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Former UNLV star Anthony faces tough rebound

After reaching the pinnacle of college basketball as a player at UNLV and then as CBS Sports’ lead college analyst, Greg Anthony’s future is in question after sex scandal allegations.

Anthony, a star on UNLV’s 1990 NCAA Championship team, was arrested Friday in Washington, D.C., and accused of soliciting a prostitute.

CBS Corp. and Turner Broadcasting Inc. announced he would not return this season.

The question is: Can he survive the incident?

Few broadcasters of that level have returned to their previous level after ending up in unsavory headlines.

Anthony had reached the top, after a seven-year climb, a year ago when CBS Sports promoted him to the booth as lead commentator and moved Clark Kellogg to studio analyst.

In a statement, Anthony said, “I made a mistake. With the lapse of judgment, I embarrassed many, including myself. I will work to regain the trust I have lost, and the first step is saying that I’m sorry.”

In 1997, veteran NBC Sports broadcaster Marv Albert was fired eight months after being charged in a hotel room incident in the Washington, D.C., area. His firing came after he pleaded guilty to lesser charges in connection with an incident involving a female friend. The trial included testimony that Albert wore ladies underwear and had a biting fetish.

Albert later returned to the broadcast booth with other broadcast companies.

RADIO RATINGS

Nielsen ratings come out Thursday, and there’s more drama than usual.

Can KSNE-radio, FM 106.5, continue its torrid four-month jump, leaping from a 5.7 audience share among people 12-plus to first place at 9.3 in late December.

Will longtime front-runner KMXB, FM 94.1, close the gap? The ratings reflect the November performance, before the split of “Mark and Mercedes in the Morning.”

Is KXNT, AM 840 and FM 100.5, positioned to stop a slide from 4.0 four months ago to 2.7? KXNT was in a tie for 17th in the December book with KVGS, which recently changed to Star 107.9 from Bob, sparking speculation that Mark DiCiero, who left KMXB last month, is heading to Star.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

The correct date for the “America’s Got Talent” audition in Las Vegas is Feb. 21. Preregister here: agtauditions.com.

SIGHTINGS

NFL Hall of Famer and Fox Sports color analyst Troy Aikman, catching lunch at La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway in Wynn Las Vegas on Monday, a day after teaming up with Joe Buck on the NFC Championship Game in Seattle. … At Elton John’s show (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Monday: singer James Blunt, comedian and actor George Lopez, Golden Nugget headliner Gordie Brown and Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears. … Former MGM Resorts International executive Felix Rappaport, hosting a 21st birthday party for his daughter, Briana, at Hakkasan nightclub (MGM Grand) on Saturday.

THE PUNCH LINE

“This fall Pope Francis will host Mass at Madison Square Garden. And unlike the New York Knicks, he will have a prayer.” — Seth Meyers.

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.

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