Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 24, 1993 TAG: 9309240092
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Potts, a Winchester Republican who runs Sports Promotions Inc., avoided breaking the state's conflict-of-interest law for legislators by arranging for Georgetown University to contract with Tech, which will play Virginia and West Virginia at USAir Arena during the 1993-94 basketball season.
The Virginia game originally was scheduled for the Roanoke Civic Center. The Tech-West Virginia game was to be played in Blacksburg.
Attorney General Stephen D. Rosenthal told Potts in an Aug. 19 letter that he could not contract with a state institution under Virginia law, as Potts had planned when he struck the deal with Tech.
Potts responded earlier this month with the new plan and said Rosenthal approved it several days ago. Potts said Georgetown will hire him to promote the events, allowing him to make money off the two games without being directly involved with Tech or UVa, both of which are state-funded institutions.
"We did not say, `Now, let us help you out of this mess,' " said Deborah Love-Bryant, Rosenthal's chief of staff. "All we have seen him do is design a way to do legally what is clearly prohibited by law."
Potts, a sports promoter for 29 years and a state legislator for less than two, claimed his position in the General Assembly had nothing to do with setting up the deal and said there is no conflict of interest question.
However, Love-Bryant said her office worries that public perception will decide the spirit of the law has been breached.
"Absolutely," she said. "I cannot believe the public trust is going to soar."
Potts has guaranteed Tech $300,000 for the two games, and Virginia will get $100,000. Potts said some of the profit he would have made when he contracted with Tech will be taken by Georgetown under the new plan but said he isn't bitter about having to change.
"There was never any doubt in my mind that I would [get approval]," he said.
Potts said the Tech-West Virginia game will be played Saturday, Nov. 27, but is no longer part of a doubleheader with the Georgetown-Maryland game. The Hoyas and Terrapins will play Friday on ESPN; Georgetown then will play Virginia State on Saturday, an arrangement with which Potts said he is not involved.
The Tech-UVa game is scheduled for March 2 at the 18,756-capacity arena.
"I've always felt it was all right," Potts said. "When you get into the political arena, this is the way it is."
by CNB