The Reno-Tahoe Open is done. No more John Daly flicking cigarettes into the sagebrush in the middle of fire season. No more rumors about Daly playing high-limit blackjack at the Hyatt in Incline Village. No more Tim Herron rushing out of the media center for a doughnut-eating contest.
The look on tournament director Jim Kline's face on Monday when asked if he thought there would be a fifth annual RTO was like a toddler who had just gotten his lollipop taken from him.
"Blame me. I didn't do my job," Kline said while blankly staring at an uninspiring piece of grass outside the clubhouse at Montreux Golf and County Club.
Kline's job was to find a title sponsor, one that would agree to a four-year contract worth about $25 million. He hasn't and if he doesn't in the next two months, the RTO won't be on the PGA Tour's 2003 schedule. Kline, who said he couldn't think of any city who's lost a PGA Tour event, blamed the sagging economy for his troubles. He said Reno's small market perception scared away potential corporations. He said that since the RTO doesn't have its own date, as it's played opposite of the NEC World Championships, made it more difficult to find a title sponsor.
Kline has the confidence of an out-of-place 40-year old hoping to get a date at UCLA sorority party.
Even before 9/11, Kline was told 'no' more times than Tiger Woods tells 'no' to tournament directors who aren't with the British Open, U.S. Open, PGA Championship and The Masters, or ones who can't pay him a $2 million appearance fee. If the RTO gets a title sponsor, it'll get its own date with a national television contract.
It's the classic Catch-22. Can't get a title sponsor without a TV contract. Can't get a TV contract without a title sponsor. Kline knows the RTO has no chance of surviving, meaning it'll end after four years of moderate success on August 26. Now the only professional sport left in Northern Nevada is the Reno Aces, a third division soccer team the Carson High varsity team could probably eat.
- Why does MLB Commissioner Bud Selig have as much charisma as a doorknob? Why did he tell fans on Wednesday that another tie in an all-star game will never happen again, a day after it happened. The game was tied 7-7 after the 11th inning. But instead of thinking about a solution to finish the game at the time, Selig just threw his hands up in the air, probably because an umpire asked him what the square root of 4 is.
Really, who cares? The all-star game is waste of time. The players don't care and some of the players don't even show up. Can't wait for the strike.
- Does ESPN really need to have a sports awards show to further kiss up to professional athletes? Doesn't it do enough of that the other 364 days of the year? How many times does Stuart Scott have to be shown kickin' with Tiger Woods before people realize that joker has as much journalistic integrity as National Enquirer reporter?
'And now, the ESPY for the best movie goes to...'
You got to be kidding me.
- ESPN.com listed Reno High's David Padgett as the fifth best center in the nation and 15th best overall prospect. Hoops.com listed Padgett, a 7-0 senior to-be, as the 10th best overall prospect. Padgett averaged 15.2 ppg and 7.8 rpg at the USA Youth Development Festival a few weeks ago in Colorado Springs, Colo. His top three college choices are Kansas, Stanford and Arizona, with a decision expected in the fall. Arizona is also heavily recruiting 7-0 center Brian Butch of West High in Appleton, Wis., who's rated the fourth best center by ESPN.com.
- According to Douglas High girls basketball coach Werner Christen, Brittany Puzey and Kayla Dunn are transferring to Douglas High. Christen said both girls' parents are buying homes in Douglas County.
That could be big problems for Carson High's softball program, which relied on Puzey and Dunn as freshman last season. It'll also impact Paul Croghan and the Carson basketball team and its hopes of making another run at the state title. Last season, Puzey was a major contributor off the bench for the Senators, who reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Centennial. The Tigers lost in double overtime to Centennial in the state championship game
The recently modified NIAA's transfer rule won't come into play because both girls would be moving to Douglas County.
