Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 20, 1994 TAG: 9404200020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With the No. 3 pick in Sunday's NFL draft, new Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner would like to select Tennessee quarterback Heath Shuler. That probably won't be possible.
So, the Redskins will take Fresno State quarterback Trent Dilfer, whom they will try to groom into their starter in four months. That's OK with Redskins general manager Charley Casserly and his scouts. They like Dilfer over Shuler anyway.
Don't think this is another of those personnel squabbles that divided the 'Skins during the very short Richie Petitbon era. Club sources say coaches like Shuler a bit better than Dilfer. The scouts like Dilfer a smidgen more.
Dilfer is regarded as being closer to what a club wants in a classic NFL quarterback now. Shuler perhaps has more mobility and potential. It is doubtful Shuler will be available anyway, because the Indianapolis Colts are expected to select the Vols' quarterback with the No. 2 pick.
If Dilfer and Shuler are available, it's Casserly's call, so Dilfer still is the likely pick. The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to take Ohio State defensive lineman Dan Wilkinson at No. 1, but if the Bengals consider a trade with a club drafting lower than third, they won't get the Buckeyes star some regard as having a chance to be another Reggie White.
If a club trades up to pick a quarterback and Shuler and Dilfer are gone, the Redskins will take Wilkinson. So, it would be wise of the Bengals to talk with the Redskins when dealing. Or, the Colts might fool some and select running back Marshall Faulk.
Do the Redskins expect a Bengals' trade? No. Do they expect Faulk to go second? No. Do they expect to have their choice between Shuler and Dilfer? No.
They'll be happy with Shuler or Dilfer. The last quarterback the Redskins picked in the first round was Wake Forest's Norm Snead, in 1961.
\ FREEZER BURN: The air is warming, but interest in the Roanoke Express isn't dripping away. The hockey club already has sold 900 season tickets for 1994-95, and about 40 percent of those are to new customers. The Express sold 1,200 season seats last season but didn't start until mid-May.
Only eight of the Express' 35 crowds would have fit in the Roanoke Valley's old icehouse, the LancerLot. The ECHL expansion club's average crowd of 4,653 was 3,170 more than the Rampage averaged a year earlier. That 319 percent attendance climb led all 62 minor-league hockey cities in North America.
Just as impressive were souvenir sales on game nights at the Roanoke Civic Center. The Express averaged $3,100 per game on souvenirs and novelties, including one program for every 14.5 spectators during the season. The club sold nearly 3,500 T-shirts and sweatshirts, and 420 caps.
\ THE COUNT: The Atlanta Braves' magic number for clinching the National League East is 146. However, even if they finish with the best NL record, the Braves won't have the home-park advantage in the first round of the new playoffs.
The East winner has two home games, then goes on the road to the West or Central in the best-of-five series.
If Atlanta reaches the best-of-seven NL Championship Series, the opponent will have Games 1, 2, 6 and 7, unless the wild-card team survives the opening round. The American League champion has the home-park advantage in the World Series, too.
\ THE STING: The Charlotte Hornets may be playing for a playoff berth, but not a lottery pick. The Hornets dealt their first-round draft spot to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Hersey Hawkins trade last September.
The 76ers have an opportunity for a great future. They had 20 wins before 7-foot-6 Shawn Bradley was lost to injury. Forward Clarence Weatherspoon is a double-double man, and they also own three first-round picks - Charlotte's, Utah's and their own.
\ ONE-UPMANSHIP: What's happened to the NCAA Tournament buzzer-beaters? For the second straight year, there were no one-point decisions in the men's 64-team tournament.
\ CAL WATCH: As if the Baltimore Orioles needed help selling tickets at Camden Yards, the club has been told that if ironman Cal Ripken's consecutive-games streak continues, the Birds will be assured home dates as he breaks Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 games late next June.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL BASEBALL BASKETBALL
by CNB