European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 18, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday february 18,1387 the stars and stripes Page 23 commentary rib trophy Best Way to Honor Aaron if you were Henry Aaron How would you like1o be remembered it s not that simple. On the face or it you would say that Henry hit More Home runs than any player in history. Ergo he s indelibly linked with this feat. You think of Hinr Aaron you think of Home runs. Hut do you is Hank Aaron a metaphor for Power Hilling overpowering excellence in any field7 do we say of a Man he s the Henry Aaron of chefs for instance or do we still say of an outstanding per former he s inc babe Ruth of. Face 11, even Hough babe Ruth hit 46 fewer Hom ers than Hank he s still inc Symbol of the Home run hitter not Only to millions of american baseball fans but to other Mill ions inc world Over who never heard of another baseball player. Why is this racism i Don l think so you have la look at it this Way babe Ruth was almost a cartoon character. He was this big lovable loud uncomplicated Fred flints Lonc of a Man. He did l seem any More real than Mickey mouse or Yogi Bear or bugs Bunny or Santa Claus or John Wayne. It was almost As if he Canie walking Reghl out of Disneyland. You did l know whether to ride him or pitch to him. Henry Aaron was More like a machine. He was quiet self contained in control efficient. He inspired More Awe than affection. Henry was off no body s drawing Board. Also Henry did what he did outside new York. Thai s never a Good idea. Henry made the plays Loo but Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle and Duke Snider got the Ink. Henry May have been the Best pure striker of the Ball who Ever lived. Rose and Cobb had the hits. But not the Home runs. Ruth had the Home runs. Bui not the hits. You see Henry never even thought of himself As Home run hitter. He son of crept up on the Lille. He even used to get annoyed in his younger Days at Jim Murray being identified As a slugger. Henry thought he was far More than that. And he was. He hit Home runs almost As an afterthought. It s possible Henry never tried to hit a Home run in his entire career. Ruth Seldom tried to hit anything but. Henry was an Oil around ballplayer. He could Asinc locker room cliche has it do it nil. When he Hung up his no. 44, whatever Henry did t Lead the world in. He was second. Or Al worst third. As the late Fresco Thompson used to say Henry is a Streak Hitler he hits Only on Days ending in a Henry led the game or was runner up in so Man categories he almost fell Between two chairs in base Ball history. Henry had 3,77 hits but that s not. 4,000. Ruth never reached 3,000, ending his career with 2,873. Henry had 755 Home runs but not 60 in a season or even 50. Henry was never flashy just steady. Ironically he was most like another great player maybe the greatest who also played in the Shadow of babe Ruth Lou Gehrig. Like Gehrig he was incredibly productive dependable impossible to get out i clutch situations and doubtless one of the most admirable men Ever to play the game. But what docs posterity do with him unaccountably a fast food Chain called Felici thusly in this instance Arby a has come up with solution. They have chosen to identify Henry with hat Oft overlooked bul super important phase of the game the run battled in. They have linked Henry name with baseball s consent in perpetuity with the Hank Aaron trophy for annual leadership in Bis which just May be the most positive productive slats in any so rebook. Bis arc a measure of a ballplayer s prowess that May supersede All others. And Henry s 2,297 Ruth is second with 2,204 stand As a Mark that will probably sic up there forever like his 755 Home runs or Joe Dimaggio s 56-game hitting Streak. I Don t took for anybody to break it because no body will play for 23 years Clay in Day out inc Way 1 did,1 Henry observes. With the Money they re Mak ing today Iney won t have  Henry is pleased with he establishment of the Hank Aaron trophy for the rib Leader annually be cause the sponsor awards $1,000 for every rib pos Ted by each league Leader 10 the dig Brothers big Sisters of America. With the Phillies Mike Schmidt driving in 119 last year in the National league and the indians Joe Carter driving in 121, the program i enriched by $240,000. Henry is excited about the program kids Are our biggest problem at any Lime and pleased Gofind this Niche for himself. It s a very positive identification for me he says. You look Back through baseball and you find yourself in Good company. You find the Lou Gehrig Ted Williamss Willie mayses Roy Campanellas Willie me covers As Well As the r uts Cobbs and Homs Bys. I be always fell driving in ran was a solid Mea sure of your Worth to inc team. I know i used to feel embarrassed if i left runners on second or third witless than two out. I did l feel embarrassed Ift did t get a Home run in a time at Bat. Or even a hit but 1always Felt ashamed to  runners on. It s like you defected on your  Henry did a lot of things better than anybody homers Ribbles total bases extra base hits. He will be remembered for All of them. But if you had to single old one. Henry of acis they might have picked he right one. An rib trophy seems to sum up what Henry Aaron was All about. Not just a slugger not just a hitter not just a showman a clutch player Tow Loi Aratti Tomik Frosh Reid beefs up Carolina tradition b Barry Jacobs Chapel Hill . Not before its first practice session each autumn the North Carolina Bas Ket Hall squad gathers for a meeting thai coach Dean Smith says sets the Lone for the coming season. As part of the Day s events freshmen sit by with eyes closed while the other players decide which newcomer will carry the coaches aged film projector on Road trips a s generally inc freshman who maybe appears the most confident or cocky who s voted that Honor and it s usually close to unanimous said  be had some mighty Good players Nho had that  that such a humbling duly possesses a certain privileged status is typical of the powerful tradition established Over the course of 26 seasons by Smith who has coached the tar heels to 602 victories and Only 173losses. It also helps explain the relative Case with which despite a Complex playing system he integrates a freshman into his starting lineup virtually every year. Coach Smith says there s no one person who s bigger Here than the Carolina tradition explained this sea son s designated projector Carrier . Reid whom Smith considers his most highly rated recruit Ever. Reid s acceptance of a subordinate role and his resultant Prosperity have been a Central part of North Carolina s Success this season. Playing Forward along Side two 6-fool-10 seniors Joe Wolf ind Dave Popson the 6-9 Reid gives unc such a devastating inside game that opponents arc forced to concede outside shots by guards Kenny Smith. Jeff Lobo and Ratino Smith who Are under orders to take advantage of the new 3-Point Field goal. Attempting More than 12 3 pointers per game. Carolina not Only ranks among the nation s top scoring teams 92.4 Points a game but among Field goal accuracy leaders 54 percent As Well. What s More this edition of the tar heels possesses the depth and the Speed to make full use of Dean Smith s preferred up Tempo Pace and pressure do Tensive tactics. We like to Rush it up the court Wear she other team out and Sec what happens said Lebo the second guard who was last year s freshman Hotshot. And Slop Ping the tar heels once they gel rolling commented coach Terry Holland of Virginia is like trying to Flag Down a freight  these strengths have enabled the tar heels to win 23 of 25 games including All 11 in the at Antic coast tar heels . Reid. Has exceeded Alt expectations conference. With four conference games remaining the tar heels have a Chance to become the seventh squad in the league s 34 years and Only the second since 1974, to go through an entire league season with out a loss. We re definitely better from a won lost standpoint than i expected and we re probably a Little better learn than i expected at this Point Smith said. But even though unc depends Foremost upon steady seniors Kenny Smith and Wolf it is the Emer gence of the Brawny Reid As a dominating inside Force that makes this year s squad special. ". Adds a spark inside a real Strong enthusiasm a Knack for being around inc Basket being around the Ball said Jim Valvano against whose North Carolinas ate learn Reid had 13 rebounds hit 13 of 14 Hook shots jumpers and layups and scored 3 Points in a 96-78 rout ". Is learning but he s certainly a Man when you get him the Ball Down Low a pleased Smith said after trial game. Virtually every coach who recruited Herman Reidjr. Thus the initials .including Smith agrees hat the Virginia Beach va., native has exceeded expectations. That in itself is an accomplishment considering that the Mobile polished 244-Pound Reid with the build of a Boxer and the Speed of a guard arrived Ashe nation most acclaimed newcomer. "1 think he s the Best freshman who s Ever played in the league said Charles Lefly Driesell who coached at Maryland for 17 years and recruited Reid. There Sno other freshman who dominated the game like he has. And i be coached Ever since freshmen became Eli Gible. He s going 10 be first team All acc if he keeps playing likelier  no tar Heel freshman has Ever made an All Confer ence squad in part because Smith believes in bringing along newcomers slowly. The Only Junior Colleg Transfer he accepted was Bob Mcadoo in the 1971-72 season a leading advocate of easing academic social and athletic adjustments by making freshmen ineligible for varsity Competition. Smith Shields new unc players from the press until after their first game an provides an pm court apprenticeship that includes understated expectations. But although Reid is Only the  unc freshman to Start his first College contest and the 11 in 10 become a statistical standout his presence in the lineup is not As unusual As it would Sam. I would say that remake More use of freshmen than any other top 10 team Smith said. "1 Don t think that s ironic. I Don l think that s  few freshmen at North Carolina or else where have adjusted so quickly to the College game As has Reid whose father is a schoolteacher and coach and was a College football lineman. " was always bigger and stronger than the kids he was playing with and he Mill is Driesell said with a laugh. The freshman Forward with he distinctive Hal top haircut and a fondness for physical play leads unc see Reid on Page 25