Columnist Ron Kantowski: USA-Mexico rematch should be here

Tuesday, June 18, 2002 | 9:29 a.m.

Ron Kantowski's insider notes column appears Tuesday and his Page One column appears Thursday. He can be reached at ron@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4088.

Based on the disparity of importance the two countries place on soccer, it can be assumed that for every fan who delighted in the United States' 2-0 World Cup victory over Mexico there were thousands who were saddened beyond belief.

And that's just here in Las Vegas.

More stunning than the USA's victory in the Round of 16 is that more than 6,500 soccer fans -- virtually all wearing green, red and white -- jammed into the Orleans ballrooms and lounges (this kind of foresight is why Michael Gaughan's new hockey arena is bound to succeed) to watch a game that didn't get under way until just before midnight on Sunday.

Heck, the 51s would have to blow off fireworks to attract that many spectators, and they're in first place.

Next to beer with a twist of lime, Julio Cesar Chavez and lowrider Chevy Impalas, soccer might be Mexico's major export to the U.S. So for a bunch of Yankee neophytes to beat the Mexicans at their own game ... well, imagine Acapulco State knocking off Nebraska in football, and you get a rough idea of the result's magnitude.

Let's just hope that Las Vegas Events president Pat Christenson was paying his usual rapt attention Sunday night. Given the city's difficulty in attracting major league sporting events to town -- or at least those that will attract a crowd of locals -- a "friendly" match (as they call exhibition games in soccer) between Mexico and Team USA at Sam Boyd Stadium would certainly pack them in.

Of course, tickets would have to be nominally priced -- somewhere between dinner for four at Taco Bell and the outrageous $80 that was charged for that CONCACAF tourney featuring club teams that tore up the new grass at Sam Boyd a couple of years ago.

But the field is cured now, and if you gave the stadium grounds crew a dime for every Tecate sold during the game, there will be plenty of money to fix the divots.

It's too bad baseball doesn't play by the same rules as soccer. Then the Cubs might still have a chance.

"Todd, dear, be home by dark, or whenever Sergio Garcia hits his approach shot on 17, whichever comes first."

According to an Aladdin press release, the hotel has taken reservations from dozens of guests who have booked rooms because they said they saw the signage on TV.

I just wonder how many people are now shopping at Cardenas Markets, which advertised on the other side of the ring.