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I think we kid ourselves about a lot of things in Albuquerque, but perhaps our greatest delusion is that the Duke City is one helluva sports town.

I'm not so sure about that, and haven't been for a long time.

Oh, yes, we like sports.

When they're convenient.

When they're affordable.

When the weather's perfect.

When the teams are exciting.

When the teams are winning.

When there's a giveaway.

When the opponent looks good.

When the venue is comfy, classy and doesn't require an arm and a leg for parking.

When there's nothing better on TV.

But fail in any one of those criteria — and let's face it, the University of New Mexico and the city's pro sports franchises can't meet them all, all the time — and our ardor goes right out the door.

I write this not knowing what kind of crowd will show for today's New Mexico Bowl between the Lobos and Nevada Wolf Pack. Late this week, officials said they had sold 27,000 tickets, including a pre-paid allotment of 6,000 to Nevada that Wolf Pack fans almost certainly won't use.

Couple that with prospects for cold weather, and I'll venture the bowl game will be fortunate to draw 25,000. That's not terrible, but it ain't great — particularly when you consider UNM is 8-4, anchors a metro area of more than a half-million and has become, if not a thrilling program to watch, at least solid.

Then again, you can walk across the street to one of the greatest basketball arenas on planet Earth and see virtually the same story.

It was one thing when the overmatched Ritchie McKay and Fran Fraschilla were turning the golden goose that was UNM men's basketball into turkey trots. But new coach Steve Alford has revitalized New Mexico, getting a thin roster to play with pride and passion.

Albuquerque's reaction? The Pit was nearly filled for archrival New Mexico State this week, but the Lobos have yet to inspire fans' presence with any regularity. And let's face it: When only 13,000 people are in a nearly 18,000-seat arena, the place is more hollow than a George W. Bush speech.

All this, in the honeymoon period of Alford's tenure at UNM — a usually rhapsodic time that used to make his predecessors swoon, because they'd never seen so many people for games against teams like Monmouth or Winthrop or . . . hell, it didn't matter who the Lobos played.

They'd sell out.

They don't anymore. Or at least, they don't out of reflex.

You can watch a high school game or check out the Thunderbirds in the NBA D-League or hockey's New Mexico Scorpions up in Rio Rancho's gleaming new arena. Chances are, you'll have elbow room.

Albuquerque's population continues to grow, but its ties to local teams seem to shrink or stagnate. It's odd — and troubling for a city that tells itself it's cuh-razy about sports.

The most striking example of this malaise came Nov. 10 at University Stadium.

The Lobos were playing Colorado State at University Stadium. There couldn't have been a prettier day — cool enough for a sweater, but bright enough to get an Indian Summer suntan.

Colorado State was no great shakes, but the Lobos were 6-3 at the time, driving for a bowl bid. And for the 27,031 who bothered to come, it was a nice show — a competitive, hard-fought battle won by the Lobos in the final seconds with some smart plays and a last-second field goal.

The Colorado State win propelled New Mexico into bowl consideration. But there was no ripple effect: UNM's next home game two weeks later against Nevada-Las Vegas drew only 22,658. All poor coach Rocky Long could do was thank those who did come.

Almost as embarrassing, perhaps, have been the yawns and yowls over "having" to settle for the New Mexico Bowl.

My question is: What would have happened to the Lobos' program or Albuquerque's reputation had they not been invited?

Well, for one thing, the Lobos would be home for Christmas, and Albuquerque would've been treated to watching itself on ESPN: a city disguised as an acre of empty concrete seats while Nevada, and oh, maybe Wyoming, battled in front of a crowd better suited to a District 2-5A game between Eldorado and Manzano.

Only problem is, neither Eldorado, Manzano nor any other local school is drawing as it once did, either.

It's the strangest thing. But it's the real thing.