Saturday, May 28, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

JOE HAWK: Once city's ready, basketball is sport that fits Vegas best

Regular readers of this column know that when the subject matter is the viability of today's Las Vegas supporting a major-league level sports franchise -- sorry Gladiators of the Arena Football League, that ain't you -- I'm on the cold side of lukewarm to the prospect.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to "someday" have Major League Baseball, the NBA and/or the NHL call our city home. What press pass-carrying, free-parking, pregame meal-chowing sportswriter worth his chubby weight wouldn't?

It's what most of us got into this business for.

It's "The Show" for us, just as it is for those who play.

My concern is Las Vegas -- Southern Nevada, actually -- isn't big enough yet to get behind a major-league venture and make it successful, through thin more so than thick. Sure, the area embraces more than 1.7 million people, and is growing by the month, but when you consider about a quarter of that population works either swing or graveyard shifts in this 24-hour town, the available fan base drops sizably.

By my estimation, we're still somewhere between 500,000 and 750,000 residents away from making it work -- which uses the worst-case scenario of 1) the newness having worn off the franchise and facility and 2) the team, whatever sport it is, struggling to be competitive.

Supporting a new team, a winning new team, is easy, right?

But who wants to spend their hard-earned cash to watch a team languishing at the bottom of the standings, especially midway in, oh, say its fourth season?

I don't believe I'm wrong on this: When the gates finally swing open at a new Las Vegas stadium or arena -- and they will in the not-too-distant future, mind you -- the community had best be ready. The last thing we need is for a major-league franchise to open play here, quickly lose support and then relocate out of frustration-turned-

desperation.

Can anyone say, "One and done"?

With that in mind, what major-league sport is best suited to come here first?

Mayor Oscar Goodman is talking baseball, which is understandable considering the number of struggling franchises looking, if only glancingly, for greener outfields.

No, I believe Mike McAllister of SI.com (Sports Illustrated's Internet site) had it right Thursday in his "Viewpoint" column when he wrote, in terms of possible league expansion, Las Vegas is ripe -- or soon will be -- for the NBA:

"Instead of returning to a city that once had an NBA team (i.e., St. Louis, Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo)," McAllister wrote, "the league should make a bold move, one that would cement it as the most progressive -- and most hip -- league. It would involve expanding into ...

"Las Vegas."

McAllister dismissed the league's concern about legalized betting on the sport -- an oft-mentioned bugaboo of Commissioner David Stern -- citing the prevalence of Internet gaming; the fact the Sacramento Kings are owned by the Maloof Brothers, who also own the Palms hotel-casino; and Las Vegas has hosted preseason NBA games at the Thomas & Mack Center for many years.

Also, the NBA is scouting Las Vegas as possible site for the 2007 or '08 All-Star Weekend.

McAllister could have mentioned, but didn't, that in 1992 the NBA moved Game 4 of the Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers first-round playoff series to Las Vegas because of the Rodney King riots in Southern California. We were good enough for the league then, why not in the future, near or otherwise?

"... Basketball just seems to be a better fit in Vegas," McAllister continued. "It's a more intimate sport, like boxing. UNLV has created hoops buzz with its Runnin' Rebels" -- although not in a while, he should have noted -- "(and) the NBA could take it one step further.

"Plus, have you seen how NBA players are introduced these days? Those theatrics are just a notch below what you might find at a show at the Bellagio."

Funny that McAllister should mention the grandiose openings at NBA games. It was UNLV back in the late 1970s that debuted "light shows" for player introductions -- a stylish approach that later was copied by a few other colleges and, eventually, NBA franchises.

McAllister made a key point about the somewhat conflicting concepts of intimacy and bombast at NBA games. No city does "intimacy" and "bombast" better than Las Vegas, from Strip shows to concerts to one-time sports showcases such as world title fights, auto racing and rodeo.

An NBA game is an event. Las Vegas is an event city.

Sorry, baseball. The first major-league sport to move here should be ... Cirque du NBA.

Joe Hawk's column is published Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 387-2912 or jhawk@reviewjournal.com.