THE ELEVATOR

Wednesday, June 7, 2006 | 7:40 a.m.

GOING UP

Jose Luis Castillo

That's going up, as in on a scale. Castillo came in 4 1/2 pounds heavy, missing weight a second time for a fight against Diego Corrales, with whom he staged one of the great bouts of this or any era 13 months ago. But those were Castillo's salad days. These, apparently, are his mashed-potatoes-and-gravy days.

Arena Bowl XX

For lowering ticket prices to Sunday's indoor football championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center to a reasonable $12 for a cheap seat. Last year, they were a not-so-reasonable $40. For that money, fans should get to tackle Jon Bon Jovi, not just watch him hang out in the luxury suites.

Steve Rodriguez

Although he couldn't quite get Pepperdine over the hump - Monday's loss to Missouri was the third straight year his Waves were eliminated in the NCAA baseball regional finals - the former Valley High standout guided his alma mater to another 40-win season and another West Coast Conference championship. Plus, you should see the view from his Malibu office.

GOING DOWN

Boxing

The cancellation of Corrales-Castillo III would have been the latest black eye for the sport - were it not already suffering from a permanent shiner. So I no longer wonder why former Nevada State Athletic Commission Director Marc Ratner jumped on the Ultimate Fighting Championship's bandwagon. I do wonder what took him so long.

Future considerations

After playing one game for the Wranglers, rookie Evan Schwabe was traded to the South Carolina Stingrays, where he finished second in scoring with 23 goals and 33 assists in 60 games. On Tuesday, with the mercury at 108 degrees, the Wranglers received a defenseman named Aaron Power to complete the trade.

Adidas

The shoe giant outlet store in the mall is selling gear deifying summer league amateur basketball powers such as LA RockFish and the Atlanta Celtics. "True RockFish fans know the word 'amateur' just doesn't apply," the ad says. So do true RockFish players and their agents - er, coaches.

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