There are two reasons why I didn’t bother the Holy Father in the Vatican today.
One, of course, is that the Pope is extremely busy considering that it’s Christmas Day, or The Birthday of the Boss as they say around the Holy See.
Two, some female mental case physically lurched at the head of the Roman Catholic Church at a Christmas Eve service Thursday night and scored a knockdown.
From what I heard, Papa took a four count and got back on his feet.
(I am trying to be a debout Catholic myself and perpetually failing so don’t accuse me of being blasphemous, please.)
But the only reason I even bring Pope Benedict into this column is to explain who the guy in this picture taken by the Las Vegas Review Journal in 2005 is.
Nevadans know him and you should, too, because he can be the cowboy wearing the white hat, the powerful Las Vegan who can ride to the rescue and preserve the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mega bout for his city and state on the scheduled date of March 13.
His name is Sig Rogich and it’s commonly acknowledged that he and casino mogul Steve Wynn are the two most powerful, most connected people in the Silver State.
It might appropriate here to mention that is a former head of the highly respected Nevada State Athletic Commission, by far America’s most efficient and reliable state boxing governing body.
Schmoozing with The Pope is par for the course for a mover and shaker like Rogich.
He’s been involved with icons such as Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali over the years.
He’s been a special adviser to presidents, including George Bush (the father) and Ronald Reagan.
He is a former amabassador to Iceland, the tiny country where he was born.
Rogich has so much of what Nevadans like to refer to as “juice” that his advertising agency has something like a $50 million annual contract to handle business for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Bureau.
It’s an exclusive deal so no other ad agencies even get a small bite.
Rogich is also a power broker who sometimes “ordains” who the next governor of Nevada will be and, just as importantly, who won’t be.
His office, last time I checked, was in the same tower in the Howard Hughes Executive Center off Paradise Road as the offices of Bob Arum’s Top Rank.
In the wake of the Mike Tyson ear chomp of Evander Holyfield, Don King’s first or second emergency phone call was to Rogich.
Any guy respected by both King and longtime archrrival Arum is a unique fellow.
Rogich certainly has the respect of Arum and I am sure also of the Mayweather camp, including Mayweather’s rich and powerful adviser l Haymon. Haymon is a Democrat while Rogich generally hangs with the opposition party but I am sure there would be mutual respect and recognition between them.
Rogich is not only extremely rich, extremely influential.
He is also extremely respected.
If Rogich tells you something will happen in the state or in Vegas, you don’t need assurance or insurance. The man’s record speaks for itself. His word is gold from the White House to the MGM Grand.
With the richest boxing match in history in peril, and with the Nevada economy continuing to slump badly, we need a hero, we need a cowboy wearing the white hat of the good guys.
Pardner, I hereby nominate Rogich to make Mayweather-Pacquiao a reality.
If Sig can’t straighten out the drug testing arguments, then no one can.
And, like I said, The Pope is otherwise occupied with more vital matters.
Background on Rogich, from the Las Vegas Sun:
Rogich, who has helped elect dozens of Nevada Republicans, was a key adviser to former Nevada Sen. Paul Laxalt. That in turn led to a job in the advertising shop of President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 reelection campaign.
He then worked on the campaign of former President George H.W. Bush, was a special assistant to him in the White House and then ambassador to Iceland. Rogich was a fundraiser for the second President Bush and the presidential campaign of Arizona Sen. John McCain.
