Las Vegas Coyotes? Yeah, right

A franchise in trouble, a possible move on the way.

Which city gets mentioned?

Las Vegas, of course.

We've all been down this path before, the city's name somehow getting dropped into the conversation about where a team might relocate.

In this case, it's the Phoenix Coyotes. The city of Glendale, Ariz., agreed to cover $25 million in losses in an effort to keep the team if a new owner isn't found. Though it's a significant step to keeping the Coyotes at least for next season, it is no guarantee.

One report said no one is interested in buying the Coyotes and keeping them in Arizona, which would prompt the NHL to switch the team to Las Vegas or Kansas City, Mo. TSN, Canada's version of ESPN, reported the NHL has drawn up schedules including those two cities.

When contacted by the Review-Journal on Wednesday, spokesmen for the NHL and Coyotes didn't comment.

But Las Vegans know better than to get excited. Locals have heard talk before of teams considering Las Vegas, most notably six years ago when baseball looked at placing the Montreal Expos here before choosing Washington.

Locals were skeptical then, and they should be now, too.

■ FUTILE SWINGS -- Tiger Woods should do what this Leftovers writer did Wednesday, which is pick up the phone and call Butch Harmon.

Woods, no doubt, would have a better chance getting through to Harmon, who didn't return the R-J's call.

It's time for Woods to put his ego aside -- possibly for the first time -- and realize he played his best golf under Harmon's tutelage, winning eight majors in five years. Tiger has won six since firing Harmon in 2002.

Woods often blew away the competition in those early years, putting on the best display in golf history in winning the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by 15 shots.

But Woods didn't like that Harmon got so much credit and was so outspoken, so he cut ties and hired Hank Haney in 2004. Now Haney is out of the picture, so Woods needs another swing coach.

Getting Harmon, who lives in Las Vegas, isn't easy. He's handling Tiger's big rival, Phil Mickelson. But Woods has to try because his swing is a mess.

■ COSTLY JEWELRY -- Robin Laird thought her pole vault had given South Pasadena (Calif.) High School the league title over Monrovia on April 29.

Then the world started spinning backward, and it had nothing to do with Superman. Monrovia coach Mike Knowles pointed out Laird's friendship bracelet violated the rule against wearing jewelry (yes, he was serious), and because he was right, Monrovia won on a technicality.

When SI.com caught up to Knowles a few days later, he didn't back down. "This is my 30th year coaching track," he said. "I know a lot of rules and regulations."

Well, that should make everyone feel better.

If Knowles begins to get a gnawing feeling he did something wrong, he shouldn't worry. It's called a conscience, something he should learn about.

Or is that against the rules?

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL