Columnist Ron Kantowski: Las Vegas’ Harrigan making softball history

Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000 | 10:36 a.m.

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

Former UNLV southpaw Lori Harrigan, one of a dwindling number of female Olympians who has yet to pose topless for a national magazine, helped make history over the weekend on the playing field.

Harrigan pitched a four-hitter, striking out 12 while not allowing a runner beyond second base, as the U.S. Olympic Team blanked the Women's Pro Softball League All-Stars 1-0. The Yanks had a much easier time in the nightcap, cruising 10-0 for their 107th consecutive victory.

As far as streaking goes, you've got to go back to UCLA in the John Wooden days or that guy who ran across the stage at the Academy Awards with his Oscar exposed to top what Team USA has accomplished since embarking on its remarkable victory skein at the 1998 World Championships.

The softball team went 60-0 on its pre-Olympic Tour. Team USA, which last lost to Australia in 1998, opens Olympic play in Sydney on Sept. 16 against Canada.

Harrigan, 29, who still makes her home in Las Vegas, will be appearing in her second straight Olympiad. She was the winning pitcher in the semifinal game during the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Around the horn

Sometimes we forget about what's semi-important, so kudos to the UNLV men's tennis and swimming teams and women's tennis and softball teams. With cumulative grade-point averages of 3.40, 3.04, 3.30 and 3.29, respectively, they were honored at last Friday's athletic department Presidential Welcome Breakfast at the Lied Athletic Complex. ...

Las Vegas boxing icon Butterbean Esch has parlayed his four-round boxing shtick into a pretty lucrative living. Esch last week opened Mr. Bean's BBQ Restaurant in his native Jasper, Ala., and says he'll be a hands-on owner, serving up mass quantities of steaks, hamburgers and ribs at the small dining establishment.

"I'm going to be grilling steaks outside and I'm planning on giving people samples of a Butterbean-style steak," said the Bean, who at a robust 311 pounds probably won't be treating his beef in one of those lean, mean grilling machines endorsed by fellow heavyweight George Foreman. ...

It has taken awhile, but former Las Vegas Thunder teenage sensation Radek Bonk finally has blossomed into the kind of player the Ottawa Senators thought he would be when they picked him third overall in the 1994 NHL draft. Bonk, who has been called one of hockey's top defensive forwards by USA Today, also had a breakthrough offensive year last season with a team-leading 60 points. He recently went to salary arbitration to gain an increase on his $800,000 yearly salary. ...

Further illustrating that its archives aren't as deep as the vault at NFL Films, reruns of "The White Shadow" -- the original boys in the hood -- began airing on ESPN Classic Monday. Provided Haywood is on his game and Salami stays eligible, take Carver High and lay the points.

Incidentally, ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas, prior to his days at Duke, appeared in the series as a high school sophomore where he played -- get this -- a power forward for one of Carver's opponents.

"I had a great time," Bilas recalled. "I remember thinking that all the guys were just high-schoolers like me, so I was surprised to find out they were all in their twenties and thirties and none of them could play, except for Coolidge." ...

Holy Toledo, Batman! Just hours after the Toledo Rockets blasted Penn State right out of (Un)Happy Valley, coach Bob Toledo led UCLA to a stunning 35-24 upset of No. 3 Alabama. Wonder how the Mud Hens made out Saturday?

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