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| Derrick Harper ����������� | |||||||||||||||
| June 12, 2002 | |||||||||||||||
| English 111 | |||||||||||||||
| Olde Hampton Needs Something New | |||||||||||||||
| ����������� Aside from all the construction that is taking place on Mercury Boulevard, Hampton has yet to have an attraction that will bring tourists into the city.� The biggest attraction in the city of Hampton is the Virginia Air and Space Museum.� Each year the seven cities get hundreds of thousands of visitors; however, most of the visitors check out places like Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Norfolk. For Hampton, it is hard to pull in the tourists from around the nation when it has to compete with Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Norfolk.� Other than The Virginia Air and Space Museum, there really is not much more major attractions.�Hampton should bring a basketball team back in the area so that the city can expand. | |||||||||||||||
| ����������� It is a shame how Hampton once was the home to NBA legends Julius "Doctor J" Erving and George Gervin. The Squires were a legendary ABA team, but not necessarily because of their success on the court. Instead, the Squires will always be remembered for unearthing (but not keeping!) future Hall of Fame players Julius Erving and George Gervin (Arthur).� Back then, it was the ABA.� The Hampton Coliseum played host to the Virginia Squires basketball games.� Many people do not know that Dr. J played in their very city.� If Hampton could bring back the Squires it could help the city bring in more revenue.� Just think, if we could get some of the local stars that are in the NBA now to come home and play we could have a great team. Locals like Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, Joe Smith, and Jason Capel are just a few names that Hampton could add to the roster.� These players are just the ones that are from the Hampton Roads area.� If we could get players that are from Virginia period, Hampton would be sitting on a gold mine.� Players like Grant Hill, Ben Wallace, and David Robinson could join the list.�� What a better honor than to play in an arena that hosted one of the best players in NBA history. | |||||||||||||||
| ����������� This idea sounds great, and it is a good idea; however, the city officials will make a point about the money situation.� Who will pay for the new stadium?� Who will pay for the player's salaries?� This is when our great land of democracy will step in.� We could have the city vote on whether we should bring a pro basketball team in or not.� The city will let us know that there is more to the vote than what meets the eye.� Many think we will have to pay more taxes to support the team.� That is a true statement. In essence, these taxes will come out of our checks, and we will end up owing more at tax time.� Now, we are thinking about a big tax return right? In some cases yes we will get a bigger return.� Nevertheless, we need this money now.� In case you have not noticed America is in debt, and cost of living is going up.� The city will let us know that if we get the team that our cost of living is going to skyrocket. | |||||||||||||||
| ����������� These are all great arguments on why we should and should not get a pro basketball team.� By having the team the city will bring in more revenue by attracting people to the area.� Ticket sales will go through the roof. With the team we could become a major city, and create more jobs.� Of course, this will take a while to develop, but, we are expanding now without the team, think how much we will expand with the team. | |||||||||||||||
| Back | |||||||||||||||
| Works Cited | |||||||||||||||
| H., Arthur. Virginia Squires. acessed on 12 June 2002.<http://www.geocities.com/~arthurh/Virginia-Squires.html>. | |||||||||||||||