THE ELEVATOR

Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005 | 8:50 a.m.

Who's headed toward the penthouse on the local sports scene -- and who's getting the shaft:

GOING UP

Louis Amundson: Forget about all-conference laurels, a date with one of the Rebel girls or total consciousness from the Dalai Lama. After his 19-point, 13-rebound performance in UNLV's 84-73 victory against Texas Tech, Amundson received Bob Knight's stamp of approval. That's something he'll tell his grandkids about.

Breona Gray: Just the latest example of local girl makes good. Gray, a Bishop Gorman graduate, scored 11 points to help 13th-ranked Notre Dame defeat No. 21 Utah 68-55 at Cox Pavilion on Sunday.

Ryan Wolfington and Johnny Lane: The indefatigable Las Vegas tennis community volunteers received the media excellence and lifetime achievement awards at the Intermountain U.S. Tennis Association banquet in Salt Lake City. We could use a few more racqueteers like those two.

GOING DOWN

NBA: David Stern and pals docked the Houston Rockets $100,000 for taking their players to Las Vegas during a recent road trip. I guess it is a matter of what happens here, gets fined here. Except on NBA All-Star Weekend 2007, of course.

U.S. District Judge Douglas Herndon: Maybe it was just semantics that wound up overturning the Nevada State Athletic Commission's suspension of boxer Joe Mesi for taking too many right hands to the head. But it'll make it easier for some backwoods athletic commission to allow Mesi to take a few more right hands to the head. All, of course, in the name of sport.

The heavyweight division: Let's see if I have this right: A 335-pound guy who can't fight (Nikolay Valuev) is awarded a controversial decision over a 235-pound guy who can't fight (John Ruiz), after which the manager of the 235-pound guy cold-cocks the manager of the 335-pound guy for having the audacity to take the belt. Rest in peace, Jerry Quarry. But you were born too soon.

Ron Kantowski can be reached at 259-4088 or at ron@lasvegassun.com.