Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 12, 1992 TAG: 9201120140
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ROUNDBALL BOUNCES JUST RIGHT
The opportunity to follow the bouncing ball in the Roanoke Civic Center comes all too rarely.That's why a hoop-de-do such as the Crestar Roundball Classic should be cherished by Roanoke Valley sports fans.
The high school doubleheader made its sixth appearance in five years Saturday night. What began in 1988 with a stunning crowd of 9,632 has not been quite as big since, but the Roundball twin bill still is impressive.
A crowd of 3,621 watched Greensboro Grimsley and Louisville Male against Roanoke rivals William Fleming and Patrick Henry. Fleming won as expected. Male, led by thin junior prospect-plus Jason Osborne, beat PH in overtime despite an officiating crew that tried to help the Patriots as much as possible.
The Roundball was played one night after 2,835 showed in the same arena for the first PH-Fleming meeting of the season. PH coach Woody Deans, the Crestar organizer, already has gotten a "yes" from five out-of-town schools willing to play in the Jan. 23, 1993, classic, which will apparently become a tripleheader that includes Cave Spring.
Deans wondered about the Roundball's future last year, when fewer than 1,900 paid to watch a field that included two of the top five ranked teams nationally, Baltimore Dunbar and St. Anthony's (N.J.).
"There probably was a message there, but not any more than there was one the first year, when we packed the building for DeMatha," Deans said. "We want to expand next year, if Fleming wants to return. With more teams, we should have more of a crowd.
"You wonder why no more people come out, and then you consider the old scenario. Roanoke just hasn't been a sport-minded town, for whatever reason. That was shown last March at the Metro [Conference] tournament."
The Metro was a success in every way but at the box office. The same can be said for the Roundball, thanks to support from local businesses and individuals.
Crestar pays the visiting teams' guarantee ($800), mileage and expenses. Deans said former state senator Granger Macfarlane houses the visitors at his EconoLodge on Orange Avenue, and restaurant operators Vic Foti and Steve Haray feed them at nearby Western Sizzlin' and Arby's, respectively.
With corporate help, Deans has been able to keep ticket prices more than reasonable - $4 in advance; $5 at the door. The civic center, refurbished a year ago for the Metro, is a willing host - for the Roundball and any other hoops looking for a home.
Virginia Tech plays Virginia on the civic center floor in 3 1/2 weeks, but to date, the arena has no other scheduled college games. There has been talk of the Hokies playing North Carolina here next season, a senior homecoming for UNC's George Lynch, who played in the first Roundball for PH.
Several years ago, Chapman and assistant manager Mark Collins worked tirelessly trying to put December college doubleheaders featuring Tech and UVa - but not against each other - on the Roanoke floor.
"The city offered a $50,000 guarantee for visiting teams," Chapman said. "Mark and I probably worked 1,500 hours apiece on that plan. We tried everybody. The athletic directors we talked to said none of them could afford to come to Roanoke and maybe go 0-2 against Tech and UVa that early in the season.
"We talked to big names - to Ohio State, Georgetown, Notre Dame, DePaul, Tennessee and a bunch of others. They said they could make $50,000 on a home game, so why come to Roanoke to make $50,000. We tried."
Chapman said Virginia Amateur Sports, organizer of the Commonwealth Games, has asked the civic center to hold Dec. 10-12 as potential dates for a high school basketball tournament.
Deans said VAS has called him about playing in an eight-team tournament, and he has given VAS some suggestions on out-of-town visitors. He said VAS wants Oak Hill Academy in the field.
Sounds like a big-time idea with promise. The Roundball Classic is one of those. And, if only for one night, it was nice to see people hooping it up in the civic center again.