A snowy welcome

Rob Miech, Las Vegas Sun

Friday, March 16, 2007 | 6:57 a.m.

As lake-effect snow blew across town and UNLV's chartered aircraft circled above for an extra 45 minutes, there was only one sign at the Swissotel that the NCAA basketball tournament was about to begin.

It's a big, blue NCAA banner welcoming all to the first two rounds of the marquee event, and it hangs in the lobby of the headquarters for the eight teams. The green uniforms that the Bulls wore the other night drew more attention.

The Chicago Tribune even went cutesy, saying it's great "to see Jerry Tarkanian finally back in the limelight" before revealing that he's "chomping on his towel in retirement." It went on to claim this Rebels team isn't as good as the great teams of Tark the Shark; that this is the program's first tournament since 2000 because it had to do a little housecleaning.

"The details are sketchy, that whole 'what happens in Vegas ... ' " Huh?

Then the Kentucky Wildcats slowly file into the Swissotel.

"When you last win a national championship?" a concierge says to a player in blue sweats.

"1998."

"That the year you won it with a kid from this area?"

"That was 1996."

Three Wildcats saunter over to a flat-screen television in the Lobby Lounge to see South Alabama winning in Syracuse in an NIT game. They say "Wow" at about the same time.

"Where you guys from?" a German tourist says in a heavy accent.

"Lexington, Kentucky."

"Where's that?"

"About five hours from here."

"What you here for?"

"The NCAA basketball tournament."

"Is that big?"

"Kind of."

"It's funny, that you play basketball. I am short, but YOU are even shorter than me!"

Kentucky's reserve guard smiles, then giggles. The German says he follows football. The Wildcat perks up. Yeah, which team?

"No," the German says, "I meant soccer."

Outside, the snow is nearly horizontal.