The Elevator: Up and down the Vegas sports scene

By Ron Kantowski (contact)

Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Who’s headed toward the penthouse on the local sports scene — and who’s getting the shaft.

GOING UP

(Potential) Mountain West viewership

CBS College Network, one of about 119 stations currently carrying Mountain West Conference games, soon will be available in new Comcast markets including Atlanta, Boston and Minneapolis on its Digital Classic Level tier. I’m not sure what Digital Classic Level programming costs, only that it costs something. But if somebody wants to watch TCU vs. Wyoming before International Falls freezes over, at least it will be available for a small fee.

Holy War in HD

This particular Mountain West viewer was delighted to stumble onto a high definition broadcast of the Utah-BYU football game after watching the first half in low definition. The picture was so clear that it was almost like being there — with the exception that there was plenty of beer in my fridge.

Marathon men

Is it safe? That’s probably what vendors and others who were slow to be paid by the Las Vegas Marathon want to know after the company was sold to another one that produces those popular Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon events. Paying outstanding bills is always a good idea when it comes to staging a successful marathon. So is inviting a lot of Kenyans.

UNLV Cares

The community outreach program wants UNLV basketball fans to bring an unwrapped toy to tonight’s game at the Thomas & Mack Center to support KLUC 98.5 and Albertson’s 10th annual Toy Drive. Lady Rebels fans also can get in on the good cause by bringing a toy to this afternoon’s game at Cox Pavilion. Any fans with an unwrapped Slinky or Etch-A-Sketch should contact me first — you know, just in case the games are boring.

GOING DOWN

Miner error

UNLV basketball legend Greg Anthony was just trying to be nice when his broadcast partner asked what it was like to play UTEP in its Don Haskins Center. In truth, Anthony never played there as a Rebel. But if he had, the arena probably would have been quiet, because there was no way the UNLV teams he played for were going to lose at UTEP.

Cup runneth under

Because the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup series of “playoff” tournaments has been about as exciting as watching grass grow on the 17th fairway, they’ve changed the format again for next year, to make sure the winner isn’t decided until the Tour Championship. It was either that or let Justin Timberlake and his pals hit range balls while Ellen DeGeneres pretends she’s interested.