THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511230001
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Art Collins has an interesting dream. In real life, he is executive director of the Hampton Roads Planning Commission and administrator of the Sports Authority of Hampton Roads. In his dream, two guys in some far-off city are sitting on bar stools when the Hampton Roads Pirates score flashes on the screen of the TV above the bar.
One guy says, ``Hampton Roads, what the heck's that?''
The other guy replies, ``It's a region of 1.5 million people that stretches from Williamsburg to the sea, with a full range of urban amenities and capabilities.''
Or maybe the second guy knows a little less than that about Hampton Roads. Maybe he says, ``I think it's in Virginia on the ocean. They got beaches.'' The main thing is for people to ask about Hampton Roads.
That dream will be lost if the professional team is named for one of the area cities, rather than for the whole area.
``Hampton Roads is the appropriate name for the team,'' Collins said. ``One of the reasons we've wanted a professional fanchise is to give Hampton Roads recognition. If we don't accomplish that, we haven't accomplished what we set out to do.''
Also, Collins said, if more than one community is going to be asked to support the team, the name should be regional, not local. ``I have made that point to Mr. (Lonie) Glieberman,'' Collins said, ``on more than one occasion.''
Glieberman is the owner of the Shreveport Pirates. Last week the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted unanimously to endorse the team's move to Hampton Roads.
In these money-grubbing, nomadic times, giving your heart to a professional team is a risky proposition. Professional teams are beyond unfaithful - they are faithless. If you doubt it, ask football fans in Cleveland and Houston and Shreveport and many other cities. But it would be useful to have the name Hampton Roads flashing on TV screens all over the nation, to have people ask, ``What's that?'' by CNB