Blackhawks belly up with Cup

It didn't take long for the party to start.

Only a few hours after parading the Stanley Cup around the ice in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks brought the prized trophy back to the Windy City in Rush Street style, taking the Cup barhopping early Thursday.

First it was at Harry Caray's. Then on to The Pony Inn. After a brief breakfast stop at Ann Sather's, no doubt to sober up with some strong coffee, the beer-and-champagne-soaked Cup was off to the United Center, the Blackhawks' home.

If the Hawks want to be magnanimous, maybe they can take the Cup by Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have gone more than twice as long without a title as the Blackhawks did during their 49-year drought. The Cubbies haven't won a World Series since 1908.

Better yet, the Cup should make a stop at the Billy Goat Tavern, where original owner Billy Sianis supposedly put a hex on the Cubs when they wouldn't let his goat accompany him into the ballpark during the 1945 World Series. Perhaps the presence of Stanley can offset the power of Murphy the goat.

■ WELCOME TO SPUDVILLE -- It was supposed to happen Monday. Instead, Boise State joined the Mountain West Conference on Friday, and the Broncos probably won't be the last team to join Craig Thompson's league.

With Colorado bound for the Pac-10 and Nebraska headed to the Big Ten, the Big 12 is becoming the Incredible Shrinking League. Before the month is over, it's possible that last rites will be administered to the Big 12 as Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State all appear headed for greener financial pastures. Iowa State and Texas Tech have to hope some Bowl Championship Series conference will take them.

It would not be a shock to see Kansas and K-State land in the league that Billy Packer once called the "Big Mountain." For now, UNLV fans can get ready to experience football games in 2012 on the blue "Smurf Turf" at Bronco Stadium and basketball games at Taco Bell Arena, where the $2 meal deal is apparently not offered.

The Rebels' last basketball visit to Boise State didn't go so well. They lost 84-69 in the first round of the 2004 National Invitation Tournament -- two days after Lon Kruger was hired.

■ THE PICKS ARE IN -- Stop the presses! The all-important World Cup soccer picks have been made by boxers Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz, who are fighting each other July 31 at Mandalay Bay.

For those who care -- and you shouldn't -- Marquez is picking his native Mexico and Diaz, a Mexican-American who lives in Houston, is picking the United States. Given Mexico's ability to gain only a draw in Friday's opener against South Africa, Marquez might want to rethink his prognostication.

Frankly, Leftovers has grown weary of athletes publicly weighing in on sporting events they're not participating in. Do we really care that Floyd Mayweather Jr. picked the Lakers to win the NBA title? Or that Marquez went out on a limb to pick his home country to win the World Cup?

Don't bother to answer.

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL