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Hall of Famer Stargell
dies of liver failure
PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Family
has lost its patriarch.
Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, who
led the Pirates to two World Series vic-
tories with his tape-measure homers,
died of a stroke yesterday at age 61.
He had been in failing health for sev-
eral years with a kidney disorder,
according to officials at New Hanover
Regional Medical Center in Wilming-
ton, N.C., where he died.
The Pirates opened their new ball-
park Saturday and unveiled a 12-foot
bronze statue of the man known as
"Pops." They postponed a formal cere-
mony dedicating the statue because
Stargell could not attend.
"Now, every Opening Day at PNC
Park, everybody will know this is
Willie Stargell's day," said Chuck Tan-
ner, Stargell's manager from 1977-82.
"He's up there, and he knows the
Pirates are opening today."
One of the greatest homerun hitters
ever, in volume and in distance,
Stargell hit 475 homers - many of
them soaring, majestic shots that rattled
a pitcher's confidence. With Stargell
batting cleanup for most of his 20-year
career, the Pirates won World Series
championships and NL pennants in
1971 and 1979 and six NL East titles
from 1970-79. He was inducted into
the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Aikman sheds tears
over early retirement
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IRVING, Texas (AP) - Troy Aik-
man's NFL career ended with the Dal-
las Cowboys after all.
The three-time Super Bowl champi-
on announced his retirement at a news
conference yesterday at Texas Stadi-
um, where he starred for 12 seasons.
"You watch and you think that your
time will never come," said Aikman,
fighting back tears as he announced
his plans. "And, my time's come."
Aikman suffered four concussions
in his last 20 starts - giving him nine
in his career - and has a degenerative
back problem.
"I know it's the right thing. I know
it's the right thing for me because of
my health, concussions, the back prob-
lems I've had. It took its toll," he said.
Aikman said the competitor in him
wanted to continue, but he said his
family weighed in his decision.
"I think when all things are consid-
ered it was the right thing for me and
my family," Aikman said. "I just can't
do it anymore. If it was just me, then I
think it would be a little easier to try to
go on."
Aikman regained his composure as
he talked about the 12 years he played
for the Cowboys.
"It was 12 of the best years of my
life, professionally speaking," Aikman
said. "We had some great fun. I'm
going to miss the camaraderie with my
teammates. I'm going to miss the
lockerroom after a big game."
Wright to follow Arizona
teammate to NBA
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Michael
Wright, a forward who was one of only
two players to start every game for
Arizona this season, will skip his
senior year to enter the NBA draft, the
school said yesterday.
Wright scored 10 points and grabbed
11 rebounds in Arizona's loss to Duke
in the national championship game
April 2. This season, he led the team in
rebounding average (7.8) and field goal
percentage (59.4 percent).
"I think we are all working toward
the goal of being professionals and I
think this, is my time to go after it with
all my energies," Wright said.
Wright finished his college career
with 34 double-doubles. He shot 61.4
percent in six tournament games. He
was a third team All-American.
Temple's Lyde has
glare set on pros
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Kevin
Lyde, Temple's junior center, has
decided to leave school early to enter
the NBA draft.
"Playing in the NBA has always
been my dream and I'll work hard for
it," Lyde said.
Lyde, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound center,
averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 rebounds
this season and led the nation with 4.75
offensive rebounds per game.
"I believe honestly I can play at the
next level," Lyde said. "It's not any- 0
thing in particular, I just feel like I'm
ready."
Lyde would be the fourth player to
leave Temple early during John
Chaney's 19 seasons as coach.
"I've never had aplayer of Kevin's
magnitude and I am very proud of