In hospital, ex-star shows Rebel pride

It takes more than pneumonia and a damaged heart to keep Glen Gondrezick down.

Weak and bedridden while preparing for a possible heart transplant, Gondrezick proudly showed his colors Thursday in the midst of UCLA Bruins territory.

"I'm taking a lot of heat," the former UNLV basketball star said in an e-mail, "because I'm wearing my UNLV stuff and I was telling everybody not to schedule anything between 12 and 2 p.m., so I could watch the game.

"But this is UCLA Medical Center and everybody here is a UCLA fan and they tried to take me at noon, but I put them off until the second half," said Gondrezick, the Rebels' radio analyst for the past 16 seasons.

Gondrezick, 52, checked into UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday instead of joining the Rebels in Omaha, Neb., site of UNLV's first-round game in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional.

UNLV's 71-58 romp over Kent State was good medicine for Gondrezick. He was cheered up Friday by get-well calls from Rebels basketball coach Lon Kruger and wife Barb Kruger, and assistant coach Lew Hill. Former Gov. Bob Miller also called while on his way to Russia.

Gondrezick's heart is operating at only 10 percent of capacity, a far cry from his glory days when he teamed up with Reggie Theus, Robert Smith, Sam Smith and others to make it to their first Final Four 31 years ago.

They lost to North Carolina, 84-83, and finished third with a 29-3 record.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Rebels great Larry Johnson continues to follow UNLV's tournament run. He's been in Omaha all week. Miami Heat coach Pat Riley was at the tournament Thursday, scouting Kansas State star Michael Beasley and Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo, both freshmen. The Heat, with only 12 wins in 67 games this season, appear to have the No. 1 NBA draft pick in their sights. ...

Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf appear in a two-page Louis Vuitton ad in The New Yorker magazine for former Vice President Al Gore's The Climate Project. They are shown cuddling on a hotel room couch.

SIGHTINGS

Agassi and Graf, attending Thursday's performance of "Stomp Out Loud" (Planet Hollywood Resort) with their family. ... Kevin Federline, celebrating his 30th birthday Thursday at Cafe Martorano (Rio) with friends and family members. He was in town to host a birthday celebration at Pure (Caesars Palace) on Friday. ... "Iron Chef" winner Michael Symon, having lunch Friday at Spago restaurant (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... Reality TV star Nick D'Anna of the show "Sunset Tan," stopping by LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Thursday. ... Chicago Bears punter Brad Maynard, checking out Playboy Club (Palms) on Thursday. ... At The Penthouse Gentlemen's Club this week: Verne "Mini Me" Troyer and motocross legend Cary Hart.

THE PUNCH LINE

"In Los Angeles, a 500-pound man was arrested for stealing food from a restaurant. Police say it took five minutes to catch the suspect and two hours to pat him down." -- Conan O'Brien

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.