Las Vegas Sun

May 16, 2008

Photograph

A student shoots the ball in front of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The ball also made stops at the Great Wall and in Guilin, China.

The globe-trotting basketball
It’s been to China, Easter Island and ESPN, and touched by 5,000
Wed, May 14, 2008 (2 a.m.)
By Rob Miech
From a small idea after shooting a basket at Desert Breeze Park in Las Vegas in 2001, a minor movement was born. Noel and Angelina Andreoni shared the ball as they traveled to 28 countries. It has been touched by more than 5,000 people.
Stratosphere’s refusal to honor expired ticket gives sports books another black eye
By Jeff Haney
It has been an unwritten rule in Nevada sports betting for decades: A sports book will virtually always cash a winning ticket even if the bettor redeems it after its expiration date. For one thing, it’s good customer relations, plain and simple.
Greg Haugen, left, a former world champion lightweight, works with heavyweight Jonte Willis at Planet Hollywood on Thursday. Haugen lived in Southern Nevada for 12 years as he pursued boxing fame, fighting in tough-man contests and often defeating heavyweights. Haugen is managing and coaching Willis, who will fight in an undercard bout today.
One tough guy, even when he lost
Ron Kantowski explains why the guy who’s been training one of the boxers on the undercard of tonight’s bout is his all-time favorite fighter
By Ron Kantowski
Greg Haugen just might be my favorite fighter ever, not because he threw punches like old Buicks throw engine rods and had more courage than a division of Marines.
The highs and lows of the World Series of Poker
Thursday, May 15, 2008
By Ed Koch
Throughout the final day’s play at the 1997 World Series of Poker, Stu Ungar periodically reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a photo of his daughter, Stefanie. Through his familiar blue-lensed granny glasses, he stared at the teen’s portrait and smiled before tucking it back into his shirt pocket — close to his heart — and playing his hand.
Embrace the role of the villain
Ron Kantowski applauds Kyle Busch for not following in his older brother’s footsteps into NASCAR irrelevance
Thursday, May 15, 2008
By Ron Kantowski
Nearly five years ago Kurt Busch — that would be the Busch brother from Las Vegas who doesn’t win races anymore — was feuding with Jimmy Spencer and trying to win back NASCAR fans who never liked him in the first place.
Las Vegas Wranglers center Tyler Mosienko, at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, is one of the smallest players on the team, but he's also one of the hardest workers.
Take Five: Tyler Mosienko
Thursday, May 15, 2008
By Rob Miech
The pocket rocket of the Las Vegas Wranglers has been pushed around the ice in the playoffs.
Jeff Haney on New England’s unprecedented over/under line for season wins at one sports book, and why there are worthy arguments for each side
ODDS ’N’ ENDS:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Jeff Haney
Oddsmakers have attached an over/under figure of 13 1/2 regular-season victories to the New England Patriots this NFL season, a projection that invites two disparate perspectives.
Bearded look cuts no ice
In most cases, on these faces, it produces anything but the ‘meaner and tougher’ image that’s desired
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
By Ron Kantowski
During their five-year existence the Las Vegas Wranglers have found themselves in any number of hairy predicaments.
John Robinson argues a penalty in the closing minutes of UNLV's loss to Colorado State in 2003.
Where credit is due
Ron Kantowski explains why former UNLV coach John Robinson belongs in the hall of fame
Monday, May 12, 2008
By Ron Kantowski
It has been four years since John Robinson coached the UNLV football team and Mike Sanford, the current UNLV coach, is still blaming him for what’s wrong with it. But hey, what are friends for? When Sanford took the job, he claimed he and Robinson were best buds.
Last week’s Indiana primary brings back hometown memories
THE OPENING LINE:
Monday, May 12, 2008
By Ron Kantowski
Last Tuesday I heard my hometown mentioned on CNN — and it had nothing to do with a freak snowstorm or a refinery blowing up.
One man’s theories on Vegas’ economy, then and now
ODDS 'N' ENDS:
Monday, May 12, 2008
By Jeff Haney
News item: The Nevada casino industry reports a significant decline in gambling revenue for a third consecutive month, blaming weakness in the national economy.
The Elevator
Saturday, May 10, 2008
By Rob Miech
Who’s going to the penthouse in local sports and beyond — and who’s getting the shaft:
At left, Emile Hirsch plays Speed Racer in the new movie based on the Japanese cartoon. Unlike Kyle Busch, right, with whom he has much in common, Speed Racer has a pet monkey. Kyle Busch plays a NASCAR driver in reality based (loosely) on a Japanese cartoon. Unlike Speed Racer, with whom he has much in common, Busch is wildly unpopular.
Fact and fiction collide
Ron Kantowski finds some surprising parallels between a Japanese cartoon character and Las Vegas’ Kyle Busch
Saturday, May 10, 2008
By Ron Kantowski
Go, Speed Racer! Go! But watch out for the No. 88 car. (You know, the one Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives.)
Beyond numbers and into the unquantifiable
Ron Kantowski offers a different take on Mike Hamrick, noting he doesn’t work well with others
Friday, May 9, 2008
A story in Thursday’s Sun looked at Mike Hamrick’s first five years as UNLV's athlectic director. It was an objective report, but it did not address how Hamrick interacts with others, because that’s much more subjective.
Last year's World Series of Poker, the final table shown above, drew 6,358 players, 27.5 percent fewer than 2006. This year's event will have a delay between when the final table is determined and when it's played.
Bringing players back into game
THE INSIDE STRAIGHT: Jeff Haney says the final-table delay this year is a bet that should pay off
Friday, May 9, 2008
By Jeff Haney
Jeff Haney isn't quite ready to turn in his membership card to the poker purists’ club. But he break ranks with the purists in his reaction to the announcement that this year’s World Series of Poker main event will include a 117-day hiatus.

Latest StockcarToon

StockcarToon: 0515Stockcartoon

From The Sports Blogs

Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity: Who's better: Kurt Busch or Kyle Busch?
Comparing NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Kurt and Kyle Busch at similar stages of their careers.
Sports: Upon Further Review: Wranglers win in OT
Aki Seitsonen's goal 1:36 into sudden-death overtime gave the Las Vegas Wranglers a 4-3 victory over the Utah Grizzlies and a 2-0 edge in the ...
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity: Darlington should have 2 Sprint Cup races
Another race at Darlington and I was left scratching my head, wondering whose idea it was to take a race away from a track that ...
Sports: Upon Further Review: Wranglers jump out on Utah, 5-2, in conference finals opener
A nine-day layoff didn’t affect the sterling way Las Vegas has been playing in its 5-2 victory over Utah on Monday night. It was the ...
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity: Observations from Saturday’s Dodge Challenger 500 at Darlington Raceway
Observations from Saturday night’s Dodge Challenger 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway.
  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Editors’ Picks

Complete Listing

Calendar

Tracy Lawrence

Tracy Lawrence

With special guest Randy Houser ( House of Blues)