Monday, March 3, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
TOPPING TODAY'S notes are a couple of familiar names who have expressed interest in a high-profile job in town.
According to an inside source, two former UNLV athletic directors, Dennis Finfrock and Jim Weaver, have applied for the director's position with Las Vegas Events. That spot came open recently when Tucker DiEdwardo resigned. Finfrock's last full-time job was as vice president of special events for the MGM Grand Garden, while Weaver is currently the AD at Western Michigan. ... Bert Cooper is out as UNLV's director of communications, as the position has been deleted. His duties -- overseeing the sports information department, managing the advertising and promotions campaigns for football and basketball, and handling halftime entertainment -- will be reassigned within the university's sports marketing department. ... The four Southern Conference representatives in the state 4A boys' basketball tournament appeared so evenly matched that they could hold the event four times and come up with four different winners. Valley won the zone tourney while Bishop Gorman took the state title over the weekend.
What's with the proposed domed stadium? Constructing an on-site mock luxury suite to serve as an incentive to invest -- rather than actually breaking ground on the stadium itself -- gives the appearance the financing for the project remains on shaky ground. ... The newly opened "Desert Fire" park at Spring Mountain and Durango has been exceptionally busy, which only goes to show how badly the facility was needed. But why only four basketball hoops? ... UNLV gave some thought to dropping the "Lady" designation for its women's basketball team, and consideration was also given to dropping "Rebels" as the nickname for all of the school's sports teams. But both notions apparently have been shelved. ... Noted women's boxer Christy Martin had dinner with promoter Bob Arum Sunday night, leading to speculation she's so dissatisfied with Don King that she's hoping Arum can intervene. King will let Martin out of her contract, but it'll cost somebody a few bucks.
The Los Angeles Marathon still attracts a multitude of runners -- there were 40,723 Sunday -- but its purse has fallen from $354,550 in 1992 to $66,000 this year. By next year, the Las Vegas Marathon will have a larger purse than they're offering in LA. ... Keon Clark needs another season of college ball before he's ready for the NBA, let alone his goal of being a lottery pick. ... Bill Bayno defused after a quick eruption following the Rebels' 59-58 loss Saturday to Colorado State. But he was risking a suspension with the way he initially went after the officials following a no-call on the game's final play. ... OK, UNLV is not going to the NCAA Tournament. The only way it would is if it wins this week's WAC tourney, and no way the Rebels defeat the league's best team, Utah. ... Another team not going to the NCAA Tournament is habitually underachieving Michigan, which began the season in the top five. ... Former UNLV linebacker Mark Byers has been signed by Frankfurt of the World (Football) League, a 10-team spring league that has NFL backing.
Responding to an item in this space regarding his departure as sports book director at the Excalibur, Sid Diamond said he left of his own accord. "Circus Circus has been great to me," he said. ... Happy to see Sugar Ray Leonard lose, even if it was to Hector Camacho. ... Boxing promoter Cedric Kushner said he has signed a George Foreman vs. Lou Savarese fight for April 26 in Atlantic City. ... Two local stories of interest that probably never will be told: Why did Celeste Taylor, perhaps the Lady Rebels' best player, quit with one game to play? And what's with UNLV forward Tyrone Nesby being sued in Illinois civil court for an incident that occurred the night O.J. Simpson was acquitted in his criminal trial? ... One man's 10 favorite players on the PGA Tour: Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Craig Stadler, Robert Gamez, Ben Crenshaw, Phil Mickelson, Ken Green, Cory Pavin, P.H. Horgan, Jim Furyk.
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