THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509090100
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Notes on a frayed white cuff. . . .
For several years many of the standout performers in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament have gone on to sign multi-million-dollar pro basketball contracts with teams in the NBA.
The latest visitor to the PIT to join the millionaire ranks came to the 1995 tournament at Churchland - and didn't play a single minute.
He's John Calipari, the University of Massachusetts coach.
Calipari was among the spectators this year. It was his first visit to the PIT.
Calipari signed a contract worth an estimated $4.5 million to $5 million to remain as Massachusetts' coach for the next 10 years. Calipari is only 36 years old and his team won the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship for the fourth straight year.
Eddie Webb has started his new chores as executive director of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He wasted no time in meeting with Mayor Gloria Webb and City Manager Ronald Massie.
``Most of the people around here are familiar with the Hall of Fame,'' said Webb. ``I feel it has the support of the city administration, too. Now we want to get the word around the state about what we have here.''
The inadequate press box at Churchland Stadium, now the only facility for high school football games in Portsmouth, is simply going to decrease the coverage by the news media.
In past years WCTV-23 in Chesapeake has televised games at Frank D. Lawrence Stadium when Chesapeake teams visited there.
It has no plans to televise from Churchland.
Tony Mercurio, the grating voice of 1310 radio, has been a fixture for nearly 10 years at a couple of games in Lawrence Stadium.
There will be no radio coverage from Churchland Stadium.
The lone newspaper reporter at games there is squashed in between the clock operator, game announcer, spotters and home coaches.
At one time there were 11 packed into the press box that accommodates six (and that includes a pair of seats where both end zones cannot be seen at the same time) during the rainstorm at the Wilson-Granby game.
If only somebody would go to one of the Chesapeake schools and look at their press boxes, they might learn that Portsmouth would benefit from getting more news media folks in attendance.
The Churchland press box should be entered into a national contest - as the poorest in the country.
Remember the college that had a reputation for its million dollar band?
Well, Churchland is getting known as a million dollar school with a 10-cent press box.
And I wouldn't give you 10 cents for it.
Sometimes a single penalty in a football game can be critical.
In Wilson's 6-0 season-opening loss to Granby the Presidents had stopped the Comets on Granby's 27-yard line in the first period. The Comets were punting into the wind on a 4th-and-3 situation.
An illegal substitution (12 players on the field) was called against Wilson and Granby then gained a first down.
This led to the game's only score. Without the infraction, the Presidents might have had the ball with good field position and the wind behind their backs. Against this same wind in the second period Wilson had only a 2-yard punt.
Local drivers have fared well at Langley Speedway this season. The final points race of the season will be Sept. 23 although promoter Wayne Wyatt is planning to run two additional special races.
Charlie Bryant Jr. stands second in the Late Model Stock division and figures to finish in that position behind Phil Warren.
Ashton Lewis Jr. is seventh, still with a chance to finish higher.
In Limited Stock Tod Carson is battling Kevin Adams for the points total. Carson has won 17 races and trails Adams by 56 points. Tod's younger brother, Kelly, is third in points. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Mark Mitchell
Eddie Webb is on the job in Portsmouth as executive director of the
Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
by CNB