Former state Sen. Bob Beers out of politics? You make the call!

Former state Sen. Bob Beers claims he's retired from politics, but he has offered his expertise as a certified public accountant to Republican U.S. Senate candidates Sue Lowden and Mark Amodei.

He's not quite certain, but he thinks both accepted.

Upon learning Lowden was considering a run against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Beers offered to be her campaign treasurer. At the time, he recalls, Lowden replied that she really didn't think she was going to run.

Not long after that conversation, Beers learned state Sen. Amodei was contemplating challenging Reid. Beers made a similar call and received a similar reply.

But then Lowden decided to enter the race and take Beers up on his offer. A short time later, Amodei made the same call.

"We're still in the midst of sorting it out," Beers said Thursday morning. Asked whether he felt he could act as treasurer for both, he said, "I believe I could. I like them both, and I don't want either one of them to get in trouble over some silly accounting issue."

Beers is a partner in an accounting practice with former state Treasurer Bob Seale.

SPENCER FIELD: Cimarron-Memorial High School has done a great thing by renaming its football field for the late coach Greg Spencer, who died of cancer Jan. 30. Spencer was a great coach and a better person.

The ceremony takes place at halftime of tonight's Cimarron-Memorial game against Mojave High.

CHAMBLISS SENTENCE: Some would call him unlucky, but Michael Chambliss should feel like a lottery winner. Earlier this week, he received just 12 years -- he's parole-eligible in four -- for taking a knife and killing Nigerian-born boxer Vincent Ekeoba in 2005 at a local convenience store.

Attorney Pete Christiansen carved out the voluntary manslaughter sentence in a case that easily might have been argued as a second-degree murder case.

Chambliss, a former planning commissioner, was described generously as a community leader, political activist and philanthropist.

And I thought he was just a political patronage player and pal of former Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

Chambliss is lucky he had Christiansen in his corner, luckier still the victim was a professional fighter.

Christiansen, meanwhile, bristled at any speculation that his client was less than deeply remorseful for taking another man's life.

When asked whether Chambliss was approached by law enforcement investigating political corruption in Southern Nevada, the attorney declined to comment.

MAC ATTACK: This week's column on a pending federal class-action lawsuit against Indymac Mortgage Services continues to generate calls from homeowners with strikingly similar tales of big problems when they attempted to renegotiate their loans with the mortgage giant. The lawsuit is being brought by attorneys Matthew Callister and Brooke Bohlke.

Indymac mortgage holders commonly complain of being hustled during the loan qualification process and of receiving adjustable rate mortgages that doubled their payment contrary to what they were told.

GOOD GARTH Y'ALL: So country music legend Garth Brooks has made it official. He'll come out of retirement to perform in a concert series at Wynn Las Vegas.

Does this mean Brooks now has friends in high places?

ON THE BOULEVARD: If you get a chance this weekend, check out the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin. It's not only for a great cause, but you're bound to see some excellent golf. ... The eyes of the baseball world are on Las Vegas resident and speedy Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino as Philadelphia takes on Los Angeles in the National League Championship Series. In the offseason, Victorino draws stares from the awe-struck kids at the Bat-R-Up batting cages at 3040 Simmons St. in North Las Vegas.

BOULEVARD II: Talk about a couple of nice guys getting together for a chat. Harrah's Las Vegas comic/magician Mac King is scheduled to appear on "Sunday Morning With Charles Osgood."

BOULEVARD III: Internet terrorism expert Terry Hawkins will speak on the topic of "Navigating Through 'Cyberia" at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Atomic Testing Museum at 7555 E. Flamingo Road. The discussion should be enough to make you double-check your e-mail account. ... If you're still looking for a good scare try the Oktoberfrightfest events on Fremont Street. I hear the scariest moment comes when the ghouls reveal the latest Southern Nevada real estate prices.

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.