Las Vegas Sun

May 16, 2008

Columnists

Can’t accuse either party of sanity
By Jon Ralston
As I empty out the reporter’s notebook this Friday, I try to answer the question: Which party has the craziest folks running (or trying to run) the show — the Democratic Party, the Republican Party or the ruling party (aka the gamers)?
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 Plane
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.
Embrace the role of the villain
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Ron Kantowski applauds Kyle Busch for not following in his older brother’s footsteps into NASCAR irrelevance
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.
Gov. Jim Gibbons’ inner circle fawning over a frazzled boss
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Jon Ralston
“I read the news today, oh, boy ...” — The Beatles, 1967
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
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
ODDS ’N’ ENDS:
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.
Cindy Kiser Murphey, president of New York-New York, with her sons, Keller, left, and Justice, and h
Jack Sheehan on the rise of glass ceiling-shatterer Cindy Kiser Murphey, head of New York-New York
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
By Jack Sheehan
It’s tempting to report that a huge twister swept through Kansas one day, and lifted young Cindy Kiser from her bed and onto the Yellow Brick Road leading to the presidency of New York-New York. But that's too easy.
One man’s theories on Vegas’ economy, then and now
Monday, May 12, 2008
ODDS 'N' ENDS:
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.
John Robinson argues a penalty in the closing minutes of UNLV's loss to Colorado State in 2003.
Where credit is due
Monday, May 12, 2008
Ron Kantowski explains why former UNLV coach John Robinson belongs in the hall of fame
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.
Several games of political chicken converging at one intersection
Sunday, May 11, 2008
By Jon Ralston
As elected and unelected leaders try to reach an elusive consensus on how to tax the gaming industry to help education, several intersecting chicken contests among these various cocks of the walk and a few assertive hens could cause a spectacular crash or a breathtaking solution.
Brian Greenspun has a proposal for a ticket to unite Democrats
Sunday, May 11, 2008
WHERE I STAND: And it doesn’t involve Clinton giving up and going home
By Brian Greenspun
I am not a pundit. I am not an expert. I am simply an American who wants what he believes is best for America.
At left, Emile Hirsch plays Speed Racer in the new movie based on the Japanese cartoon. Unlike Kyle
Fact and fiction collide
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Ron Kantowski finds some surprising parallels between a Japanese cartoon character and Las Vegas’ Kyle Busch
By Ron Kantowski
Go, Speed Racer! Go! But watch out for the No. 88 car. (You know, the one Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives.)
The Perfect Storm
Friday, May 9, 2008
By Jon Ralston
Nine months before the 2009 Legislature is scheduled to convene, with nearly a billion dollars in state programs guillotined and a commission now chartered to recommend even more reductions, the governor met with lawmakers this week to discuss — what else? — more cuts for next year.
Beyond numbers and into the unquantifiable
Friday, May 9, 2008
Ron Kantowski offers a different take on Mike Hamrick, noting he doesn’t work well with others
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 few
Bringing players back into game
Friday, May 9, 2008
THE INSIDE STRAIGHT: Jeff Haney says the final-table delay this year is a bet that should pay off
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.
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