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Be careful what you pledge

From Publisher Sherman Frederick's posting about the Nevada Cancer Institute's lawsuit against developer Jim Rhodes:

What I find very interesting at this point in this vicious Las Vegas recession is that a prodigious charitable organization like the NCI now seeks relief in court against a donor who failed to come up with a pledged donation. In the suit, the NCI lays out plainly how it thinks Rhodes used the NCI to polish his otherwise tarnished reputation. I'm sure that this isn't the first suit of its kind, but I have to say that it is the first time I've heard of one like it.

And it leads me to wonder if this will be the last. One of the juicy topics on the cocktail circuit involves several old-time Las Vegas characters, like Rhodes, who have made pledges to non-profit organizations and now can't/won't make good.

One guy in particular is said to have made large "when I'm dead" donations, thus allowing him to get big accolades now, without spending a dime.

Trouble is, my sources say, he has pledged the lion's share of those donations against the future value of his company and some think there may not be enough left of his company to cover those donations.

Is that a future lawsuit?

I don't know. And I make no judgments in the NCI lawsuit. I only marvel at this turn of events and wonder who among the Las Vegas donor class this morning is spitting out their Corn Flakes as they read this story in the morning newspaper.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm/

Reggae, point spreads and the Mob

From columnist John L. Smith

While legislators in New Jersey and Delaware have been contemplating legalizing sports betting to take advantage of the potential tax revenues the activity might generate, New Jersey law enforcement continues to investigate and arrest mobbed-up illegal bookmaking operations. Witness the recent bust of 34 men in what is being described as a "large-scale illegal sports gambling enterprise" with connections to the Genovese crime family.

Although the seizure of $1.4 million in cash sounds like a lot, it's a fraction of what was lifted locally from the Jelinsky brothers when they were busted last year in a multi-jurisdictional raid. For a real bookmaking operation, $1.4 million is coffee fund cash. (Have the Jelinskys reported to prison yet?)

What should catch the eye of students of the genre is the connection between the Jersey boys and some as yet unnamed Caribbean sports books. The poorly kept secret in illegal sports betting is that the Caribbean is riddled with mob-connected bookmaking operations.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/smith/

Against all odds

From Editor Thomas Mitchell:

We received a letter to the editor from a student at the College of Southern Nevada. He explained he is taking a Women's Studies class and has been assigned a project to pick a social group he feels has suffered injustice and then try to make a difference.

Of course, his topic of choice is gay and lesbian couples who would like to marry. He makes the usual comments about them being subject to hate crimes and the victims of religious bigotry.

My question is: Would anyone in such a class ever dare to try to "make a difference" by trying to stand up for middle American pro life, Bible thumping, gun toting people who are being denigrated daily in the media and on campuses for their traditional values and so-called religious bigotry?

What are the odds? Astronomical, you say?

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/mitchell/

A great idea -- someday

From columnist Geoff Schumacher:

Talk about your long-range projects.

Nevada members of Congress reintroduced a bill to give UNLV more than 2,000 acres of federal land in North Las Vegas for a second campus.

A couple of years ago, this seemed like a great next step for the university, which was rapidly outgrowing its Maryland Parkway campus. But the double whammy of the deep national recession and Nevada's dire budget woes render this neat idea little more than a dream.

Still, setting aside the land is prudent planning. UNLV is basically landlocked on Maryland Parkway and eventually will need to expand.

Besides, the legislation addresses two other land issues that also are worth planning ahead for:

-- It would add 40 acres at Durango Drive and Elkhorn Road in northwest Las Vegas for a College of Southern Nevada campus. CSN is growing despite the global economic problems, and it will need a northwest campus before long.

It would dedicate 280 acres in the Pahrump Valley for a new and greatly expanded Great Basin College branch. Great Basin has a promising future in southern Nye County, and its current facilities are woefully insufficient.

"This legislation will give our colleges and universities the land they need to build new, world-class education facilities," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who co-sponsored the bill.

Yeah, someday -- maybe in 10 years. Today, UNLV, CSN and Great Basin are looking at double-digit budget cuts and all the subsequent side effects. Unless state lawmakers do something miraculous -- miraculous for them, at least -- a dark age for Nevada higher ed is imminent.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/schumacher/