Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.
Before you can play matador defense at an NBA All-Star game, you must first hold a battery of official events to call attention to it. That's why you almost need a scorecard to keep track of them all.
Here's mine for this week.
Event: Official All-Star ballot tipoff
Where: Fashion Show mall
Las Vegas big shots: Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas mayor; Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president; Rory Reid, Clark County Commission chairman
Las Vegas celebrities: Wayne Newton
Wearing socks? Not sure. But given Newton was wearing cowboy boots, most likely. That wasn't the case at the official All-Star Game announcement when singer Clint Holmes showed up sans socks.
Retired NBA stars: Clyde Drexler, Greg Anthony
Current NBA stars: Shawn Marion, Brad Miller
Showgirls: Two
Dancing girls: Eight
Elvis impersonators: One
"What happens in Vegas" variation: One. "What happens here ain't gonna stay here. It's gonna be seen around the world." - Wayne Newton
Cheesey special effect: Exploding balloons, confetti cannon, game-show type music during celebrity introductions
Tired quote: "It's gonna be crazy." - Shawn Marion
Not as tired quote: "A mayor without showgirls ain't nothing." - Oscar Goodman
My personal highlight: Shawn Marion's giant silver belt buckle. I didn't know he rode bucking broncs.
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