Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 4, 1993 TAG: 9307040160
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When the Roanoke mayor said he thought the city could use a "sports coordinator" to promote and organize the games people play - and pay to see - it seems Bowers reached a new constituency.
Bowers has advanced plenty of projects and concepts in his desire to bring more tourism dollars to the Star City. However, his idea to enhance Roanoke's sporting chances has brought as much reaction in a short period as any of the dreams or desires he has made public.
Bowers said he is "a firm believer that some ideas stink." If nothing else, the positive reaction to his floating of a concept that's already produced results in Richmond and Lynchburg tells the mayor that some people believe Roanoke's sports future really isn't headed down the Hunter Viaduct.
So, at the July 12 meeting of Roanoke City Council, Bowers will present a letter proposing the new administrative position. The likely progress from there will be through the city manager's office and a budget study. It may be as long as a year from now when Roanoke's sports administrator gets a desk, but the wait would be worth it.
Don't think for a minute that the mayor is another sports fan with pipe dreams of recreating Charlotte in the shadow of Mill Mountain. Asked about his sports background and accomplishments, Bowers named several interests, none of which he takes very seriously.
"I am good at running my mouth," he said. "That, and shadow boxing. Those are two things politicians do very well."
There is no joking about Roanoke's intention to improve its sports presence, however. If Roanoke is playing catch-up to some other cities in proposing to pay someone to be a municipal athletic supporter, that's a history that Bowers can't change. Just don't forget to see the roses when you look at the thorns.
"We have done some things right, some things very well," Bowers said. "We have the Commonwealth Games. We have the Crestar soccer tournament. . . . What was just done in keeping hockey here was marvelous. [City councilman] Mac McCadden and Vern Danielsen [Roanoke Civic Center commission chairman] are the real heroes there.
"I'm not sure we're playing catch-up, and that's not important. What I envision is a position that's an outgrowth of our Special Events Coordinator position. Laban Johnson has done a terrific job there. Who would have thought 12 years ago that Roanoke would need a special events coordinator? Now we take that for granted.
"We have done some things other cities haven't done. Other cities have done some things we haven't done. The point we've reached, I think, is that these things don't just happen. You have to make them happen."
Salem has proven that. Bowers praised his neighboring city's "terrific job" in serving as the home of baseball's Buccaneers and for luring the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl football championship and the NCAA Division III softball championship.
Salem doesn't need a sports coordinator, because in civic center boss Carey Harveycutter, it has an aggressive promoter whose opinions get more than an ear from city government. Bowers' desire to put a Roanoke administrator in the same field also produces another inning in a bigger ballpark.
What would be better than Roanoke having a sports coordinator? How about a Roanoke Valley sports coordinator? If we can't work together, can we play sports together?
Presented with this notion, Bowers candidly admits that the "second issue" linked to enhancing the valley as a sports venue is "the reorganization of local government." Then, winding up, he fired a pitch that definitely wasn't a backdoor slider.
"The people of Roanoke County," said Bowers, "have decided we shall go separate ways."
That doesn't mean Bowers intends to take his ball and go home. He welcomed the county to "step up to the plate." No matter who's on the team, though, Bowers said Roanoke needs a sports pitcher.
He's right.
by CNB