Columnist Dean Juipe: Kazor leaves job with some regret

Dean Juipe

Monday, Nov. 24, 2003 | 10:27 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.

Mixing fact and opinion in a burst of notes and quotes today, leading off with an update on a Las Vegas native who is once again looking for work.

Steve Kazor, who attended Rancho High School, has lost the distinction of being the only local product to be serving as a football head coach at the college level, as he chose to resign from his position at Wayne State University in Detroit last week. "It was a mutual decision," he said as he prepared for a road trip South and at least three prospective job interviews with friends in college and the pros. "I had a unique experience here, but I'm kind of relieved it's over. We didn't reach the fruition of our goals, but I don't feel I can do much more than I did." Kazor's third and final team at Wayne State went 3-8. He's hoping to land a spot on a college or NFL staff and has experience with the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions on his resume.

It was late July when I wrote about the just-opened Greens of Las Vegas and the difficulties the putting course would have in making a go of it, but I had no idea the Paradise Rd. facility would be closed by mid November. But that's the case, as the pro shop and accompanying Bogees Sports Bar & Grill have shut down and await either new investors or complete abandonment. Interestingly, a lady at the facility said the putting course was open "and free to players who bring their own equipment" during daylight hours. There's an offer that can't last forever. ... Also endangered and apparently about to be closed is the old Craig Ranch golf course in North Las Vegas. The NLV City Council will vote Dec. 17 on a proposal to use Bureau of Land Management money to purchase the course for $38 million and turn it into a park.

That was an agonizing loss for the UNLV football team Saturday, yet the players can be proud of their effort and most of us feel better things are in store next year. Despite the 1-point setback to Colorado State and their 5-6 record, there is reason for optimism as the Rebels will have much of their defense back next season and freshman quarterback Shane Steichen appeared more than adequate as a replacement for Kurt Nantkes. ... This upcoming game at ice-cold Wyoming is one the Rebels would probably like to skip, however. ... The UNLV basketball team is going to be very undersized without big men J.K. Edwards and James Peters, who have five and two games, respectively, left on their phone-card suspensions. The Rebels are in for a tough game tonight with Nevada-Reno.

Sports books in Las Vegas customarily alter their "futures" lines as seasons progress, taking into account how teams are playing with respect to their chances of winning their league championship. But the numbers next to the Oakland Raiders are so extreme, a record appears to have been set. At Caesars Palace, for instance, the Raiders opened the NFL season as the favorite to win the 2004 Super Bowl at 4-1. If you want to make the same bet today, they'll give you 200-1. ... Here's a college football team that is defying oddsmakers and bettors alike with its shoddy play: Illinois. With their 37-20 loss to Northwestern on Saturday, the Fighting Illini -- who went into that game a 3 1/2-point underdog -- have now lost nine straight against the point spread. They finished 1-11 and an acquaintance back there had this to say of head coach Ron Turner: "He's gone."

Closer to home, UNR football coach Chris Tormey was said to have been sitting on a hot, hot seat a couple of weeks ago, yet he may have gotten a reprieve with his team's Nov. 15 win over Hawaii. The Wolf Pack is 6-5 with one game to play, at Boise State. Tormey is 16-30 in four years at Reno and might yet be forced out. ... I'm all in favor of John Robinson staying for at least another year as head coach of the Rebels, by the way. ... Quietly, the Los Angeles Dodgers released Las Vegas product -- and Las Vegas 51s outfielder -- Chad Hermansen last week. He's 26 and could still find a niche in the majors as a spare outfielder, but apparently it won't be in LA. ... It must be some consolation to the Las Vegas Wranglers that their six-games-in-nine-days road trip back East is over, even if the ECHL team went 0-4-2 on it. The Wranglers will be back at the Orle ans for games Friday and Saturday, and perhaps by then the guys will have forgotten how truly minor league the unwieldy, 31! -team hockey league is.

Scoring is down in the National Hockey League this season despite the fact the league reduced the allowable size of goalie pads. ... Scoring is also down in the National Basketball Association even though the circumference of the rim has remained the same. ... Edward Fryatt's struggles continue as the local golf pro withdrew from the PGA Qualifying School tournament after realizing he wasn't going to make the cut or earn back his tour card. ... Greg Maddux is shopping himself on baseball's free-agent market but is said to be willing to move from Atlanta to only one of two teams: San Diego or the New York Yankees. If the Las Vegan leaves the Braves, it will be to pitch for either a nearby contender or a storied, perennial championship-caliber team. ... I can see why the National Football League objects to ESPN's "Playmakers" sex-drugs-drama TV series. What little I watched of it, I thought it was terrible, too.