UNR’s Wolfie Jr. wins online mascot vote

UNLV might own the basketball court in its instate rivalry with UNR. But the folks up north, who dominate the Rebels in football, have another thing to hold over the heads of UNLV fans.

UNR is home to the nation's best mascot.

Wolfie Jr. topped Georgia Tech's yellow jacket Buzz, Oregon's Duck and Auburn's Aubie the Tiger to win the Capital One National Mascot of the Year contest. The announcement, made at halftime of the Capital One Bowl on Monday, in Orlando, Fla., gave UNR a $20,000 prize.

Judges picked 16 finalists for the Capital One All-America Mascot Team, based on each mascot's originality and ability to create enthusiasm among fans. The Mascot of the Year was chosen from the finalists through Internet voting.

"We did a pretty extensive texting campaign," said Mike Samuels, the school's associate athletic director for marketing. "It's a huge exposure thing for us. Capital One will include him in all their promotions for the next year. You can't buy that kind of publicity.

"There's not many times we can be talked about nationally."

Wolfie Jr. returned to Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Tuesday night to a hero's welcome. Somewhere on South Maryland Parkway, Hey Reb is plotting his revenge.

■ CRETIN CUB FAN -- For one Chicago Cubs fan, 2012 did not get off to a good start.

A man was arrested early Sunday for running onto Wrigley Field and grabbing some of the ivy, police said. Michael Vite was charged with criminal trespass to land, a misdemeanor.

About 7:30 a.m. CST, a Chicago Cubs security officer saw Vite, 24, on video surveillance entering Wrigley Field through an area under construction on the west wall of the stadium, according to a police report.

He ran onto the field and "grabbed some ivy off the back wall," the report said. He tried to flee but was apprehended.

Just another case of ivy proving poisonous to some wiseacre.

■ RUPP IRKS FLYERS -- Throw another log onto the fiery rivalry between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers.

After scoring the Rangers' first goal in a come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Flyers in Monday's NHL Winter Classic, Mike Rupp raised his arm, took off his right glove and saluted the New York fans at Citizens Bank Park.

The gesture was strikingly similar to the one the Flyers' Jaromir Jagr has used during his career when he scores. Rupp insists he wasn't mocking Jagr, a former Ranger.

"Believe it or not, I was just in the moment," Rupp said.

Some of Jagr's teammates didn't appreciate the move. But Jagr didn't seem too concerned.

"It's fine with me; it's not my signature," Jagr said. "I do it because I was celebrating goals. Maybe he does it too. Maybe he's celebrating it like that, I don't know. He doesn't score many goals."

COMPILED BY STEVE CARP
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL