The Journal Herald from Dayton, Ohio • 15

JOURNAL HERALD 15 XTVdnwday, February 1967 Oh'iQ In-Depth Look At College Basketball's No. I Player Alcindor' Main Challenges Still In Future By Jeff Prugh The La Anftlee rwn LOS ANGELES It all begins with music, booming overture called "Sons of Westwood," which heralds the spectacle that is about to take place. The trumpets blare, the crowd roars, and then it happens. Twelve sinewy athletes, trottin? in single line, parade onto the floor, each attired in the blue-and-white basketball garb of UCLA. For anyone to ask what all the fanfare Is about is tantamount to someone asking, "Which one's Alcindor?" "1 Is JS nightto spend the night by himself in a dark corner of a jazz club during the summer months back home.

He has taken saxophone and flute lessons and attempted last spring to study piano but had to give up for lack of time. Lew drives a black 1958 Mercedes-Benz (with the seat moved back slightly to allow leg room) and paid for it with money he earned on summer jobs. New York is "home" for Lew and probably always will be. Southern California is merely a home away from home, a place where people were overly friendly toward Lew when he first enrolled at UCLA. It was a striking contrast to the hard world he knew on the streets of Manhattan.

The change made him uncomfortable. He says, however, he does like California from a clinical standpoint. "Just because this area is so different from mine," he says, "doesn't mean that I don't want to learn about it. For me, it would be an education just living here for awhile even if I didn't go to school here." Challenges Will Shape His Place In Society As far as Lew's personal sentiments are concerned, they are rarely expressed openly. When he does express himself, He does so with candor.

About the newspaper stories that belittled him for not talking to the press last year: "I got used to it. What I didn't like were the- things that were untrue like somebody wrote last year that I didn't know how to drive my car and that I hit a post. I didn't even have a car last year." As for the rough physical contact that he has absorbed in some games, Lew says: "I don't always stand there and take it. Once in a while, I hit back. Eut I don't like to do it It's not the way I like to play and it's not my nature." For all his fame and prospect of fortune, Lew is pondering the challenges of the future not necessarily how he will guard Wilt Chamberlain or play the boards In professional basketball, but how these challenges will shape his place in society.

He is searching for answers about the role of his race in the world around him, a search that has been most recently manifested in classes he has taken at school (Islamic and African history) and a book he has read "What I'm trying to do," he said, "is find out ail I can about my people He is searching, too, for his personal place in life. He wants to be known as something more than a man with a two-handed stuff shot and a 30-point average. He wants recognition of a whole person educated and proven in an endeavor where you do not necessarily have to be seven feet, l-? inches tall in order to succeed. a freshman at New York's Power Memorial academy, the grandson of a 6-8 immigrant from Trinidad, the only child of a 6-3 New York City subway policeman and his wife, who is 5-11. But Lew.

himself, is mainly responsible for his basketball ability. He is incredibly agile for his size and on his way to becoming perhaps the greatest player the game has ever known. His repertoire of shots and moves is the outgrowth of a personal desire to succeed in a game which, he says, "means very much to me." "I realize I have an opportunity to make a lot Of money some day," he says candidly. "But I've worked hard for what I have. I could never make it just on my height alone." Until fortune comes his way, big Lew will have to be content with fame.

Alcindor's skills have been received warmly so far, even by crowds rooting against the Bruir.s. And this, says one observer, is largely because they can see his manner On the court polite, casual and emotionless. The side of Lew Alcindor few people get to know, however, is not readily discernible. That is because there is a good deal more to Alcindor, the person, than Alcindor, the basketball player. Switched Major From Journalism To History He is intelligent, modest and sensitive.

His moods change suddenly and without warning from the quiet, withdrawn person he usually is, to the carefree, good-humored youngster he can be among friends. "All right you guys," he barked to his sleepy roommates last week as the train chugged into Chicago at 2 a.m., "we practice in 15 minutes." In the classroom, he maintains a B-minus average, the fruition of his insatiable appetite of reading. As a high school senior, he finished in the upper 30 per cent of students taking the New York regents scholarship test and currently is studying history of China, psychology and Spanish. His major Is history. He switched from journalism.

"I was thinking at one time almut writing for a new magazine," he said. "I like their style of writing and I read them all the time." It has been relatively easy for Lew to make good grades despite his inclination as he puts it, "to be lazy I like to goof around a lot." In addition to reading during his spare time, he listens to his stereo. He is a keen jazz enthusiast, and it is not uncommon for Lew a late sleeper who retires long after mid op i '11 11 I rs ft i What is about to happen is a performance by Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor king of the college basketball world, master of the reverse two-handed stuff and No. 1 attraction on the No. 1 team in the land.

Jogging lazily toward the basketball for his practice layups, Alcindor either stuffs the ball with enough force to shake the building, or he lays it in with all the nonchalance of a man dropping a slice of bread into a toaster. He looks oblivious to the electricity he generates around him, to the thousands of eyes that are riveted to his every move. His fare is expressionless, but not motion-If ss. He is vigorously chewing a piece of gum, and he will be doing the fame thing until liia coach, John Wooden, Iia decided the opposition has had enough and mercifully removes him from the game. He says nothing.

He betrays no emotion. His manner is deadpan, gentle, aloof. But this is all camouflage. For beneath that tranquil exterior, there is a Vesuvius of activity a mind that is enormously i I fen A AMociatffl tni Wlrephoto UCLA's Heralded Lew Alcindor Another dunk shot in the making Lew Alcindor 7-Foot guperttar Dayton's Flyers Host "Ambitious" Huskies CMS emawiaarejr' Perkins Wins By KO LONDON-(AP)-Eddie Pre-kins, former world junior welterweight boxing champion, storped Britain's Vic Andreetti in tho eighth round of their schedu'ed 10-round bout last nig'nt. I 4 PARTICULAR MEN PREFER DAYTON'S DISTINCTIVE Ware Back With Royals CINCINNATI -(AP)- The Cincinnati Royals lost second-year man Jon McGlocklin to the Army yesterday and recalled James Ware to take his place.

Ware, a 6-foot-7 former Oklahoma City university player, was the National Basketball association team's No. 3 draft choice last spring. He has been playing with the Muskegon, team in the North American Basketball league since early in the. season. McGlocklin, a former Indiana university star, reported that as a member of the Army reserves he has been called up for active duty for five months.

He is to report at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. tomorrow. ill HI if Ml! Amw. WUUUBia wauu uuww Main SJ.

Stroon and ler has 10.5 point and 10.8 rebound averages. Thus, on paper at least, Northern Illinois doesn't figure to have the horses to stop a Dayton team which is seeking its 18th victory in 22 games. Don May, apparently getting a second wind late in the season, now is averaging 22 points and 17 rebounds a contest. The 6-4 forward will head a UD starting lineup which probably also will be composed of 6-10 Dan Obro-vac, 6-6 Dan Sadlier, 6-0 Gene Klaus and Bob Hooper, also 6-0. The Flyers will have only one more home game this season after tonight's match, which will be broadcast over WHIO radio.

In the preliminary to the UD-Northern Illinois match, the Dayton freshmen (16-1) will meet the Eaton Merchants at 6:30. By Jim Zofkle Journal Herald Sportl Writer Northern Illinois, a school with ambitious athletic ideas, bids to give its sports program a prestige boost tonight when it meets Dayton's powerful Flyers at 8:30 in the fieldhouse. The DeKalb, 111., institution has made no secret of its hopes to one day join the Mid-American conference. Northern Illinois, in fact, has five of the seven MAC schools on its basketball schedule this season. Late last winter Northern Illinois reached Into the assistant coaching ranks at the University of Michigan and pulled out Tom Jorgensen as Its new head coach.

Progress during this fast- closing 1966-67 season has been neg alive with curiosity, an instinctive desire for privacy in a world that seldom gives him any, and a ripple of sensitivity not just because he is a Negro but because he belongs to one of the smallest minority groups: the one whose members are seven feet, l-3s inches tall. Life for Lew Alcindor is a center stage. He has been stared at, laughed at, talked about and already immortalized at the age of 19. So it is not hard to understand why he finds his greatest comfort in solitude. He lives alone in a Westwood apartment that has no telephone, but soon will have one with unlisted number.

He has a few friends aside from his teammates. He has no steady girl and dates irregularly, although he manages to see, as he politely calls them, "the young ladies" whenever he can. Wherever Lew goes, he wants to hide which is not the easiest thing in the world when you are over seven foot tail. As curious strangers gawk at him in hotel lobbies and airports, Lew walks swiftly, taking giant, purposeful strides, ducking his head under doorways until he can find a place to sit down. Onre he is seated, he slouches a bit uncomfortablyso he can attempt to look as inconspicuous as, say, a six-footer.

When he eat, which Is Infrequently and Irregularly nervousness has caused him to go elitht hours without food before a game he prefers to do so In the company of a few friends. And not In public. "Much of the time, I'm around people I don't know, and this makes me feel uneasy," Lew said softly in accents characteristic of his New York upbringing. Yet the tone of his voice is to rich that many have told him he could become a radio or TV announcer whicn he says he may do some day. "I'm learning to live with it." Lew says.

"But I'm much better off when I'm with people I know." As a national public figure, Lew is besieged for autographs and is hounded by sports fans who want to chat with him. "This bothers me sometimes, but I understand how they feel," he says. "I guess I would do the same thing if I saw somebody who was seven feet. "Many times, though I have to say 'No' to them. It's really not very hard for me to say 'No' either, because I have been doing it for so long." The reason people clamor to see him and are willing to wait In line for tickets during all hours of a cold winter's night (all 1XLA out-of-town games sold out) is partly the fault of nature and, of course, Lew himself.

It is not Lew's fault that he was 6-11 by the time he was if HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA ligible for the Northern Illinois team which finished with a 10-13 record a year ago. The team Jorgensen will bring here tonight has an 8-9 record. But four of those wins have come during a winning streak the SALUTES THE NEW OWNERS AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE nikmihihWTi nrno Willie Hanson UD visitor Huskies will take into their game with the Flyers. The loss of guard Bob Tay. lor, averaging 14 points a game, through scholastic deficiencies at mid-term did not help Jorgensen get his team over the .500 hump.

Northern Illinois does have another guard averaging 20.1 points a game and he still is eligible. His name is Willie Hanson, a 5-10 swiftie who also led the Huskies in scoring Inst season was a 19.6 point norm. Hanson's supporting cast is composed of 6-5 Tom Miller, 6-4 Darryl Day, 6-3 crnlrr Mike Taylor and 5-9 Bill Blaisdell, who replaced Bob Taylor. Mil it. f.fivf.ffvnm 1 1 nriiA Tournament Sites Changed Two changes in the Dayton District Class A high school basketball tournament have been announced by Charles Shimp, tournament chairman.

Friday's game between Newton and Arcanum, originally scheduled to be played at Wayne High school's gym at 7 p.m., has been shifted to the Franklin Monroe gym at 7:30 p.m. The Dixie-Twin Valley South game, also originally scheduled to be held at Wayne, has been shifted to the Jefferson Township gym Friday at 7:30 p.m. Miami Adds Stobart To Grid Staff OXFORD, O. Charles Stobart has been added to Miami university's football coaching staff athletic director Dick Shrider Green Bay's Field To Be "Blanketed" GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)- announced yes- 1 tcrday.

He replaces rry 1 1 who joined the Pur-; due staff a week ago. Stobart, a native of Mid- dleport, has; both bachelor's and master's degrees in; v-Svc ossfc vv COLLEGE Rntn Stat MlMnnrt ST t.rh Carolina 71, orlh Carolina tat tiO Hlrum St. Wetrn Hnrrt ST Mount ninn Oh-rlln WrM lrilnla 3. Prnn Mat ST hnt Half TO. Rnflaln H4 (apltal II.

Ohio ttrtlryan Ml Pnurr av 41) Wuthlntton Jetffrwin S3, John Car-tell rOiirvlll Bhilftnn .1 Iowa NnrthMPtrrn 15. Wlcnnin 8.S. Mlnnewila IS. William Mary 11. HatMvnn Tl.

rdarvlMe III. niurilon 8.t. K'nl Mat Til. Buffalo At. Capital 71, tlhln Wnvlpian S5.

Miami (I la.) H.I. Melton 04 Biton Cnllrgp HI, KIiihIp Island Tl lrnvldnr 87, St. Jnttppb'a (Pa.) T4 rirmtnn Iluko ft Ta Tfch SJ, Southern Mthndlt T4 Mrmphla Mala ff Orltant Lny. la 4 Aldrrion-Broaddua 104, Davit a El-kin a 111 Trxan SI, Wc Miuklnfum 80, Ohio Northern ST HIGH SCHOOL TOVBNAMENT fCla.n A A at Lima) Ellda It, flapakoneta T4 OTHERS tlliln Miami It, Onohen 4 Rlvcnlda T2, Lofan Will 64 FiVE-PiECE BEDROOM SUITE YOUR CHOICE OF FRENCH, CHERRY, MODERN, WALNUT, OR EARLY AMERICAN, MAPLE ONLY $199.00 Includes large dresser, mirror, full size bed and Sim mons Simcrest mattress and box springs. Made exclusively for Roark's customers.

Twin beds available ai additional price, also matching chest for only $59.00. R0ARK FURNITURE, Inc. LAURA, OHIO "Out our May, ue deal your way" Open 9 to 9 weekdays Ph, 947-2311 Dial Direct 836-2621 Stobart a The Green Bay Packers will play their 1967 home games atop an "electric blanket," says an electric company representative. George J. Halas, nephew of the Chicago Bears' owner and coach, said the Packers have become the first professional football team to commit itself to an electric soil heating device designed to ensure good field conditions despite the weather.

Halas said General Electric's wiring services department will lay electric cables the length of the playing field. The cables will be about six inches below the surface and a foot apart. A thermostat will regulate the temperature of the cables, heating the six inches of top soil and making it more porous. The heat thus simplifies drainage while drying the top soil to allow for good footing. "Under normal snow or rain conditions, the grass and soil will be I he same as it is in the middle of August," Halas said.

"With this system you can grow beautiful green grass all winter, if you want to." Halas said the Installation would begin as soon as weather permits. education from Ohio university, receiving the first in 1959 and the latter in 1962. A fine all-around athlete, he was Ohio's starting quarterback for most of three years and was a standout infielder for the Bobcats two seasons. Marshall university hired Stobart as i bac.kfield coach in 1965 and he was at the University of Cincinnati in a similar position in 1966. He and his wife, Diana June, have three children.

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