Columnist Ron Kantowski: Options abound for name of new conference

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998 | 10:29 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's notes column appears Tuesday. Reach him at ron@ lasvegassun.com or 259-4088.

One of these days, perhaps even before they begin play next season, the eight teams seceding from the Western Athletic Conference to form their own conference will call themselves something.

Insiders say the new league will go as the Mountain West Conference, although the folks at San Diego State are said to be opposed. But there's no truth to the rumor that the Aztec brass prefers "The Tijuana Taxi Squad" or, for that matter, any of the following submissions culled from Sun staff and/or readers:

* The Conference Formerly Known as WAC.

* The Crazy 8

* So Many Teams, So Few Bowl Berths

* Out of WAC

* WAC Extra Dry

* Snoop Wacky WAC

* Conference To Be Named Later

* The PGA Tour

* The Not-So-Big 8

* A League of Their Own

* Conference Monica Lewinsky

* WAC-a-Fucco

* Rick Majerus and the Seven Dwarfs

Around the horn

As if fumbling on the goal line in overtime during Saturday's loss to Wyoming wasn't anguish enough for UNLV's James Wofford, the Associated Press referred to him as "Chris Wofford" in its game story. But Wofford, to his credit, didn't try to pin the loss on a fictional brother. In fact, he is to be commended for his 184 rushing yards and for the way he met the press (with class and dignity) after his major blunder. ...

In his postgame remarks, UNLV coach Jeff Horton was quoted as saying "people" had begun to question his team's heart and character. It couldn't have been the local media to which he was referring. We've questioned his team's talent from day one, but never its (or his) desire to win. ...

Tony Cordasco and Hunkie Cooper leave something to be desired as the voices of UNLV football, but at least Cooper's honesty is refreshing. He's not afraid to criticize a UNLV player when the situation warrants, or making a politically incorrect remark. For instance, when Cordasco asked the former Rebel jack-of-all-trades if he would kiss the Homecoming queen if the Rebels won Saturday, Cooper said he got an up-close-and personal look at the queen and her court, and that he would rather decline. ...

The Wyoming football team honored Matthew Shepard, the University of Wyoming student who was beaten to death because of his homosexuality, with a helmet decal in Saturday's game against UNLV. ...

Richie Adams, the former UNLV basketball star awaiting sentencing in New York City after being convicted of manslaughter in the death of a teenage girl, recently called his old coach Jerry Tarkanian. Adams asked Tark for a pair of new sneakers. ...

Such a deal: It cost $25 to serve as a "volunteer" for this year's Las Vegas Invitational golf tournament. LVI officials say that's a bargain compared to other PGA events. I say change the definition, or at least advertise that it costs $25 to "volunteer." ...

According to the press release, the "world's most practical shooters" will compete at the Desert Sportsman Rifle & Pistol Club today through Friday in the U.S. Practical Shooting Association Open National Championship. That got me to thinking where the world's most impractical shooters will be holding their national championship. A dark alley in Watts? The UNLV free-throw line? For the record, practical shooting is a competition in which shooters must hit a variety of targets (none of which are breathing), using full power handguns. ...

General manager Don Logan could solve the Las Vegas Stars' attendance problems by selling a season ticket to every person who has called him looking for Padres (the Stars' parent club) World Series tickets. ...

Only four Major League Baseball teams offer an average ticket under $10. They are the Twins ($8.22), Reds ($8.37), Pirates ($9.33) and Expos ($9.98). The Red Sox, with an average admission of $20.63, are the most expensive ticket in baseball. ...

When I was a kid, Bat Day was baseball's biggest promotion. Now it's Beanie Baby Day. Bat Day has slipped to No. 8, behind Towel, Umbrella, Coupon (retail or grocery), Cap, Fireworks, and Hat (not cap) Days.

Nickname of the week: The Thundering Herd (of Marshall University). Nickname we'd like to see (but probably won't): The Fighting Amish. ...

Three guesses on which high school has produced the most NFL players (Rancho and Bishop Gorman don't count). It's Long Beach (Calif.) Poly, which has had 38 alums play on Sunday over the years. ...

NASCAR superstar Jeff Gordon will drive a Pepsi can -- actually, it's a Busch Grand National stock car painted like a can of Pepsi -- at four tracks next year, with Las Vegas Motor Speedway being one. The others are Michigan, Charlotte (two races) and Texas. ...

Part of the reason the Professional Bull Riders have switched allegiance to the Thomas & Mack Center (with Caesars Palace serving as the host property) is that the tour will now be allowed to sell sponsorships to other local casinos. That was a no-no when the popular event was held at the MGM Grand. ...

The Midland Bank of London is considering launching a unique bank account linked to the performance of an account holder's football (soccer) team, with the interest rate increasing every time it wins or ties. If Nevada State Bank had the same deal, you could say there would be no interest in the UNLV football team -- and literally mean it.