Columnist Steve Carp: Gordy Fink walked it as good as he talked it

Steve Carp

Tuesday, May 12, 1998 | 8:42 a.m.

PERMIT ME A bit of self-indulgence if you will as I'm feeling a little ripped off today.

A good friend of mine was taken from me over the weekend. And try as I have to make sense of it, I can't.

But one thing I'm certain of. I'm a little richer today for having known Gordy Fink these last 10 years. The remainder of my time leaves me a little poorer for no longer having his wisdom and friendship at my disposal.

Fink, who was a Nevada deputy attorney general, died over the weekend at age 44. That's way too early for anyone, but especially for someone who had so much to give.

How much? He not only served this state's citizenry working for Frankie Sue Del Papa, he passed on his knowledge to others, teaching classes at UNLV. He was a great talker, as those who came to hear him on the radio over the years will bear witness.

But he was a better listener. He always made sure he knew both sides of the story before offering his opinion, a rare commodity these days.

This was also a man who lived for basketball. It was his true love.

It's why he would accompany former UNLV assistant Mark Warkentien, probably Gordy's best friend, on the road to watch a JC game in St. George, Utah. Or go on a CBA trip. Basketball, to Gordy, simply was the best thing in life, and he lived for the second week in March when the NCAA Tournament would tip off.

When UNLV had it going good in the late 1980s and into the early '90s, Warkentien and Gordy would hold court mikeside at the Thomas & Mack Center, first with the legendary Lee Pete and later with Tony Cordasco. And did these guys talk!

But Gordy may have done his best talking last July, and it had nothing to do with hoops. With the entire world watching, he addressed the Nevada State Athletic Commission on behalf of the state, imploring it to do the right thing at Mike Tyson's disciplinary hearing after he was disqualified for biting Evander Holyfield's ears at the MGM Grand Garden.

He was so eloquent with his remarks, so full of confidence, I sat in the audience feeling good for him and proud of him. It may have been his finest hour. Yet as we stood together in the plaza outside the meeting room at City Hall after Tyson's license had been revoked, he asked me, "How'd I do?"

You did just fine, Gordy. I just wish you didn't have to leave so soon because there's so much more to accomplish. But there must have been a much bigger assignment awaiting you. Maybe that's why you're no longer with us.

It'll be tough to go to the Thomas & Mack in November and not see Gordy sitting with his dad behind the Rebels' bench. It'll be tougher to no longer be able to talk to him and share his friendship.

What's weird is that just hours before he left us, I heard Gordy on the radio talking about the NBA playoffs with former UNLV football coach Harvey Hyde on Hyde's show. I was thinking about giving him a call, so we could talk about the Knicks' chances of beating the Pacers and the SuperSonics trying to come back against the Lakers.

Man, I wish I had made that call.