Columnist Ron Kantowski: Don’t speak negatively … or it’ll cost you

Tuesday, June 13, 2000 | 10:21 a.m.

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

Just when you thought pro athletes' responses to rhetorical questions -- or even those posed by Roy Firestone -- couldn't become any more mundane and predictable, the Cincinnati Bengals have decided to turn their players into Stepford Wives.

In an attempt to preclude backstabbing through the media, new Bengals acquisitions are being asked to agree to a contract clause that would dock them some or all of their signing bonus if they make negative comments about teammates, coaches or the organization.

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson, normally one of the most glib Bengals, said he won't like keeping his thoughts to himself. But he has agreed to wear the muzzle.

"It's going to cut (the media) short," Anderson told the Associated Press. "You're not going to get a lot of answers. Guys are going to be like, 'Hey, I don't want to lose any money.' "

That reporters are forced to seek out an offensive tackle for some meaningful dialogue shows how guarded most athletes have become. Hockey superstar Bret Hull even quit talking to the press during the playoffs. He said most of the questions asked of him are irrelevant, and he didn't feel comfortable speaking his mind on the ones that weren't, fearing some sort of reprisal.

John Rocker may wish he had such a clause in his contract. Perhaps he'd still be trying to retire Giants and Dodgers instead of Mudhens.

But at this rate, how long will it be before "free speech" becomes an oxymoron?

"We understand the excitement about the tournament, but he was a little too enthusiastic," said the director of the housing agency from whom the man is renting.

It's too bad the Dutch team's colors aren't stucco tan, trimmed in brown. He could come over to my house and knock himself out.

Rico Constantino, a 5-foot-11, 240-pound dynamo, is said to be slated for the kind of celebrity treatment afforded WWF stalwarts such as The Rock (who was impressive in his guest host stint on Saturday Night Live that aired over the weekend), Mankind and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Local wrestling personality/auto mechanic Buffalo Jim Barrister, who steered Constantino in the right direction on the instruction front, said other than Constantino's age -- he's a grizzled 38 -- the Las Vegan is a ring natural.

Jim Cornette, a talent scout for the WWF, agrees. "I think his chance for success is better than anyone I have seen in the past few years," Cornette said.

Over the years, the Stars have had any number of talented P.R. types (the names of Bryan Dangerfield and Jim Anderson immediately come to mind) but have never paid them enough to keep them on board for any duration. More recently, the team has taken to letting other support personnel double up on the media end.

In defense of the others who have been asked to fill the role, they probably didn't ask for the job. Their strengths lie in other areas.

But poorly written news releases that repeatedly refer to the "forth" inning certainly aren't consistent with the professional image the Stars have cultivated and maintained over the years.

* AROUND THE HORN: At least two local products made the College World Series roster. Aaron Welbourne (Basic High) is a right-handed pitcher for upstart Louisiana-Lafayette while Jason VanMeetren (Bishop Gorman) is a reserve outfielder at Stanford. ... Las Vegas native Irene Renteria has been named assistant head volleyball coach at Virginia. ... Now I know why the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority was so gung-ho about bringing the Major League Baseball Players Association version of Home Run Derby to Cashman Field. That show has been repeated more often than those Budweiser "Wazzup?" spots. ... Jason Fingers, a relief pitcher at Arizona State and the son of former A's relief ace Rollie Fingers (who maintains a Las Vegas residence) also lists Las Vegas as his hometown. That must mean the younger Fingers doesn't want state bean counters to lay his hands on a portion of his signing bonus. ... Update: Talk show host Jim Rome has been named one of The Sporting News' "Most Powerful People in Sports." Meanwhile, Jim Everett has been named one of the Most Powerful People in the Local Bar and Grill Flag Football League. Everett may have won the studio wrestling match when Rome called him out as "Chris" but guess who has "The Last Word?"