Maddux to be honored at Feb. 3 hoops game vs. SDSU

By Rob Miech

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 | 6:09 p.m.

UNLV will celebrate the storied career of ace pitcher Greg Maddux on Feb. 3, when the Rebels play host to San Diego State at 7:30 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Maddux, a longtime Las Vegas resident, retired from baseball last month after going 355-227. He is widely considered to be a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee when eligible in January 2013.

He has had UNLV basketball season tickets since nearly 2000.

“It’s kinda cool,” Maddux said Thursday after a round of golf. “It was very nice of UNLV and the Rebels to do that. Hopefully they’ll win that night.”

Maddux has played in the past three charity golf tournaments staged every preseason by hoops coach Lon Kruger.

“That’s a great thing and well deserved,” Kruger said of UNLV honoring Maddux at halftime of the game against the Aztecs. “What a great ambassador. When you’re one of the best all time, that’s pretty high standards.”

Maddux had a 3.16 earned-run average for four teams, which included two stints each for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, over 23 seasons. He is eighth on the career wins chart, just ahead of Roger Clemens (354 victories).

“As a fan, you appreciate excellence,” Kruger said. “He had a terrific high level of performance and achievement, among the best ever. That’s pretty good.”

Maddux, 42, took some classes at UNLV early in his baseball career. His wife Kathy graduated from the school.

“I think she’ll go to a game, finally,” he said. “I’ve been having a hard time getting her to games. I’m honored that they considered and thought of me. I’m looking forward to it.”