Friday, Sept. 5, 2003 | 9:12 a.m.
Ron Kantowski is a Las Vegas Sun sports writer. Reach him at [email protected] or (702) 259-4088.
You don't have to run with the Bloods and Crips to get caught up in a turf war these days.
A couple of weeks ago, when expressing my initial displeasure for the new artificial turf at Sam Boyd Stadium, I referred to it by the generic name of FieldTurf. Which, as I have learned, is like referring to a cola as a Coke. Or a flying disc as a Frisbee.
FieldTurf is the trademark name for a particular type of artificial surface and differs from the new ersatz playing field at Sam Boyd, which was manufactured in Georgia and was installed and is maintained by sub-contractors Sunstate Companies Inc., and Premier Turf Solutions.
"Please allow me to point out that Sam Boyd Stadium does not have FieldTurf," wrote Chip Namias, president of Athlete & Event Sports Public Relations, which lists FieldTurf among its clients. "I know well that it is easy to assume that one artificial turf is the same as the next, but believe me, that is not the case.
"Certainly, we feel that the product that UNLV chose is not in the same class as FieldTurf."
But now that UNLV has gotten all the blades of its new surface pointed in the same direction, it no longer looks two-tone, as it did when it was installed. In fact, other than the end zone "REBELS" designation being painted too close to the goal line, a violation of NCAA rules, it looked fantastic for the Toledo game.
Namias' letter went on to say that this year, 17 NFL teams will be using FieldTurf, along with 25 major college programs, including new installations at Michigan Stadium and Wisconsin's Camp Randall Stadium.
So after next week, UNLV players will be able to make the distinction between fake fields themselves, as the Rebels and Badgers will tee it up in Madison a week from Saturday.
Having once referred to a generic flying disc as a Frisbee and then receiving the real deal in the mail from the Wham-o folks, who kindly pointed out the difference, I was hoping FieldTurf would be just as gracious.
With the Sprinkler Cops out in force, my back yard is starting to turn brown.
The Clint Dolezel.
When I read the news, it reminded me of a passage in "Ball Four," where author Jim Bouton learned he had been traded to the Astros for Dooley Womack.
"You mean the Dooley Womack?" Bouton cracked.
Dolezel, for the 99 percent who haven't heard of him, is an outstanding Arena quarterback, which (Kurt Warner aside) is kind of like being good in field hockey.
During his college days at East Texas State, he was a two-time second team all-Lone Star Conference selection, which makes you wonder why the Gladiators didn't go after the first-team guy.
Wisecracks aside, Dolezel will probably be a fine addition. But if the Gladiators really wanted to get local fans interested in their product for a day or two, it would have made former UNLV star Hunkie Cooper an offer he couldn't refuse instead of letting him re-sign with Arizona of the AFL.
There's a billboard near the airport that depicts a mouthful of teeth and says that now that the Wranglers have arrived, there are a few more things you can lose in Las Vegas.
Wonderful. Maybe that approach will entice local Raiders fans to buy hockey season tickets, but I'm sure local tourism officials were wincing right along with me.
Perhaps the Wranglers should just lure Oggy Ogilthorpe and the Hanson Brothers out of retirement and save some money on the prurient ad campaign.
While I applaud the Wranglers for their humanitarianism, if I'm a season-ticket holder who has to work the next day, I'm probably wondering why those toys couldn't be collected at 7 p.m.
This year, Dec. 22 also happens to fall on a Monday night.
You don't suppose the time change has anything to do with the Raiders and Packers knocking helmets on Monday Night Football, do you?
The press release announcing the time change said it would also give Las Vegas casino workers who work the swing shift a chance to watch a game.
Another good idea. But why not do it on a Friday night, so those who work days and have weekends off can see the game, too?
Give the Wranglers a two-minute penalty for trying to pull the wool over our eyes.
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