LVMS: BEST SEATS ON SALE NOW -- AND AGAIN
Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been selected one of the world's top 10 speedways in the launch issue of Professional Motorsport World magazine, which, if and when it hits the racks in Las Vegas, will probably wind up tucked somewhere behind Popular Mechanics and Field and Stream at the local Barnes & Noble. And way behind FHM and Maxim.
Still, like a bowling trophy, it's a nice award to have.
Likewise, LVMS also has announced a new $1 menu (including 12-ounce draft beer) at the Bullring for its NASCAR/Dodge Weekly Series program.
But enough with the kind words for the 1.5-mile behemoth out on Interstate 15 North already.
The speedway, in true P.T. Barnum style, also put out a news release stating that it is giving race fans a "head start" on buying tickets that offer the "best views" of the track's new 20-degree banking and reconfigured pit road. Those tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Supposedly, the sightlines from both the Dale Earnhardt Terrace in Turn 4 and the Richard Petty Terrace in Turn 1 will be better next year, what with the banking being upped from 12 degrees and pit road being moved closer to the track.
But why do I get the feeling that if the speedway put in a gravel road in the infield and erected a grandstand nearby, those would be the best seats in the house?
There was no word on the press release about how much these new tickets will cost. Same with the speedway's Web site, which only showed a picture of an arm and a leg.
WARDROBE MALFUNCTION REVISITED
It turns out there was a wardrobe malfunction of sorts at Sunday's ArenaBowl XX halftime show at the Thomas & Mack Center. Only this one wasn't quite as shocking as Justin Timberlake yanking Janet Jackson's chain, or whatever he pulled to give a Super Bowl viewing audience an unobstructed view of one of the singer's vital statistics.
Stephan Jenkins, lead singer of Third Eye Blind, which performed its greatest hit during halftime, went on stage barefoot. Lest you think he forgot his shoes in his hotel suite, Jenkins was spotted strapping on sandals just off stage when the players tried to take the field and the marginally relevant rock band agreed to yield.
But here's a big slice of American Pie to Third Eye Blind for playing at a level that was significantly quieter than the carnival barker on the public address system.
Using the Spinal Tap system that tops out at 11, I'd make the band's amps about an eight. And the PA guy's about 12.5.
REAL VS. REAL FOR REAL
With this being a World Cup year, the Aug. 12 exhibition match in Salt Lake City pitting Real Madrid against namesake Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer at Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus should be a Real big show in more ways than one.
Combined with F.C. Barcelona's visit to the Los Angeles Coliseum to play Chivas - the real version from Guadalajara, Mexico, not the pale imitation from Southern California - on Aug. 6, this may be the best chance yet for Las Vegas fans to get an up close and personal look at some of the world's top soccer players.
Real Madrid already has promised it will bring superstars David Beckham and Ronaldo to Salt Lake City.
Ticket prices for the Real vs. Real game have yet to be announced. But when they are, Las Vegan Jorge Perea will be among the first to know. The Bishop Gorman and UNLV grad is an account executive with Real Salt Lake.
50
Number of minutes Andre Agassi lasted in his return to competitive tennis against Tim Henman at the Stella Artois Championships.
34
Number of former ECHL players who participated in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs.
12
Number of UNLV baseball players participating in summer college baseball leagues.
"Well, I've had about 2 1/2 weeks on the hard courts back home, and then a good week here, you know, 3, 3 1/2 hours a day. So it's a lot of work for 50 minutes of tennis."
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