Oct 21, 2013 - Automotive executive Dave Sarmadi has recently joined Elliott. Automotive Group in .... schools and found
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Play By Play
3Greg Mackey
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Greenbrier Tennis Classic
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Salem Civic Center
Four legends put on a show
Vol. 10, No. 1, October 21, 2013
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Bill Turner
45 memorable years are highlighted
Bill Turner
Mike Stevens
INSIDE
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Sports lessons have shaped his career
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Play By Play
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Dave Sarmadi joins Elliott Automotive Group! A
utomotive executive Dave Sarmadi has recently joined Elliott Automotive Group in Staunton and it appears to be a perfect match. Dave has nearly 35 years in the industry and has established a glowing reputation with thousands of car owners during that time. Owner William Elliott and his son Ryan welcome someone of Dave’s experience and integrity as the Staunton dealership’s new president and general manager. Elliott Automotive Group has been part of the Shenandoah Valley landscape for more than 50 years and now features six outstanding franchises under one umbrella – Chevrolet, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. Chevrolet and Cadillac have been among America’s most famous automotive brands for more than a century – and newer models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler Town and Country minivan, Chrysler 200, Dodge Dart and Ram trucks have earned the right to join them. These are automobiles you can trust. Elliott has a huge inventory of new vehicles and offers great deals, great service and great people to work with. We also have a wide array of preowned vehicles as well as a service department and a body shop staffed William (left) with employees with extensive experience. We offer a free inand Ryan Elliott spection to all owners of our automobiles. Elliott has established a valuable name of its own during its half-century of business, and Dave Sarmadi only adds to that image. Maybe it’s time you take a short drive up Interstate 81 and allow the team to introduce themselves to you. It might just be the perfect match. Come see why the Elliott team is a group you can trust.
1100 Greenville Avenue, Staunton • Just off Interstate 81 at exit 220 (less than 90 minutes from Roanoke) • Call Dave Sarmadi at (540) 293-4620
Dave Sarmadi, President
PLAYMAKER Spotlight Bob Rotanz
Playbook Opinions
Todd Marcum.......................................... 4
Mike Stevens........................................... 5
Christian Moody .................................... 6
Donna Earwood ..................................... 7
Gene Marrano ...................................... 13
Mike Ashley........................................... 19
Page Page 15 15
Articles
Former Cave Spring Keeper Leaves Her Mark ............................... 10
Shepherd Punter Puts His Best Foot Forward..................................12
Natural Leader Mackey Ventures into Coaching..............................14
Virginia Tech Hockey is Back on the Ice............................................15
So What’s Happening at First Tee Roanoke?.....................................16 House of Strength Provides Fitness Option......................................18
Extras
Playmaker Spotlight........................3
Ask A Ref............................................6
Page 10
Snapshots of the Season................9
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech Hockey
he Salem restaurateur was recently named the 17th recipient of the Charles Brown Award, presented by Roanoke College. The award is given each year to a Salem resident who has contributed significantly, professionally and civically, to the city’s quality of life. It is named for Dr. Charles Brown, the school’s first dean and a former Salem mayor. Rotanz, an RC alumnus, has operated Mac and Bob’s restaurant, a landmark eatery, for the past 33 years. Prior to that, he was already well known for scoring the winning goal in the 1978 national lacrosse championship and earning national lacrosse player of the year honors. Rotanz has helped bring lacrosse to public schools in Southwest Virginia, coaching the first teams at Patrick Henry and Salem high schools and founding the Southwest Virginia Lacrosse Association. Rotanz is a member of the college’s hall of fame and his jersey number has been retired.
Roanoke College alumni Bob and Wendy Rotanz share a moment with college president Mike Maxey (near left) as Bob is honored with the Charles Brown Award
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High school volleyball
t’s no secret that the Roanoke area boasts some of the best high school volleyball teams in the state. That claim was demonstrated once again on Oct. 9 when neighboring rivals Hidden Valley and Cave Spring squared off in the Knights’ gym. This time, the Titans prevailed, winning three of the four games, 25-23, 24-26, 25-18 and 26-24. Pacing the Titans’ attack was senior Madison Morris, pictured serving and scoring a point past three Cave Spring defenders at the net. The following weekend, Cave Spring hosted the Tournament of Champions at Spectrum Sports Academy. Seventeen schools participated, including four reigning state champions. There was no actual tournament, just competitive play from some outstanding entries. Ten schools in the event own a combined total of 36 state championships.
Cave Spring coach Tamalyn Tanis, Play by Play’s 2012 Sportsperson of the Year and a five-time state champion coach, served as tournament director.
Bill Turner photos
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Courtesy of Radford Univ.
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Play By Play
Mike Stevens photos
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Sponsored by:
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Play By Play
OCTOBER 21, 2013
The jockstrap nears the end of its career
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hat running back faked him out of his jock.” “(So and so) isn’t fit to carry his jockstrap.” “That’s the dorm where the jocks live.” These well-worn (no pun intended) clichés are part of the sporting lexicon but are quickly becoming the equivalent of saying that Taylor Swift has a new album coming out. For the uninitiated, the jockstrap is basically a sports bra for a guy’s junk. If you’re a man of a certain age, you remember the day you were issued your first athletic supporter. It meant sports had gotten real. Sometime around the sixth grade, you were issued one of the stretchy garments without fanfare and usually without much in-
its cleats. Compression shorts made of spandex have displaced this fixture of America’s sporting youth. Strange as it seems, many of the top players in college football have never worn an athletic supporter. “The spandex and padded spandex shorts came in about 10 or 15 years ago,” says Virginia Tech football Director of Equipment Services Lester Karlin. “I still have one football player that uses a jock, but he also wears the padded spandex with it.” So maybe we can still call the players “jocks,” but don’t expect them to be wearing one.
TODDS AND ENDS by Todd Marcum
struction. You carefully examined the alien device, hoping you were putting the elastic waistband and pouch on in the correct way so none of the older guys on the team would make fun of you. But today, the t r ied-a nd-t r ue jockstrap has largely gone the way of the Single Wing offense. To be sure, it’s had a good run. But after more than a century since its introduction and with a résumé that includes more than 350 million sold, the jockstrap is finally just about to hang up
Players in this Issue Graphic Designer Donna Earwood Contributors lor Now with co . Call e g on every pa m o ery John Montg to at 761-6751 d. a r u o y place
Mike Ashley Rod Carter Leslie Coty Donald Earwood Tommy Firebaugh Brian Hoffman Sam Lazzaro
Bo Lucas Todd Marcum Gene Marrano Joyce Montgomery Christian Moody Mike Stevens Bill Turner
Primary cover photograph by Brian Hoffman
P.O. Box 3285, Roanoke, VA 24015 (540) 761-6751 • E-mail:
[email protected] On the Web: www.playbyplayonline.net and at www.facebook.com/playbyplaysports ©Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. No part of Play by Play may be reproduced by any means or in any form without written permission from the publisher. Play by Play is published every fourth Monday. Deadline for submissions for the November 18 issue is November 4.
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech
Publisher/Editor John A. Montgomery
mater), I sure would like to see the Herd end up on Virginia Tech’s schedule in the future. While I was sitting in the soaking rain in my Herd gear, I was repeatedly approached by Hokie fans telling me what a great time they had in Huntington; they didn’t know I was from Roanoke. The Herd really needs games like this on their schedule. As they are firmly ensconced in college football’s “have nots,” they often have games against conferencemates like the USTA Roadrunners who send less than 50 fans to an away contest. This makes a huge crowd that is assured by an opponent like Virginia Tech a rally big deal in the River City. So far, so good for Hokies Granted, the stadium is small During the preseason I had er, but the differential could be predicted Virginia Tech might made up by increasing the ticket win 10 games and should win allotment or having Marshall nine. With the rash of injuries play more games in Blacksburg early, I got pretty nervous about than the Hokies play in Huntington. Best of all, it’s an easy three-hour ride and the AD doesn’t have to juggle the expense of a chartered air flight and student athletes don’t have to take an inordinate break from their studies. In fact, the trip can be accomplished on a short bus jaunt. Virginia Tech recruits only marginally in West Virginia, but a glance at the roster indicates MarVirginia Tech’s J.R. Collins bears down on shall doesn’t either. Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato (No. 12) Lots of Florida and the prognostication. I have since Georgia families tune in to watch watched Tech pull out a tripleformer locals play. College footovertime win against what I think ball has become its own kind of is a pretty good Marshall Univerbeast, one that transcends geogsity Thundering Herd team in a raphy as virtually every play is monsoon. televised somewhere. As of this writing, the Hokies’ I’m certainly not saying that only loss is to top-ranked Alait should be an every year thing bama. I think this could be one of or even that the Herd will notch Frank Beamer’s better coaching many victories against the Hokjobs. Time will tell, but I’m felling ies, but there is an upswing in the OK about a prediction of nine or Marshall program under former more wins. WVU assistant Doc Holliday and former ECU AD Mike Hamrick And another thing… and it seems like a win-win situa Speaking of Marshall (my alma tion, especially for the fans.
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Play By Play
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Civic Center has provided wild memories OPEN MIKE
The Salem Civic Center has hosted many basketball championships
Mike Stevens photos
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uhammad Ali boxed here, Julius Erving dunked here and George Jones even lost his jewelry here. The Salem Civic Center, the centerpiece of the James E. Taliaby Mike ferro Complex, has seen all of that Stevens in the past 45 years, playing host to everyone from Kiss and Liberace to the Virginia Squires and its most infamous guest ever, the irreverent Borat. “We’re a tertiary building in that we catch stars on their way up or on their way down, but over the years we’ve had some amazing acts inside this place,” says Carey Harveycutter, the city’s Director of Civic Facilities. Harveycutter has had the best seat in the house for virtually every event that’s taken place at the Civic Center, and even some that haven’t. He remembers the night in May of 1968 when Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons mistakenly flew to Salem, W. Va. on a private plane and never corrected their mistake. The Four Tops also failed to make it to Salem later that summer for a scheduled show, leaving 3,622 fans and a nervous promoter high and dry, but for the most part, the performers have been “right on time” in more ways than one. “James Brown played here a number of times back in the 1960s and ’70s and he was an incredibly generous man who gave away bicycles to kids and always had 99-cent tickets for them,” says Harveycutter. The “Godfather of Soul” loved to take care of the young people, but when it came to the adults in his traveling entourage — it was his way or the highway. “One year James Brown fired his manager right here at the Civic Center for not having his James Brown was a shoes shined,” says Harveycutter. Shoes may not always have been polished, but frequent visitor in the musicians who have graced the arena’s stage the ’60s and ’70s over the years certainly have been. Ike and Tina Turner, Blood, Sweat and Tears, The Beach Boys, Def Leppard, Lynyrd Skynrd, Santana, Conway Twitty, Randy Travis, Kenny Chesney, The Statler Brothers, Alabama and even Sonny and Cher are among those who have offered performances and memories that are impossible to erase. “When Sonny and Cher played here in 1972 they went to the old Terrace Theatre at Crossroads Mall after their performance and watched a movie,” says Harveycutter. “They rented out the whole place just for
themselves and were the only two people in the theatre.” Harveycutter can’t remember what the movie was, but he’s certainly experienced his share of drama during his more than four decades of on-the-job training. The night the Salem Sheriff’s office took George Jones’ watch, ring and guitar to cover the expenses for one of his “No Show Jones Moments” in 1981 created a lot of headlines, but that was nothing compared to the night Harveycutter had to settle the gate receipts from the rodeo by accepting a collect call from the promoter of the event, who had been thrown in prison. “That was rough, but so was the night Disney on Parade was here,” he says. “That John Saunders (left) and Carey Harveycutter show was one of the have worked closely together for 40 years best family shows we’ve ever had, but during the finale there were high wire girls hanging from their teeth and a clip broke. One of the girls fell to the floor, but they just kept going and finished the show.” The truth is: the show must go on — even if your wife can’t see it. “Back before there were cell phones, we had one of those booth style pay phones in the Civic Center and Randy Travis’ former wife, Lib Hatcher, used to stay on that phone all the time,” says Harveycutter. “So one night John Saunders and the crew completely duct-taped her in the phone booth.” Travis gave Saunders, the Civic Center’s assistant director, and the rest of the crew his blessings to “lock up” Lib that night, but no one gave Sacha Baron Cohen permission to break out his Borat character on an unsuspecting, patriotic rodeo crowd on Jan. 7, 2005. “In our industry not all publicity is good publicity, but you just had to laugh about that one,” says Saunders. “The rodeo promoter Bobby Rowe signed the release to allow him to sing, but he never bothered to listen to the demo CD they sent him.” Saunders somehow managed to get Borat and his boys out of the arena before some of the highly offended audience members could tie him up and stuff him in the bull ring. Saunders, who started working at the Civic Center when he was 12, cleaning toilets, got his “formal” training for that Borat moment during a baptism-under-fire arena management session in 1984. That year, Hank Williams, Jr.’s rowdy friends got a little too rowdy and 87 members of the sold-out audience had to be arrested. “That was pretty crazy, but nothing like the night Mark Gastineau boxed here,” says Saunders. The former New York Jets star defensive end was attempting a second career as a professional boxer. On June 8, 1991, Gastineau was part of six-bout show that featured Oliver McCall on the undercard and Gastineau fighting a professional wrestler-turned-boxer named Derrick Dukes. “Dukes intentionally took a dive in the first round and the fans were so mad that we had to lock the promoter, Elvis Parker, in my office just to protect him,” says Saunders. That kind of boorish behavior has been kept to a minimum, but one night when an usher asked Engelbert Humperdinck to simply move a music stand that was blocking the view of some fans, Humperdinck was so offended he walked off the stage and never came back. See STEVENS, Page 8
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Play By Play
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Weather has set up a spectacular fall
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f ever there was a time to celebrate the glory and beauty of our little niche of Virginia, this is it. Right here, right now. The Roanoke region is a beautiful place any time of the year, but the fall foliage season is when it’s at Christian Moody its very best. For those of us who prefer to be outside, enjoying nature, this is the time of year when it all bursts into those brilliant earth tones of red, orange, maroon, yellow and a thousand variations of nature’s color wheel. Whether you like being out there on a greenway, a hiking trail, mountain bike path, a river or just strolling around the city looking for something interesting to photograph, there is no better time than late October to be out there. This October is one I’ve especially been looking forward to enjoying. You see, most years it seems we have dry summers. Those arid seasons are often blamed for muted fall colors as leaves tend to dry and fall, often having turned only brown. This year, however, no one can claim we’re in a drought. Granted, the amount of rain we’ve had in the last month is more of the norm than the wet spring and summer we had, but it’s still been wet enough that no tree should be suffering from a dry spell. Does this mean we can look forward to especially vibrant colors? Can’t hurt. I remember terrible droughts, such as in 1991 and 1999, when it was so dry the forests were closed for fear of fires being started inadvertently and spreading quickly in the dry leaves and kindling on the forest floor. There was very little color those years, especially in the forests. In town, it was possible to find trees that had great color, but they were not the norm. By contrast, the fall of 1988 was so intense I had trouble driving because I wasn’t watching the road most of the time. I was looking at the trees in amazement.
I’m hoping for that to be the case this year, but according to various science Web sites and the Virginia Department of Forestry, exceedingly dry conditions will abate the vibrancy of autumn, but wet whether doesn’t mean it will be an awesome display. We need cool nights and a little rain to make that happen. By press time, the color will be dappling the mountainsides enough that its relative vibrancy will be known. As I’m writing this, it’s just a guess, but I’m optimistic that it will be an awesome fall, if for no other reason than I’ve been looking forward to it for so long. The Department of Forestry knows what color means to the commonwealth. Its Web site (dof.virginia.gov) is full of maps and information about fall color. There is a map that shows the approximate dates for peak color throughout the state. The last week of October seems to be the peak time for this area, although that’s a function of altitude as much as latitude. Mountaintops are colorful while the bases are still green, and those same tops and ridge lines are bereft of leaves while the color is peaking at the bottom. Another feature of the Web site is a chart showing what color certain species of trees will turn. The chart lists oaks as turning red, brown or russet. I would add maroon. It also omits the sugar maple, which turns bright orange. Those two species of trees are responsible for Virginia Tech having the school colors of orange and maroon. In the late 1800s, when Virginia A&M, as it was originally known, was trying to reinvent itself from an austere military academy into a broader academic university, the decision was made to drop the official colors of gray and black (defining either as a color is debatable) to something more appealing to the eye. The governing board adopted the recommendation that colors be chosen that reflect the beauty of the campus in autumn. With the abundance of oak and sugar maple on campus, it seemed the school turned orange and maroon in the fall. That was the feeling the board was trying to replicate in its choice of colors. Whether you’re a Hokie fan or are among those who think that orange and maroon are fine for trees but sort of clash on a uniform (or both), this is the time to get outside and do something. Go for a bike ride; walk a greenway; climb Mill Mountain. Do whatever you can to get out there and enjoy what nature is giving us this year. It should be spectacular.
FROM MY VANTAGE POINT
Ask A Ref To inform fans of the games’ finer points, Play by Play publishes “Ask A Ref,” a chance for fans to ask a question about specific sports rules, preferably those related to high school or the NCAA. This month we ask a football question to veteran official Christian Moody. If a team is running the option, what can the defense legally do to a pitch man before he gets the ball? Can they touch him before he touches the ball?
A pitch man can be blocked, but he cannot be tackled be cause that would be holding by the defense. Of course the block has to be legal, which means it must be above the waist and it cannot be in the back. The pitch man, by definition, is participating in the play and therefore able to be blocked even before the ball is even pitched to him. A pitch is a backward pass and there are no restrictions regarding the timing of contact toward a potential receiver of a backward pass. Pass interference restrictions only apply to legal forward passes that cross the line of scrimmage.
Donna Earwood
Q. A.
Tree
Fall Leaf Color
Ash
yellow, maroon
Beech
yellow to orange
Dogwood
scarlet to purple
Hickory
golden bronze
Oak
red, brown or russet
Poplar
golden yellow
Red Maple
brilliant scarlet
Source: Virginia Dept. of Forestry
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Play By Play
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Greenbrier tennis was a clear-cut winner
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ormally I work behind changeover. Lendl, 53, replied, “Hitting the ball is not a problem; getthe scenes at Play by Play, ting to it is.” laying out pages, scanning Later, after McEnroe jokingly asked for a challenge on one of his opphotos, working on ads and sendponent’s serves, Lendl remarked, “It’s disrespectful to challenge my ing it to the printer. But when edibest serve.” McEnroe broke Lendl in the seventh game and went on to tor John Montgomery allowed win the first set, 6-4. by Donna me the opportunity to cover The McEnroe began to question more calls in the second set, eventually Earwood Greenbrier Champions Tennis losing his temper. Lendl earned several break points, finally breaking Classic, I couldn’t pass it up. McEnroe with a return winner. Lendl won that set, 6-4. I wouldn’t just call these guys champions; tennis legends is more like On the changeover, Lendl walked over to McEnroe. They then apit. The event featured John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Pete proached chair umpire Jay Sampras and Tommy Haas. Snyder, who announced I’ve been a tennis fan since the 1980s after watching the players would like to a couple classic Bjorn Borg-McEnroe confrontations. call the match a draw. Then after seeing Tracy Austin defeat Martina Navra At the press conference, tilova in the 1981 U.S. Open, I was hooked. they explained they were It was with great excitement that I anticipated The both playing well and it reGreenbrier Classic. However, I was a little worried after ally wasn’t about winning seeing the weather report for the Sept. 21-22 weekend or losing but having fun. — rain likely, a 90 percent chance on Saturday. My fears When asked how they were were soon relieved when I learned that in the event of enjoying The Greenbrier, rain, the matches would be moved indoors, where sufLendl said he was hoping ficient seating was available. to be able to play some golf Come Saturday, it was indeed raining. My husband, Sunday morning. In retireDonald, and I dropped off our daughter, Maggie, ment, Lendl is an avid golfat a friend’s home and we headed to White Sulphur The legends, from left: Tommy Haas, John McEnroe, Pete er and he is also coaching Springs. I was very impressed when a staff member of Sampras and Ivan Lendl. The Americans won on Sunday world No. 3 tennis player The Greenbrier picked me out of the crowd and called me by name beAndy Murray, who won Wimbledon this summer. fore I picked up my press pass with a picture ID. She directed us to me McEnroe spoke about the beautiful area and how he also enjoyed dia hospitality in The Champions Room of the Golf Club. the history of the place. Tennis was first played at The After partaking of a delicious buffet, it was time for the first match. Greenbrier in the 1890s. My husband had a ticket for the stands but I was shown to the seats for Lendl also mentioned it is difficult to tell when the press. Much to my amazement, I sat in a folding chair on the court McEnroe’s temper is for show and when it about six feet from a player’s chair. becomes real. McEnroe exclaimed, A chair on the court! After 30 years, it was a dream come true. Lendl “Neither can I!” and McEnroe were introduced. McEnroe, 54, took the chair nearest me. I asked them how many of these Oh, and Nick Faldo was sitting a few chairs to my right. I’m not as up on exhibitions they play a year. Lendl golf but Play by Play photographer Bill Turner confirmed it was indeed said he had only played one other Faldo. this year and that was with McEnroe In the past, I admired McEnroe’s in Hong Kong. McEnroe said he plays 8-10 McEnroe, still rushgame with his beautiful touch at the a year. He likes being able to pick where and ing the net net, but then I would get upset with when he plays. at age 54 his temper. I often ended up rooting He then started talking about how Amerifor Lendl after McEnroe would go on one can tennis is losing some tournaments but of his tirades. Since his retirement from the when it sunk in that John McEnroe was tour, McEnroe is now one of the most popular talking to ME, I lost track of what he was TV tennis analysts. As an analyst, I find him saying! very entertaining and knowledgeable about the After a short break, it was time for Samplayers and the game. pras, 41, versus Haas, 35. Sampras’ re To me, their most memorable match was cord speaks for itself, 14 grand slam tiin 1984. McEnroe and Lendl met in the men’s tles. Haas is not quite as accomplished final at the French Open. At that time, it had but he is still active on the ATP tour been almost 30 years since an American man and is ranked No. 12 in the world. He had won on clay so the pressure was on reached No. 2 in 2002. He reached the McEnroe. I remember thinking he had it fourth round of Wimbledon this year, Sampras hits a one-handed well in hand, up by two sets when I went to losing to then-No. 1 Novak Djokovic. backhand, a rarity on the church that morning. Much to my surprise, He has been plagued by injuries and current men’s tour they were still playing when I got home and was honored with the 2012 “ATP Comeback Player of the Year” award. Lendl went on to win his first of eight Grand There was a visible change in the ball’s velocity when these two got Slam titles, 7-5 in the fifth. going. Sampras’ serve appeared to be as good as ever. It was a switch to With these things in mind, I watched McEnroe win his first sersee him laughing and making jokes since he was so serious on the court vice game with three aces. After Lendl hit a few more aces in his serduring his career. See EARWOOD, Page 17 vice game, McEnroe said, “Good serving,” as they crossed on the first Bill Turner photos
AS I SEE IT
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Stevens From Page 5
Play By Play
munity Room. “I remember standing in the back of the Civic Center before the show, looking out the back door and asking Carey why Merle’s bus was moving,” says Saunders. “As it turned out, he had gotten ‘Dickeled’ at the sponsor’s party and they were getting him out of there.” These types of incidents make for good stories, but for the most part the performers who have played Salem have been extremely professional and courteous over the years. “Bill Cosby called the Civic Center a couple of days after his show here in 1999 just to make sure everything went well and that we were pleased,” says Harveycutter. “I can’t remember a performer other than Cosby ever doing something like that.” In 1976, Dolly Parton sent a Western Union mailgram to manager Jack Dame informing him that she would have to cancel her scheduled show due to “doctor’s orders.” The mailgram included a heartfelt apology from Dolly, and it took four days for the correspondence to travel from Kinston, N.C. to Salem.
“Jerry Lee Lewis did the same thing one night. A fan got up to go to the restroom in the middle of a song and Jerry Lee said, ‘If you’re leaving — then so am I,’ and he never returned to the stage,” says Harveycutter. “In some ways that wasn’t such a bad thing because Jerry Lee was so hard on pianos Roanoke College ticket from the that Ridenhour Music had to quit 1970s offering a chance to win a renting them to us.” scholarship and bicycles Harveycutter also remembers the night he had to convince a Blackjack Mulligan all wrestled performer to get on the stage. Ray in Salem, and on two separate ocCharles and the Raelettes apcasions, boxing hall of famers Joe peared in the arena in 1968 and Louis and Archie Moore served as was customary, they had reas guest referees for matches. ceived half of their money in ad Often times the ring was set up vance, but when the promoter of right on top of the rink. Profesthe show skipped town with the sional ice hockey became one of other half of the payout, Charles the building’s best tenants right refused to play. from the start. From October “I told him that my aunt, who to March from 1968-1984, the just adored him, was sitting in the building could count on having fifth row and that there was no close to 40 dates filled a year. The way I was going out there and tell admission prices for those early her that Ray Charles wasn’t pergames in the Eastern Hockey forming,” he says. League were just $1, $2 and $3 a Harveycutter had to use his ticket, meaning fans truly got to successful ways of persuasion ansee the best hockey ever played other time when Sly and the Famin the valley for the least amount ily Stone was booked to play Saof money. Dave Shultz, Pierre lem on Jan. 5, 1973. During Paiement and Claude Pithe days of racial unrest, Sly che were three of the biggest Stone was adamant about stars to skate in Salem for not playing shows in the the Rebels. South, but he also was pretty “Claude’s first dinner in serious about his partying. Salem was in Parlor A of “They drove his car all the Salem Civic Center with the way into the tunnel that Jack Dame, Jack’s family night and when he got out and me,” says Harveycuthe asked me where he was,” ter. “Claude had just resays Harveycutter. “I told ported from Canada and it him Salem, Mass., and while was Thanksgiving Day, and he thought I sounded a little I remember that he was exstrange for a Northerner, he tremely homesick.” played the show anyway.” Sports have always been Country music legend a big part of the Civic CenMerle Haggard didn’t have ter’s success. Pete Maravich, a problem with singing in Erving and George Gervin the South, but he too had ABA entry Virginia Squires have a display at all played basketball in the problems getting on stage the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame building in the early days of one night. Haggard was in town the ABA, and the arena’s hard Professional wrestlers used to to play a charity concert for the wood served as the home court make that Carolina to Virginia Children’s Miracle Network along for Roanoke College during the trek every week, and they got so with Kathy Mattea. Haggard’s Charlie Moir era when the Mathey could do it with their eyes tour that year was sponsored by roons played the likes of Ole Miss, closed. In 1968, 1969 and 1970 George Dickel whiskey and HagOld Dominion, VMI and Madipro wrestling was booked into gard arrived early that night to son, and won a national champithe Civic Center a whopping attend his sponsor’s pre-concert onship. eight times a year. Ric Flair, Anparty in the Civic Center’s Com The Globetrotters’ world fadre the Giant, Tony Atlas and
OCTOBER 21, 2013
mous brand of basketball entertained more than 5,000 people in the arena in 1968 and Loretta Lynn used to bring her traveling rodeo to Salem and perform a concert right in the middle of the roping and riding. The International Water Follies set up a huge pool in the arena one year for a swimming and diving show and the Ringling Brothers Circus made Salem a regular stop in the early years. But one of the Civic Center’s biggest sports drawing cards used to be something called a “Closed Circuit Broadcast.” In reality, this was just like watching a pay-per-view event in your home, but since this was back in the days before cable television, arenas all over the country, and not your living room, served as the venues for these big sporting events. Big screens, or in some cases big white walls, were used to project a satellite image direct from the actual sporting event. Nearly 2,500 boxing fans turned out in 1973 to watch Joe Frazier battle George Foreman, and from 19681971, the Daytona 500 was shown live in the Civic Center arena, often attracting more than 3,000 patrons. “The Daytona 500 did so well in 1968 that the concessionaire didn’t have time to cook the hot dogs to keep up with the demand, so the workers were just running them under hot water, putting them on a bun with chili and serving them as fast as they could,” says Harveycutter. That may sound a little bizarre, but in truth, it’s a great example of just why this “barn of a building” has been able to be successful and profitable for so many years. “We essentially work in an airplane hangar with a machine shop attached to it, and it’s a horrible building for rigging sound and lights,” says Harveycutter. “But because of the personal relationships John and I have been able to establish over the years and because our staff members are so creative and flexible, we’ve been able to attract successful acts year after year.” And that’s just the ticket for longevity.
OCTOBER 21, 2013
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Play By Play
Northside’s fast start in the 2013 football season has drawn big crowds, including a couple of familiar faces from Virginia Tech — head coach Frank Beamer (center) and assistant Bryan Stinespring (white jacket), on the sideline for the Sept. 20 Salem game.
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Beamer at Northside
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Brian Hoffman
Tommy Firebaugh
Snapshots of the season
Photo courtesy of Jim Devinney
Off to the Races
Senior Golf
Dale Blake of Southwest Roanoke County was the overall winner of the Roanoke Valley Senior Golf Tour’s tournament played at The Vista Links in Buena Vista Sept. 24. Playing in Division 2 (handicaps 14 to 20), Blake carded a net score of 60.
Thanks to a stellar defense and a potent offense (Chris Thompson above, galloping for a touchdown against Rustburg), Lord Botetourt jumped to a 6-0 record this fall, setting up an Oct. 18 showdown with Northside. In the first six games, the Cavaliers outscored their opponents by a combined score of 258-23.
Patrick Henry Hall of Fame
Bill Turner
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2013 inductees for the Patrick Henry High School Athletic Hall of Fame are, from left: Jack Edwards, Paul Wallace, Dick Clemmer, Sherwood Kasey representing inductee Lloyd Woods, Tom Shirley and Tim Meyers. Not pictured, Shannon Taylor, who was coaching that night.
Photo courtesy of Anthony Bryant
7 Lord Botetourt Hall of Fame
Our Valley’s Fundraising Event to benefit The Salvation Army Turning Point, a center for survivors of family & intimate partner violence. Tickets available at valleydancing.com or any Valley Bank location.
November ·, ¤‚⁄‹ ‡ p.m.
2013 inductees for the Lord Botetourt High School Athletic Hall of Fame are, from left: Cheryl Campbell, Mark Emick, Adam Linkenauger and Brian Wilson. Linkenauger, an ACC high jump champion, is included in a story on page 18.
Virginia Museum of Transportation 303 Norfolk Avenue Roanoke, Virginia
‡ p.m. Group Dance Lessons
° p.m. Dance Competition Begins with open dancing throughout the evening
SiNgle TickeTS $‡∞ TableS for ⁄‚ $°∞‚ The 2013 STarS: Randy Nicely, ¤‚⁄¤ STAR Vice President, Valley Bank
Roanoke Valley Sports Club
Gloria Randolph-King, ¤‚⁄¤ People’s Choice Winner
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Brent Watts
Meteorologist, WDBJ‡
Mike Whiteside
Co-Owner, Black Dog Salvage
Karen McNew Anchor, WSLS⁄‚
Becky Freemal
Gary Winfield
Chief Medical Officer, LewisGale Medical Center
Thomas Strelka
Attorney, Strickland, Diviney & Strelka
Don Halliwill
Chief Financial Officer, Carilion Clinic
Diane & Bill Elliot
Owners, Local Roots Restaurant & Davis H. Elliot Company, Inc.
Kathy Kronau
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Shenandoah Life Insurance
Anchor, Fox ¤⁄/¤‡
Bill Turner
The Sept. 16 meeting featured UVa associate head basketball coach Ritchie McKay (far right). Otis Dowdy (near right) received the Dick Williams Special Achievement Award and Salem Red Sox GM Ryan Shelton (center) also spoke. Jared King speaks Oct. 21.
Head, NAACP Youth Council
polk a plaTinum SponSorS
Tango TiTle SponSor
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Play By Play
OCTOBER 21, 2013
The Teammate: Former Cave Spring goa has given so much to this program in so many ways. Lauren is just so positive, so out-going. If he has never scored a you spend five minutes with Laugoal. She has started just one ren, you’re going to like her.” game in four years and she And this is a player that has has but six saves in goal over that played less than 216 total minutes span. She’s not a team captain. in three years — she didn’t play But you could make a case that or travel her first year — and has in the last two seasons Radford only appeared this seaUniversity has won the son when Radford was Big South Conference rolling against overwomen’s soccer chammatched opponents. pionship and this seaMarkey’s career cannot son as the Highlandbe judged by what she ers have started 6-1-1, has not done, though, that Roanoker Lauren because she has done Markey is one of the so very, very much. team’s most valuable Lauren Markey Start with being players. president of Radford’s Student Hey, even coach Ben Sohrabi, Athlete Advisory Committee and who has turned the Highlanders working in Student-Athlete Supinto one of the Big South’s best port Services as a peer tutor. She’s programs, will make that case. a fixture on the Big South Confer “She’s the ultimate teammate,” ence Honor Roll and everyone at says Sohrabi, who is 181-132-33 in Radford agrees that Markey was 18 years at Radford, and recently the MVP of Radford wresting the won his 200th game overall. “She
by Mike Ashley
Photos courtesy of Radford Univ.
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Big South’s Kallander Cup from Liberty last year as conference champ of community service. She spearheaded a drive for New River Valley food banks that collected 13,299 pounds of food, an average of over 44 pounds per student-athlete. RU athletes collected nonperishable food items on campus, in the community and at sporting events and other civic functions. She bridged efforts from RU’s Greek community and even student-athletes over at Virginia Tech to top the Big South in the drive. “She reached out to the Greek organizations and combined forces not only for this but future events,” says Radford Associate Athletic Director Stephanie Ballein. “She’s a liaison with all campus constituents. She made sure each sport was doing duediligence, really got on them and even went right to the coaches when their teams weren’t pitching in like she wanted.” “That was all her,” adds Sohrabi. “She went to the other teams and coaches and motivated them to get food, inspiring them and getting every single team to really pitch in. Some people would have just mentioned (trying to get over 10,000 pounds of donations) but she didn’t let up. She went at it 100 percent and bugged people to death.” Members of Sohrabi’s team already know Markey’s persuasive abilities. “I really wanted to win the Kallander Cup,” says Markey. “I had gone to the SAAC conference last summer and we got wiped out. Liberty was so professional and really flaunting how they had won. When I got voted president, I was like, ‘We’re going to win this.’ It was a team effort. We got everyone involved, students and student-athletes, and luckily we came out on top. And not only did we win, but a lot of people got the help they needed.” Markey’s Calling Card And then there’s the card business. No, she hasn’t been getting
dreaded soccer yellow or red cards on the pitch. She has been giving out cards. Her freshman year, when she didn’t play at all, Markey started searching online for motivational quotes, writing them on cards and hanging them in teammates’ and coaches’ lockers before every game. “Don’t say every game,” she says. “I’ve been slacking off this year. I haven’t done every game. I just try to find a quote that applies to the game and to my teammates and I put it in their locker with their name and number to inspire them.” Markey does a different quote for everyone on the team, a process that takes her six hours now that the squad numbers 35 members. “It’s worth it,” she says. “As long as one person feels inspired or motivated by it, I don’t mind doing it.” Sohrabi has one of the cards, made for him, on his door, as he talks about his best backup goalkeeper. It says, “The key is not the will to win; everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.” It’s a Bob Knight quote. “I don’t know where she gets all these quotes and different ones for everybody on the team,” says Sohrabi. “You get everybody from Bobby Knight to Gandhi.” Markey laughs because the cards haven’t always produced Hallmark moments in the locker room. “I’ve put up cards about teamwork and had girls say, ‘You think I’m not a team player?’” That’s not Markey’s intention. But honestly, there aren’t many team players quite like Markey. She was a team captain at Cave Spring her junior and senior years, and played for the Knights’ district and regional champion team that finished third in the state her freshman season. She starred on the Roanoke Star Elite Soccer Club, and that’s where she caught Sohrabi’s eye, playing in local summer competition. Markey visited Radford and
OCTOBER 21, 2013
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Play By Play
alkeeper leaves her mark was sold on the surroundings and the up-and-coming Highlanders. “I fell in love with the campus, it’s so homey, and I’m a homebody,” she says, following in the Radford footsteps of her grandmother, mother a n d an aunt. “I met Coach Sohrabi and he was so optimistic. He was really ent husiast ic and excited about where the program was going. I wanted on board.” Sohrabi was coming off a 2008 Big South title, an overachieving team capturing a crown in a year when they probably shouldn’t have. He built great recruiting years off that success, and claimed two more titles in 2011 and 2012, Markey by now part of the championship fabric of the program. “We have captains that lead us in practice and games and we have Lauren, who is kind of our emotional captain,” explains Sohrabi. “She is always there for her teammates. There are a lot of players that need someone to talk to, just to discuss issues and problems they’re having. Lauren is the perfect person to go to. They all go to her for advice about academic or personal issues and she always has time for them.” Sohrabi’s assistant is another guy, former RU goalkeeper Chris Barrett, so having a mature female influence on the team is even more important. “She’s the mother that’s always looking out
for her teammates, especially all the freshmen,” continues the coach. “If they’re doing something they shouldn’t be doing, she’s not afraid to confront them. And the flipside of that is she’s the first person to say positive things. During games she’s on the bench right next to the coaches and she just cheers the whole time.” ‘That Crazy Person’ “If you look at the bench, I’m usually standing up,” Markey says. “I look like the crazy person other teams are probably talking about because I’m always screaming. ‘Look at that goalkeeper, she hasn’t shut her mouth the whole game.’” That’s not really the role Markey aspired to when she first showed up on the Radford practice field in 2010. She quickly had a rude awakening. “We had a clinic the week before preseason and I remember a drill where the goalkeepers could shoot at each other. Che’ (Brown) hit this shot upper 90 (miles per hour) on me and that’s the day I realized I probably wasn’t going to be playing that much.” Brown has gone on to set school and conference records for shutouts and taken home two Big South defensive player of the year trophies. She’s a senior on this year’s team, too. “(Becoming a backup) was hard for me to accept at first but as it has gone on I’ve been way more willing and excited to accept the role,” Markey says. “It’s almost like being a cheerleader and motivator, someone who is going to help people get through the hard times, especially the underclassmen.” Markey’s experience is not unusual. More often than not, incoming freshmen go from big stars on their high school and club teams to just battling for a chance to play in college. It’s Markey’s response to that situation that has been remarkable. “I think that I just knew that if
I wasn’t going to be able to affect the team very much on the playing field that I wanted to bring something to them off the field,” she says. “Whether being in SAAC or working as a tutor or being part of any club or organization I can. Some days are harder than others because I remember that feeling of making the big save at the end of the game, and my team being excited for me. I feel that in other ways now.” Markey missed a practice to attend the Big South SAAC meeting in Charlotte in August, and the next day upon her return with the Kallander Cup, her teammates celebrated with her on the field, a moment she cherishes. And even rarely getting into games at Radford, Markey never considers that her career missed the mark. “I realized that if I couldn’t help the team on the field, I could still help them off the field,” she says. “My parents have always pushed
Markey provides motivational quotes for her 34 teammates nearly every game
me to be the best I can be. They taught me to stay positive and not be angry because there are people that can play better than you. I try to be humble and put my trust in the Lord.” “The things Lauren does for us are the kind of things that make other players realize we are a team,” says Sohrabi. “They see her doing all these little things and they think, ‘I could be doing more to help my teammates.’ It’s just contagious. We have a lot of young players that are going to be trying to be like Lauren when they’re seniors.” Yeah, Lauren Markey doesn’t score any goals or get a chance to stop many, but she has been a keeper in more ways than one during her college career.
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Wrestling
Nov. 9, 2013 Salem Civic Center Salem, VA
Gymnastics
Nov. 9-10, 2013 VA Techniques Gymnastics Christiansburg, VA
Register Online at
www.CommonwealthGames.org
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Play By Play
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Botetourt booter puts best foot forward by Mike Ashley
Photos courtesy of Shepherd University
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or four years at Shepherd University, Troy McNeill’s job has been getting the Rams out of jams. Seems logical that he would plan a career doing pretty much the same thing. The senior from Daleville is a four-year starter as Shepherd’s punter, and when he graduates this summer, he hopes to go into a career helping others through therapeutic recreation. “I just always liked helping people,” says McNeill. “I really like working with older adults. It means so much to them when you show interest in them, and I really am interested.” So much so that McNeill volunteered to work at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in Salem over his summer vacation. McNeill had an uncle who served in the military and he recalled how much he liked hearing his uncle’s stories. He found that he still did as he helped veterans get more out of their hospital stays. “I really feel like this is my calling,” McNeil says. “I felt so at home there (at the VA). I loved the surroundings, the buildings, the people.” McNeill is headed back that way after he finishes football this year. He’s going to serve an internship at the Virginia Veteran’s Care Center, starting in January, and he’s excited about the opportunity to do more good. His current job in football requires he excel when things have gone bad and his team has to punt. He has proven pretty good at getting the Rams out of trouble. McNeill is averaging 40.2 yards per punt this year, and through six games had placed nine kicks inside the 20, and had a long of 52 yards. McNeill’s punting compliments a strong Shepherd defense that was holding opponents to less than 10 points a game and led the Rams to a 6-0 start and a high ranking in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. “We’ve started out really well,”
Troy McNeill has established himself as a weapon for Shepherd, averaging about 40 yards per punt
he says. “I think we can have a great season.” Working his way up to become a key member of a nationally ranked football team is not bad for a former soccer player that didn’t start punting or kicking a football until the ninth grade at Lord Botetourt. “I played soccer up until eighth grade, I always had a really strong (right) leg,” he says. “Coach Elton Toliver came to one of my games and he asked me if I had ever thought about playing football.” McNeill hadn’t had that thought but it turned out Toliver didn’t have a kicker that year, and the door was wide open for McNeil to try out. So he and his dad, Garth, lugged a bag full of footballs out to Greenfield Recreation Park, and he started putting his best foot forward. “It was the same motion as kicking a soccer ball,” recalls McNeill. “I had to do it over and over to get the form. I’d say I practiced four or five days a week that first year trying to get it down.” The tryout for Toliver went well and McNeill won a job for the Cavalier varsity kicking pointafter-touchdowns and punting. When he got his chance to kick a field goal that freshman fall, McNeill banged home a 47-yarder for the junior varsity one Thursday and then hit a 47-yarder for the varsity the next night.
He was hooked, though that’s a dirty word among kickers. “I just loved it,” says McNeill. “You make a kick and the fans go crazy.” McNeill won’t talk about his success booting at Botetourt without “a shout-out” to his holder Tyler Bryant. “He really put a lot of confidence in me,” says McNeill. The kicker/punter particularly recalls a 53-yard attempt that freshman year against William Byrd that would have won the game, had it not been blocked. “I thought I kicked it too low and felt it was really my fault,” he says. “But Tyler really picked me up. He always kept my confidence up.” McNeill made 11 of 15 field goals his final two years at LBHS, and sported a 43-yard punting average his senior year, enough to draw some college interest. Shepherd assistant coach Jeremy Overfelt grew up in Salem, moved to Galax and played at Emory & Henry, so he keeps tabs on Southwest Virginia, and contacted McNeill about heading to Shepherdstown in 2009. “I really liked the smaller class size, that’s something I wanted in a school,” says McNeill, who at that time was thinking of a career in criminal justice. “I really liked the campus and they were recruiting me as a kicker and a
punter.” When McNeill got to Shepherd, he redshirted that first season. By 2010, he was making a move as the team’s punter but the placekicking job was held by Eric Dobratz, who would go on to hold just about every kicking record the Rams’ have. McNeill’s days as a kicker were over before they ever began in college. McNeill got a foot in the door at punter, though, booting in five games at the end of the season. He got a leg up on the job, punting 15 times for a 37.5-yard average. The redshirt freshman already had some touch — honed at the plethora of summer kicking and punting camps he was now attending — with four punts inside the 20-yard line. By 2011, McNeill had won the job from the start of the season, putting 35 times for a 37.4-yard average. Last year, he had 66 punts for a 38.4-yard average and put 16 inside the 20. His career long is 56 yards, set last year. And while he’s definitely not kicking and screaming, McNeill does miss the placekicking. “I’m not going to lie, it is difficult sometimes,” he says. “You want to be out there helping the team as much as you can. But at the same time I’m helping our defense when I’m pinning teams back because their offense has the whole field to go. If I get a really high punt and they muff it, I’m really helping the team. It’s not as much glory as a kicker but I still feel I’m an integral part of the team.” Next, McNeill wants to be an integral part of a medical team that helps those with physical or mental disabilities. He works with the patients, pursuing and developing hobbies with them that can aid in recovery and their positive outlook. Already, he has supervised projects to take veterans bowling and golfing. He has played Bingo with them and taken them fishing, where many of them probably enjoyed the opportunity to show McNeill how to practice the fine art of fish-finding.
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Play By Play
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Running convert moves up to triathlons TAKING THE NEXT STEP
Photos courtesy of Gene Marrano
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hose of you who have read my occasional columns on running in Play by Play know the basic theme: if this middle-aged, formerly muchmore-beefy guy can slim down by Gene a bit, take up jogging again and Marrano get to the point where I can run marathon distances and beyond…anyone can do it. (Unless, of course, a serious medical condition is involved.) On an early September cool-but-pleasant morning at Claytor Lake, I was standing ankle deep in water, waiting for the starting gun. This time it wasn’t just a run, but a sprint triathlon (500-meter swim, 12.5mile bike ride, 3.1-mile run). The swim is about a quarter-mile they tell me, but it seemed more like the Cuba to Florida swim that Diana Nyad just did. If you don’t swim laps, it’s hard. I grew up on the water and had a built-in pool to boot — but I never swam laps. I blame Kimberly Arbouw, whom I wrote about several months ago on her adventures as a triathlete, and Nancy Hans, a local triathlete who was scheduled to do her first-ever full Ironman (Bridge to Battleship in North Carolina) in late October. Nancy has been pushing me for years to give “tris” a shot and Kimberly just started doing them a few years ago at age 35. In September, she wound up at the World Championships in London. I borrowed a proper bike from Nancy, swam laps at the Y (usually gassed after three or so) and kept up my running before the Claytor Lake Sprint Triathlon on Sept. 7. When the swim started (the first leg), I might have swum freestyle for 50 yards or so before I was out of breath. I resorted to swimming on my back most of the remaining distance. The men went first but I was so far behind that most of the women came whizzing by, some crashing into me, I’m sure to their annoyance. I finally made it out of the water after 18 minutes or so (felt like 30) and I was NOT the last guy out. That was all I cared about. Two or three others were behind me. Then it was off to the transition area to towel off, put on my bike shoes and go. As I was riding away from Claytor Lake I saw a sign from Mike Pedigo, a running buddy who lives in the area. I see Mike almost every weekend during the 5K and 10K races we run. “Go! Go! Go!” was the sign’s message and it brought a smile to my face. An hour later I was off the bike and on to the 5K trail run, my comfort zone. Overall I finished in less than two hours and there were about eight other males (some younger) behind me. I’m OK with that. Will I do another triathlon? Yes, probably another sprint first, maybe the Salem Y event next June. But I need to spend a lot more time working on my breathing technique while swimming. The cross-training discipline is great, however, and swimming takes pressure off the knees and legs. Give it a shot if you haven’t tried one. This has been a good year for me regarding the 5K, 10K, 10-mile, halfmarathon and full-marathon races I’ve run. I have medaled (usually top three in age groupings) more than 20 times. I even ran a race in the mud at FloydFest and won a pair of trail running shoes. I was second in my age group at the Charlottesville Marathon — albeit almost an hour behind the first-place finisher. I’m not fast; employing more of a steady pace, and often it depends on the size of the field that day as to whether or not I will medal. I’ve run 5K races this year in the beach sand at the Outer Banks (where I medaled) and 50Ks (about 31 miles) at Holliday Lake and in Giles County. A marathon I just ran in Asheville ended with a great finisher’s medal and free microbrew beer. Not to mention ice packs and Ibuprofen. It doesn’t get
any better than that. I finished 12th out of 48 at a new half-trail marathon in Covington and medaled at a 5K in Northern Virginia. Best of all I get to see my racing buddies almost every week; we all take turns motivating each other and swapping stories. *** There are a lot of races in the Roanoke Valley, so how do you go about getting one started? I asked a few people in the business. Jim Humphrey of Star City Striders says his club gets requests to help organize about 30 races a year. “We simply can’t do that,” he says. His suggestion? “Get people helping who are runners or have put on races. Hiring a race director helps — Virginia Amateur Sports or possibly a timing company.” It may take six months to organize a new 5K. There are expenses, notes Humphrey, items that factor into the race entry fee. “Most races have fees associated with them whether on the road or greenway. Police, EMS, insurance, water and food, tents, postrace area [events], tables, chairs, advertising, packets, packet goodies, premiums for runners, premiums for volunteers, permits.” Joe Hanning with Roanoke City Parks and Recreation puts together an action plan for the races Roanoke is involved with. Afterwards he surveys runners to see what can be tweaked for the following year. Expect to put in the time. “What a lot of rookie race directors don’t realize but quickly learn is that managing a race is not about race day; it’s about the months of work that lead up to that day, which includes marketing, recruitment of volunteers, setting up Runner Gene Marrano has found registration, managing inspiration in a variety of sources the budget, etc. I tracked my hours for the Gallop 4 the Greenways race and after-party a couple of years ago. The tally ended up north of 200.” Don’t forget the after-race party and the number of portable toilets you might need. “Runners can get quite stressed prior to the race if the lines are too long,” notes Josh Gilbert of Mountain Junkies. Think about media coverage beforehand (especially when the race supports a charitable cause), sponsorships, even who might sing the National Anthem if you want to go that route. “[I] recommend the development of a timeline…with the responsible person’s name listed,” says Gilbert, a Salem chiropractor. It also helps if you have participated in the type of event you want to plan, adds Gilbert. I would also suggest you think about the appropriate number of age groups and awards. Too few age group medals or ribbons is a pet peeve for some weekend warriors. The racing calendar is a lot more crowded than it used to be, so consider conflicts of interest for the runner’s attention and entry fee dollars: “Develop a date and time. See what other races are going on then,” says Humphrey. “There are so many races now, so the pie is sliced thinner and thinner.”
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Mackey’s mantra serves him well says. “In the first game of my senior year, I had a big game in a win at Lord Botetourt and knew right then I wanted to play college ball.” But fate changed things. Mackey severely injured his ankle in the next game against Glenvar and was out for the better part of the next 10-12 games. “I was never the same player,” he says. “My goals transformed to being a coach, not a player. Despite being recruited by Lynchburg College, Randolph College and Hampden-Sydney, I decided to pursue my education at Virginia Tech and hopefully get involved with the basketball program there. I had always been a Hokie.” That decision became tougher when Mackey, a two-year captain for Cave Spring, led the Knights to the 2009 VHSL Group AA state championship in an overtime
“Coach Greenberg was a tough guy to work for,” Mackey admits. “He’s the smartest basketball guy reparation, hard work I’ve ever been around when it and character. came to X’s and O’s. He made our Ask former Cave Spring guys tough players. Although he High School basketball player didn’t focus on the managers as Greg Mackey about that creed much, by the time I was a junior and you’ll get a confirmation that he saw I was loyal to the program they’re the keys to success. and we developed a good rela Mackey strongly believes in tionship. I thought he was a great those principles because of where guy.” he learned them. They have been Then the unexpected bomb the cornerstone of the basketball dropped. Greenberg was fired as program at Cave Spring under 18the Tech head coach. year head coach Billy Hicks. “I was definitely surprised,” In the spring of 2012, Mackey Mackey says. “Unfortunately, was tested in his belief in that Coach Greenberg wasn’t considphilosophy, and with a little perered the best coach recruitingseverance, he has taken his baswise and some people in Blacksketball career to a higher level. burg didn’t like his New York Mackey had grown up in the personality. Overall, I just think Cave Spring program, attending they looked for an excuse to let games with his dad, Jeff, to watch him go. It left the program in J.J. Redick play regularly in front an awkward position. Assistant of overflow crowds in the Knights’ coach (James) Johnson had takgym. He knew from the beginen a job at Clemson and asning he wanted to play for sistant coach (John) Richthe Knights. ardson had gone to Old Mackey made the Cave Dominion. Everyone was Spring team his freshman wondering what the next year, and would eventustep would be.” ally become a three-year In a matter of days, Johnstarter. son agreed to return to “Greg is the best leader Tech as its new head coach. I’ve ever coached at Cave “I was all excited,” MackSpring,” Hicks says. “Not ey says. “I knew Coach only on the court, but off Johnson from working with the court as well. The entire him at Tech, so I was feeling team and the entire stucomfortable about him bedent body at Cave Spring ing the new head coach.” looked up to him.” That feeling of comfort While Mackey’s play Mackey was a captain and an integral part of was about to change. on the court continued Cave Spring’s 2009 state championship team “I was called into Johnto improve, his academwin over perennial power Brunsson’s office with my dad, thinkics at Cave Spring were also stelwick in Richmond. ing there were bigger plans for me lar. In August, 2008, Mackey was But Mackey stayed the course in the program,” Mackey recalls. dubbed the 48th Cave Spring and got his wish to be involved “Johnson said, ‘Because you were Knight, a most prestigious honor. with the Hokie hoops program. loyal to Coach Greenberg, Virgin Mackey faced a tough decision “Coach Hicks gave (then-Tech ia Tech has decided to go a differas a senior. He had long had his head coach) Seth Greenberg a ent route.’ I was let go and my full sights on continuing his educacall,” Mackey remembers. “By my scholarship was rescinded. I was tion at Virginia Tech, but there second day of school I was worktotally shocked. was the idea of playing basketball ing for the program as a video “Nobody with close ties to at the college level, due to his size, manager and involved in the dayGreenberg was retained. Johnson at a Division-III school. to-day operations.” It was a posiwanted to start fresh. Greenberg “I had played for the AAU Fution Mackey would hold through and Johnson had their tensions sion team that had traveled as his junior year at Tech. for a couple of years. When I was a far away as Las Vegas,” Mackey
by Bill Turner
Bill Turner
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OCTOBER 21, 2013
Photo courtesy of Greg Mackey
Play By Play
Greg Mackey graduated from Virginia Tech this past spring
junior I had gained Coach Greenberg’s respect and would go into his office to talk X’s and O’s. That didn’t happen with Coach Johnson. “It was tough,” Mackey says. “I had been a Tech fan and totally loyal to the basketball program from day one. I had three years invested and was thrown this curve.” Mackey called Hicks. “Coach Hicks and I are very close and I asked him, ‘What am I going to do?’” “I was really upset,” Hicks says. “I didn’t understand it and to this day I haven’t spoken to James Johnson about the decision. Everything I had heard was that Greg had done a phenomenal job at Tech. We talked about his options and I assured Greg he always had a place within Cave Spring basketball.” Mackey asked Hicks for a week to cool off and make his decision. He then joined the Cave Spring staff as an assistant coach, joining the same coaches he had played for as a Knight. While he finished his senior year at Tech, he commuted to the daily practices at Cave Spring. “It worked out great,” Hicks says. “The kids loved him and he got a lot of respect. Greg did a great job last year and I can definitely say he’s always got a spot in my program.” When the Cave Spring season ended with a regional loss to Abingdon, Mackey was unsure of his future. “I wanted to stay involved in basketball. I had an offer to be an assistant at Randolph See MACKEY, Page 17
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Play By Play
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Tech hockey hopes to arrive this fall team with a healthy dose of freshman talent coming on board. Mullen, who has two uncles that played NHL hockey, hopes to take that next step to the ACHA tourney again.
by Gene Marrano
Photo courtesy of Virginia Tech Hockey
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ongtime pro hockey fans realize that it has been a dry spell since the last team that called the area home, the Roanoke Valley Vipers, slithered out of town after one season of mostly-empty seats at the Roanoke Civic Center. Many of those same fans also know that they can still get a hockey fix by watching the Virginia Tech club team battle the likes of Maryland, Liberty, Ohio, Florida Gulf Coast, Penn State, West Virginia and Bowling Green during the 2013-2104 season. One fan favorite that was not scheduled this season was the annual match with Virginia, which has drawn nearly 5,000 attendees. Third-year head coach Joey Mullen said Virginia could just not come to terms. The Cavaliers also dropped down to a lower division and didn’t know what kind of team they would be fielding. The Civic Center has been very accommodating this season as far as ice time, according to Mullen, meaning only one long trip to Liberty University for a practice so far. At press time the Hokies, comprised of full-time students and non-scholarship players, were 6-1. Last season Virginia Tech, which receives little in the way of support from the university itself, was 15-13 with two shootout losses in the regular season, playing in the Mid Atlantic College Hockey conference. Tech, which finished the season ranked seventh in the Southeast, then went on to the Southeast Regionals after coming out victorious in the MACH playoffs. They fell two goals short in a game against Bowling Green; a win would have sent them to the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) national tourney. This is the team’s fourth season playing in the MACH as a Division 2 school, in a league considered a step up from Tech’s previous affiliation. A look at this season’s 20132014 roster reveals a seasoned
Maryland native. Sophomore defenseman Peter Veltri, from Clifton, Va., is off to an impressive campaign. Back from a strong start last year is forward Alex Smith, who had 20 points before leaving at mid-year for a semester at sea involving some classwork. “It’s nice to know that he’ll be back when we get down to crunch time with the playoffs and r e g i o n a l s ,” Mullen says. Virginia Tech’s hockey team jumped to a 6-1 record this fall but has more than 20 games on its schedule M u l l e n reminds his “We’re definitely a much faster players that schoolwork comes team overall from top to bottom,” before hockey. “They let me know says Mullen, “and I think we are ahead of time when they are goa deeper team, forward-wise. I ing to miss practice. We have no have a bunch of guys that can issue with that.” Club hockey play every night and it’s kind of hard making sure everybody gets enough playing time.” Mullen, who grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen section of Manhattan, has already thrown some of his freshmen into the mix on a regular basis. He will rely on an old-timer however, senior Walker Detweiler, as his No. 1 goaltender. In all there are four netninders on the team, although only two can dress for any game. Detweiler was on the Virginia Tech squad that did make it to the national tournament. “It’s definitely nice to know that he’s going to be back there most nights,” Mullen says. Not getting back to the nationals was disappointing last season. “We were one game short,” notes Mullen. Getting back is a major goal for many of the players that were on that team. “Just with the sophomores and freshmen talking to those guys, it gets them excited. Everybody wants to get there.” Look for senior forward and team captain Zack Walz to help lead the way: “He had a big year last season and is off to a good start,” says Mullen of the 5-foot-9
players for Tech are skilled at time management before they get on the team bus, adds Mullen. Crowds for the first few games averaged around 700. Attendance balloons as local high school and then college football seasons wane. Home games run through Jan. 25; tickets are just $5 for adults with children 12 and under free. Tech students/faculty (with valid ID) are also free. The games with Liberty are always a good rivalry match, says Mullen; Florida Gulf Coast (known for their high flying basketball team as well) won the ACHA national title two seasons back. “There’s not many other things you can do in Roanoke for five bucks,” he notes. “A good mix of speed and skill,” says Mullen of the 2013-2014 Hokies on ice. “We’re a ‘going to grind it out and wear you down’ type of team.” For local hockey fans that just may be music to their ears. (See virginiatechicehockey.com)
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Play By Play
Golf simulator donation gives boost to First Tee by Christian Moody
Christian Moody photos
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ant to hit a bucket of balls with a swing coach, and then head out to Pebble Beach for 18 holes? How about Augusta National? Young people working on their golf games with the instruction of the First Tee of the Roanoke Valley will have the chance to play the most famous golf courses in the world without leaving the Star City. Golf Around the World, a small business that was located on Rt. 419, but recently closed, donated its simulator to the First Tee. The simulator was installed last month in the basement, although it’s not yet ready for use as a certificate of occupancy has not been issued for that area of the building. The basement is in the lower level of an expansion that was built onto the First Tee building on its land adjacent to Roanoke Country Club. The upper level, which is a large classroom area, is open and being used for instruction at the First Tee. Programming coach Tom Patterson demonstrated the simulator. With a hitting area that has sensors in the floor on a balance board, cameras mounted in the room and special golf balls with sensors added to the cover, every shot can be perfectly calibrated. The simulator reads the swing mechanics along with club speed, and then adds the speed and spin of the ball to determine the result of the shot. A ball is projected by the computer onto the screen. The best part is the computer always knows where the ball is, so no hunting through the woods for wayward shots. Putting is possible, too, with the simulator. Once on a green, the computer shows a grid overlaying the green to demonstrate the slope and undulations of the green. The line of the putt, along with the speed, is read and the result is projected.
OCTOBER 21, 2013
much that can be done First Tee’s golf balls have special with the sensors located all over them technology. It ter what it does, the ball goes in,” has been uphe says. dated to offer Keeping kids interested and video games learning is the key to instrucand even putt tion, and the simulator offers that putt courses. chance as well as anything. McClung The change of season means says the simthe First Tee will move from ulator can be on-site instruction to outreach calibrated to into the Roanoke City Schools, be as easy or the Boys and Girls Club, and the difficult as Tom Patterson, a teaching pro with First Tee, chips to desired, plus YMCA. Exposing more kids to the second green at Pebble Beach in California golf and offering them a chance it can be set to learn the game beyond a so young people don’t get frusMac McClung, a part-time coach couple hours of gym class is the trated. with First Tee, said the simulator goal, and the new additions to “We can set it so if they’re playcan be used as a driving range the First Tee are making that a ing a putt putt course and, say par where players and coaches can reality. is two, on the fourth shot, no matsee the shots and the result of their instruction. Mary Beth McGirr, the director of programming and instruction at First Tee, is enthusiastic about having the simulator as n the weekend of Sept. 28, the First Tee held a part of the program. fundraising tournament at Roanoke Country Club that was “That was a phenomenal donamore than just a way to generate revenue; it was a glimpse of the tion,” she says. “We’re going to goals of the program put to use. be able to offer so many things The second annual First Tee Parent Child Tournament was a to the kids, and we might open it time for supporters of the program to play alongside those who up to others. We could rent it out benefitted from its instruction. to local teaching pros to offer in A total of 75 two-person teams took to the course in three difstruction or even club fitting. We ferent divisions. The Saturday events featured teams comprised haven’t even scratched the surof a child under 18 playing with a parent, mentor or coach. The face of what we can do with this morning flight was a nine-hole tournament, designed to be less awesome piece of equipment.” competitive, but offer a chance for people to get out and play on a The addition was opened in Saturday morning. June of 2012 and the classroom That afternoon was an 18-hole outing for teams of one adult was dedicated to the late John and one youth. The problem was the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. Clarke, a longtime member of 28, was cold, wet and miserable. Still, dozens of golfers slogged RCC and one of the most active through the rain and played their rounds. and enthusiastic volunteers in Others played on Sunday, when the scheduled event was for the Scott Robertson Memorial teams of people with the same relationships — parent or mentor Golf Tournament and, years later, — but both golfers were 18 or over. a driving force in bringing the Jennifer Blackwood, executive director of the First Tee of the First Tee to the Roanoke Valley. Roanoke Valley, said a sizable portion of the youth players were McGirr says the addition to the kids who take lessons at the First Tee and have been learning the building is the result of hard work game with First Tee instruction. and donations. Scores were kept and winners were announced, but with ben “Building the addition is someefit tournaments, the winners aren’t the story, the benefactor is the thing we had to do, and thanks to story and the First Tee was the winner. As more and more publicity generous donations we were able of events is sent forth, the program will continue to grow and bring to do it,” she says. golf to more kids in and around the Roanoke Valley. McGirr says kids are drawn to —Christian Moody the simulator because there is so
Tournament boosts coffers
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Earwood From Page 7
After a long point, Sampras offered his racquet to Faldo. When Faldo passed on the chance, Sampras came over and took a potato chip from him. Later, Sampras gave his racquet to a ball girl who got out there and rallied with Haas, eventually getting the ball by him. The crowd cheered and gave her a standing ovation. The match was pretty even with Haas taking the first 7-5 and Sampras taking the second 6-4. This led to a tie-break in the third set. First player to 10 (by two) wins. Sampras went up early but Haas rallied to win the tie-breaker and the match. Haas thanked Sampras, saying that he was headed to another tournament the following week. The win would give him confidence, Haas said, as Sampras is still playing very well. Sunday’s doubles featured perfect conditions, so it was played outdoors. The match was billed
Mackey From Page 14
College while I pursued my master’s degree in education. I also considered continuing my education at Hollins and staying at Cave Spring. “Finally, in June, I was put in contact with Mark Bialkoski, director of basketball operations at UNC-Charlotte. They had an opening for a graduate assistant.” Mackey sent his résumé and had a phone interview for the opening at the Division I program. He was invited to work a camp to see how he fit into the 49ers program. A big endorsement came from Seth Greenberg, who called one of his former assistants, Ryan Odom, a current UNC-Charlotte assistant and the right-hand man to head coach Alan Major. “They told me they’d love to have me at Charlotte,” Mackey says. “I’ll be a graduate assistant and work on my master’s. It entails about 50 hours a week when you combine basketball duties
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Play By Play
as U.S. vs. Europe with McEnroe and Sampras representing the United States. Europe’s Lendl and Haas now have American citizenship, but are originally from Czechoslovakia and Germany, respectively. Haas moved to Bradenton, Fla., to train when he was 11 and has lived there since he was 13. He now has dual citizenship for Germany and the United States. The U.S. romped 6-1 in the first set as McEnroe and Sampras were clearly on their games. In the second set the U.S. won 7-6, winning the 10-point tiebreaker. The players clearly enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and competition of a wonderful weekend. It’s impressive that The Greenbrier and Jim Justice are bringing players of this caliber to our area. I’ve seen on Facebook that Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are doing some mixed double exhibitions; it might just be something for “America’s Resort” to consider for next year.
and studies. In the long run it will hopefully pay off with a full-time assistant’s job. It all depends on what comes open throughout college basketball.” “Greg made a good impression from the beginning, “Bialkoski says. “He was a manager at Va. Tech and that said a lot. Greg had an understanding of what goes into a program at this level. Ninety-five percent of coaches take the graduate assistant role to make the move to the next level. One thing we really liked: Greg takes the bull by the horns. Ryan knew him and had great respect for Greg.” Mackey joins a UNC-Charlotte program that reached the NIT in 2012 and, according to Bialkoski, should be in good position to earn an NCAA tournament bid this year. Sticking with those keys to success, Mackey’s career in basketball is back on track. Even if he did encounter a speed bump along the way.
Munsey From Page 18
people outside of a hospital environment. I wanted to work with people who volunteered to come to me instead of people in a hospital room that had no choice.” Munsey stayed connected with his athletic background. He used his athletic training skills and his nutrition knowledge to help condition some Clemson athletes. “I graduated from Clemson in 2008 and I went straight to New York City,” Munsey recalls. “When I was at Clemson I got into the body-building style of physique (weight) lifting, and I signed a modeling contract on spring break in New York the year that I was graduating. I moved to New York as soon as I graduated, and spent 2008 modeling. Then I left there and moved back home. “I started working as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym in North Roanoke in 2009,” he says. “I left there in March of 2012. I was just tired of working for a big-box fitness center. I thought there had to be a better way for me to get people the knowledge, education and help that they needed. “When I left there I started House of Strength. I rented space from the Roanoke Barbell Club. It’s owned by Rick and Adam Trout. They are friends of mine, and I lifted there even when I was at Gold’s. I sought them out and they were more than willing to help. I helped them get some exposure and they helped me get my feet under me. “As we grew, our business model was a lot of small (exercise) groups so we quickly outgrew that space. I started looking for a bigger space, and we moved into the space we’re in now” this past April. Munsey brought in some help for his expanding business. “We just hired our first coach other than me. He is Mark Widdington, who is actually moving here from Charlotte just to be a part of this.” Munsey also hired an intern; “Our other coach is Tyler Perdue. “With Mark and Tyler coming on it’s really going to open up a lot of things for us. In the evenings I’m training a lot of what
we call general population adults in our small group classes.” Munsey explains, “With Mark coming in we are able to add boot-camp style classes in the mornings, for people to come in before work. We are calling that our Butts and Guts class.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Munsey
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Roanoke City police officer and running back for Roanoke Rampage Ronald Robinson front squats while intern Tyler Perdue offers support and guidance
“With these guys it’s going to enable us to get more teams and athletes, and more One-on-One sessions in.” Munsey continues, “So I would love to have House of Strength be where really serious high school athletes go train to get stronger and to perform better. To tell all these kids that play sports, like Chris (Lucas) and I did, that they would be able to develop the body and the physical tools to be able to play in college and to not have to hang it up after high school. “And then as well, have the parents coming in for their sessions to be able to stay healthy. I feel like if you’ve ever traveled outside of Roanoke maybe you’ve seen that most other cities have more fitness and health awareness than we do here. Roanoke does not seem to be as health-conscious as some other cities, and I’d like to try to change that, to be able to help grow that in Roanoke.” Munsey has the education, training and experience to inspire such an improvement in the area. He also has the initiative to take the big step of starting such a business venture, and the personality to motivate his clients to improve their health and their lives.
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Play By Play
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Munsey delivers intensity at ‘House of Strength’ by Bo Lucas
Bo Lucas
tensity intervals.” In a recent edition of Men’s Fitness Magazine, writer Jeremy DuVall emphasizes, “If your goal is to burn fat, intervals better be part of your program. Besides being a quick method to getting in a great workout, intervals are extremely effective for transforming your physique.” Clockwise from top right: JMU basketball And it’s not just walk-on hopeful David Chen, Concord senior athletes in training (basketball) Sammi Webster, Lord Botetourt that benefit from the senior (basketball) Clay Gardner, Marqee House of Strength’s Johnson (member of 2009 Northside state exercise methods. championship football team, currently playThey have a variety ing at Lackawanna Junior College in Pa.), of programs that fo- Randolph-Macon lacrosse freshman Joseph cus on the condition- Clifton, and VMI decathlete Shawn Gardner ing needs of virtually of close to 100,000 people, and anyone seeking to improve their it’s people all over the world. Last fitness level. Each individual proyear we had someone come in gram starts with a brief physical from Hong Kong. We have people evaluation to determine one’s fitcome from as far away as Seattle ness for specific exercises. Then a and Maine. fitness plan is derived targeting “We bring in athletes, mostly established goals. Munsey also basketball players, from around provides monthly reviews to dethe world,” Munsey continues. termine the progress and effec“It’s a two- or three-day intentiveness of the current plan. sive camp where we teach them There are many athletes and everything about jumping, trainfitness buffs who can attest to the ing, weight lifting, nutrition, all effectiveness of Munsey’s trainthat side of the athletics. We call ing methods. Check out their Web it an Athletic Overhaul.” site at http://houseofstrengthgym. How did Munsey came to com to see testimonials and find launch the House of Strength? the benefits that the House of It was a concept that gradually Strength can provide. Munsey developed. He was a multi-sport shares some of his nutritious reciathlete in his early years. In high pes on this site. school it was narrowed down to Munsey also teams up with forjust soccer and basketball. mer Clemson high-jump phenom “I went to Clemson and maAdam Linkenauger (see page jored in Food Science and Nutri9) to put on a specialized sumtion,” Munsey explains. “It’s a dimer fitness camp. These longetetic degree, so if I had pursued time friends were classmates at an internship after college I could both Lord Botetourt High School have become a registered dietiand Clemson University. Munsey cian, but I skipped on that. I knew elaborates, “Every summer Adam then that I wanted to work with and I hold one or two camps. It’s athletes. I wanted to work with in partnership with his company, Freak Athletics, and my compaSee MUNSEY, Page 17 ny. Together we have mailing lists Photo courtesy of Ryan Munsey
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ver feel like you have edge training programs for aththe talent to take it to the letes at any physical level. They next level in your sport, but use time-proven methods to help just can’t seem to get that edge prepare you to perform your best. you need to advance? Maybe you The House of Strength is the have reached your prime, but brainchild of Ryan Munsey, an now your performance is slipping accomplished personal trainer more rapidly than you expected. and Clemson graduate. “We train You could be putting in the same athletes of all shapes, sizes, ages, effort and hours of training as beand ability levels,” he says. “Our fore but not quite getting your dejob as a coach is to meet you sired results. where you are, and move you for These are not uncommon ward along your own individual symptoms in today’s world of journey.” conditioning and athletic perfor At the House of Strength they mance. The difference in winning concentrate on High Intensity a competition and finishing in Interval Training (HIIT), often some less desirable position can referred to simply as “intervals.” happen in just a few seconds of This method consists of intense game time. Numerous examples bursts of exertion interspaced of such results are evident at all with moderate periods of recovlevels of competition, all the time. ery time. This innovative training Consider the recent NBA technique enables you to perform championship, the NCAA basketat a very high energy level for a ball championship and the Ryder concise period of time, and then Cup. Games and matches turn on take a short breather to recover a single excepfor the next intional play, oftense burst. That ten in an infiniway you are tesimal small able to maintain period of time this intensity — a near-imthroughout your possible 3-point entire routine. basket saves a And this intense critical game, exercise keeps a player comes your metabolism off the bench elevated even afand turns in an ter you leave the incredible pergym, resulting formance, or in continued fata golfer drains burn long after a long putt to the exercises are turn a match done. around. Olym “High intenpic events are sity interval regularly detraining is the cided by a few ultimate fat loss hundredths of a training methsecond or fracod. I’ve experitions of a point. Ryan Munsey demonstrates the enced the results Perhaps you proper form for the physical personally. And need to revamp evaluation of a new client I’ve seen the your training regimen to prepare same results with the thousands yourself to excel in those crucial of people I’ve trained,” Munsey instances. The House of Strength says. “Spend less time doing carGym on Shenandoah Avenue spedio, and get better results and cializes in personalized cuttingbetter conditioning with high in-
OCTOBER 21, 2013
Play By Play
19
Diamond pennants are a man’s best friend
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elated congratula My kind of fan. tions (dang publication And the Red Sox could use more of them. deadlines) to our Salem Red Salem’s average attendance of 2,735 was next to last in the eight-team Sox for capturing the Carolina Carolina League, though it picked up for the playoffs. Oh, and here’s by Mike League pennant in September. what you really need to know: the current contract between Salem and Ashley That’s five if you’re keeping the Boston Red Sox is up after next season, meaning there could be big score at home, and the first since changes on the horizon, and I’m not talking about the great view over 2001. Before that, it was 1987, and the outfield walls. before that, back-to-back years in 1973 and ’74. These local champion Heck, there have already been changes, including a huge shakeup in ship moments have been rarer than a cicada invasion — hey, there’s a local management. They’re recommitted to making the franchise more new name for the team — Salem Cicadas. fan-friendly. I like that but I also like that sending-good-players-to-the Salem has been a fixture in the Carolina League since 1970, and I Roanoke-Valley thing. nearly have, too, starting in 1973 when I saw my first game at old Munic The Red Sox didn’t get off on the best footing locally when they took ipal Field. The only reason I remember it so vividly is that Dave Parker over in 2008. The tarps they placed over lots of perfectly good general tripled to the chasm in center field where the light pole was in play, and admission seats were a particularly galling idea. The guys who thought soon after was in the big leagues. Dave Parker, that is, not the light pole that one up are gone. The new management team is soliciting ideas to in center field. get more fannies in those nice seats. So I’ve sat through my share of Carolina League baseball, good and Here’s one — make the lower-tier corner sections general admission, mostly not so good there on the concrete of Municipal and then the more affordable to fans to get more of them closer to the field and perk plush new seating in Salem Memorial Stadium. I have enjoyed both. up the proceedings. In GA, you can round up more of your friends easily Hey, the concession lines are much shorter when the wins aren’t as freand sit together. quent. And speaking of prices, they have crept up in recent years but that’s I’m always a souvenir-cup-is-half-full kind of guy. happening everywhere. I was stupefied at a Potomac Nationals game So thanks to the Boston Red Sox for sending us a good team. It was a in Manassas when I had to pay for parking, too, at their crappy stepfun ride. above-a-softball-recreation-complex. I’ll never forget the 2001 pennant-clincher against Wilmington. Had The only time I have parking issues in Salem is when the horse show such a good time with so many friends at the new ballpark as Salem or the fair take up three-fourths of the lot for a month every summer. won, but the memory is now bittersweet. We woke up to September 11, Those annual events don’t make Salem’s attendance or competitiveness 2001, the next day, and our world has never been any easier — although the same. I do understand some Those two events are now locked together in my changes on this topic cluttered memory, and I really hate that. are afoot. I cherish these championships for our locals, Neither, unfortuand more importantly, there are a lot of kids in the nately, does that Red Roanoke Valley warming up to baseball that will Sox moniker which never forget they saw a title team this year. has become as polar I know I remember those great teams of the early izing to some fans as ‘70s because of the exciting duo of Miguel Dilone an extreme political and Alfredo Edmead, two speedy outfielders on designation. Seriously, the fast path to the big leagues. Dilone would go Roanoke Times colon to hit .341 in 1980 with the Cleveland Indians, umnist Aaron McFarbut Edmead is a sad part of local history after the ling was dead-on with horrible collision in the outfield with Dilone and that assertion and a second baseman Pablo Cruz that took his life. subsequent editorial There’s a plaque in the old stadium commemoin his own newspaper rating Edmead and his enormous talent. For me, Salem baseball diehard Mike Ashley (center) celebrates 2001 title questioning that obit’s another championship memory tainted by servation only called tragedy. One veteran Pirate scout, in bringing Edmead out of the Dointo question who is writing editorials over there — obviously not anyminican Republic, had said that the diminutive Dominican outfielder one that has talked to local baseball fans. was more talented than Roberto Clemente. Yankees fans — and they are legion (like demons, I think) — will not I can’t vouch for that but I’ve seen a lot of great players pass through fork over money even at this level when they know it’s aiding and abetSalem and the Carolina League — Parker and Dilone, Tony Pena, Kent ting the Red Sawx. I know, I’ve tried to drag them to the ballpark. Tekulve, Mitch Williams, Tony Womack, Moises Alou, Jason Kendall We need a name change to make this OUR team in the Roanoke Valand Tim Wakefield for the good guys. And among the other teams, I ley. We have long been nickname-challenged here, most notably with have seen Juan Samuel, Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and Chipper the ill-fated Dazzle of the NBDL. The Red Sox has been a return to literal Jones to name just a few. I’d like that tradition to continue for a long, non-plurality here as in Express, Rush, Dazzle, Avalanche. C’mon! long time. How about Shooting Stars? It’s a nod to the Star City and to the fa So hats off to this year’s champs, and as far as I can tell, the only tragmous roller coaster that used to be in Salem. I’ve also heard suggested edy attached to this season was my friend Mike Shaver getting taken 12 o’clock Knobs and Big Licks — and that’s as far as I’m going there. out by a foul ball to the face in the right field concourse corner in the You can write your own joke. final game. Another pal, Ken Brickey, the smartest man in Roanoke, I once advocated for the Cheesy Westerns when I was hungry for a took Mike to the emergency room and did due diligence on the situawinner or at least a team name that ended in “s.” Better hurry before tion until, well, he had to get back to the ballpark for last call. we’re only seating a thousand, 10 at a time. Photo courtesy of Jimmy Bain
SIDELINES
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Play By Play
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.
Local Farmers. Local Produce. Your Local Grocery Store.
Great food. Low prices.
OCTOBER 21, 2013
