Bergeron Himel honored for athletic ability in CBS special

The incredible story of Brittney Bergeron Himel, who survived a near-fatal stabbing and has recovered to become an accomplished wheelchair athlete, will be highlighted during the upcoming ARETE Honors for Courage in Sports television special on CBS.

The show airs Sunday.

A student at Centennial High, Himel competes in a variety of sports and is a 2012 U.S. Paralympic team hopeful.

"We are very honored," says Judy Himel, Brittney's mother. "We're very proud of Brittney. She's an inspiration."

The teenager finds herself in impressive company.

Others set to be honored include Brandon Crawford, Matt Long, Zac Sunderland and members of the Iranian National Soccer Team. Long, a New York City firefighter, was critically injured after being hit by a bus. He recovered enough to compete in the New York City Marathon and Lake Placid Ironman triathlon. Sunderland is the first person under 18 to sail solo around the world.

Though left paralyzed, Himel survived a vicious attack in 2001 in Mesquite that killed her younger sister. Himel's story of courage has inspired people well outside the Las Vegas community.

REBEL YAWN: Yes, I realize it was only an exhibition game. But this can't be the way this year's edition of the UNLV Rebels basketball team expected to start Tuesday night against overmatched but not outplayed Washburn at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The crowd honored former coach Jerry Tarkanian and the 1990 NCAA Championship team led by Larry Johnson (a surprising no-show).

This year's team looked more fatigued than Tark, who is in his 70s and suffers from a variety of medical maladies. The former UNLV players have grown older, but Greg Anthony said it best when he called the championship run their greatest athletic achievement. It was clear from the ex-players' display of affection that they adore their former coach.

The crowd was warm for the team and Tark, who made the place famous for bruising defense, explosive offense and high-scoring games. The current team exhibited none of those skills in the exhibition game.

CHILD SUPPORT: Starting Nov. 16, District Attorney David Roger is giving child support scofflaws a chance to avoid receiving a pair of handcuffs for the holidays with an amnesty program that allows parents to pay their outstanding debts and avoid eating the pressed turkey dinner at the Clark County Detention Center.

It's called "Home for the Holidays." The program is available to parents who have received bench warrants for nonpayment. The Child Support Division office is at 301 E. Clark Ave.

MIRACLE LEAGUE: The major league baseball season is over, but the Miracle League is about to commence in Las Vegas. The field, which gives disabled children a chance to play, is set to open Nov. 21 at its 101 S. Rancho Drive location.

STUPID VEGAS: It turns out Las Vegas is a den of crass commercialism. Who knew? You can't sneak the sun past reporting rooster John Silvester of the Brisbane Times of Australia. Perhaps after slapping his forehead with the palm of his hand, he concludes "Las Vegas is simply stupid" and is secretly interested in separating tourists from their "holiday funds." He adds, "Las Vegas is simply stupid. It makes no sense, dropped as it is in the middle of the desert on the road to nowhere."

ON THE BOULEVARD: I see where Vegas guy and former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson has been arrested for scuffling with a 50-year-old paparazzi photographer named Tony Echeverria. It's not surprising that Tyson would pop a pesky photographer.

The shocker is that Tyson won by TKO.

BOULEVARD II: The county reports more than 3,500 people received assistance Tuesday during Project Homeless Connect.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.