Council, Bandits hope game a PR slam-dunk

Erin Neff

Friday, March 24, 2000 | 11:32 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman is fond of saying the ball is in his court to bring a National Basketball Association team to Las Vegas.

That couldn't be any truer tonight. Goodman's athleticism and the city's pride will be on the line in a celebrity game against the city's real professional basketball team.

Goodman and Councilmen Michael McDonald, Gary Reese, Larry Brown, Lawrence Weekly and Michael Mack will take on the Silver Bandits at 6 p.m. at Doolittle Community Center, 2900 J. St. near Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Oddsmakers may think the game will be heavily lopsided toward the pros, but the politicians have negotiated a significant rule change that should keep the score a bit closer.

Each Silver Bandit must shoot the ball with his weak hand. So, if a lefty puts up a shot with his left hand, the Bandits will be penalized.

"I'm trying to get a further rule change, that they can't be in the key," Goodman said, referring to the painted rectangular area near the basket.

Admission is free and there will be free giveaways, refreshments and activities for children. The Silver Bandits Dance Team and Western High School cheerleaders will perform at half time.

"People can come out and get to see the Bandits and the mayor who's such a proponent of pro basketball," Silver Bandits spokesman Tim Neverett said. "If you support the Silver Bandits, the NBA will see there's support for bringing a team here."

Weekly organized the event in his ward in an effort to bring local government officials into the neighborhoods.

"It is so important that everybody throughout this ward get an opportunity to see our entire council," Weekly said. "They never get an opportunity to see our mayor or the other council members in person. It's really important that we show we are committed to the entire city of Las Vegas."

The Silver Bandits, of the International Basketball League, have been using Doolittle as their practice facility throughout this season and consider it as much their home court as the city's.

But don't count the city out.

Brown is in Harvard University's athletic Hall of Fame, lettering in both baseball and football. He also played professional baseball. What's more, City Manager Virginia Valentine is an accomplished triathlete.

Mack's ward liaison, Matt Werner, played football at UCLA and for the Seattle Seahawks and may prove somewhat of a ringer at 6 feet, 4 inches tall, with dunking abilities.

"I can dunk if everyone falls down and the moon is in the right alignment," Werner said.

Neverett countered: "We have more than one guy who can dunk."

While the city's squad faces a formidable opponent, internal politics over starting positions may keep them from Cinderella status.

Weekly, who weighs in at 140 after a night of feasting, thinks he has the moves to put the city over the top, but he won't get the starting job because he missed practice.

"He's been at events all week telling me I'm the best mayor and trying to curry favor with me," Goodman said. "It doesn't matter. Weekly does not start."