Denying all rumors and speculation, "Rants & Raves" affirms today that it will not leave the Review-Journal for a similar position with either the Detroit Free Press or the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader.

"We're happy with what we've built here, and we have no interest in entertaining any outside offers," this column said at a sparsely attended news conference Monday, "unless, of course, we're guaranteed an incredibly rich shoe deal.":

• Yes, with the exception of those four teams still playing for the NCAA championship, it's silly season in college basketball, that time of year when coaches' names are bandied about more than a missed North Carolina shot in overtime -- only that the names don't end up in the clutches of a Georgetown player and aren't converted into transition baskets at the other end of the court.

So, we dismiss the silliness with some seriousness by weighing in on the Lon Kruger-to-Michigan, Lon Kruger-to-Iowa, Lon Kruger-to-Kentucky, Lon Kruger-to-anywhere gossip: The guy is not going anywhere.

If there is one thing Rebels fans should acknowledge by now about the third-year UNLV coach it is that he's a man of his word -- hey, he said he would rebuild the program, and not even the doofiest of doubters from a year ago can argue that Kruger didn't follow through on his promise with a 30-7 record and an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth this season.

Therefore, if Kruger says he's staying put, we believe him. ...

• Besides, how could Kruger leave when his wife, Barb, is still in the "tournament"? Well, not exactly the NCAA Tournament, but, hey, the final four.

Barb Kruger is one of four wives of college coaches competing in the Hidden Valley Original Ranch dressings Dip & Dunk Challenge. On Saturday, she will learn if her "Runnin' Rebels Ranch Guacamole" -- where, according to a promotional release "nutty avocados get an assist from red onions, bell peppers, chile and lime juice" -- is the winner and $5,000 will be donated in her name to the Coaches vs. Cancer fight.

Hmmm. So that's how the Rebels lost to Oregon in the Sweet 16 last Friday night in St. Louis? Those "nutty avocados" didn't get enough assists from the "red onions, bell peppers, chile and lime juice." ...

• Interestingly, one of the coaches' wives that Barb Kruger is going up against is Kelly Ryan -- wife of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan -- who has entered her Badgers Cheddar and Ranch Fondue, "a melting pot of farmhouse cheddar cheese and white wine, accented with plump tomatoes."

If Kruger beats Ryan, which we fully expect to happen, we hope Ryan doesn't complain about the since-rescinded NCAA rule that allowed "nutty avocados" to transfer after three years of competing in other guacamole dips. ...

• It's still sooo far from being a done deal -- first Los Angeles has to be picked as the host U.S. entry, and then it would have to be selected by the International Olympic Committee from other cities around the world -- but Las Vegas could have a tie to the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Part of L.A.'s bid is for some early-round soccer matches to be played at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadium. We always said Mayor Oscar Goodman should do what he could to bring the Olympics to town, and a few first-round soccer matches -- almost 10 years from now -- is a start. ...

• ESPN's "Monday Night Football" is changing game analysts, bringing in former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski -- previously, a studio analyst -- to replace former Washington Redskins QB Joe Theismann, who frequently came across on-air as someone who took a few too many helmets to the old chin strap.

While Jaworski is knowledgeable and can't help but improve the broadcast team of Mike Tirico (snooze) and Tony Kornheiser (trying way too hard), we learned many years ago that "MNF" is best enjoyed with the sound down. ...

• Among the promotional nights the hometown 51s have scheduled for this season is John Kruk Bobblehead Night on Aug. 24. Kruk, now an ESPN baseball analyst, played three seasons for the then-Stars from 1984 through '86. In 1985, the genetically predisposed "hefty" Kruk was the Pacific Coast League's batting leader with a "hefty" .351 average.

Kruk is one of our all-time favorite Las Vegas Triple-A players, and he'd probably be the first to concede that rather than honoring him with a bobblehead the 51s should have a "bobble-belly" doll, on which the head remains still and the stomach shakes.

Joe Hawk's "Rants & Raves" column is published Tuesdays. He can be reached at 387-2912 or jhawk@reviewjournal.com.