As UNLV's basketball team heads into its Wednesday night road test at Air Force, the Runnin' Rebels are looking to open Mountain West Conference play 4-0 for the first time in school history. More head-turning is the fact the Runnin' Rebels haven't started ANY conference season 4-0 since the 1991-1992 season — Jerry Tarkanian's last as UNLV head coach — when they were a member of the Big West.
In other words, despite all the criticism and talk of a hot seat, UNLV head coach Marvin Menzies is primed to do something no other head coach — Dave Rice, Lon Kruger, Charlie Spoonhour, Bill Bayno, Rollie Massimino — has done since Tark was "running" the show for UNLV.
It has been 27 years since Runnin' Rebels have opened conference with four straight wins. Twenty-seven. That's five years before senior guards Kris Clyburn and Noah Robotham were born. So much has happened in the UNLV basketball program since — the utter failure of Massimino, Bayno's firing after violating NCCA rules, Spoonhour's steady rebuild, Kruger's short return to prominence, Dave Rice's mid-season firing and Chris Beard's betrayal.
The Rebels are looking to make a little history in Colorado Springs — a notoriously tough place to play (the Falcons dominated San Diego State Saturday, 62-48). With that in mind, let's take a look at 10 things that happened in 1992, the last time UNLV Basketball started conference play 4-0.
1. Gambino crime family boss John Gotti is sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and racketeering
"The Teflon Don," known for his flamboyant style and personality, was found guilty of murder and other crimes in 1992. After being acquitted in three trials during the 1980s, the FBI was able to make the charges stick after a high-ranking member of his crime family — Sammy "The Bull" Gravano — agreed to cooperate with the authorities. Gotti was sentenced to life in prison and later died of throat cancer in prison at the age of 61. Gotti's reign as acting boss of the Gambino family has been the inspiration for more than one fictional character. He may be the model for The Godfather III's Joey Zasa. Even more interesting, according to the book "The Lufthansa Heist," Gotti was the one who wrote out another organized crime film character's real life inspiration. The book infers Gotti himself was responsible for the murder of Joe Pesci's Tommy DeSimone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9-CF7U6_fE The Mob Museum downtown has plenty of information regarding Gotti on display at the museum, which resides in the old U.S. Post Office and Courthouse at 300 Stewart Avenue. The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement also features a distillery and a speakeasy, the former offering tastings of its moonshine and distilled spirits. Tickets range from $16.95 for locals to $35.95 for the "Premier Pass," giving you access to the museum as well as two of three major exhibits: The Crime Lab Experience, which allows you to explore the work of forensic scientists, fingerprint analysts, DNA profilers, and medical examiners who determine how a crime is committed and secure evidence to the case. The Use of Force Training Experience, an immersive training experience where guests make split-second decisions law enforcement officers encounter daily on the job. For those with a hankering for some moonshine, the Distillery Tour & Tasting experience includes sampling a variety of distilled spirits and offers guests the chance to explore on-site speakeasy, The Underground, learn about Prohibition and gain insights into the drinking culture that existed before the 1920s.2. USA Network launched its newest cable TV entry — Cartoon Network
The cable television network “Cartoon Network” was established by the Turner Broadcasting System. Created by Betty Cohen, the first President of Cartoon Network from the programming aired old Warner Bros., MGM, and Hanna-Barbera cartoons. The first cartoon to ever air on Cartoon Network was a Looney Tunes short from the 1940s called “The Great Piggy Bank Robbery.” The network eventually expanded into original series with the “The Moxy Show” and the popular “Space Ghost Coast to Coast." Cartoon Network's "Adult Swim" is now one of the highest rated network segments on cable TV in 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgUzlWrkz1M3. Former Arkansas governor Bill Clinton was elected president
The dude loved fast food, women, cigars (on "special occasions"), and the constant excitement of politics. In a three-way race between Clinton, incumbent president George H.W. Bush, and millionaire H. Ross Perot, the Arkansas native won in a landslide. Clinton garnered 43 percent of the popular vote and 370 electoral votes to Bush's 168. He was one of the most popular modern presidents of the 20th Century. The win started a new era in American politics, but it wasn't without controversy. The 46-year-old was dogged by accusations from other women, ranging from extramarital affairs and sexual assault. Clinton's wife, future presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, vigorously defended her husband. Clinton was later impeached for lying under oath by the Republican-controlled House but was found innocent by the Democrat-controlled Senate. Today's "Me Too" movement was still decades from finding its voice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IpJUfy-Roo4. Rioting breaks out in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four white police officers accused of beating black motorist Rodney King
The 1992 Los Angeles riots were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County after a trial jury acquitted four officers of the LAPD of using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King. The beating was videotaped and widely viewed in TV broadcasts, adding to the distrust. The rioting spread throughout L.A., as thousands of people rioted over six days almost immediately after the jury announced the verdict. An estimated $1 billion in damage was reporting due to the widespread looting, assault, arson, and murder that occurred. Governor of California Pete Wilson declared an emergency, sending in the California Army National Guard, while then-President George H. W. Bush deployed the 7th Infantry Division and the 1st Marine Division. At least 63 people were killed, 2,383 injured, and more than 12,000 citizens were arrested by police. Much of the blame was directed to LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates, who had already announced his resignation by the time the riots began. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiib-Upshk85. Films "A Few Good Men, "Reservoir Dogs," "Scent of a Woman," and "My Cousin Vinny" were released
"You can't handle the truth," Jack Nicholson's character Col. Nathan R. Jessup declared to the courtroom. The truth is, 1992 was a great year for film. The world was introduced to young filmmaker Quentin Tarantino as "Reservoir Dogs" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Its opening sequence is still one of the most legendary openings in film. Al Pacino's portrayal of blind Vietnam War veteran Lt. Col. Frank Slade garnered the legendary actor won his first and only Academy Award for Best Actor. Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei took the the world by storm as Pesci's overly Italian lawyer defending his nephew on a false murder charge in the deep south. Tomei won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress and we were introduced to word "Yoot" for the first time. Tom Cruise and Nicholson performance in "A Few Good Men" spawned one of the most quoted exchange in modern film as Lt. Daniel Kaffee coerced Jessup into admitting he ordered the "Code Red." Other popular films like "The Last of the Mohicans," "Wayne's World" and Disney's "Aladdin" also hit theaters in 1992. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2Xi3ioasik6. Rage Against the Machine debuted its first album, R.E.M.'s "Automatic for the People" topped the charts
One of the first revolutionary albums of the 1990s, Rage Against the Machine's self-titled first release drew rave reviews as well as major criticism from the "powers-that-be" the band railed against. New Musical Express magazine wrote that "what makes RATM more than just another bunch of prodigiously capable genre-benders is their total lack of pretension or contrivance ... the results burn with an undeniable conviction." The band challenged the status quo as Harvard grad and "guitar hero" Tom Morello teamed with vocalist Zack de la Rocha and drummer Brad Wilk to make one of the greatest albums of the 1990s, and — arguably — all-time. The album produced such hits like "Killing in the Name," and "Wake Up," two songs that still permeate the air waves today in Donald Trump's America. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ Michael Stipe and R.E.M released their eighth studio album, "Automatic For The People," in 1992 as well. The album has sold 18 million copies worldwide and featured such classic 90s songs like "Everybody Hurts" and the Andy Kaufman-inspired "Man on the Moon." Dr. Dre also released his first solo album, "The Chronic," and introduced the world to Snoop Doggy Dogg for the first time. The top single was "I Will Always Love You," by Whitney Houston, and sat at the top for a record 14 straight weeks. Kris Kross made us "Jump, Jump," while The Cure told us it was Friday and they were in love. Ugly Kid Joe hated everything about you and TLC didn't want no scrubs. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana feuded with Axl Rose, who had not yet begun to eat all the cake in Los Angeles, at the MTV Music Awards.7. Hiker Christopher McCandless, also known as Alexander Supertramp, is found dead in a converted bus, the Fairbanks Bus 142, along Alaska's Stampede Trail
His story spawned not only a best-selling novel — "Into the Wild" — from author Jon Krakauer, but a feature-length film directed by Sean Penn. McCandless hitchhiked to Alaska, after spending the previous two years since graduating from Emory University. The 24-year-old sold all his donated most of his savings to charity and adopted a vagabond lifestyle after graduating, traveling through Arizona, California, South Dakota and, eventually, Alaska. It was in Alaska where McCandless, who began going by the name "Alexander Supertramp," found himself trapped in the wilderness with minimal supplies. After 113 days, McCandless succumbed to the wild and was found later by a passing hunter. He weighed just 66 pounds when his body was found and McCandless' final written journal entry, noted as "Day 107", simply read, "Beautiful Blue Berries." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZaRxPsk_M0 The book by Krakauer became an international bestseller which has been printed in 30 languages and 173 editions and formats. Penn's film adaptation made $56,822,960 at the box office while the soundtrack, was written by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder in his first solo album and sold more than 370,000 copies.8. Mortal Kombat was the first game to get a "Mature" Rating by Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)
Developed and published by Midway in 1992, Mortal Kombat became of the of the first truly gory video games available on the market. A fighting game in which players battle opponents in one-on-one matches, the gory violence of ripping a man's spine out of his body in "fatality" mode gave many conservatives nightmares. Congress even held hearings regarding video game violence thanks to games like Mortal Kombat, creating the first MA-12 rating for a home console video game. It also led to a pair of mediocre films, and 24 different incarnations of the game. According to Wikipedia, Mortal Kombat: The Album, an album by The Immortals featuring techno music, was released in May 1994 and featured two themes for the game, "Techno Syndrome" and "Hypnotic House", as well as themes written for each character. "Techno Syndrome" was adapted for the 1995 movie soundtrack and incorporated the familiar "Mortal Kombat!" yell from the Mortal Monday commercials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7Ejp1yfB49. Upper Deck produced baseball cards that included players with "porn-star-sounding" names using serial numbers ending in '69'
I mean, nothing really ever can top Billy Ripken's "F*ckface" baseball card, but Upper Deck sure did try. The popular baseball card company — intentionally or not — quietly gave some of Major League Baseball's most "porn-sounding names" the final two digits of "69." Whether it was Dick Schofield at #269, Heathcliff Slocumb at #569, or Dickie Thon at #769, urban legends have someone inside the production line within the card company throwing out these "wink wink" random names. Needless the say, the company never admitted to the inside joke but, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher John Wehner (pronounced "Waner") sitting at No. 469 is a little suspicious. Then again, it was the early 1990s, when the general public still had a sophomoric and less-sensitive sense of humor. Perhaps it was coincidence, but — as a child of the early 1990s — I was fully aware of the joke (or appearance of a joke).
