Economy pinches bowls

A UNLV triumph today at San Diego State would give the Rebels six wins and make them eligible to play in one of college football's 34 bowl games.

While a victory wouldn't guarantee a bowl berth for the Rebels, it would give them a good shot, since only 61 schools entered today with enough wins to claim one of the 68 available bowl berths.

"Everybody is counting right now whether there'll be enough teams available," Steve Ehrhart, executive director of the Liberty Bowl, told the Wall Street Journal.

While it appears the NCAA will avoid the nightmare scenario of admitting losing teams to bowls this season, dwindling television ratings and attendance could force bowls to fold in the future.

"We can handle a couple of games that are down because we put money away in the good years," said Rick Catlett, president of the 63-year-old Gator Bowl, which in January had about 40,000 fans in a stadium that seats 77,000. "But I don't think there's any doubt, with the economy the way it is, that some of the newer bowls that don't have financial reserves built up could be in serious trouble."

The bowls were born in 1902 in Pasadena, Calif. By 1996, there were 18 bowls, and that number nearly has doubled since then.

• ADULT MOVIE MOTIVATION -- A sponsor for the Denmark soccer club FC Copenhagen has promised the squad two pornographic movies every time they win.

The sinful strategy employed by the sponsor, adult film distributor BN Agentur, has proven successful as the team has won nine of its first 13 games.

The soccer squad screens the films at its training ground, reports the United Kingdom's Daily Record, and club chairman Flemming Ostergaard said, "As far as I'm concerned, there is nothing wrong with it."

• ROMO HELPS HOMELESS -- Before attending the movie "Role Models" recently, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo acted like one, offering to buy a ticket for a homeless man who goes by "Doc."

Doc was cashing in change at a Cinemark Theatre in Dallas when a man walked up and offered to pay his way into the movie.

Doc, who requested that his real name not be used, planned to spend his day passing out fliers and accepted a rain check before realizing that he recognized the generous gentleman.

"Was that Tony Romo?" Doc asked the worker behind the counter. It sure was.

Doc hustled across the street to the consignment store that paid him to pass out fliers and requested the day off. When he got back to the theater, "Role Models" had started.

Romo, who confirmed the story but didn't want to elaborate, waved Doc over to sit by him and his friend.

Doc said he hadn't showered in a few days. "Don't worry about that," Romo said. "I'm used to locker rooms."

For Romo, who made news by changing a couple's tire on a roadside on the way home on the night of the season opener, it was another kind gesture to a random stranger.

"It was a blessing," Doc told the Dallas Morning News. "It gave me some encouragement and faith in mankind. I just wanted to say thank you."

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL