Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 12, 1995 TAG: 9504120062
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bill Foster still is searching for a couple of home games next basketball season for his defending NIT champions, but ESPN has some travel in mind for Virginia Tech.
The Hokies have been penciled in with Massachusetts as the Atlantic 10 teams in the league's second annual Shootout series with the Great Midwest, which is soon to be named something else after its merger with the Metro. The series began with Temple, UMass, St. Louis and Marquette in an ESPN doubleheader at St. Louis this season.
Tech and UMass would play Cincinnati and Memphis - no pairings are set, but Hokies-Bearcats is probable - at the Centrum in Worcester, Mass., probably in early January. ESPN also hopes to have the Hokies play a ``name opponent'' on the road early in the year, in addition to any A-10 league dates Foster's team might have on the network.
NOT ROCKY: When Salem's baseball club dumped Pittsburgh as its major-league affiliate after 13 consecutive losing half-seasons in the Carolina League, there were cheers. When the Pirates were replaced by the expansionist Colorado Rockies, there were raised eyebrows.
Now, the four-year contract the Avalanche signed with Colorado has developed into a shrewd move, considering the labor non-settlement in baseball, where there still is no revenue sharing. Even with a payroll tax, the Rockies still would be one of the ``haves,'' thanks to crowds that will be transplanted from Mile High Stadium to the new Coors Field.
The Rockies won't just have more than enough to spend on free agents like outfielder Larry Walker, but plenty to sign college draftees and nurture a farm system. The Avalanche front office also is expecting more stability on the roster than the Buccaneers had in the Pirates' system.
Pittsburgh, still trying to settle club ownership, won't have the kind of bucks the Rockies have to spend. As Pirates' manager Jim Leyland said Monday when the club signed pitcher Mike Maddux: ``People ask why we didn't sign David Cone. Heck, we can't even afford an ice cream cone.''
PLAY BALL: Yes, Salem hopes the new 6,000-seat ballpark will be ready May 22 for an Avalanche two-game series, followed by the NCAA Division III World Series. However, that date is not cast in stone, or even precast concrete. A source said the construction contract calls for the park to be completed by June 20. So, the Avalanche could play half of its home dates at Municipal Field.
The good news is that the new park will be well worth the wait. Salem will have what realistically is a $10 million-plus ballpark, have saved its franchise, and this season will get Friday's night's Opening Day and one later.
DRAFTY: The region's two NFL franchises - Washington and Carolina - may be making a deal before the April 22 NFL draft, which begins on a Saturday this year. The Redskins want to trade up. The Panthers have the No.1 pick. Insiders say Carolina is still mulling over not only whether it wants to make a deal, but whom it wants to pick where.
Washington will take Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter with a move to No.1. If no deal occurs, the Redskins select fourth, and Carter will be gone before that. Their next desires, in order, are Southern Cal offensive tackle Tony Boselli and Colorado receiver Michael Westbrooks.
The Panthers, who had Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins visiting Tuesday, are still considering the two Nittany Lions and Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair as their top pick. If Carolina decides on Carter, it won't trade down. If it's Collins or McNair, it will deal.
by CNB