A college sociologist got his name in the papers several months ago by asserting that ”1-lonest Abe” Lincoln didn’t earn his nickname by walking barefoot for miles to return a few cents a story the educator considers a myth. The nickname really originated because Lincoln’s Illinois neighbors thought he was a good referee for cock fights. quoth the sociologist, chairman of Virginia Tech’s sociology department. The UPI account of the professor’s conclusion didn’t state the source of his research. He did admit he plans to publish his findings on cockfighting in a book. The Herald doesn’t mind a little debunking of history A something indulged in by many in recent decades. But we wonder about researchers of the present day who go so far as to brand as false or as a “myth” time-honored incidents written by historians who were a lot closer to the actual happenings. If the college sociologist found that Lincoln refereed cock fights. we can accept that bit of intelligence without allowing a great president’s image to be tarnished in our eyes. But does it strike you that the researcher of today might be taking in too much territory when he presumes to judge as phony the story of Lincoln’s errand of honesty? In our own view, America and any-country for that matter 7 needs heroes. We need men and women to honor and revere for what they were and did in helping to make the country great. Folks who stood as giants in deeds and character in their day and whose leadership, love of country, or courage stand as a legacy and example for us today. Yesterday was Abraham Lincolh’s birthday. We call attention to the 168th anniversary of his birth in reverence to his name. History attests to his greatness in spite of those who would chip away at his character from time to time. ‘ We were pleased to note by Lee Rodericks Washington column in Fridays Herald that 85 prominent A American historians have unanimously named Lincoln this countrys greatest president. This doesn’t take anything away from George Washington, whose birthday we will commemorate later this month, and any of the other great presidents, of course. Lincoln set examples in common sense, in humility, in sound judgment, in leadership, and in determination to achieve great causes while still holding the country together in exceedingly distressing and trying times. We join in honoring his memory. Whui’s Russian Term for ‘Nuls’? lt’s been said before that the Soviets can out-capitalist the capitalists any time. In the matter of negotiating television coverage of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, however, their greed may proved to be too much even for free – spending Americans. . Confronted with a Russian demand for an astronomical $100 million for exclusive TV rights to the games – $50 million for the rights and $50 million in equipment and facilities – the three major American networks bowed out, at least temporarily. One network later claimed to have won the plumb, although this was not confirmed by the Russians. in the meantime, a little known corporation called SATRA (Soviet – American Trade), which sells Russian – made automobiles and farm equipment to Europe and north America. had announced it would handle the broadcast. It might be all for the best if the Americans are priced out of this particular deal. The Soviets are not only planning to make the 1980 Olympics the greatest international propaganda extravaganza they have ever mounted, they apparently hope to get American technical know how to underwirte the modernization of their television system in the bargain. Nyet to that, or whatever the Russian equivalent of “Nuts” is.