Can someone clarify her relationship to UNLV? I get it megabooster..
@Ernie Baur
Elaine also said it was the success of the basketball program in the mid 70’s is what led them to wanting to get involved with UNLV. Maxson weaseling Elaine Wynn in charge of the UNLV Foundation in the mid 80s was the second big domino in the downfall of the program. The Foundation was the primary fund raising arm of the University and had been under the control of Jerry’s good friend Irwin Molasky.
Getting Elaine in charge enabled Maxson to get access to key power players in town to sell his “Harvard of the West”, academics over athletics, vision as well as having Elaine sell his message on his behalf. Over time they were able to brainwash some key influential people that ultimately help lead to Jerry’s downfall.
After being embarrassed by their role in destroying the program Steve and Elaine were largely invisible. They were heavily involved in trying to lure Pitino in 2001 as they had a relationship with him, but after that failed that was really it for them. They did support Reggie in 2011 but they didn’t exactly do a whole lot of heavy lifting.
