THE OPENING LINE

Monday, Sept. 25, 2006 | 7:19 a.m.

There's a new movie out about high school football, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. It's called "Gridiron Gang," with the plot focusing on a bunch of juvenile delinquents who become productive members of society by playing football.

It's a story with which The Rock is well versed, considering he once was a walk-on defensive tackle for the Miami Hurricanes, which used to recruit juvenile delinquents. And still does, at least according to Florida and Florida State.

Anyway, it should just be a matter of time - like when it hits the video shelves - before "Gridiron Gang" joins "Rocky" and "Remember the Titans" and "Hoosiers" on the short list of movies that coaches show their players after the team meeting at the Marriott the night before the game.

Supposedly, the purpose for showing players inspiring sports movies is to drive home the idea that if Rocky Balboa can get off the deck to beat big, bad Apollo Creed and Hickory High can beat big, bad South Bend Central by executing the "picket fence" play, then what chance could State U. possibly have the next day, despite being a two-touchdown favorite against good ol' Disco Tech?

While I understand the logic, I also wonder what movie USC coach Pete Carroll or Michigan coach Lloyd Carr or any other coach of a two-touchdown favorite shows their players the night before the game? "The Killing Fields"? "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre"? "Blue Crush"?

I think if coaches were honest, they'd tell you the real reason they show their players inspiring sports movies the night before the game is that it's another hour and 50 minutes they don't have to worry about their star players sneaking out of their rooms to violate curfew.

Rather than offend their players' sensibilities by showing them some Cinderella story that rarely happens in real life, I wonder if coaches wouldn't be better served by popping a stinker such as "Ishtar" into the DVD player after the team meeting.

I'd bet their players would be back in their rooms, sound asleep and dreaming about their assignments, before Warren Beatty even checked into his hotel room.

THIS WEEK'S BEST BET

UNR at UNLV, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sam Boyd Stadium

Wolf Pack play not so nice again. Gentlemen, start your name-calling.

TICKETS: $15, $30

ON THE WEB: www.unlvtickets.com

ALSO WORTH A LOOK

Eldorado at Las Vegas High, 7 p.m. Friday

Players from these schools grew up together but that was before Las Vegas High moved to the edge of Eldorado's district and started attracting its players.

TICKETS: $5 for adults, $3 for students

ON THE WEB: www.maxpreps.com