Columnist Dean Juipe: Homeless Hall seeks sanctuary

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, May 24, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

The press release has an address and a phone number, implying, as it does, that the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame actually has a physical presence.

As such, the mission was simple: Find the building, and, perhaps, report on its attractions and amenities as a way of heightening awareness of the organization's June 2 induction ceremonies.

On paper, it didn't appear to be an impossible task. But the key was locating 850 Las Vegas Boulevard North.

A trip to that area Tuesday appeared promising -- for a while. Although 850 didn't jump out, there was the Reed Whipple Center, a branch of the Las Vegas Library, the Lied Discovery Children's Museum and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum clustered in the target region.

"You're close" and "It has to be in here somewhere" came to mind. Allowing for the fact the sports Hall of Fame might be tucked into a corner of one of these museums, it was time to walk among the ruins so to speak.

But the effort went unrewarded, aside from seeing the delight of the school kids at the dinosaur exhibit at the Natural History museum.

Back on the street and in pursuit of that 850 street address, it finally came into focus on a rather unlikely sign. It was Cashman Field, or, more specifically, Cashman Center.

Could the Hall of Fame be in there?

A few minutes later and inside Cashman Center, it became obvious that the Hall of Fame's address was a facade. Sharing the office portion of the facility was the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority as well as a U.S. Treasury Enforcement Agent. In the arena itself, workers shuffled tables and chairs in preparation for its next temporary occupant.

A further search of the bowels of the building was interesting, yet fruitless.

It was time to concede and call the Hall of Fame's phone number and ask the key question: "Just where are you?"

The answer was marginally enlightening as the operator replied "Kirvin Communications Group, 1785 East Sahara."

The truth is, there is no Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame. Since its inception in 1997, the recipients of its annual awards have taken their plaques and momentos home rather than see them hung at a central location that would serve as a showplace for the area's many past and present sports stars.

The induction ceremony itself, which this year is at the Las Vegas Hilton, is all show.

While an entire building of local sports memorabilia might be financially impossible to construct and maintain, acquiring a nook or a cranny in something like the Thomas & Mack Center seems feasible. At such a well-exposed locale, the Hall of Fame could add to its stature and increase its significance.

The fact is, Findlay Toyota in the Valley Auto Mall is about to add an area that will showcase the Hall of Fame's exhibits and members. But, while the intentions are admirable, that's far from an ideal location and it certainly won't attract much in the way of random foot traffic.

The T&M is where the Hall really belongs, although a car dealership is a step up from nothing at all.