Columnist Ron Kantowski: Let's hope Buick drives Tiger here

Ron Kantowski's insider notes column appears Tuesday and his Page One column appears Thursday. He can be reached at [email protected] or (702) 259-4088.

Forget about a quarterback who can throw a spiral, a receiver who can catch one, a couple of offensive linemen who can get in somebody's way, a defender or two who can tackle a scrawny third-string walk-on quarterback or a game plan that shows creativity or is suited to the talent on hand.

What the UNLV football team really needs to get turned around is a non-conference game with Florida.

A look at the good, the bad and the ugly from the week in sports:

But once a year, it's still fun to see how golf is supposed to be played. And it would be a shame if the tournament fails to make the cut due to lack of sponsorship.

To show you how much money Tiger Woods makes, there apparently is not enough of it -- even in this town -- to entice him to return to the site of his first tour victory. But there has got to be a way. I mean, if Tiger is willing to drive a LeSabre and not press charges, surely the creative minds in Las Vegas can make it worth his while to hang out here for a weekend -- he does this a few times a year anyway -- and play a little golf on the side.

Doesn't Buick already sponsor about a dozen tournaments? So what's one more. If Buick -- or anybody else -- could deliver Tiger, Charlie Baron and his staff won't need the amateurs' greens fees to keep the tourney alive.

Then it could revert to 72 holes at one course and let the amateurs tear up the local muni instead.

"The Royals will cater to fans who love 'old time' hockey, with the occasional fight being an important part of the game. ... there will also be food, shot girls, mobile beer vendors and the Royals cheerleaders."

Are we talking about hockey, or The Man Show?

Anyway, if high-sticking and five-minute majors are your cup of tea, call the Santa Fe Station Ice Arena (658-4900) or the Las Vegas Royals (658-4900). Ask for Oggie Ogelthorpe.

New Mexico achieved its bizarre fourth-quarter total Saturday by returning an interception of a Rebels' two-point conversion flea flicker pass 100 yards for two points of its own before running backup quarterback Kurt Nantkes out of his end zone and smack into the goalpost for a safety, a la George Plimpton in Paper Lion.

Last week, following their 21-17 victory over Nevada-Reno that now can be labeled as a fluke, Rebels fans were discouraged from tearing down the goal posts by stadium security. Too bad they didn't succeed, because it might have spared Nantkes from having his bell rung.

In reality, the only thing Nantkes injured was his pride. He wasn't alone in that department.

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