ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200055
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
In a departure from the trend of selling naming rights for stadiums to corporations, the U.S. Tennis Association on Wednesday named the new stadium at the National Tennis Center for the late Arthur Ashe.
``As we looked at the decision in more depth, we felt unanimously that this was the right decision,'' USTA president Harry Marmion said.
The stadium will be called Arthur Ashe Stadium. Marmion said there had been no offers from corporate sponsors. And, he added, ``we never looked for any.''
He cited the ``goodness and decency of Arthur Ashe,'' as the reason for honoring the tennis great, a Richmond native and the first African-American man to win a Grand Slam tournament.
Marmion, his voice cracking, remembered Ashe as the ``finest human being the sport of tennis has ever known. He was a citizen, a humanitarian, an ambassador and a role model for people around the world. The fact that the tennis court was his stage should make us all proud.''
Ashe's widow, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, attended the news conference.
``This is a wonderful gift for our family,'' she said. ``We are enormously proud of you, Arthur, and we thank the USTA for making this courageous event happen.''
Ashe won the U.S. Open in 1968, the Australian Open in 1970 and Wimbledon in 1975.
ETC. Redskins sign 6 free agents
The Washington Redskins signed six free agents, all of whom were assigned to the World Football League.
Quarterback Mark Hartsell, a free agent from Boston College who was cut by the club during training camp last season, was assigned to Scotland.
Others signed were: fullback Jim Kitts, a former linebacker at Ferrum College; defensive back Gregory Evans; tight end Steve Brooks; defensive tackle Mike Foley; and wide receiver Toderick Malone.
* The NHL's expansion committee has knocked Hampton Roads and four other locations from its list of 11 candidates for an expansion team. The league said the six locations still in the running were Minneapolis-St. Paul; Atlanta; Columbus, Ohio; Houston; Nashville, Tenn.; and Oklahoma City.
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