Sports

Planetary pillar in the post
Ron Kantowski drops by a team tryout to see 7-foot-9, 370-pound Sun Ming Ming of China
By Ron Kantowski
Sun Ming Ming is a walking solar eclipse. He stands 7-foot-9. That’s a lot of inches, centimeters or cun, which is how they measure people — at least most people — in China.
Las Vegas 51s a way station for big league talent
By Brian Hilderbrand
A report compiled by Las Vegas 51s media relations director Jim Gemma revealed 55 players in the major leagues last season played in Las Vegas at one time, including a few Dodgers.
THE INSIDE STRAIGHT Jeff Haney on the ‘prince of poker,’ Scotty Nguyen, who finished first in the game’s ultimate test of skill and who stops at nothing to accommodate fans
By Jeff Haney · Wednesday, July 2, 2008
At 4 o’clock in the morning on the biggest day of the World Series of Poker’s summer session, Scotty Nguyen was steaming.
Ron Kantowski lifts an idea from UNLV golf and Arizona State wrestling that could save endangered programs: Forget the ADs and legislators, find donors
By Ron Kantowski · Wednesday, July 2, 2008
A year after Arizona State hired football coach Dennis Erickson and approved a contract that would pay him $5.6 million over five years, the Sun Devils dropped three men’s sports.
Their Hoop Dreams won’t die
Ron Kantowski finds a place where those compelled to play the game as pros get a chance
By Ron Kantowski · Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Centennial Hills YMCA is where Hoop Dreams refuse to die, where the little-known Las Vegas Stars of the equally little-known International Basketball League hoop it up from time to time.
THE OPENING LINE When Cubs’ wall-scaling outfielder was ‘Jimmy’ Edmonds
By Rob Miech · Monday, June 30, 2008
Twenty years and $86 million ago, he was Jimmy Edmonds.
New class of lightweight division
Pacquiao continues progression up boxing ladder with decisive title win
By Jeff Haney · Monday, June 30, 2008
From the moment he decided to leave behind boxing’s super featherweight division to take on the sport’s best lightweights, Manny Pacquiao encountered myriad variations on the same question. Would he retain his signature combination of speed and power in the heavier weight class, or would something become lost in the translation?
The Elevator
By Brian Hilderbrand · Saturday, June 28, 2008
Who’s headed toward the penthouse on the local sports scene — and who’s getting the shaft.
The Number
· Saturday, June 28, 2008
The number of Mountain West Conference players selected in this week’s NBA draft.
Take Five: Manny Pacquiao vs. David Diaz
By Jeff Haney · Saturday, June 28, 2008
In his 14th year as a pro at age 29, Manny Pacquiao is fighting at lightweight for the first time.
Bettors drive up price on already favored Pacquiao
By Jeff Haney · Friday, June 27, 2008
Manny Pacquiao is a minus-550 favorite (risk $5.50 to net $1) against David Diaz in Saturday’s lightweight championship fight at Mandalay Bay, according to MGM Mirage odds. Diaz is a plus-400 underdog (risk $1 to net $4).
Eclectic mix of events
By Ron Kantowski · Friday, June 27, 2008
Over lunch at the Coronado Cafe at the South Point, Michael Gaughan and Steve Stallworth were asked to put together a list of favorite events they brought to Orleans Arena when they owned (Gaughan) and ran (Stallworth) it.
Ron Kantowski sees the possibilities for the South Point arena with former Orleans Arena director Steve Stallworth in the mix
· Friday, June 27, 2008
It was Tuesday, Steve Stallworth’s seventh day on the job as the new general manager of the South Point Equestrian Complex and Arena, and he still was unloading keepsakes acquired over a career spent in sports — and the sports business — from a big plastic tub.
Pound-for-pound fails to impress
Jeff Haney says Manny Pacquiao will be fighting for two titles Saturday, and doesn’t care about one of them
· Friday, June 27, 2008
Not only does Freddie Roach expect Manny Pacquiao to finish off David Diaz with a knockout Saturday night, but in Roach’s mind, an emphatic stoppage is almost mandatory.
Take Five: Brendan Gaughan
By Brian Hilderbrand · Thursday, June 26, 2008
For the first time in more than eight years, Brendan Gaughan is racing for a team owner other than his father, casino mogul Michael Gaughan.