Nevada Sports Net columnist Chris Murray is known to be a bit of a wordy guy, so every Friday we give him 1,000 words (but no more) to share his thoughts on the week in the sports world.
*After more than four years After a hiatus, by popular demand I've brought back my “1000 Words of the Week” column, which I first wrote for the Reno Gazette-Journal over a decade ago. Actually, there was no demand for it, but I missed writing a column and it had a pretty large readership, so I brought it back.
*One of my favorite TV shows The theme of the show is “Arrested Development,” and my favorite line from the show is, “There's always money in the banana stand, Michael.” Michael's father, George Bluth Sr., is in prison and keeps telling his son Michael about the money in the banana stand. But the Bluths are all idiots, so Michael burns down the family-owned banana stand that sells frozen bananas in an attempt to get the insurance money back for his financially struggling family. Of course, George then tells his son that the banana stand had a quarter of a million dollars piled up in its walls, far more than the insurance money.
* Latest Groups When a group unveiled a $40 million plan this week to build a professional soccer stadium in Reno, I was reminded of a line from “Arrested Development.” With the number of people trying to build soccer stadiums and arenas in Northern Nevada, there must be money involved. It's not pure altruism. Battleborn FC is trying to build a stadium in North Reno. For Our Fans Foundation is trying to build a stadium in South Reno. And a third group is trying to build 10 youth soccer fields in East Reno. The only one missing is West Reno. Why is West Reno so lazy?
* Foundation for Fans is abbreviated by the initials FOFF, and the public basically told the group to F-OFF. In fact, foul language was hurled at the group during their presentation, and the Washoe County Open Space & Regional Parks Commission received 275 letters opposing the project and two in favor. That's an overwhelming majority, and the parks board voted unanimously against recommending the proposal to the County Commission, which will make the final decision when they vote next month.
* People I don't want a professional soccer team in Northern Nevada. But the site in South Valley Regional Park where FOFF planned to build their stadium is 33 acres of one of the most valuable pieces of land in the city. And using all that land for a soccer stadium, which is a stadium for a second division USL team that's not even top-tier Reno 1868 FC, is not optimal. The current South Valley Master Plan includes softball/baseball fields, basketball courts, tennis/pickleball center, pool, dog park, disc golf course, splash pad, volleyball courts, amphitheater, indoor recreation/community facilities, etc. I'm not sure if the county could find the money to build it, but it would be better than just a soccer stadium.
* If you have money A pro soccer stadium would put that possibility in jeopardy, but groups will continue to propose a stadium. And with youth soccer being a hugely lucrative and controversial sport in Northern Nevada, it should eventually happen. This column's 1,000 words can't even cover the tip of the iceberg. But with minor league baseball taking hold in Reno and at least one or two minor league hockey teams coming to Northern Nevada, soccer seems like a sign to come next.
*Speaking of money On the stadium front, Grand Sierra Resort has released new artist renderings and a video series of a proposed $400 million basketball/hockey arena that would be home to the Nevada men's basketball team and possibly an AHL hockey team. Unlike the proposed soccer stadium, there's actual, quantifiable money being put into this project, and GSR owner Alex Merullo recently won $1 billion from the NHL and could think of a good place to put that money to work renovating Reno. For some reason, Merullo was an outcast in Phoenix when he owned the Arizona Coyotes, and things didn't work out there. But spending $1 billion to revitalize the GSR would give him the keys to the city of Reno.
*Paris Northern Nevada's local athletes start playing at 3 a.m. on Saturday. Why wake up that early to watch a tennis match between Wolfpack alum Moez Esharighi and Great Britain's Danielle Evans? By Tuesday, the majority of the Reno athletes' matches will be over. Northern Nevada athletes won five Olympic medals in Tokyo, three gold (David Taylor, Beau Becker, JaVale McGee) and two bronze (Gabby Williams, Krista Palmer). That's more medals than Northern Nevada has won in all previous Summer Olympics combined. This year's over/under medal total is 3.5, with swimmer Luke Hobson, cyclist Peris Venegas, basketballer Gabby Williams and rugby player Stephanie Lovetti competing for the podium.
* Hobson and Rovetti is a Reno High School graduate, while Williams and Venegas are Reed High School graduates. Northern Nevada schools that start with “R” are the best! Given the attention given to swimming in the Olympics, Hobson has a chance to become a national star if he wins multiple medals, and he likely will. Hobson may never grace the cover of Wheaties, but swimming is one of the most competitive sports in the world, so winning a gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle would be the greatest achievement ever for an athlete born and raised in Reno.
* With local heroes Washoe Little League is sending two players, Matthew Rivas, who won the regional tournament in Seattle, and Reese Matter, who placed third in the regional tournament, to the Little League World Series and the National Home Run Derby. Matter will be competing for his second time in Williamsport after qualifying last year. Both players are great players, and I say that not just because I've been coaching Washoe Little League for the past two seasons.
Columnist Chris Murray provides insight on Northern Nevada sports. Reach him at crmurray@sbgtv.com or follow him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.
