Columnist Ron Kantowski: Tight-lipped drivers are disservice to fans

Tuesday, March 5, 2002 | 9:23 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.

Two myths that now can be exposed:

Maybe they used to have time to chit-chat and sign an autograph, but now that they've become rock stars, most NASCAR drivers make themselves more scarce than tasseled loafers in the infield when they're not behind the wheel.

Case in point was Sunday, when Tony Stewart and hometown guy Kurt Busch, of all people, dissed the local media following the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as if the Hooters girls and a couple of six-packs were waiting in their cushy trackside motor homes.

Granted, both were understandably upset following some back luck in the race, and the demands on their time have to be immense. And it's not as if Stewart and Busch owe the media anything.

But their fans are another matter. They're the ones who buy all those souvenir diecast cars and T-shirts and often interact with their favorite drivers through the media, because that's the only way you can do it these days.

Unless, of course, your daddy is a multi-millionaire considering putting his company's name on the hood of a Winston Cup Dodge or Chevy. Then you can get all the autographs you could possibly want.

What's more, it was sold out -- despite sub-zero weather.

An all-time Wyoming crowd of 16,089 jammed into the Double A to watch the hometown Pokes edge the Utes 57-56 in a game that featured an electric atmosphere, if not an electric blanket.

While I've taken my shots at Laramie (who hasn't?), you've got to hand it to the Wyoming fans. Like Tina Turner says on those HBO spots, they're simply the best.

If you want to judge for yourself, check out Moose McGillycuddy's on Maryland Parkway prior to any of the Cowboys' Mountain West Tournament games at the Thomas & Mack Center this week. But be prepared to sing a verse or two of "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" and slam dunk a Coors or two (or three or four) if you do.

But a police official close to the investigation told me it was more a case of boys being boys. In fact, those were the exact words he used.

Not to condone acts of vandalism, but this doesn't appear to be the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby we're talking about. Considering the way retribution is made today (with guns and knives), you could even argue the Rebel players showed restrait by not using the bats on the noggins of the guys who beat up their teammates.

Fisticuffs and a couple of broken windows at a frat house? Geez, I guess that's never happened before.

Robinson said the players who broke the windows will perform 15 hours of community service in addition to paying for the broken glass.

In addition, they will not pass go and they certainly better not collect $200, or there will be hell to pay.