DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140906

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   62 lines

``DR. J'' AMONG CHARTER INDUCTEES TO LOCAL BLACK SPORTS HALL OF FAME

There isn't yet a hall to house the fledgling Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame, but that won't stop the induction of an impressive inaugural class of six members tonight at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.

Julius ``Dr. J.'' Erving, who began his professional basketball career with the Virginia Squires of the old ABA, heads the class and is scheduled to attend tonight's ceremonies.

Also to be inducted are Roger Brown, the Newport News native who was an eight-time NFL Pro Bowl choice; Dick Price, longtime Norfolk State coach and athletic director; Steve Riddick, NSU track All-American and 1976 Olympic gold medalist and current NSU track coach; Bobby Dandridge, the former NSU basketball star who won NBA titles in Milwaukee and Washington; and George Crawley, a former Norfolk assistant city manager who oversaw the city's recreation department and began the Police Assisted Community Enforcement program.

Though all six made major contributions to the region, officials acknowledge that Erving is tonight's big draw. Erving played two seasons with the Squires before he was traded to the New York Nets in 1973 when owner Earl Foreman began shedding big-name players to stem financial losses.

Erving, a three-time ABA MVP, played three seasons in New York before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers when the NBA and ABA merged in 1976. He led the 76ers to the 1983 NBA title and had 30,026 points and 10,525 rebounds in his combined NBA and ABA careers.

Erving, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, is one reason why tonight's induction ceremonies are nearly sold out; more than 500 tickets have been sold.

Another is strong corporate support. The hall has attracted the NBA, Crestar Bank, Central Fidelity, Curtex Construction, Cox Cable and The Virginian-Pilot as corporate sponsors, and many purchased blocks of tickets.

Horace Balmer, a Norfolk native who is the NBA's director of security, served on the 17-person selection committee and helped line up NBA support for the hall.

Curtis Cole Jr., president of Curtex Construction and a former Booker T. Washington and Old Dominion basketball player, says the idea for the hall came about ``from casual conversation, guys talking about how we need to salvage our history, guys talking about the old days. One thing led to another and a club was formed.''

One of the club's first officials acts came last month, when it agreed to help sponsor a nighttime basketball league in Norfolk.

After tonight, the hall's next task is to find a permanent home, Cole said.

``We're working on it,'' said Cole, a member of the hall's board of directors. ``We're talking with a couple of different cities. They've all expressed some interest. I'm optimistic we can get something done.''

Cole says a handful of tickets, priced at $50 apiece, may be available today by calling Curtex at 622-3111.

``Ticket sales have really gone well,'' he said. ``I'm a little nervous we may have oversold the place. But we'll find room for everyone with a ticket.''

The black-tie affair begins with a 7 p.m. social, to be followed by dinner and inductions at 8. ILLUSTRATION: File photo

Basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving began his pro career in

Norfolk, with the Virginia Squires of the ABA.

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