Rebels’ title team not so beloved
The 1989-90 UNLV basketball team always will be beloved in Las Vegas for providing the town with perhaps its top sports moment.
Apparently, sports fans around the country don't remember the squad as fondly.
The team checked in at No. 9 on a sportsillustrated.com list of the top 25 most hated sports teams in history, released Wednesday.
The Rebels were the top college basketball team included on the list, which was topped by the 1986 Miami Hurricanes football team and the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons.
"Coached by the inimitable, towel-chomping Jerry Tarkanian and starring forward Larry Johnson, the program was in keeping with the Vegas ethos: Have wild fun now, break some rules and deal with the consequences later," the accompanying write-up stated.
So, where are the negatives? That sounds like all the more reason to love a team. It also sounds like a possible title for Lindsay Lohan's autobiography.
■ LIGHT READING -- Leftovers can't stop following the Rick Pitino extortion trial updates at kentuckysportsradio.com.
The staff there has provided running commentary, on the website and Twitter, of the insanely bizarre courtroom proceedings, combining the right balance of newsworthy items and humorous notes.
Matt Jones, one of the site's contributors, liked the emergence of the nickname for Pitino's collection of friends who frequented the restaurant where the sexual encounter that triggered this fiasco took place.
"The big story from the day will be that Pitino, Reggie Theus and friends were known as 'The Boys' and hung out at Porcinis 2-3 times a week," Jones posted on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.
Thomas Beisner was tracking the action Wednesday and offered this nugget:
"In breaking news, Karen Sypher wore a white thong that night. How can you be sure? Well, one of 'The Boys,' Glen Hogan, lifted Sypher's skirt and asked 'what u got under there?' "
It got only better, as Jones tweeted later Wednesday afternoon, "Pitino admits to 'unfortunate' action with Sypher. Says 'she opened my pants' and they had sex 'very briefly.' "
Later, Jones tweeted "Pitino said entire sexual encounter with Sypher 'took less than 15 seconds.' " She then asked him for more than $5 million dollars to cover up the incident, which led to her being charged with extortion.
■ COMMUNITY SERVICE -- John Robinson, who recently was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, is serving as the defensive coordinator at San Marcos High School near San Diego.
The legendary coach tells Rivals High he was bored with retirement and looking for a way to give back for all the success he has enjoyed.
"I owe somebody something for all the good fortune that's happened to me," he said. "The best way for me to give back is to do something I had skill in."
Apparently, the brief career-ending stint coaching out on Boulder Highway didn't fulfill that obligation.
COMPILED BY ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
