Columnist Joe Delaney: Sports betting can be great entertainment

Joe Delaney

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 9:47 a.m.

EVANDER HOLYFIELD vs. Michael Moorer in a heavyweight boxing championship elimination bout this Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center is the entertainment event of the week. ... Only the NFL Super Bowl exceeds the excitement of a heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas. ... It is also a betting bonus for the books.

Race and sports books will be jammed all day Saturday with the seven races of the Breeder's Cup at Hollywood Park and a full slate of college football games, including some exciting matchups between Top Ten teams. ... Get there early to be sure of a seat.

As an involuntarily semi-retired horse player, reduced to minimal laydowns for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont and Breeder's Cup, plus an occasional (weekly) five-team pro-football parlay, believe me, sports betting can be great fun, especially when you win.

Star-policy rundown

Also an outstanding weekend with George Carlin-Dennis Blair (Bally's); Vanessa Williams (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Neil Sedaka (Desert Inn); Billy Davis & Marilyn McCoo, Friday only (LV Hilton); Gladys Knight (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Lou Rawls (Orleans); Danny Gans (Rio); Jackie Mason (Sahara) and Marty Allen-Karon Kate Blackwell (Westward Ho).

The Hard Rock Hotel presents Jethro Tull on Friday and hot newcomer Ani DiFranco Saturday, both at 8 p.m. ... Kenny Rogers plays the Sparks Nugget Friday and Saturday then drops down to Primm Sunday to appear in Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena, 7:30 p.m.

Comedian Jeff Wayne, one of the best of the famed Mitzi Shore Comedy Store alumni, plays the Four Queens Fun House through Sunday. ... Jeff's new CD, "The Jeff Comedy Jam" is a load of good laughs, buy it.

An appreciation

Premier jazz bassist Carson Smith left us this week. ... Some of our fondest LV musical memories date back to the old Silver Slipper lounge when the group was Gus Mancuso, Carson and the late Tom Montgomery plus Jack Teagarden's brother Charlie on trumpet. ... One night in particular, Ella Fitzgerald dropped by and sat in with the foursome in the wee hours.

Ella would call out a song title; the foursome would pick up the key from her, and the rest was pure improvisation. ... "Where Or When" went on for more than 15 glorious minutes.

Carson Smith played with all the jazz greats, all styles, including Charlie Parker. ... He was a master of his instrument. ... Marv Koral & The All-Stars, which includes Gus Mancuso, piano, are planning a memorial concert. ... Carl Fontana and Montgomery came here together in the 1950s.

Local events

Trombone virtuoso Fontana will be one of the featured soloists for the annual "76 Trombones Plus 4" concert, Sunday at 2 p.m. in UNLV's Ham Hall. ... Orleans Hotel entertainment honcho Cork Proctor will emcee. ... Proceeds go to the Abe Nole Memorial Scholarship Fund. ... The music is great, there will be laughs and the price is reasonable and tax-deductible, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

The Sons and Daughters of Erin present an "Evening of Irish Cabaret," Nov. 13 in the Gold Coast Grand Ballroom, honoring City Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem Michael McDonald with appearances hy Brendan Boyer, Dave Coady and most of our town's best Irish entertainers.

Speaking of Brendan Boyer & The Irish Show Band, back from a successful month-long tour back East, they close tonight at the Santa Fe. ... They return there Dec. 2-4 and again, Dec. 9-13.

Thursday addenda

Congrats, Radio City Rockettes, recipients of this year's Liberace Legend Award, Wednesday at the Flamingo-Hilton. ... LV Little Theatre presents "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris," Friday through Nov. 23 at 3844 Schiff Drive. ... Actor Repertory Theatre's "Angels In America" starts a two-weekend run with a benefit performance for Golden Rainbow, 8 p.m. Friday, Summerlin Library Theatre.

Don't miss the incomparable Rocio Durcal in concert, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts. ... See you Friday.