Wednesday, February 05, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Arena ratings score high in Las Vegas

Only Denver market has better NBC figures

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Los Angeles' Lonnie Ford, left, and Russell Shaw, right, tackle Las Vegas' George Williams during the fourth quarter Sunday. Photo by Associated Press

Even though the Gladiators weren't on NBC on Sunday, the Las Vegas market posted the second-highest television rating for the first day of regional Arena Football League telecasts.

Las Vegas' rating for NBC's San Jose SaberCats-Arizona Rattlers telecast was 4.5. Only Denver, with an 11.8 rating for the Colorado Crush-Georgia Force game, was higher.

Nationally, NBC drew a 2.2 rating for four regionally televised games, including a 5.0 for Colorado-Georgia.

The Gladiators' game at Arizona at noon PST Sunday will be shown regionally on NBC.

Las Vegas lost its AFL debut Sunday to the Los Angeles Avengers 60-48, and ratings from the Fox Sports Net 2 telecast will be released this week.

The Gladiators' home opener is Feb. 17 against the Tampa Bay Storm.

• ROSTER MOVES -- The Gladiators removed lineman Paul LaQuerre from the refused-to-report list. Before he can be activated, he must pass a physical and receive league approval.

LaQuerre (6 feet 2 inches, 290 pounds), a second-year player from Boston College, played in 14 games last season for the then-New Jersey Gladiators.

The club waived linemen Neal Fort and Tony Henderson and put defensive specialist Cornelius Coe on recallable waivers. The Gladiators have a right to recall Coe if another team places a claim on him within 24 hours.

On the injury report, Damon Mason (jaw) is probable and Jeriod Johnson (abdomen) is questionable. Both are defensive specialists.

• SECOND HAND -- The Gladiators will face Arizona backup quarterback Chris Hixson because starter Sherdrick Bonner is out two to four weeks with a separated right shoulder.

After replacing Bonner in Sunday's 49-28 loss to San Jose, Hixson completed 9 of 19 passes for 111 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Hixson appeared in seven games for the Rattlers last season, completing 23 of 37 passes for 259 yards and five touchdowns. In 2001 he threw for 2,621 yards and 58 touchdowns with the af2's Tallahassee Thunder.

"Chris Hixson played last season, and he played really well," said Rattlers wide receiver/defensive back Randy Gatewood, a former UNLV standout. "He's a guy who can definitely get the job done."

• REBEL CONNECTION -- Gatewood is one of three former Rebels on Arizona's roster. The others are wide receiver/linebacker Hunkie Cooper and lineman Pete Tramontanas.