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View Full Version : 2007 NBA All-Star Game To Be In Las Vegas

RhymesayersDU
07-30-2005, 08:46 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2120127

Casinos would abstain from bets on All-Star Game
Associated Press

Las Vegas will be the site of the 2007 NBA All-Star Game, marking the first time the event will be held in a non-NBA city.

An official with knowledge of the decision, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed reports in the Las Vegas media that the city has been given the go-ahead to play host to the league's showcase event.

Mayor Oscar Goodman and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority had been making a strong push to land the game, and one of the final obstacles was finding a way to convince a few luxury suite holders at the Thomas & Mack Center to relinquish their boxes in exchange for seats elsewhere in the arena.

Casino operators had already agreed to not take bets on the game, one of the requirements the NBA laid out when the sides first began talking about placing the game in America's most popular gambling destination.

Commissioner David Stern has been open to the idea of holding the All-Star Game in non-NBA cities, and during the finals he said there was consideration being given to playing the 2008 or 2009 game in Paris.

League officials have made several trips to Las Vegas to scout possible locations, including the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus. Last month, state gambling regulators approved a league request blocking Nevada sports books from accepting wagers on All-Star events held in the state.

Such bans are not unprecedented. The Palms hotel-casino does not accept bets on professional basketball games because it is owned by the Maloof family, which also owns the Sacramento Kings.

Next year's game will be in Houston.

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I am so making the roadie for this.
Bronco LB 59
07-30-2005, 09:05 PM
No hardcore gambler would want to put all their eggs on that exhibition game in the first place. This is just the beginning of all the major pro sports breaking into the Las Vegas market. It's good to see Las Vegas is not confined to boxing and motor sports these days.
RhymesayersDU
07-30-2005, 09:10 PM
No hardcore gambler would want to put all their eggs on that exhibition game in the first place. This is just the beginning of all the major pro sports breaking into the Las Vegas market. It's good to see Las Vegas is not confined to boxing and motor sports these days.
Very true, why anybody would bet on any All-Star game, or Pro Bowl is beyond me. Maybe the MLB All-Star game, only because they take that somewhat seriously now.
Bronco LB 59
07-30-2005, 09:15 PM
Very true, why anybody would bet on any All-Star game, or Pro Bowl is beyond me. Maybe the MLB All-Star game, only because they take that somewhat seriously now.

Bud Selig might have changed the format to generate interest but its still a bad game. Back in the 1970s, it was played very intensely. If it was a "real game" now, the manager would keep the starters in the game and not be so concerned with playing everybody. I used to love the Midsummer Classic, but I loathe it now.
RhymesayersDU
07-30-2005, 09:18 PM
Bud Selig might have changed the format to generate interest but its still a bad game. Back in the 1970s, it was played very intensely. If it was a "real game" now, the manager would keep the starters in the game and not be so concerned with playing everybody. I used to love the Midsummer Classic, but I loathe it now.
Yeah, I hear ya. I don't really watch baseball until the playoffs, but I heard that back in the day, the AL and NL legitimately hated each other... And then guys started becoming friends, kicking back, etc.
Bronco LB 59
07-30-2005, 09:37 PM
Yeah, I hear ya. I don't really watch baseball until the playoffs, but I heard that back in the day, the AL and NL legitimately hated each other... And then guys started becoming friends, kicking back, etc.

How things have change.

Bob Gibson was so intense that he even hated the players on his own NL team because they were his enemies for the 162 game season. He wouldn't fraternize with any of them.

I remember watching a NFL Films show on ESPN Classic and they were showing how intense the Pro Bowl used to be back in the 1960s. The players didn't care about their contracts and about getting hurt. They had pride and they went out there and played it like a true football game.
RhymesayersDU
07-30-2005, 10:00 PM
How things have change.

Bob Gibson was so intense that he even hated the players on his own NL team because they were his enemies for the 162 game season. He wouldn't fraternize with any of them.

I remember watching a NFL Films show on ESPN Classic and they were showing how intense the Pro Bowl used to be back in the 1960s. The players didn't care about their contracts and about getting hurt. They had pride and they went out there and played it like a true football game.
Yeah... it would be cool to see all these dream teams playing real games... But on the other hand, I'd be real pissed if one of my guys got really hurt, or had a career ending injury... Tough call.
-Slap-
07-30-2005, 10:05 PM
I am so making the roadie for this.
Gonna be a tough ticket.