Columnist Dean Juipe: Alamo’s new role raises conflict issue

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

Notes today, leading off with a hint of dissension within the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

The switch in vice chairmans this week, from Dr. Flip Homansky to Dr. Tony Alamo, didn't go unnoticed among NSAC staff and observers and at least a couple made it a point to quietly complain. At issue is Alamo's relationship to Mandalay Bay, whose parent company has employed his father as a CEO and vice president of operations. Given that Mandalay Bay is a leading host site for major boxing events in the city, Alamo could find himself in something of a perpetual conflict of interest. The fact that he supplanted Homansky and, therefore, is in line to succeed chairman Luther Mack, rubbed some people wrong as well. ... Have you noticed that the four remaining teams in the NFL playoffs all accent the run over the pass? In fact, with the possible exception of Tennessee and Eddie George, each of the teams with a big-name running back has been eliminated.

Boxing odds whiz Herbie Lambeck of Las Vegas has returned to New Jersey and is taking a respite from his duties. "He was kind of vague as to when he'd be back," said Virgil Thrasher, who employes Lambeck as a linesetter for his Professional Boxing Update publication. ... Boxing promoter Don King is among the most recognizable men in the world, yet his ego is so immense that he was parading around Caesars Forum the other day wearing a denim jacket that had his name spelled out on the back in huge letters -- just in case anyone had any doubt about his identity. ... It's said that incoming UNLV football transfer Alvin Marshall -- who's en route from Nebraska -- will solve the Rebels' running troubles. "A game breaker," is how ESPN The Magazine describes him.

While Marshall is coming here from Nebraska, at least four local men are going there to play for a National Indoor Football League team located in Kearney. Ex-Rebels Adrian Watson and Michael Hays, plus Chuck Porter and Kevin Rayburn, won jobs with the Tri-City Diesel after a tryout session here last week. ... I think I'd rather be in Marshall's shoes and so would Minnesota Timberwolves star Wally Szczerbiak, who was recently quoted as saying his "ideal world" would include "a house close to the Vegas Strip." ... At the ongoing NCAA meetings in Anaheim, there's an item up for discussion that would penalize teams if their graduation rates slipped beneath a specific standard. UNLV was mentioned by name in a USA Today story as a possible offender if the rules are changed. The penalties would include being banned from postseason play.

To correct or clarify an item from a couple of weeks ago, it was Coronado's Legion coach, Michael Detwiler, and not CCSN coach Tim Chambers, who was accosted on the field by an irate parent during a game last year. ... From the Where Are They Now? department come these two updates: former Caesars Palace exec Rich Rose is serving as a consultant for the new Las Vegas Gladiators team in the Arena Football League, and former UNLV athletic director Dennis Finfrock has taken a job as manager of special events at the new Cannery casino in North Las Vegas. ... One week into the pro golf season and I already miss Tiger Woods, who's out until mid-February following minor knee surgery.