Just in time for that unique three-weekend, Vegas-holiday of March Madness, the MGM Grand unveiled its revamped, revitalized sports book. After several trips (for research of course), the first word that comes up to mind in summing up this great step forward is…blah. The sports book is nice enough, but it’s not close to the worthy of Caesars Palace or Mandalay Bay. Even with the row of cushy chairs in the back, it’s too scrunched in. It’s just not impressive enough. If you are going to make something new in Vegas today, it had better be bigger, ... full post »

Bradley Ogden’s photo is plastered all over Vegas, especially anyone near the Caesars Palace complex that houses the restaurant humbly named…Bradley Ogden. These ubiquitous ads tell the world that Bradley Ogden was named the best new restaurant in the country by the James Beard Foundation, reportedly the Academy Awards of food trophies. Which only makes one wonder if the James Beard people ever left the Caesar grounds. Or if there was a typical travel writer like incentive program. For this restaurant getting named the best of anything is like Cuba Gooding Jr. winning an Oscar for “Boat Trip.” I’m sure Bradley Ogden ... full post »

There is nothing that bothers me more than seeing the elderly get preyed on by scam artists. This is why Tim McDonald’s dispatch from Biloxi on his parking lot encounter affected me so much. Here one of our seniors was, minding his own business, trying to make sure he gets his daily Potassium allowance with that banana and bam!, there’s a sleazy huckster flashing fake diamonds in his face. Where’s the security? What are we as a nation if we can’t protect the seasoned, wise and graying among us? This fits our Biloxi bashing campaign, right Mr. Lewis? Oh yeah, ... full post »

What is it about this big blog board and people’s unwillingness to let the relative little guy get a taste of the huge corporate money pie? First, we had McDonald’s nonsensical argument about appearance fees zapping gazillionaire Tiger Woods’ motivation. Now we have The Nutty Professor, aka Kiel Christianson, trying to protect the institutions that employ him from actually having to pay an extra small stipend for their athletic labor. While I usually enjoy the professor’s off-the-wall rants, he’s gone out of his element here. This is actually a real-life issue and he shows as much ... full post »

With the congressional hearings on steroids in baseball, taking place the same day as America’s betting orgy (otherwise known as the NCAA Tournament or Las Vegas’ real national holiday), there’s only one man to look to for a little perspective. Pete Rose. That’s right, the one and only Charlie Hustle. On a recent visit to Rose’s autograph box on the Las Vegas Strip, baseball’s hit king shared his thoughts on steroids with TravelGolf.com. While being quick to point out he never used steroids, Rose wasn’t exactly broken up by the idea that a record-setting slugger like Mark McGwire may have used ... full post »

Anyone who’s read me, particularly anyone from St. George, Utah (keep the vile coming, fella!) knows that someone who goes by the moniker Grouchy Golf Blog is likely to have a step up in gaining my respect. But not only does Grouchy Golf Blog have an appropriately grumpy name in the often rip-off golf game, he also gets why Phil Mickelson can be so annoying. Working with Lefty Loving Apologists like Matt Paulson , any ally is welcome. For I know the courage it takes to criticize everyone’s darling choker. I happened to mention how you could ... full post »

I’m really starting to worry about my wizened colleague Tim McDonald. Tim, buddy, are you sure you didn’t get swiped upside the head by one of those lions you’re always talking about from your South Africa trip. Your counter arguement against PGA Tour appearance fees sure left my head spinning. The guy stumbling around the corner bus stop makes more coherent points. Heck, even Pete Rose makes more sense than you. Did you actually argue that pro golf is that rare sport where you have to earn everything you get, a sport where Tiger Woods ... full post »

While it’s good to see that McDonald’s moved on from his on-again, off-again lovefest with the Rebel Blogger and found a new topic, he’s off the mark on his appearances fees rant. None of the old dinosaurs who rail about the good old days in sports want to hear this, but appearance fees actually help the game. They get the stars into the lesser tournaments, give the fans the matchups they want to see. Who cares why Tiger, Vijay and Phil all decided to play at Doral? The only important thing is that they did all play. It’s not ... full post »

Basking in the sunshine of another near 80-degree Las Vegas March day, a passing thought goes to all the devoted golfers I know buried under the blowing snow and ice in New Jersey. In East Coast and Midwest outposts everywhere there are committed hackers just itching for the first sign of thaw. By now, these guys are already making late March tee times on hope and a sunny dream. Two of the most sought-after spots in New Jersey will be the heavy-touted Monmouth County-operated courses, Hominy Hill and Howell Park. While both get glowing reviews and star ratings in places like ... full post »

The Palms in Las Vegas has built a lot of mystique and attracted a lot of customers because of the celebrities that frequent its casino and clubs. Everyone knows they frequent it because the Palms gives “tips” to gossip columnists every chance they get. If Matt Damon happens to pass through their lobby one night, you’re reading about it. But like many PR marketing pushes this is much more smoke and mirrors than reality. This is what you really get if you go to the Palms on a Saturday night: People lined up nearly out the doors in their clubbing best, waiting…and ... full post »

Sitting in his box stand on Las Vegas Boulevard, signing autographs for $50 a pop to curious passing tourists on The Strip, Pete Rose found time to rip on the PGA Tour’s library quiet-please attitude. Baseball’s all-time Hit King claims to have been a 10-handicap himself at one point, but that doesn’t mean he feels for the trials and tribulations of Tiger Woods. At least, not when it involves the need for silence. “I’ve played baseball with whiskey bottles being thrown at my head,'’ Rose said. “At Shea Stadium, in New York. I have no sympathy for these golfers who can’t be ... full post »

Anyone who’s been to Las Vegas in the last 20 years has no doubt walked the gauntlet of guys handing out strip club promotional material. And if you haven’t been to Vegas in 20 years, the campaign goes on. Give me break. It’s the 21st Century. Strip clubs haven’t figured a better way to market their product than to thrust their cards into the hands of passing pedestrians? Does anyone still think this is working? No one takes the cards from the poor guys trying to hand them out. And the rare fool from Utah who does just ends up dropping ... full post »

There’s nothing worse than a $200-plus course that turns around and tries to charge golfers $10 for a yardage book that looks like it cost 50 cents (maybe) to produce. When are these high-end, high-dollar, supposedly high-class courses going to learn that gouging the customer for every last nickel is not the way to build any course loyalty. You’re already suctioning out the golfer’s wallet. No need to turn him upside down and shake out his pockets as well. It’s amazing how a little cheap freebie can change most golfers’ view of the experience. Give them a sleeve of ... full post »

The Las Vegas Golf Guru argues that David Esch – Annika Sorenstam’s soon-t0-be ex-husband – made off like a bandit in his debut blog: http://www.lasvegasgolf.com/departments/blogs/dennis.silvers. I’m not so sure about that. Esch is definitely golf’s Kato, but I somehow doubt that Annika has been a joy to live with all these years. At least not if she’s the Annika I encountered as a young reporter in the mid 1990s. Covering LPGA events in Michigan, including a Women’s U.S. Open, dealing with the young, talented and tempermental Annika was no picnic. She was known for making reporters chase her to her courtesy ... full post »