Local sportscaster rivalry heating up

It's not the highlights. It's not the sound bites. It's not the graphics.

The sportscaster is the element that counts the most. He is the one who compiles the information and delivers it.

When it comes to ranking Las Vegas' six sportscasters, only two -- KLAS Channel 8's Dave McCann and KTNV Channel 13's Ron Futrell -- were unanimously mentioned as worthy of merit by the sources who were interviewed for this story.

"McCann is the most talented and Futrell is the most credible," a local sports publicist said on the condition of anonymity. "The rest are either too unpolished or just don't have what it takes."

The other four full-time anchors are relatively young and still learning. Futrell and McCann have been in Las Vegas the longest, have the most reliable sources and do the best job, was the consensus of the local sources. Futrell has been here since 1984, while McCann started in 1992.

"I think Dave McCann is a pretty capable guy, but as far as the solid guy who's been here, it's Ron," said a local broadcast advertising executive. "He loves the market; he's at home here."

The other sports director, KVBC Channel 3's Andrew Smith, is by and large considered a work in progress. He joined the station in 1996 and is the only sports director without other visible jobs in the area.

McCann has done work for UNLV football and basketball, calls games for the nationally syndicated Blue & White Network and has been seen on Fox Sports Net. Futrell has his own radio and cable TV shows and started writing a magazine column this week.

"Smith does an acceptable job, but you gotta get more exposure in other stuff," said the ad executive.

Even if Smith does create a higher profile for himself, he will have to get considerably larger if he wants to compete with McCann and Futrell.

Those who know the business enjoy witnessing the rivalry that has developed between McCann and Futrell in recent years.

"Ron, I think, feels threatened by McCann's ability," the publicist said. "For years Ron was the best in town. When McCann got promoted from the weekend guy to the main guy (in 1996), Ron all of a sudden had competition."

But as talented as McCann is, despite the smooth delivery and impressive sources, he has his detractors.

He became known as a Rebel cheerleader when he all but ignored the university's internal investigation of athletic director Charles Cavagnaro for allegedly making racist and sexist slurs.

At times, McCann's coverage of the UNLV basketball program can be tilted.

For example, when a former student manager claimed he made car payments on behalf of ex-Rebel Tyrone Nesby, McCann interviewed Nesby, who refuted the manager's allegations. What McCann failed to note was that Nesby's testimonial also refuted the coaching staff's version of the story.

"He's too much of a cheerleader," the ad executive said. "You have to report the news -- good, bad or indifferent. McCann will soft-pedal anything at UNLV. He doesn't want to rock the boat."

Futrell, meanwhile, has been accused of being all doom and gloom when it comes to UNLV. He gained that reputation when former basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian was chased out by then-president Bob Maxson in 1992. He was highly critical of the university then, and he continues to be today.

Those who know Futrell will add that he is anti-McCann as well. It's no secret to insiders that Futrell sometimes is annoyed by McCann's UNLV reports and thus concentrates on presenting an opposite viewpoint.

"Futrell is secure," the ad executive said, noting Futrell has worked here for 15 years, far longer than all his counterparts. "He'll tell it more like it is."

The ability to be critical is what gives Futrell the most credibility of any local sportscaster.

"I really admire Ron because he could get under your skin," said Denver Nuggets media relations director Tommy Sheppard, who was a sports information director at UNLV from 1991-94, when media scrutiny -- both local and national -- was at an all-time high.

"Ron didn't always have the story first, but he always had it right. I'd put Ron's work ethic and his contacts up against anyone I've ever met."

As far as the weekend reporters are concerned, Channel 8's Chris Maathuis receives the most praise.

"He doesn't wow you ... but he'll make a good sports director some day," the publicist said.

Channel 13's Mario Diaz generates a much different reaction. Diaz is the most aggressive sportscaster in town, but he has a style that can grate on the nerves.

"Mario Diaz didn't know what was up when he first started," the ad executive said. "But he's developed into a reasonably good reporter. Some people can't stand him."

Including the publicist who talked to the Sun for this story.

"He has a huge ego and it's murder watching one of his sports shows. How can you stand his delivery? Every word is ov-er-e-nun-ci-a-ted. He thinks he's big-time, but he's not."

Channel 3's Brian Lippai has been in Las Vegas since 1997, but hasn't done much to make a name for himself on the air.

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