UNLV should call Smith’s number

The point guard in Robert Smith could handle tonight without dropping a tear or bead of sweat. Calm. Cool. A massive grip around his emotions.

The man in him might have a more difficult time.

"Very special, very emotional, very tough to keep it all together," Smith said. "I could lose it at any time."

How ironic. Robert Smith being rattled is Simon Cowell being humble.

Smith will be honored at the Orleans Arena tonight when he and four other inductees are welcomed into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.

He enters for a UNLV basketball career that many believe paints Smith as the best point guard in program history, the one who directed the Rebels to their first Final Four in 1977, who blended a mound of talent into a unified group, who expertly managed games back when there was no 3-point line or shot clock, who shot free throws as if they were layups and ranks among the all-time top 10 in assists.

Who should have had his jersey retired years ago.

Subjective best describes the process of how programs go about deciding whose numbers forever should hang in arena rafters.

Makes sense. To expect North Carolina and Wyoming to own the same standards when retiring jerseys is like expecting to pay the same face value for a Super Bowl ticket and a preseason NFL game.

UNLV owns a national championship, four Final Four trips and not much of a measuring stick when it comes to someone's jersey being retired. There isn't any procedure beyond nomination.

It usually comes from the head coach, which means Lon Kruger today should be reminded of Smith's obvious credentials and make certain No. 10 joins the eight others already hanging.

Reggie Theus and the late Glen Gondrezick have their numbers retired from the 1976-77 team that lost to North Carolina in a national semifinal, but anyone who watched will tell you the "Hardway Eight" began and ended under Smith's direction. He made the biggest difference.

On the team that delivered UNLV into national prominence, he was the one driving.

"Baseball has five-tool players, and I don't know what number for basketball it would be, but Robert was one of them," said Marc Ratner, a Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame member who has watched UNLV basketball since 1960. "The most well-rounded point guard I have seen here. Great passer. A near-90 percent free-throw shooter. Great on-ball defender. He did it all.

"He is as deserving to have his number retired as anyone up there."

Time passes. Other great teams and players develop. Those from the distant past often fade a bit. It's human nature to think first of those we have watched most recently.

But how is it Smith's name never has been nominated for jersey retirement? One of the things people most remember about that '77 season is that UNLV owned nearly as much skill as ego. They were great players who knew it.

They became a great team because of Smith.

"When I would see certain guys upset at not getting enough touches, I would go back to them the next few times to get them back mentally," Smith said. "Everyone at some point was unhappy about not getting shots. But that was my job -- manage the game and keep the other guys happy and in check.

"There have been a lot of great guards to come through UNLV. I don't feel bad about (his number) not being retired. I didn't play for things like that. It wasn't the goal. But it would be a huge honor."

This isn't even debatable. It's more of a no-brainer than watching "Seinfeld" reruns over those of "Antiques Roadshow." Forget that Smith has devoted his post-NBA life to coaching area youth and giving back to the community in a massive fashion. He was obviously a terrific player. Those closest to him insist he always has been a better person.

This is strictly about his UNLV career. Smith is in the school's Hall of Fame as a member of the '77 team. The next obvious step is, well, pretty obvious.

"If anybody brought Robert's name forward, it certainly would be taken under consideration and looked at and entertained," said UNLV senior associate athletic director Jerry Koloskie, who has chaired the school's Hall of Fame board for 10 years. "If there is a case made and the person is deserving, we wouldn't deny it."

Because if anyone did in the case of Robert Smith, well, that would be just plain idiotic.

The time hasn't come. It's long overdue.

Don't make things so hard. This is one of the easy decisions.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at 702-383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.