Steve Carp: DiEdwardo did so much in short time

Thursday, Jan. 30, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

POLITICS IS A nasty business. Many of us don't have the stomach for it.

It's a dirty game at virtually every level. So when Tucker DiEdwardo decided to leave Las Vegas Events as its president, it wasn't surprising.

"You get tired of fighting," he said. "It gets to the point where you say 'To hell with it.'"

DiEdwardo, the man responsible for bringing the Western Athletic Conference championships in football and basketball to town, for helping keep the National Finals Rodeo here into the next millennium and for pursuing other special events, said to hell with it Monday, resigning to join Paul-Son Gaming.

While some politicians won't miss him, the local sports fan will.

When he helped convince the WAC to bring its showcase football event to town and guaranteed it would work by putting up a million bucks, he was helping reshape our image as a bad live sports town.

An overflow crowd of 41,000 at Sam Boyd Stadium looked pretty good on ABC and helped soothe the disappointments of failed Canadian football, indoor soccer, arena football and roller hockey franchises.

The WAC tournament in March will offer some great basketball. UNLV figures to be part of it, which will heighten local interest. But you're also going to enjoy quality teams such as Utah, New Mexico, Tulsa and Fresno State.

It was DiEdwardo's belief this town could support a legitimate sporting event. and more than 10,000 tickets already have been sold.

As for the rodeo staying, you may or may not be a fan. But consider the multi-million dollar business the NFR brings to town and the economic benefits are obvious. Had the rodeo left town, Las Vegas would have taken a major financial hit.

To keep the NFR, DiEdwardo had to step into the political ring to guarantee the T&M would be expanded to 26,000 from its current 18,500 capacity. That meant slugging it out with the heavyweights in Carson City. He admits that his strategy could have been different, but his intent was sincere. One way or another, the Mack will get overhauled and expanded.

If Las Vegas is going to remain a big-event town, it must have the facilities to ensure it can properly stage those events. That's something DiEdwardo realized, having been in athletics his entire life. That's why Sam Boyd Stadium must be fixed up now. Because there won't be a WAC football title game or Las Vegas Bowl if things stay status quo.

Make no mistake about it, change doesn't come without a price. DiEdwardo's departure hurts. But if his successor can finish what he started and keep what we have while adding more events that will raise this community's stature in the sports world, even DiEdwardo will concede it was worth stepping aside.

In two-plus years, Tucker DiEdwardo got a lot done. More important, he got Las Vegas headed in the right direction as a destination for special sporting events. For that, he deserves our thanks.