Final Four action from the L.V. Hilton, where the Spartans rule (and cover)

By John Katsilometes

Saturday, April 4, 2009 | 5:47 p.m.

I’m going to do the literary version of my Brent Musburger impression: “You are reading LIVE from the Las Vegas Hilton, where we have learned two important facts about today’s Final Four match-ups: Michigan State fans claim that UConn is a ‘thug program!’ Huskies fans counter that Spartans fans are, to quote, ‘Whiners!’ ”

There is a lot of emotion out there in the L.V. Hilton Superbook, where a few minutes ago, I corralled sports book director Jay Kornegay to ask how the book was holding up in these tough economic times (and I’m now sick of asking everyone I interview about the economy, just to put that out there, and Jay seemed a little weary on the topic, too).

“We’re doing about as well as we did a year ago, for comparison,” said Kornegay, who opted not to wear any sort of jersey today for the big event. During this year’s Super Bowl, the last time I saw him, Kornegay was wearing this ridiculous John Elway jersey from the mid-1980s.

Did I say ridiculous? I meant “inspired.” It was an inspired wardrobe decision. My bad.

The Superbook is full but not stuffed with bettors, as was the case for the Super Bowl. The Final Four doesn’t draw the same type of fervent, high-volume audience, at least not around here.

“It’s more of a viewing event than a betting event,” said Kornegay, in his fifth Final Four at the L.V. Hilton. “People watch it more than bet it. It doesn’t compare to the first four days of the tournament, where there is a lot more action. I can say that, despite what you hear, most of the late money today came on UConn.” What we heard, at that moment, was a Michigan State fan shout, “Oh yeah, Calhoun! You’re such a saint NOW!." This was in relation to a hard foul committed somewhere by UConn, which is teetering on elimination in the final minute. The Huskies started as 4-point favorites and were bet up to 4 ½. The total went off at 135 – the over is in, and the Spartans are looking nearly like a lock, or, if you prefer, a shoe-in to cover.

In the second game, North Carolina is favored by 7 ½, total is 160. Villanova is plus-330 on the money line. I’m not an especially zealous bettor, and I don’t follow college hoops nearly as closely as I used to, but I am liquidating every asset in my name and putting it all on Phil-anova.

Interestingly, or at least interesting to me, is that Kornegay said his windows took as many bets this year as last for the Final Four even though five Superbook tellers have been laid off in the time since. And when he eyeballed the crowd, he said it was actually larger than a year ago, and the Hilton is also totally booked tonight. Good signs, all of those. Maybe Kornegay will get those five positions back.

Kornegay also noted that Big 10 schools enjoy enormous fan support – Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan State all have huge fan bases – but those people don’t bet particularly aggressively. “You get big crowds, but not at the window,” is how he put it.

As for my favorite fan encounter – and I know you were edging on your seat for this – it was a guy named Kerry Shimizu, a Los Angeles resident and native of Orange County who has been to every Final Four for the past 16 years. Shimizu is wearing a vintage Loyola Marymount jersey bearing the name and number (44) of the late Hank Gathers. The jersey is the road burgundy and periwinkle top from the 1989-90 season, and it really evokes memories of that remarkable team. “I was a huge fan of that team,” Shimizu said of the team whose spirited tournament run (highlighted by Bo Kimble’s left-handed free throws, a tribute to the left-handed Gathers) was ended by UNLV 131-101 in the West Regional Finals in Oakland. “When I was in high school, (then-LMU coach) Paul Westhead gave a clinic at our school. It was a really big deal.” Kerry says he has Michigan State and the over, and by gosh he has won.

And I just remembered this, too: This week Bernie Yuman was visiting our office and I asked him for his pick to win the championship. He said Michigan State. Something about destiny …