He Wants Tarkanian to Have the Floor

With college basketball’s late signing period in full swing, it seems the most important recruit new Nevada Las Vegas Coach Lon Kruger should bag is a familiar face -- former Rebel coach Jerry Tarkanian.

At least that’s the opinion of Review-Journal columnist Joe Hawk, who is on a campaign to have UNLV rename the court at the Thomas & Mack Center after the Shark, just as UCLA named the floor at Pauley Pavilion after Nell and John Wooden.

“This is our crusade, and we hope it is yours too, Southern Nevada,” Hawk implored. “If you were a fan of UNLV basketball during Tark’s years and you’re still a scholarship donor/season-ticket holder, do not -- repeat: DO NOT! -- renew for the 2004-05 season until this matter is resolved to OUR satisfaction.”

Hawk added, “All we’re asking for is a 50-foot-by-94-foot lacquered piece of hardwood be named after Tarkanian. Not some science building or -- God forbid! -- the seventh floor of the presidential tower on campus!”

Trivia time: What current Pacific 10 Conference Hall of Fame coach followed Tarkanian at Long Beach State in 1973?

On second thought? Duke freshman phenom Luol Deng is thinking about reneging on that post-Final Four promise to return for his sophomore season, according to the student newspaper, the Chronicle.

“The forward is projected to be a top-five pick ... and there is speculation that he may be chosen within the [NBA] draft’s first three selections.”

Coming out of high school, Deng was the consensus No. 2 player nationally, behind some guy named LeBron James.

Looking back: On this date in 1956, undefeated heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano retired with a record of 49-0, including six title defenses and 43 knockouts.

Looking back II: On this date in 1968, Jimmy Ellis won the world heavyweight championship with a 15-round decision over Jerry Quarry in Oakland. Ellis had won an eight-man tournament to get his shot at the title stripped from Muhammad Ali because he refused to be drafted for the Vietnam War.

Mass-o-money: Speaking of shots, the Las Vegas Sun’s Dean Juipe could not resist throwing a haymaker at Tarkanian’s first successor, whose hiring was announced on April Fools’ Day 1992.

“Former, unloved UNLV basketball coach Rollie Massimino is living in Tequesta, Fla., and allegedly playing 27 holes of golf a day off the $1.9-million severance he received from the school,” Juipe wrote. “He’s 69 and suffered a stroke last year, but, apparently, he’s well enough to live a life of leisure at UNLV’s expense.”

Trivia answer: “Midnight” Lute Olson, who took the 49ers to a 24-2 record in his lone season at the Beach before heading to Iowa and then to Arizona.

And finally: “Best Damn Sports Show Period’s” Tom Arnold, on “Things You Wouldn’t Say To ... Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg” after the Supreme Court justice had denied Maurice Clarett’s appeal for eligibility for the NFL draft:

“Hey, Ruth, I guess Clarett really isn’t ready for the NFL -- if he can’t even get past a 70-year-old woman.”