The Elevator: Crash Test Dummies

By Ron Kantowski

Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 | 2 a.m.

GOING UP

Asia influence: Henderson’s Asia Muhammad won a qualifying match at the U.S. Open this week before being eliminated in the second round by Australia’s Anatasia Rodiovoa, the event’s 30th-seeded player, 6-4, 6-4. But by winning a USTA National Hardcourt event two weeks ago, Muhammad, 18, and partner Christina McHale earned a wild card into the main doubles draw at Flushing Meadows that begins Monday on one of those courts near the back.

Nevada letter men: Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Reno counterpart Robert Cashell responded to the NCAA’s decision to bar any state offering legal sports betting from hosting NCAA tournament games with a tersely worded letter that said “banning tournament games is a poorly thought out and ultimately feeble public relations attempt.” Then Mayor Goodman bet Mayor Cashell a shrimp cocktail on whose name would appear first on the response from Gestapo, I mean NCAA, headquarters.

Bowling for honors: The recently concluded 2009 U.S. Bowling Congress Championships at Cashman Center is one of six nominees for SportsTravel magazine’s best single sporting event of the year. Another Cashman event, the 51s’ 14-10 victory against Sacramento on May 8 at Cashman Field that seemingly took three days to finish, was nominated as the 14,179th-best single sporting event of the year by the magazine.

GOING DOWN

Jersey boys: The Las Vegas Wranglers’ jersey has been ranked the 12th-most attractive among those of the 20 ECHL teams by The Hockey News, which isn’t all that hot. They should have just entered their Rod Blagojevich Prison Night jerseys and asked to be pardoned.

USAC Focus Midgets: This is one of those terms that sounds politically incorrect but really isn’t. It refers to the auto racing series that will top tonight’s card at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. In addition to the USAC Midgets, four-cylinder open wheel cars that weigh about 900 pounds and generate 350-plus horsepower, there will be a cattle truck race and a roping dummy contest, events that, unlike midget racing, simply cannot be defended under any circumstance.

Crash Test Dummy: That’s one of many nicknames cultivated by colorful Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Eric Byrnes, who is expected to continue his rehab assignment with the Reno Aces at Cashman Field through Sunday. If you get an autograph from Byrnes, ask about his pet bulldogs. “Bruno and Bella are my babies,” he writes on his Web site. “Even through all the drooling and slobbering ... and snoring that they do, they are just a joy to be around.” I think that’s also what teammates used to say about former Las Vegas Star John Kruk.