a check for $10,000 and a steel trophy valued at $1,500.

Either that or a WFL franchise. Runnerup gets two franchises.

If any more teams fold in the next four weeks, they'll have to find new franchises to fill the playoff spots. The league began with 12 teams and four berths, went to 10 teams and six berths, and now has 10 teams and anyone who can pay their own way to a post-season contest.

Kickoff for Wednesday night's encounter at Soldier Field is 8:10 p.m.

The Fire needs only to win one of its remaining four games to make these bizarre playoffs, and Coach Jim Spavital intends to start against the Hawaiians.

But he knows more than anyone how much each of these teams have changed since the Fire walloped the Hawaiians 53-29 on July 28 for a fourth straight victory.

"I watched the film of that game with coaches the other day and I could hardly bear it," he said. "It made me sick. We couldn't do anything wrong that day, we were like a machine."

Now his point-scorers have been crippled with injuries - Virgil Carter, Mark Kellar, James Scott, Jack Dolbin, and Don Burchfield - and Spavital has to start all over again.

Missing Wednesday night will by the celebrated Leroy Kelly, whose pulled hamstring on his 32-year-old leg is slow to recover, and Wide Receiver Mike Reppond, who quit the team in a contract squabble. Defensive Tackle Doug Troszak has the flu.

Bubba Wyche, obtained from the disbanded Detroit Wheels, is slated to start at quarterback even though the Philadelphia Bell drafted him Tuesday. The Fire will reimburse the Bell with cash or a future college draft choice.

Only 16 of the Wheels' 37 players were picked up, and the fire got three of them - Defensive Back Rocky Long, Offensive Tackle Ted Wheeler, and Wide Receiver Terry Phillips. Long could be activated next week.