What’s in the name? And does it REALLY matter?

By Ryan Greene

Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 | 12:12 p.m.

First off, let me point out that the original intent of this blog was to post something each Monday. Plans changed, as they often do in my world, so it'll now be a Friday deal. OK, on with it ...

One is the University of Nevada. So is the other. One's in Reno, one's in Las Vegas.

For short, Nevada-Reno, Nevada-Las Vegas.

It's so simple. Neither is THE University of Nevada. So locations are necessary.

I've only been working here now a couple of months, and I see the logic behind those titles. One side doesn't though. Not according to my e-mail inbox, at least. On Tuesday I received numerous e-mails from Pack backers verbally crucifying me for - gasp! - calling their beloved school 'UNR', which is our style on first reference. Not my call, boss.

Though this is nothing new to me. At my previous spot of employment - the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World, the stylebook called for the University of Kansas to be called Kansas University on first reference. And, like clockwork, e-mails came in each week questioning why it was done.

Well, that one was simple, too. When talking about the school, folks commonly refer to it in short as 'KU', just as Rebel folks say 'UNLV'. Thus, Kansas University. If you say 'UK', Kentucky is the school commonly associated with that moniker.

It's simple. So why all the fuss? In the UNR case, I guess it just goes to show that people will nit-pick about any little detail when it comes to a heated rivalry. Those details have been on display all week.

A story out of Reno yesterday told the tale of how UNR (ha!) coach Chris Ault refuses to eat ketchup (that stuff's red, you know). UNLV coach Mike Sanford told me earlier this week that he was once ragged on by a player for having a hint of blue in a pair of Nikes he was sporting. Heck, I went out to practice for interviews this week and got similar treatment from senior wideout Casey Flair for wearing a blue T-shirt (and it wasn't even navy blue!).

Will better thought be required in terms of wardrobe before heading out to Rebel Park next year during Reno week? Sure.

But to start calling UNR 'Nevada', as was requested by the Reno faithful? Never, never, not ever.

Besides, in the words of a Kansas University (ha! times two!) legend who shall remain nameless (originally delivered in a pretty condescending fashion): Does it matter?

Fist bump of the week: It goes to the one and only 'Boom-Dizzle', Baron Davis, the newest high-dollar investment made by Donald Sterling and the Los Angeles Clippers. Anyone who follows NBA hoops knows the guy's a stud. If you watched that first round playoff series between Golden State and Dallas in '07, it goes without saying.

Anyways, Davis, who spent most of his summer working out in Las Vegas with a slew of other NBA vets, unveiled this week to People magazine that he's a Jenny Craig success story. Yes, even professional point guards have weight issues, believe it or not.

Of course, he probably leaves himself open to a decent amount of trash talk now come the regular season. Having watched him run pick-ups earlier this summer, I learned that NBA players will dig up just about anything when talking junk. Though that afternoon I also learned he can dish it out about as well as anyone.

Quite a summer for Davis, though. He cashed that megabucks ticket with the lowly Clippers, who he must now help resurrect, and had this gem surface.

At the window this weekend: There's two that make me salivate ...

-The over in the Cincinnati/Cleveland game this Sunday. Right now it's at 44.5 points, which is sorta low for two teams that have combined for an average of 42.5 points in their last four meetings. It's low right now, I would guess, because both offenses are awful. In the past, these meetings have turned into shootouts pretty regularly, and both offenses are due for an outburst.

-Penn State is undoubtedly the class of the Big Ten this year if you go strictly by the numbers. But then you see they haven't really played anyone (though now Oregon State takes on some legitimacy following Thursday's victory over USC). The fact is, though, that the Nittany Lions have yet to play their starters for a full four quarters, and Illinois is the first team they'll face this year with the speed to run with them for an entire evening. The 15.5 points on the board are far too many to consider taking PSU, in my opinion.

By the way, I'll keep a running tally this year of just how wrong I am each week with these picks. That'll boost the ol' self esteem nicely.

See you next week.