Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007 | 7:12 a.m.
WILL BECKHAM BEND IT HERE?
Las Vegas soccer fans dying to get an up-close-and-personal look at David Beckham's latest hairstyle may not have to drive to the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., to check it out.
Local tourism officials say the Los Angeles Galaxy's signing of the wildly popular English soccer star has sparked renewed interest in a Major League Soccer event at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"Before, MLS didn't have that star power" needed to fill a stadium, said Las Vegas Events president Pat Christenson.
Now it does. And Christenson says he plans to talk to the Galaxy and MLS about bringing Beckham to town, preferably for a regular-season game.
"We had started talking with them anyway," he said.
Las Vegas Events had expressed interest in producing a soccer-themed event around a major European club, such as Real Madrid and Manchester United, the last two teams for which Beckham played. But those events have traditionally gone to MLS cities with bigger or purpose-built soccer stadiums.
MUNSTER MASH
My short piece on Al Lewis - "Grandpa" in the old TV series "The Munsters" - brought back memories for UNLV associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie.
Like former Rebel coach Jerry Tarkanian, Koloskie said he couldn't confirm Sports Illustrated's claim that Lewis, a college basketball enthusiast until the time of his death last year, had helped recruit Sidney Green to UNLV in the 1970s.
"I never heard of his involvement with Sid, but I met him on several occasions," Koloskie said. "He was a basketball junkie and had a very close relationship with (former Rebel) Richard Robinson, who played during the same time as Armon Gilliam.
"Al Lewis used to attend many of our games in Los Angeles to visit with Rob. I was pretty close to Rob, so I would talk with Grandpa - nice guy."
HE BELONGS TO THE CITY
Considering 3,000 fans are expected to follow boxer Ricky Hatton, Manchester's Favorite Son (sorry, Peter Noone), to Las Vegas for his junior-welterweight championship fight against Colombia's Juan Urango, it will be Manchester united at Paris Las Vegas tonight.
But not Manchester United.
Although Manchester United is one of the world's most popular soccer teams, Hatton's allegiance lies with crosstown Manchester City. He is expected to wear light blue trunks - City's colors - adorned with the City badge into the ring tonight.
In a recent interview with the London Telegraph, Hatton said the sporting event he would most pay to see was the "Thrilla in Manila" featuring Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
And the sporting event he would most like to miss?
"Manchester United winning the Treble (Premier League title, FA Cup, European Cup). Horrendous when you support City."
AROUND THE HORN
.265
The career Major League batting average of former UNLV star Toby Hall, who will return for today's 1:30 p.m. Alumni Game against the current Rebels
9
Number of tattoos on soccer star David Beckham's body. He plays with a long-sleeved jersey that conceals most of them
2
Number of Mountain West teams seeded into this week's ESPN.com "Bracketology" NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket. Air Force is projected as a No. 3 seed and UNLV as a No. 8.
"I've been shopping for some clobber for my traditional S*** Shirt day at my local boozer. Nothing caught my eye; it has to be a really naff shirt."
Boxer Ricky Hatton of England
(Translation: I have been shopping for clothes for my traditional Bad Shirt day at the local bar. Nothing caught my eye; it has to be a real unfashionable shirt.)
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