Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006 | 8:16 a.m.
TICKET TIZZY
I used to chastise Las Vegas Motor Speedway for not listing ticket prices when it put them on sale. I used to think it was because they felt sheepish about the prices. But that's not it (although tickets aren't exactly cheap). It's because there are so many ways to buy them.
It takes nearly a page and a half just to list the admission prices for the 2007 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR weekend. There are 18 options for tickets alone, ranging from $26.25 for qualifying day general admission to $760 for a seat in the Vegas Clubhouse. (I think for another $100, they'll let you drive one of the cars in the race.)
When you add lap sponsorships ($500 each), motor home passes (starting at $169 for a space outside the track up to $1,300 for a front-row spot in the infield), something called Lucky 7 preferred parking ($49) and another something called pre-race activities ($75), there are 30 different admission options 31 if you count the $15 fee for processing and shipping.
Oh, by the way, tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. today. Call 644-4444 to get one. Or log onto lvms.com . Or just go out to the speedway and stand in line, old-school style. Normally, I'd advise against the last option. But this year, one of the first 10 people in line will be randomly selected to watch next week's Smith's Las Vegas 350 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race from track owner Bruton Smith's luxury suite.
While I'd probably still advise against it, Mr. Smith - the track owner, not the supermarket king for which the race is named - does put out one heck of a spread.
MVP - MOST VALUABLE PIXELS
In Tuesday's piece on Randall Cunningham, I compared the former UNLV quarterback/punter to one of those triple-threat quarterbacks in the old electric football game I played as a kid.
But it has been brought to my attention that Cunningham - or at least his alter ego - is better known for his exploits in the video game world.
In 1991, a game called Tecmo Super Bowl was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Because Cunningham was not a member of the NFL Players Association, his counterpart in the game was listed as "QB Eagles."
Owing to Cunningham's versatility, ol' QB's rating values were so out of whack with the other quarterbacks in the game that NES fans still consider him one of the greatest video game athletes of all time.
11
Number of Nextel Cup regulars expected to compete in next week's Craftsman Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
6
Number of times UNLV will play Hawaii in football during the next seven years.
65
Average number of points scored by UNLV and Hawaii during their last six meetings.
THE READERS SOMETIMES E-MAIL
Ron:
I just read your article regarding UNLV football tickets (" Camping out for football," Sept. 8). I tried to purchase tickets online at unlvtickets.com for two days but the Web site was down for maintenance, including the day of the game.
How's that for customer service?
On another note, if UNLV wants to encourage more of us locals to attend, they need to pave the dirt parking lots. I felt like I was four-wheeling, dodging huge boulders on the way in and out not to mention the choking dust.
Marc Tellez , North Las Vegas
Dear Marc:
Look at the bright side: Now you can probably beat Robby Gordon in the next off-road race here.
- RK
Garo Yepremian:
"The first football game I ever saw was in Baltimore. I kicked off."
Former NFL kicker on his introduction to the sport
AROUND THE HORN
Although Saturday's UNLV vs. Hawaii game will be televised by Channel 8 (9 p.m.), Cox Communications is no closer to signing a deal with College Sports TV, the Mountain West Conference's new broadcast partner. "The good news is that talks are continuing," Cox Vice President Steve Schorr said, "but we are absolutely no closer at this time. As I've said all along, we have to have a reasonable rate so consumers don't get hammered by it." The UNLV-Hawaii game was not part of the CSTV package and thus was available to Channel 8 through an outside provider. The BetUS.com Web site, which seemingly has a line on anything to do with the NFL, has put one up regarding Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Troy Polamalu's next haircut. You can get 7-to-1 on Mohawk, 5-to-1 on a shaved head, 10-to-1 if he dyes his hair peroxide blonde. The men's U.S. Open final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick was seen by an estimated 18.1 million viewers, but that was down a million from the audience that watched last year's final pitting Federer against Las Vegan Andre Agassi, and 7 million fewer than watched Pete Sampras beat Andre in 2002. However, at least 50 million viewers have now memorized Maria Sharapova's "I Feel Pretty" Nike ad. Commenting on my story about athletes who have designed neckties, Sun reader Russ Bennett reminded me that former NFL kicker Garo Yepremian was once a humble haberdasher from Cyprus whose specialty was creating elegant silk neckties. In fact, one of Yepremian's ties is on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio - right next to former Dolphins teammate Bob Griese's horn-rimmed glasses.
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