ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 3, 1996 TAG: 9601030039
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: CHAD WILLIS STAFF WRITER
When the subject of adult league basketball is mentioned, images of aging businessmen trying valiantly to rediscover their jump shots come to mind.
Shattering the stereotype that adult leagues are for "has beens" and "wannabes" is the Pulaski Parks and Recreation Department's men's basketball league. The Pulaski league looks on the surface to be just another recreational division, but closer inspection reveals a hotbed of hoops talent.
The league has nine teams, and on their rosters are the names of no fewer than 30 former collegiate basketball players. There are alumni from Virginia Tech, Radford University, Bluefield College, George Washington University and the University of Maryland.
"This year the league is very strong and very competitive," Pulaski Parks and Recreation official Eddie Sutphin said. "Last year we had 15 or so teams, but with the cut to nine teams this season, the competition has gotten even better."
Sutphin said one reason for the increase in league parity is the addition of a rule that allows this year's teams to have up to two non-Pulaski players on their rosters.
"The rule change has enabled the teams to go out and get more players from the area, and that has made things very competitive," Sutphin said. "From our first team to our ninth, they're all good teams. The only difference is the better teams have a little more size."
Two teams that have separated themselves from the pack and appear loaded for a title run are Dublin Express Stop, the defending league champions, and Stevens Funeral Home, last season's regular-season runners-up.
The Express Stop squad is led by Radford University Hall of Fame inductee David Smith. Smith, a former All-Big South Conference performer, was last season's Pulaski men's league most valuable player.
Joining Smith on the team are Jerome Brown and Sam Poindexter, both former Bluefield College and Pulaski County High School standouts. Brown is leading the league in scoring at a clip of 25.3 points per game.
"They're really tough because they have played together for a number of years," Sutphin said. "Plus they have all been there for every game this year, and that will possibly separate them from other teams like Stevens."
The Stevens Funeral Home team looks on paper to be one of the most intimidating adult-league teams ever assembled. The team boasts five former collegiate players, including one, Mike Samson, who played professionally in Europe and was a member of two of Great Britain's Olympic teams.
Stevens also has the services of the two top scorers in league history. Former Tech player Dennis Shrewsberry has totaled 4,098 career points, 116 points better than teammate Randy Olverson, from Bluefield College.
Ron Shelburne, the No. 2 all-time leading scorer in Radford history, anchors the middle for the Stevens team and says the league is just as physical as the opponents he faced while at Radford.
"In college a lot of the touch fouls are called, but out here it's more physical," Shelburne said. "There are some big guys in this league and if you don't come to play, you might get hurt.
"That's not to say the league is dirty and someone always ends up in the hospital, but it's just a physical style of ball in Pulaski. But it's a lot of fun and it has some great competition."
According to Shelburne, the real enjoyment of the league comes in playing against friends and familiar faces.
"I work for an insurance agency, and some of the guys I play against are clients of mine," Shelburne said. "It's a lot of fun to see those guys on the court and play against them. After the game I just hope they will stay clients of mine," Shelburne joked.
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Chad Willis at 381-1672 in Montgomery County or Radford or (800) 346-1234, extension 672 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656.
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. Mark Wiley (left) and Ron Shelburneby CNBgo one-on-one during a workout at Radford University's Dedmon
Center. They play in Pulaski's highly competitive adult basketball
league. color.