Columnist Ron Kantowski: Las Vegas won’t get torched

Thursday, Dec. 6, 2001 | 9:57 a.m.

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

In the words of Johnny Storm -- you may (or may not) know him better as The Human Torch of the Fantastic Four in the comics -- Flame On!

The ceremonial Olympic flame began a two-month, 46-state journey on Tuesday with its final destination, of course, being Salt Lake City, site of the 2002 Winter Games. According to the official Olympic Torch Relay website, the flame will flicker in 250 U.S. cities on its circuitous route, although Las Vegas isn't one of them.

Nevada, however, will get torched. The flame will pass through Carson City, Douglas County, Genoa, Reno and Sparks or Stateline on either Jan. 20 or 21 en route to Rice-Eccles Stadium, which heretofore was better known as home of the Las Vegas Bowl-bound Utah Utes.

Former gold medalists Muhammad Ali and Peggy Fleming are among those who will pass the torch. Evander Holyfield raised it through the streets of Atlanta on Tuesday, and Willie Mays, Joe Torre, Steve Young and a bevy of race car drivers will get lit up when the torch comes to their respective locales. In fact, athletes will be called upon to carry the symbolic 3-pound torch at virtually every step along the 13,500-mile journey.

Which, come to think about it, might be why Las Vegas was bypassed. The Salt Lake Olympic Committee has to be sure the torch arrives in one piece, and given the past performances of some of our sports dignitaries, that might be pretty risky.

For instance, former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who is enjoying a renaissance of sorts at Fresno State, is a household name and well qualified to carry the torch. If only the IOC weren't so paranoid about one of his players stealing it.

UNLV president Dr. Carol Harter also deserves consideration to tote the torch. After all, anybody who hired Bill Bayno as head basketball coach must love playing with fire.

Prior to the start of the football season, UNLV quarterback Jason Thomas was at the top of the Las Vegas nominee list to fan the flame. He was scratched, when he attempted to pass the torch during an audition and it was picked off by the Jamaican bobsled team.

Boxing promoter and Las Vegas mainstay Don "Only in America" King might have been a good choice, were he not inclined to use the torch to light one of his fat Cubans -- cigars, that is.

Carrying the torch might be a lovely parting gift for embattled and now virtually invisible UNLV athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro, who will be stepping down at the end of this month. Only he would refuse to talk about it.

Inclement weather is certain to delay the torch procession at some point, in which case I would nominate lightning quick UNLV point guard Marcus Bank to make up 96 feet in a hurry. Alas, Banks would probably fire the torch out of bounds.

If it's publicity the torch run is after, why not Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman? Oh, I nearly forgot. Organizers frown on using the flame for self-indulgent purposes, such as firing up local sports fans on the idea of a downtown minor league sports arena.

And this just in: Although last May 15 was the deadline for making nominations, and deep down he had no interest in pursuing one, 8 out of every 10 UNLV basketball fans still believe Rick Pitino is the right man to carry the torch.