THE READERS SOMETIMES E-MAIL

Saturday, June 30, 2007 | 7:31 a.m.

Readers have opinions and fill my e-mail box, letting me know when mine are right (sometimes) and wrong (often). From time to time,I'll share their comments.

Did I see correctly? Did you write a column (semi - )flattering of something or someone connected with the Mountain West Conference (" nine reasons Craig Thompson has been doing his job right, June 23)? It must be a cold day in Clark County.

Oh, and right on about Thompson's hair. It's perfect. Unfortunately, he is howling outside Direct TV's door and they won't let him in.

John Barnes

Albuquerque

John: How's this for another Warren Zevon reference: Send lawyers, guns and money. This Mountain West TV deal has hit the fan. Now pass the hot chocolate. I'm freezing.

I beg to differ with you over most of your story about Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson. When I saw Thompson, his hair looked awful - all mussed and wind - blown.

Praise Craig's hair all you want , but he goofed big time on this TV contract.

Bob Shelton

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Ex-New Mexico viewer

Bob: Will you cut me some slack if the New Mexico Bowl becomes the New Mexico Bowl presented by Vidal Sassoon?

I am normally proud to send your discourse to my friends in BYU land (but) your articles have become somewhat negative lately. You have a nickname in the message boards: Kantwriteski.

When you consider there is less than five minutes of reading of UNLV sports in the local newspapers in a typical week, it would seem prudent to provide more information and less editorializing. It is no wonder few dedicated Rebel fans subscribe to either one these days.

Ramon Martinez

Las Vegas

Professor Martinez: You and I go back a long way, so I take exception that you claim my articles have become negative lately. They've been negative for as long as the football team has been awful. But I promise the next time the Rebels win three games - and you can watch them on TV - that I will dust off my pompoms. Your pal, Kanreademailski

You writers never seem to have anything good to say. I love The Mtn. It is the best thing in sports since they added the 3-point line. I live in Las Vegas and really enjoy getting all the coverage of BYU and the Mountain West. It was hard during football season, but now that Cox is on board, I am really excited.

I do feel bad for those in areas who don't have The Mtn. But when I am enjoying a game, I seem to forget all about them.

Steve Haldeman

Las Vegas

Steve: Apparently, so do the Mountain West commissioner and presidents or whoever negotiated and agreed to the new TV deal.

The sad thing about Al Davis (" still part of the Raider family," June 8) is that he is an icon who is not recognized as such. People don't seem to understand what a treasure he is: irascible, yes; single-minded, yes; tends to hold grudges, yes; but also brilliant, insightful, prescient and humane.

When he is gone, perhaps those who slash out at him will recognize how much he meant and how much he is missed.

Richard Bentley

Tucson

Richard: It's the humane part most people don't know about Al Davis - except the ones close to him. In his world, those are the ones who count. Although the ones who just win, baby , run a close second.

As an old farm boy from Wisconsin who has been living in Las Vegas for 22 years, and as a former grappler, I appreciated your article on wrestling (" the difference between wrestling and grappling," June 11). It also was nice to read Dan Gable's name. He was a wrestling god when I was in school.

Steve Williams

Henderson

Steve: My two favorite wrestlers when I was in high school were Dan Gable and Dick The Bruiser. They would have made a heck of a tag team. Gable could take you down in a heartbeat and The Bruiser could put out his cigar in your eye socket.

The naivet e of my prediction (or was it just hope?) that the "feel good" story of Formula 1 racer Louis Hamilton would explode into a major American media story with his win at Indianapolis was revealed as the media chose to follow the "feel bad" story of the senseless killings of poor bystanders at a charitable drag racing exhibition in Tennessee.

The speedway is where race cars belong, especially dragsters. This is why the NHRA was formed. Spectators belong well behind crash barriers, catch fencing and as much protection as safety engineers can provide them.

Let the lawsuits begin.

Chip Chapman

San Gabriel, Calif.

Chip: Sometimes when gentlemen - or in this case, idiots - start their engines, their heads jump out of gear.

My name is Steve Lovelace, 56, 208 average. I have wanted to bowl in a PBA Seniors event for about a year, but have felt intimidated. I've won some local tournaments and cashed in a few , but they were handicap. After being away from bowling for 35 years, I picked it back up a little over two years ago. What does one have to average through the first two days of qualifying to make it to match play? I know it depends on conditions, but maybe you can give me some idea.

Steve Lovelace

Clovis, Calif.

Steve: The leader at the PBA Senior Open at the Suncoast Bowling Center averaged 230 over 27 games in qualifying and it took a 220 average to reach the final 24 and go on to match play. And don't forget the oiled lanes that make it even tougher to roll strikes and spares and the pressure of tournament play and all those guys named Le bowski, Big.