Looks Like a Wynn-Lose Proposition

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman says he has “all but conceded” defeat in his campaign to bring an NBA or NHL franchise to the city, and he seemed to blame Steve Wynn, outgoing chief of Mirage Resorts, for the failure.

Wynn, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “started the buzz over pro sports last summer when he said bringing in a pro team ‘could be the next phase of the city’s evolution.’ ”

Said Goodman of Wynn, “I haven’t heard from him since the first meeting. He said he’s not going to be at the forefront, it’s my baby.”

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Trivia time: Name two major league catchers who posted 1.000 fielding averages in a season.

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Heads up: C.W. Nevius of the San Francisco Chronicle, on how close fans are to the field at the Giants’ new Pacific Bell Park:

“Staying alert is not enough. Some kind of screen or low netting is going to be needed. Everyone thinks it’s a dumb idea until he or she is the one who gets clocked.”

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Trash talking: At the WNBA draft last month, No. 2 overall pick Tausha Mills of Alabama, a notoriously poor free-throw shooter, was asked if she could shoot them better than Shaquille O’Neal.

“Anybody can shoot free throws better than him,” she said.

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More trash talking: Indiana’s Jalen Rose had this retort to a heckler, as he came back to the court for a postgame interview:

“The price of your ticket don’t pay for you to talk stupid to me!”

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Celtic pride: Stan Hochman of the Philadelphia Daily News, describing a recent conversation with Hall of Famer Bill Russell:

“I asked Russell something I’ve always wondered about. What if Chamberlain had played in Boston in the ‘60s and Russell had played in Philadelphia, which team would have won NBA titles?

“ ‘Wherever I was,’ Russell said swiftly, then erupted in that trademarked cackle that rattled the glassware behind the bar.

“ ‘Actually, we talked about it once. Briefly. Wilt said he would not have won as many titles in Boston as I did. Because of the energy flow, Wilt’s teammates had to get him the ball so he could do his thing.

“ ‘I got the ball to my teammates and I didn’t require anything of them in return.’ ”

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Trivia answer: Buddy Rosar of the Philadelphia A’s in 1946 (117 games) and Charles Johnson of the Florida Marlins in 1997 (123 games).

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And finally: David Letterman, talking about Elian Gonzalez being visited by his young Cuban friends: “The kids are already being scouted by the Yankees.”