OWNER, CIVIC CENTER DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 18, 1993                   TAG: 9302180066
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
OWNER, CIVIC CENTER DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE
RAMPAGE OWNER Larry Revo says the Roanoke Civic Center proposal isn't as attractive as some see it.
\ Roanoke City councilman Delvis "Mac" McCadden, who triggered the Roanoke Civic Center's ongoing effort to work a deal with the Roanoke Valley Rampage for next season, says he can't understand why club owner Larry Revo still considers the Roanoke building a long shot among his possible moving sites.
"According to what I understand, we are the only facility, period, in which [Revo] definitely is a No. 1 candidate," McCadden said Wednesday. "We, meaning the civic center and [its manager] Bob Chapman, called every facility in the league, and we feel our proposal is very fair and equitable when compared to all the others, except for the LancerLot [where the team now plays]. "Our offer is not out of line. It's a very creative and good offer . . . an offer that the civic center people should be commended for."
When contacted Wednesday, Revo disagreed with McCadden's assessment, saying the civic center's offer was "not even close" to being among the most attractive rental arrangements in the 15-team East Coast Hockey League.
"That's all I'm going to say," Revo said. "I don't want to get into any of the particulars until a final decision is made. It [the Roanoke Civic Center] is still a long shot."
McCadden said he knew for a fact that the Roanoke building's rental proposal was much better than the one submitted to Revo last week from the Von Brunn Civic Center in Huntsville, Ala. Sources say the Huntsville proposal calls for $3,500 per-game rent, compared to the Roanoke Civic Center's $2,200-per game figure.
"If I were him [Revo], I'd camp out here, start working on an NHL affiliation for next season and get the ball rolling," McCadden said.
Revo said there were no new developments to report on his negotiations with Huntsville.
\ ON THE ICE: Although the Rampage is on pace to set an ECHL record for least wins in a season, the club that coach Steve Gatzos put on the ice last weekend against Toledo and Louisville did exhibit signs of life.
The Rampage beat the Western Division-leading Storm 4-3 in a shootout, then outplayed the IceHawks most of the way before losing by a misleading 5-2 score.
"I like what's happening on the ice and in the locker room right now," said Revo, who predicted last week's trade that shipped defenseman Trevor Smith to Greensboro eventually will pay huge dividends.
"We got Roger Larche, who already has been a big help offensively, and we're going to get two more players from Greensboro for next season," Revo said. "We've got nothing to lose this season. That's why we did it. We think it may turn out like the Dallas sending Herschel Walker to Minnesota for all those draft picks a couple years ago."
The Rampage (12-38-1) must win eight of its final 13 games to avoid breaking the ECHL record for fewest wins in a season - 20 by Knoxville in 1991-92 and by Winston-Salem in '90-91.
Roanoke Valley takes its ECHL-record 23-game losing streak on the road this weekend: Columbus on Friday, Dayton on Saturday and Toledo on Sunday.
\ P.A. MAN SAYS ADIOS: Rampage public-address announcer Jeff Dickerson, who served up several "Alabama" tunes last weekend in mock reference to Revo's talks with Huntsville, resigned this week.
Dickerson said several people told him Revo thought he was behind signs placed in the LancerLot saying "Who Needs Revo?" and "Goodbye Revo" and "Henry [Brabham], Please Save Us Again."
Dickerson, who recently had his head shaved at center ice when the Rampage broke its league-record 16-game losing streak, said he opted to resign before Revo had the chance to terminate him.
\ ICE CHIPS: The Rampage's three straight wins from Nov. 7-14 mark the only time this season the club has had back-to-back wins. . . . Gatzos still was searching for a goalie Wednesday to replace Pete Fry, who left for the Colonial League after Friday night's win over Toledo. Rick Kelly served as Todd Chin's backup Saturday against Louisville. . . . With Revo assuring that Gatzos' job is safe for the rest of the season, it appears the ECHL will make it through the season without a coaching change for the first time in its five-year history. . . . The teeth have been taken out of the South Carolina Sharks. The North Charleston franchise, set to enter the ECHL next season, says it is seeking a new nickname after being informed that the moniker "Sharks" is registered by San Jose of the NHL.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB