Three Up, Three Down: Jerry Tarkanian deserves his street to cover better ground
The original Jerry Tarkanian Way is an alley behind the Thomas & Mack Center. It’s primarily used as a shortcut by the media and by fans who think they can talk their way past security into a better parking spot.
During the first week of December, it’s also used for getting National Finals Rodeo livestock to and from the arena. By the time Wyoming comes to town, one hardly notices the stench.
I recently stumbled onto another Jerry Tarkanian Way on the west side of Las Vegas, out where the 215 beltway turns into giant Walmarts, Best Buys and PT’s Pubs. It’s one of those frontage roads whose most distinguishing feature is … well, lots of frontage.
At least there are some big road signs with Tark’s name on them.
There’s also an O’Aces Bar & Grill out there. I couldn’t tell if it is accessible from Jerry Tarkanian Way because a flatbed truck that appeared to be loaded down with the Clampetts’ belongings before they moved to Bev-er-lee was riding my bumper, making it impossible to slow down for a closer look.
Jerry Tarkanian Way runs for almost three miles before it turns into Roy Horn Way, which, if you’re a Rebels fan, doesn’t seem right, even if he and Siegfried and their white tigers posed for the cover of the basketball media guide one year.
I didn’t see any magic shops along Roy Horn Way, so somebody is missing a heck of a marketing opportunity. I did spot a giant Walmart, a Best Buy and three or four PT’s Pubs.
One of these days, maybe after the Rebels hit consecutive shots from beyond the arc, they’ll get around to naming a real Las Vegas street after Tark, such as Maryland Parkway or Tropicana Avenue. Having turned 80, Tark is moving a little slower these days, but no more slower than the Trop, its $164 million face-lift notwithstanding.
Other possibilities include Paradise Avenue and Swenson Street. Tark won 706 games and lost only 198 as a college coach. How many games did those ice cream people win?
By naming one of the major thoroughfares in and out of McCarran International Airport for Tark, visitors would be reminded of the droopy-eyed Las Vegas icon practically from the time they got off the airplane.
Sort of like Mike Krzyzewski and Duke during the 1990 NCAA Tournament.
THREE UP
■ Brigham Young’s Jimmer Fredette withdrew his name from last year’s NBA Draft and returned to school, where he became a rock star. New Mexico’s Darington Hobson did not — and got cut by the Milwaukee Bucks without ever playing a game. Sometimes you take the money and run. Sometimes you head down to old El Paso and run into a great big hassle. Sometimes you injure your hip and wish you had the foresight of Jimmer Fredette.
■ Say what you will about Brigham Young fans’ sense of entitlement, but I saw 22,700 reasons during Wednesday’s basketball showdown against San Diego State why the Mountain West is going to miss them.
■ NASCAR’s new point system — 43 cars, 43 points for first, one point for last, five bonus points to Danica Patrick just for showing up — is so easy to understand that even Darrell Waltrip should be able to explain it after his broadcast partners draw him a picture.
THREE DOWN
■ The owners of the Las Vegas 51s before the current one were Hollywood guys who had promised to put the team in the movies. They didn’t. The current owner was going to build a new stadium. He didn’t. Then he tried to run the popular general manager out of town. Remember in the movie “Slap Shot” when the players didn’t know who owned the Charlestown Chiefs, and when they found out she folded the team instead of selling it to new owners in Florida? I suppose if Anita McCambridge bought the 51s, it could be worse. But only marginally.
■ While channel-surfing the other night, I stumbled onto an ESPN documentary on Terry Fox, who ran across Canada on one leg when he was dying of cancer. I wonder if Jay Cutler was watching.
■ Why is it that every time somebody talks about building a new sports stadium or arena in Las Vegas, I keep picturing Adrian Peterson?
Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ron Kantowski can be reached at rkantowski@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0352.
