DULY NOTED

Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007 | 6:56 a.m.

DOING MY PART

You can add me to the list of skeptics who believe it is going to be later rather than sooner before we get an NBA team. But I have decided to do my part for local sports fans who feel their lives won't be complete until they spend $75 for a seat in the nosebleed section to watch a 6-foot-10 millionaire play matador defense.

To expedite getting a team, I have notified NBA Commissioner David Stern that I hereby agree not to use the expressions "safe bet," "parlayed their success," "overcoming long odds" and any other gambling cliche until we do.

But this compromise is only for home columns.

When I file from the road, all bets are on.

YESTERDAY I WAS LYIN', TODAY ...

If Stern's performance during last week's Chamber of Commerce luncheon when he said NBA owners would decide Las Vegas' NBA future were set to music, it would have been Sade's "Smooth Operator." He worked the room like he was opening for Glen Campbell in Branson, Mo.

The rest of the weekend, it was more like Hall and Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" whenever "Las Vegas" and "future NBA city" were used in the same sentence.

Stern bristled during a news conference on Saturday when somebody questioned his backward views on legal sports betting. On Sunday, he showed little tact in dismissing the Thomas & Mack Center as a possible site for future All-Star Games.

He's right about the Mack being too small for such a big event. But he had to know that before he even got here.

$50k

Gaming revenue generated by Charles Barkley playing two hands of blackjack.

$129.3 million

Estimated nongaming revenue generated by the UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 NASCAR race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

$90.6 million

Estimated nongaming revenue generated by the NBA All-Star Game.

ANALYZE THIS

Another example of how we got worked by the commish: After the chamber luncheon, when Stern mentioned an analysis that potential NBA cities must undergo, it sounded like a formality. On Saturday, it sounded more like a deal breaker.

"If the owners were to be satisfied with respect to the disposition of the basketball betting issue," he said, "then there's analysis to be done about whether this city can support an NBA team."

He went on to mention market size, a new arena, and, if and when we get a team, whether we would buy tickets for a lame midweek game when there are so many other things to do.

These are all legitimate concerns.

But it still sounded a lot like when your parents said "we'll see" after you asked for a new bicycle.

Gilbert Arenas:

"If I get hurt, I'm in a lot of trouble."

after dunking off a trampoline with the Flying Elvises at Sunday's NBA All-Star game.

THE KING'S LOYAL SUBJECTS

Last week I wrote roughly 3,000 words about the NBA and roughly 300 on the passing of Eddie Feigner, the fast-pitch softball pitcher extraordinaire who died at age 81. But e-mail and telephone calls ran about 8-1 in favor of the King and His Court, which is what Feigner called his barnstorming team.

While I'm not sure what that says about local interest in bringing an NBA team here, it doesn't seem encouraging.

Phil O'Leary, who attends the press gate at Cashman Field, once batted against Feigner.

"I was one of his 141,000 strikeout victims," said O'Leary, who fanned against the King in upstate Michigan.

Buzz Sodeman of Pahrump served as a batboy for a King and His Court game in Saginaw, Mich., and turned down a chance to bat against Feigner, who often pitched with a blindfold or from second base.

"I figured that if he couldn't see me, I wasn't willing to sacrifice my body as a target for his 104-mph fastballs," Sodeman wrote in an e-mail.

MONEY IN THE (OFF-SHORE) BANK

Not everybody is pessimistic about Las Vegas' bid to land an NBA team. BetUS.com, an off-shore betting parlor, says it's even money we get a team by 2010.

You can also wager on whether David Stern or Marv Albert will wear a dress this season (both 100-to-1), if Isiah Thomas will be sued for sexual harassment (20-to-1) or whether Ben Wallace will shave his head (4-to-1).

In a related note, Kevin Garnett's blocked shot in the fourth quarter of Sunday's All-Star Game was considered an act of defense, meaning BetUs.com did not have to pay off the 1-to-5 wager that none would be played.