Bleacher Report - Articles by Leslie Lao

It’s a Long Shot for a Pro Team in Las Vegas

Leslie Lao — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:36:18 -0500

Gambling. Booze. Women of questionable morals.

For all the things Las Vegas is known for, sports teams aren’t one of them.

Sure, there are the major casino venues, like Caesar’s Palace Coliseum and the MGM Grand Garden Arena, who regularly play host to huge sporting events. The town has seen it all: Boxing, Ultimate Fighting, rodeos, you name it.

But I’m talking about local places to go where I can consistently attend a sport game—with a team that I can root for because of its regional convenience. Sin City-based spectator sports comprise the minor-league Wranglers (hockey), the 51s (baseball), college sports at UNLV, and the races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Not too impressive for the city that’s known as America’s Playground. And there is nothing more American as the testing of brute strength in front an audience drunk with cultish pride (amongst other things).

There have been years of speculating Las Vegas would get a professional sports team. The idea has been thrown back-and-forth for a while and, frankly, I think without a new arena, no pro franchises will consider Vegas as an eligible market.

The recent economic crisis has hit Las Vegas, and optimism about landing a major pro team is wearing thin. The prospect of constructing a new arena in town is deemed unfathomable—at least, until the economy swings back and investors come along.

Many speculate teams are hesitant to move to Vegas due to the stigma of sports gambling and how it could affect a team’s image or integrity.

The city’s other drawbacks, mainly, the small size of the television market and the fierce competition for the entertainment dollar, make no guarantees a pro team would play to sold-out crowds.

Bottom line, sports teams are still a business based largely on season ticket holders. For most teams, this accounts for a large chunk of ticket revenue. In Las Vegas, this creates a difficult challenge to resell those seats to tourists and conventioneers on a nightly basis.

Nevertheless, entertainment people are always looking for ways to entertain their customers. Las Vegas may possess the corporate support and growth potential a league may be looking for in a franchise. No doubt, it is a unique and interesting market.

Pro leagues shouldn’t fold just yet when it comes to betting on Las Vegas as an eligible market. The city will just have to wait and see what hand it's dealt next.

Miami-Georgia Tech Preview: The Cheat Sheet

Leslie Lao — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:53:11 -0500

Miami is currently in first place and seeking to secure a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. Long-shot Georgia Tech must win to stay eligible for the title.

THE GAME

Miami at Georgia Tech, Nov. 20, Atlanta, GA—The Hurricanes are making their second consecutive Thursday night appearance, while Georgia Tech’s last game played was on Nov. 8.

THE OFFENSE

Expect coach Randy Shannon to continue his two-quarterback system with freshmen Robert Marve and Jacory Harris. Miami’s offense is not the strongest (ranking 100th in the nation), so they will have to contend with Georgia Tech’s rushing attack.

THE DEFENSE

Miami has been strong against the running game, an area that Georgia Tech will surely test as the Yellow Jackets are averaging at 251 yards a game. Tech is one of the nation’s best rushing teams (currently ranking 8th). Miami boasts the 19th best rushing defense and 10th in total defense.

THE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Miami freshman quarterback Robert Marve needs to stay focused. One of the ACC's lowest-rated passers; Marve has been intercepted 10 times in nine games while throwing for seven touchdowns. This guy, however, is highly mobile, so Georgia Tech will need to up their athleticism to catch him.

Wide receiver Aldarius Johnson is the team’s leader in receiving with 27 catches. With 15 receptions over the last four games, Johnson is tied with fellow freshman Travis Benjamin for the team lead with three touchdown catches.

THE FACTS

Miami will take the field as a top 25 team for first time since 2006, when the Hurricanes lost against Louisville, 31-7, and failed to make the next 41 AP polls.

Georgia Tech has won three straight games in the series and is 7-2 overall against the Hurricanes at Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Last matchup between Miami and Georgia Tech was Oct. 13, 2007; Georgia Tech won, 17-14.

THE ROSTER REPORT

Left tackle Jason Fox (leg) is expected to start alongside Reggie Youngblood.

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin, who suffered an ankle injury against Virginia Tech, is also expected to be back.

THE PREDICTION

The 'Canes need to be fast and injury-free to secure a win. If Miami can overcome Georgia Tech by scoring first, then this game will be a lock for the Hurricanes. Expect this game to be a good one!

Miami Hurricanes' Empire Poised to Strike Back

Leslie Lao — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:27:01 -0500

With their longest win streak since 2005, the Miami Hurricanes have won their fifth game in a row with Thursday’s defeat of the Virginia Tech Hokies, 16-14. Miami rode the victory into first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division.

Thursday’s game was like the Dolphin Stadium School of Defense for both teams. Both sides were great defensively. Offensively? Not so much. The reason: The defenses were very talented and too quick for arguably predictable offenses.

Miami’s defense shut Virginia Tech down in the second half by making impressive plays, especially in the third quarter, when the Hokies failed to pass their own 20. Quite the feat for a team as young as the Hurricanes.

Miami is making a tremendous turnaround this season, which is why I believe they are on the brink of being a dominant force in college football in the upcoming years. Even if the Hurricanes fail to reach the ACC game in Tampa on Dec. 6, they still have made great strides in this season so far—just compare them to last season’s 5-7 (2-6 ACC) record.

I suppose we have no choice but to wait until Saturday’s North Carolina-Maryland game to decide who is (and isn’t) at the top of the Coastal Division.

By no means am I declaring that the Hurricane Empire is back after one win (or five—for that matter), but if Miami can keep this streak up, the future is very bright in sunny Miami.

I Hate Winter—At Least I Have Sports on Television

Leslie Lao — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:36:16 -0500

I’m not a huge fan of daylight saving time. Arizona and Hawaii seem to have the right idea: they don’t observe it.

Not only did I lose an hour of sunlight out of my extraordinary day, but also changing my clocks reminds me that the weather is starting to get really cold and the days are getting shorter. Namely, it’s less outdoor sports for my wimpy butt and more time indoors moving up another weight class—and not by choice.

On the plus side, at least there are sports to keep me warm. The cold weather months represent probably the best time of year for sports on television. I’m not one to attend outdoor games in freezing, miserable weather, so television is my new best friend in the winter.

October gives us the World Series for Major League Baseball and the start of the NBA regular season. And while everyone prepares for Thanksgiving dinner and recovers its aftermath, November brings a ton of rivalry games in basketball and football.

Let’s not forget that the coldest months of the year, January and February, is huge for college football bowl games and the mother of all professional sporting events, the Super Bowl.

Then, in March, there I am back at square one advancing my clocks an hour, just in time for college basketball’s March Madness and for fans to start filling out their brackets.

Thus, it appears that daylight saving time is the proverbial bookends to what is argued as the best sport events in America.

So while all of you hardcore fans are attending games shirtless with your painted faces, screaming for your football teams, just remember that I’m in my warm home, watching you on television—and trying to remember if my clocks are supposed to be one hour ahead or behind.

Miami Hurricanes Within Reach of ACC Title? So Close, but Not Really

Leslie Lao — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:10:37 -0500

UM is so close to the ACC Championship, but they still have a long way to go.

The Miami Hurricanes are on a four-game winning streak and tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division with the North Carolina Tar Heels and Virginia Tech Hokies.

The Hurricanes’ Thursday night game Nov. 13 at Dolphin Stadium against Tech is sure to be a good one, mainly because there is a lot riding on this game. This is a game that will put one of these teams in the lead in the Division.

A victory over Hokies will give the Hurricanes a fighting chance at playing for the ACC title.

No sweat. Maybe, maybe not.

UM’s chances of playing in the Dec. 6 ACC championship game were hurt by the Tar Heels' win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 28-7.

Not only will UM have to win out their upcoming games, the Heels will have to lose at least one of their next three games against Maryland, N.C. State, or Duke.

That’s a lot of pressure for the ‘Canes, but hey, whoever said this football stuff was easy?

To add insult to injury (pun intended), left tackle Jason Fox sprained his right ankle during Miami’s Nov. 1 win against Virginia. Fox is considered to be UM’s top offensive lineman.

The Hurricanes are also set to be missing wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (leg) and running back Shawnbrey McNeal (undisclosed illness), both of whom were also listed as doubtful on Tuesday’s injury report.

There’s a lot stacked up against Miami, but after the team's performance during these few last wins, I’m hopeful.

But I’ll let you know how I feel after the game Thursday night.