Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020041
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
\ The exhibit hall at the Roanoke Civic Center is a cavernous place, big enough to hold joint press conferences by Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, President Clinton and O.J. Simpson.
"Dusty Rhodes is my man," announced Channel 10 sportscaster Greg Roberts, entering the empty hall with an echo and with a cameraman in tow. "You want to get a shot of me su-plexing him?"
Under his breath, the camerman said: "I can't believe I'm here."
Two dozen folding chairs waited in front of a platform and podium, filling only a fraction of the expansive room. Behind the podium hung a purple curtain displaying the World Championship Wrestling logo.
While Roberts ducked into a small storage room where his man was waiting to meet the press, other local media calmly filed in from another television station, a few radio stations and the newspaper.
Roberts returned with an autograph for his brother. "To Mutt," it read in barely legible penmanship. "See you on Sadler Road." It was signed, "The bad. The American Dream. Dusty Rhodes."
Sadler Road, explained Roberts, is somewhere in Texas where they grow them big and ornery and bad.
The bad one himself, Rhodes, was in Roanoke to plug an upcoming pay-per-view World Championship Wrestling event that will be broadcast from the Roanoke Civic Center on Sept. 18. This is the first pay-per-view of its kind to originate from Roanoke.
Rhodes, one of professional wrestling's marquee names, will be part of the main event, a four-on-four wrestling match inside a steel cage that promises "utter chaos" and "mayhem," according to a news release handed out before the press conference.
Wrestling is more entertainment and show than anything else, said Roberts. But don't ever ask if it's fake, he warned. "Don't ever use the four-letter f-word."
Rhodes stepped onto the platform from behind the WCW curtain. His tanned girth was tucked into blue jeans and a denim shirt unbuttoned across his chest to reveal a jangle of gold necklaces. A white straw cowboy hat covered his graying, bleached hair.
"Hey guys and gals, how ya doing?"
He was low-key and cordial, not displaying any of the ring antics that make professional wrestling such a popular spectacle. From behind the podium, he fielded questions with the utmost seriousness, speaking with a slight lisp.
He called Roanoke a great wrestling town, very supportive.
He sung the praises of Ted Turner, who owns World Championship Wrestling and doesn't take kindly to people badmouthing "his baby." "Brother, that's the last thing you want to say in front of Ted Turner," he said.
He offered his opinions about some of his fellow wrestlers. Mr. Perfect: "A great athlete, that's all I know." Sting: "A truly good guy." He discussed rumors about future matches. As a fan, the match he wants to see most is Sting vs. Hulk Hogan. That would be up there with the legendary Hulk Hogan-Andre the Giant face-off of a decade ago, he said.
He also pointed out that millions of people worldwide will see the upcoming Roanoke match, either on pay-per-view, or later on video or re-runs on TBS. "That's mind-boggling."
Rhodes, 45, retired two years ago, but recently returned to the ring to team with his 23-year-old son, Dustin. Despite his return, he said he isn't anxious to wrestle regularly. "Twice a year now for me is plenty."
He concluded by offering to give the television and radio people any individual sound bites they wanted. Most of them took him up on the offer. Greg Roberts even asked to pose with him for a photograph.
"In my lap?" Rhodes joked. "Just don't kiss me on the lips."
Roberts didn't. Nor did he mention the f-word.
Nobody did.
by CNB