European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday january 20, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 23a Rocky Rood to Rome Danny ferry. Who was an i. I men can basketball player at Duke. Chose to play for ii Mew Avaro m the italian league this season is Leal it a the Losa Geles clippers who made him the second Over Allan k in the my i draft lie will a Rue Al nil his cd Perteit \ Peno dually b Danny Frky special to the Washington Post Home a when our team bus armed at the Cantu Arena we is Ere greeted by a screaming Roar from a few Hundred anxious fans. The reception brought up the adrenaline. It was a big game the  of the National cup of Italy tournament and a win would mean a berth in the final four in Forh. Entering the guest locker room labelled  i quickly changed into mgt uniform. We then made our Way onto the court for the pre game shoot around. We wanted to gel in As Many shots As we could before Tipoff. Out on the floor we took in the voices and eyes of an excited and hostile crowd. Nasty signs were held up. And unfriendly faces were aggressively chanting and heckling. The crowd was warming up. Too. One group of fans who evidently held one of our players m Low esteem carried a live pig wearing an ii Messaggiero Jersey with his number on it. The police spoke to the group with the pig. And to my Surprise allowed them to continue. I guess the pig had a ticket stub. Feeling the growing Energy of the place. I Felt like i was Back at Duke m Macron indoor stadium for an Atlantic coast conference game both teams were ready for the game to Start. And i was ready to Stop observing and Start playing. We won. Brian Shaw my american teammate had a great game scoring 36 Points. I also played Well scoring 2k. After the game a crowd of about 500 waited for our team to exit the Arena and the City of Cantu a police blockade and escort were required entering the bus. Stumbled Forward and almost fell. That was when 1 noticed several of my italian teammates crouched in the aisle. Reaching my usual scat. I still was unsure what was going on until i heard the rocks crashing against the windows. My teammates pulled me Down with them As the bus pulled away. We were in the final four. Making it Back to Rome safely. I Felt a strange enjoy intent in All that had happened. Crouching on the floor on the Way out of town somehow made the Victory sweeter. It is almost mid season in the italian league. Here we have two parts to our season the cup of Italy and the regular season. After a slow Start and a 1-5 record in the regular season we have managed to improve to 7-7 with an excellent Chance at the playoffs the team is on the Rise and the second half of the season should be exciting for everyone in Rome. It has been Tough getting used to playing Only one game a week usually on sunday. Like the National football league there is More time to prepare for the games and savor a win but a week can really drag on after a loss. We play each team twice Home and away and like in the United states it is much easier playing at Home than on the Road. The games last 40 minutes eight fewer than in the Aba and Are played under International olympic style former Duke Star Danny ferry has helped ii Mes a Augeni of Rome it hot met for the playoffs. Rules. Five had to adjust to a wider Bee throw Lane different pivoting rules and being permitted to pull the Ball Oil the rim without goal ending penalties most Arenas Are Small crowded and noisy none is As wild As Cantu thought. So us easy to gel up fur each game. I have always been Able to ride on the crowd s Energy whether it is pulling for us or against us. Because of the fewer number of games there a not much room for letdown. On most nights i m matched against the Best Forward almost always an american 1 have played against live Lime Aba  Boh Mcadoo. Aba Veteran Lemon Johnson sex Washington Bullet Darren Dave. Sex new York Knick Inis it Nealy and others of their Caliper. 1 the m the Aba. The Gaims can gel physical. Unlike the Aba. One defences Are permitted and i Don t think there Sas much emphasis on defense. Offensively the players have Good skills a especially when it comes to shooting. Overall the basketball is played at a Good Caliper and has been a lot of  should be All Starby Jan Hibbard news Duy  often lecture on the value of role players they Are vital a teams chances of winning a championship increase in direct proportion to the competence of its players Oil the Bench. It was a great Day for coaches in i�?~m2 when the Aba instituted a sixth Man award a direct descendant of the sixth Man tradition Cie aled by red Auerbach comments and the cities the award made it official a the Best non starter in the league would be acc Ortii Edas an elite player. Astern Coli Lerette coaches advanced the Cindi Hilly of the sixth Man in the Early �?T80s when they  Philadelphia a Bobby Jones Mhz to Sion a Kevin Mcl Lale to Allstar teams i lately. Coaches have been primarily interested in scoring. This season coaches a particularly Eastern conference coaches a have an Opportunity to make a statement about the value of role play ers. When they vote in the next two weeks for All Star reserves they have a Chance to put Dennis Rodman on the All Star team. Magic Johnson believes the pistons Forward should be on the team. A any successful team has to have a Guy mine in off the Bench and get the Job  h Hanson said Quot Rodman gives them that , especially when Tivey Aren t play my Well he list kills  in previous years when Sulics selected the seven All Star reserves a alter tans voted Foi the five mailers coaches were faced to vote for two guards two forwards two enters and one wild card. I ins season with the ail Star lame scheduled feb. I i m Miami coaches will vote Loi a second Tea two guards two forwards and Only one Center. And then they will vote Foi two wild Cauls i hey can vote Lor i he Nisi deserving scorer and the most Desorb my ode player  is deserving lie should be on the All Star Tea Bird Walker aim for All Star titles new York apr Larry Bird of the Boston celtics will try for his third shootout title and Kenny Walker of the new York kicks will defend ins slam Dunk championship on no All Star saturday feb. 10 at the Miami Arena. I he festivities which will also include the legends Lassie will Lake place the night by lord the All Star game. Bird will be challenged by Michael Jordan and c Raig Hodges of c hic ago. Craig  and Mark Price of Cleveland. Bobby Hansen of Utah Reggie Miller of Indiana and Jon Sundvold of Miami the no \ announced i hurs Dav Walker s challengers will be Rex  of Charlotte. Blue Edwards of Utah. Shawn Kemp of Seattle. Scottie pippin of Chuago. Kenny Smith of Sacramento on Smith of Orlando and Billy Thompson of Miami Oscar Robertson will head the East legends who will be coached by Willis Reed. Ruk Barry will Lead the West legends. Who we be toadies by Boh Lousy. Also on the fast team will be Zelmo Beaty. Annie Lark. Dave Debus sphere. Connie Hawkins. Elvin Hayes. Walt Haard. Bobby Jones. Wall Jones and  Russell. Also on the West squad will be Dave Bing. Fred Brown. Doug Collins. Dave Cowens Spencer Haywood. Bailey Howell. Calvin Murphy Clifford Ray and Jamaal Wilkes