The Elevator

By Ron Kantowski (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Who’s going to the penthouse in local sports — and who’s getting the shaft.

GOING UP

Mutual respect

Like UNLV counterpart Mike Sanford, who is now calling the UNR football squad by its proper name instead of “the team up north,” Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault showed UNLV a little love — or at least thanks — during the prelude to tonight’s Battle for the Fremont Cannon at Sam Boyd Stadium. “They gave me the opportunity,” Ault said of his stint as a Rebels’ assistant coach from 1973 to ’75. “The experience down there is what enabled me, to a degree, to come up here.” The story in the Reno newspaper didn’t say whether Ault had his fingers crossed behind his back when he said it.

Getting out in the community

That’s what Dick Scott, player personnel director of the Toronto Blue Jays, promised the new Las Vegas 51s would be doing, now that they have become the property of the Jays instead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. If it happens with any sort of regularity, that would be a first — unless you count utility infielders sitting on a bar stool at PT’s pub as “getting out in the community.”

GOING DOWN

Banzai moves

Having been eliminated from the Chase for the Cup — after just two of 10 races in the NASCAR “playoffs” — Kyle Busch said he’s through being conservative. Uh-oh. Better call the insurance adjusters. “For sure. I will think about making a banzai move if I’m in that situation again,” warned the Las Vegas lead foot. But Busch said he’d also be smart about making banzai moves. I think that means he’s planning to get three estimates before repairing the damage.

Mustard on burgers

Here is an excerpt from a conversation the Reno Gazette-Journal had with UNR football coach Chris Ault this week: RGJ: What do you put on your burger? CA: Mustard. RGJ: A little cheese, maybe onions? CA: Some of that. RGJ: No ketchup? CA: No. RGJ: Why not? CA: You know why. The story went on to say that several years ago Ault was successful in talking longtime booster and current Reno Mayor Bob Cashell into trading in his new red Cadillac for a blue one. Team up north, avoiding ketchup because of its color ... and I thought Andy Dick was a whack job.

Getting old

50 Cent, Boyz II Men, Esmee Denters, the Jonas Brothers, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Leona Lewis, Rihanna and Will.i.am — those are the headliners who will perform with Justin Timberlake at a concert he’s holding in conjunction with his golf tournament, the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin. This old elevator operator was hoping the Royal Guardsmen might put the band back together for one night only, but I guess it’s not going to happen.