Columnist Joe Delaney: Title bout serves as valuable reminder of progressing slowly

Joe Delaney

Thursday, March 9, 2000 | 8:33 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at joe@vegas.com or 259-4066.

Talented performers, once discovered, must be brought along slowly, allowed to develop, and ascend that ladder rung by rung, no shortcuts. ... This is true in both show business and sports. ... If you watched Felix Trinidad demolish David Reid, outdoors at Caesars Palace last Friday, you witnessed a classic example of a talented young boxer brought along too fast.

It was a relief to see Trinidad opt for a decision rather than a knockout in the last round. ... Hopefully, that disastrous 11th round will not leave Reid with a permanent scar, mentally or physically. ... It brought back memories of young Willie Troy, destroyed in the ring by middleweight champ Joey Giardello, a victim of management stupidity (cupidity?).

Giardello, off the mean Philadelphia streets, punished Troy, in with this caliber a fighter too soon, unmercifully before knocking him out. ... Troy never fought again, dying in a mental hospital.

Show biz parallels

Many a performer, not yet ready for Las Vegas but a success in television or on Broadway, "died" in a Las Vegas showroom. ... The late Wally Cox, a TV hit as "Mr. Peepers" on television, opened and closed the same night, years ago at the Dunes. ... Telly ("Kojak") Savalas' headline stint at the Sahara turned out to be a one-time-only engagement.

"M*A*S*H" regulars McLean Stevenson, Gary Burghoff and Jamie Farr retreated from Las Vegas, defeated. ... In fairness, after a slow start, Stevenson brought in some top comedy writers but the damage had been done. ... Demond Wilson, Redd Foxx's son in "Sanford and Son" was done in one.

Ted Knight, of the "Mary Tyler Moore Show," had a terrible outing at the Sahara, relying on his television persona. ... He was brought back at the MGM Grand with a new act that was even worse. ... Knight was on his way back home to L.A. between shows on his opening night.

More illustrations

Ben Vereen, a huge success on Broadway, was never better than a co-star opening act in Las Vegas. ... He did nicely in a supporting role here recently in "Chicago" at Mandalay Bay. ... Of all the long-run TV talk show hosts, Johnny Carson was the only one to have successful runs in Las Vegas. ... Mike Douglas, David Frost and Merv Griffin taped very successful programs in Las Vegas but none were successful as showroom headliners.

Star-policy rundown

It's Chicago, starting Friday (Caesars Palace); Diane Ford's "Midnight Martini Madness," weekends (Desert Inn); Buddy Greco, Lezlie Anders and their big band (Flamingo Las Vegas); Clint Holmes (Harrah's); Steven Wright, plus Rita Rudner in the Nightclub (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Rodney Dangerfield, plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand).

Continuing, it's Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); BTO (Orleans); David Cassidy and Sheena Easton (Rio); Bobby Vinton (Friday and Saturday) (Riviera); Wayne Newton, doing capacity business (Stardust); and Andre-Phillipe Gagnon (Venetian).

Comedian Bernie Allen, still in top form at 84, co-headlines with Wild Willy Parsons at the Riviera Comedy Club this week. ... Doug Flutie and the Flutie Gang are the Sunset Station attraction, Friday at 7 and 9 p.m. ... "Wheel Of Fortune" is a hit, live at the MGM Grand.

Local happenings

Blue Man Group: Live at Luxor" ends its preview performances on Sunday. ... Tonight's beneficiary is the Las Vegas Academy. ... Friday, it's Big Brothers/ Big Sisters and Shade Tree. ... There will be a private performance Saturday and the Muscular Dystrophy Association will be the recipient Sunday. ... The press preview is Tuesday and it opens officially Wednesday.

UNLV's production of "Our Town" continues with 8 p.m. performances Friday and Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday in the Judy Bayley Theatre. ... Jazz sax man Kirk Whalum plays at Boulder Station Saturday, 7 and 9 p.m.

Sunday's main local event is the 25th annual Concert of Love for Opportunity Village, starting at 3 p.m. in the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus. ... Glenn Smith, Concert of Love co-founder, will conduct the orchestra and the special guest list will be headed by Chicago, currently appearing evenings through Sunday at Caesars Palace.

Thursday addendum

Take a moment, write a check for whatever you feel you can afford to the Sun Summer Camp Fund, c/o the Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107. ... All of the monies received go to send needy children to summer camp for a week. ... All the expenses are borne by the Sun. ... It's tax-deductible and you will feel a lot better, I promise. ... See you Friday.