Tark knows persecution. He also knows how to win.

The NCAA conceded both points yesterday by formally agreeing to hand over $2.5 million to settle a decades-long dispute with lifelong rebel Jerry Tarkanian. He claimed in a lawsuit the organization used dirty tricks to try to drive him out of the business.

The only thing they succeeded in doing, however, was to make his life miserable.

"They can never, ever, make up for all the pain and agony they caused me," Tarkanian said.

Maybe not.

But the money is all Tark is ever likely to get.

The settlement does not require the NCAA to admit doing anything improper and executive director Cedric Dempsey confirmed that Las Vegas will freeze over before Tark ever gets an apology.

The NCAA's statement did say something about regrets.

But anybody who wants to know how the watchdog of college sports really feels doesn't have to read much more.

The statement said the NCAA couldn't find a judge who would move the case out of Nevada; nor could it find a jury in Sin City--despite several mock trials--that would buy its side of the case.

The only thing left at that point was to say "uncle" and swallow hard.