LETTERS
Vegas Grand Prix crowd a joy after NBA debacle
To the sports editor:
I couldn't let Joe Hawk's April 9 column regarding the Las Vegas Grand Prix ("Best-laid race plans leave room for improvement") go without comment.
While I concur that, some fine-tuning aside, the event was well planned, well organized and well run, I believe Hawk missed the real story: In three days' worth of outdoor concerts, eating, drinking and oh, yeah, racing ... not one person got shot. No racing stars made the papers for causing a riot. No one appeared to be afraid to walk the Fremont Street Experience for fear of being verbally accosted or blatantly groped by here-for-the-race thugs. No one apparently found it necessary either to call into the local radio talk shows on Monday to complain about being stiffed on tips or cab fares or to complain about the influx of whores to our city.
No, for my money, the story was the fans' behavior -- compared with the much-hyped NBA All-Star Weekend in February -- not the need for shade over the start-finish line bleachers.
Gary Roberson
Huggins achieved plenty in year with Kansas State
To the sports editor:
If columnist Joe Hawk's recent "rant" about Bob Huggins was that he left Kansas State after only one season, showing no loyalty and not honoring his contract, I'm with him 100 percent. However, if Hawk is comparing Huggins' record to UNLV coach Lon Kruger's, he should keep in mind that Huggins inherited a program that has little basketball tradition, has not won much in the recent past, plays in a tougher conference and, most important, before leaving, he recruited what most consider to be the nation's top-ranked class.
If those players honor their commitments, Huggins has set up the Wildcats to have a nice little run over the next few years.
By the way, although I consider Kruger to be an excellent choice as UNLV's basketball coach, I would like to see him snag a few more of the nation's top-50 players in his upcoming classes. That is the only way the program has a chance of getting to the next level.
Bill Harper
Horrendous Gladiators going nowhere but down
To the sports editor:
The Gladiators are the worst team in the Arena Football League. They have the worst defense in the league.
They started at the Thomas & Mack Center with an attendance of about 10,000 fans. They've moved to the Orleans Arena and an attendance of about 6,000. Next stop, Bonanza High School and an attendance of 2,000.
The odds are they won't be here next year. I know Pahrump needs a team -- attendance about 1,000.
Jay Friedman
Noah shows lack of class after Gators' title victory
To the sports editor:
I hope the world was watching the lack of class and grace that Joakim Noah of Florida displayed right after helping his team to a second consecutive NCAA basketball title April 2.
How many joyous fans who just drained their savings, child's college fund and 401k for Final Four tickets to support their team did Noah bulldoze through, leave hanging and otherwise ignore en route to his cheesy, rehearsed celebration with his mother?
Matt Sadler
The Review-Journal welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be 150 words or less and must include the writer's name and phone number. Send letters to: Sports Editor, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070. Letters also can be e-mailed to: jhawk@reviewjournal.com.
