The Weekly Fare . . . June 19, 2003
Never Too Late?
Whoever said "it's never too late" was either the world's most eternal optimist or died quite young . . . Because I'm only 42 and I KNOW of several things for which it is FAR TOO LATE for me to contemplate - much less accomplish.
Take football for instance. I was a reasonably decent football player for the city leagues in my early teens, but owing to the discovery of "certain other distractions of youth" (which is perhaps as nice as I can put it) I chose not to pursue the sport in high school. Now let's be clear - the only reason I could have played at all in high school was because I attended a rather small one and as long as you were breathing the coach was willing to give you a look. Truthfully, it was debatable that any oxygen was reaching my brain at all, but Coach continued to lobby me . . .
"C'mon Stuey (Coach always called me "Stuey" which probably wasn't helping his chances) I could really use you. We're going to have a great team this year . . . and besides, you've got the size and the speed, and you know the girls just love a guy who . . ."
Coach was willing to say ANYTHING to get you on the team.
"I'll think about it coach . . .," was always my response. But those durn "two-a-days" in 95 degree heat never quite stacked up next to sleeping in late, lazy days by the pool or camping forays into the countryside with friends of a similar mind.
So now, on occasion, while watching college or pro football I find myself dreamily contemplating, "You know, I wonder if I had stuck with it and really given it everything I had, whether I could have become a decent wide-out or safety in the mold of say an Ed McCaffery or John Lynch . . ."
The operative word here of course is "dreamily" as these two guys are "all world" and there are only about 5000 of the best athletes in America trying to do the same thing every year. They also happen to have physiques that would be the envy of most body builders. After about thirty seconds in la-la-land I generally look down at my 42-year-old mid section and say, "You know, anything's possible, but one things for certain . . . "It's FARRRRRR too late!"
There. I've qualified myself for the understatement of the year award.
Recently I had the same thought when I read the headlines about the group that has formed to save venerable old Victory Stadium. "Where the heck were you guys two years ago, when many people were attempting to lobby a seemingly deaf City Council?" If there was any local issue that seemed to be water over the proverbial dam, this was it.
But the more I read about the city's ongoing efforts and the problems they've encountered with the new one, as well as the well stated reasoning that this group has added to the original sound arguments to renovate the grand old stadium, the more I thought, "Maybe - just maybe, there's a way . . ."
On one hand we have a beautiful antique brick structure situated on the banks of the Roanoke River with a glorious view of the surrounding mountains, steeped in history and in perfect shape to be renovated into a complex that would be the envy of any city our size. It has numerous underutilized "feeder streets" and ample parking, especially if the city would re-think the present land use between the stadium and Franklin road. It seats 28,000 people (double the proposed facility) and will actually be far better suited for multiple use with a amphitheater added on the south end.
On the other hand we have a proposed concrete structure to be situated between the three busiest roadways in Roanoke - I-581, Williamson Road and Orange Ave / 460. It is situated near a junkyard and has a splendid view of the city's public works facility. The city never had a traffic study performed prior to making their decision and even a late, conservative review indicated that traffic congestion would be horrific during large events. There are over 100 homes within 1500 feet of the new facility and even local businesses who stand to benefit have voiced opposition due to traffic concerns.
Any impartial observer would assume at this point that there must be some catch - that certainly the citizens of Roanoke stand to save millions by building the new facility. But the fact of the matter is that due to tax credits and debt service allocations on bonds, the new facility will cost over $18,000.000.00 MORE over a twenty year period! That's over $900,000.00 a year!
So what gives? It's a good question. But one doesn't have to look too far to find countless examples where city governments have become so enamored with their own ideas that they become completely out of touch with both sound reasoning and the wishes of the citizens they represent. In this case Roanoke is fortunate to have a group of citizens who are willing to make one final effort to lobby City Council to put the issue on a referendum so that the wishes of Roanokers may be heard.
But it's a tall order. Listening to council members justify there stadium decision is like listening to a six-year-old explain why he thinks it's a good idea to use the vacuum cleaner to suck up all the leaves in the front yard. By the time they've completed their argument it's clear they're trying to convince themselves as much as they are you. But Council has the momentum of having "made the decision" pushing them along - and trying to derail that train, as out of control as it may be, is going to take perhaps even more than the 5100 signatures being sought to bring about a referendum.
I know that many opinion leaders, including fellow columnist's Joe Kennedy, think that the water's not only over the dam on this one, but well on its way to the coast. But I'm not so certain. Because one things for sure - the God of creation is a God of both second chances and the most improbable of outcomes. In fact, I think most of our life experiences indicate that he prefers the improbable to the predictable. And maybe that's the very best thing that old stadium has going for it.
I hope so.
If you would like to sign the petition to have the final stadium
decision
put on a referendum to be voted on by citizens in the November elections,
click here: