Where I Stand — Ruthe Deskin: Rebels’ recent resurgence offers hope to true fans

Tuesday, March 3, 1998 | 11:01 a.m.

It was worth the waiting.

To an old, and I mean that literally, basketball fan, the last two games the UNLV Rebels played were a delight.

Coach Bill Bayno, who looks like he could use a good meal and a summer tan, has faced an uphill road since the beginning of a season that had all the ingredients to be a winner.

With star recruits not making the grade, players suspended for breaking NCAA rules, practice times at the Thomas & Mack not readily available and other distractions, it looked as if Murphy's Law was working overtime.

Keon Clark's erratic behavior was no help to the program. There were those who believed he was the catalyst that would carry UNLV to the NCAA Tournament.

It must have been nerve-wracking for Bayno to have to adjust to Clark's absence or presence on the court. The team members had to have been apprehensive about the Clark situation which affected their playing as a cohesive unit.

To add to the coach's dilemma, crowds began to boo the players and the coach. It wasn't deserved and angered most of us fans who have been around through good years and bad, but it did happen.

But the last two games of the season did a lot to restore fan confidence in the abilities and determination of the UNLV Rebels.

It was just a matter of faith -- and maybe a few prayers.

Tonight, the Rebels open play in the WAC tournament. The best of luck to them; and no matter what happens I salute Coach Bayno and the team for coming such a long way over a pretty rough road.

Still on the basketball curve:

Is that Reggie Theus or a look-alike telecasting the games? One night Reggie Theus is discussing the NBA with Ernie Johnson on national TV, the next night he is courtside at the Thomas & Mack. Is that possible?

Why can't someone come up with a better looking mascot? That face is ugly.

Can't something be done about the sound system at T&M? It's almost impossible to understand what the announcer is saying.

Best off-court action of the year was the night the young man publicly proposed to his dearly beloved and she said "yes." No one booed.

Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., was on the right track when he objected to the consultant for the Southern Nevada Strategic Planning Authority.

Amy Dirks Stevens neglected to reveal her company's federal contract at the proposed nuclear-waste repository.

Sen. Bryan doesn't believe one can "plan for the future of Southern Nevada and at the same time help bring nuclear waste to Nevada."

My doubts were raised early on when the facilitator handed out brightly colored jelly-like balls and asked committee members to describe how they felt. It was supposed to set the theme for the discussions that followed.

Not that it matters a whole lot, but how did it come about that special prosecutor Ken Starr is on trial instead of the president?

Unlike a package of cigarettes that carries a health warning, telephone polls give no indication they can be dangerous.

If you are called, remember it is not wise to give out your age, Social Security number, marital status, how many living in your home, exact location, private telephone number or personal information of any kind.

When callers start asking those questions tell them you don't give out personal information on the phone.

If they want to know how you plan to vote in a coming election, that, too should remain confidential.

Information gleaned from random telephone calls can be very valuable to scammers looking for easy marks.

Former County Commissioner Paul Christensen was wearing a huge smile after the tremendous success of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Christensen was a leader in getting the track built, never doubting that Las Vegas could attract more than 100,000 racing enthusiasts. He was right.

An elderly reader complains that by the time you get to greener pastures, you're too tired to climb over the fence.