Welcome to Las Vegas It’s fight night in Las Vegas. That means for one night the recession, empty casinos and $50 hotel rooms take a back seat to decadence, mile-long taxi lines and $400 a night rooms on The Strip. This is the good old Vegas you used to know, love, loathe and leave in the morning and for one night it’s back, baby. I’ll be here over the next 12 hours (or until I do something to make my editor pull the plug on this thing) chronicling the scene in Vegas for Mosley vs. Mayweather, which promoter’s have titled, “Who R U Picking?” I think it marks the first time a mega fight was named after some teenager’s text.
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Name dropping Fight night always brings out athletes from all sports, just ask Santonio Holmes who was on his way to Sin City before he got, um, sidelined. Last night I ran into Chris Bosh at the roulette table at the Belagio while a few Lakers fans tried to recruit him to LA. Bosh smiled but didn’t tip his hand as to where he was leaning on going as a free agent. When I asked him what he wanted to do he said he wasn’t sure but was open to suggestions.(He wasn’t joking if you’ve checked out his Twitter account lately.) I’d be willing to go to the sports book now and bet he’s leaving Toronto with the smart money being placed on Miami.
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High rollers Chris Bosh wasn’t the only one wheeling and dealing at the Belagio late last night. Former Lakers great (well, at least I thought he was great) Eddie Jones was at the $500 miniumum bet tables playing blackjack past 2 a.m. I’m glad he’s still doing well long after his days running The Lake Show with Nick Van Exel, Vlade Divac, Cedric Ceballos, Anthony Peeler and George Lynch.
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[+] Enlarge Arash Markazi for ESPN.com MGM Grand lobby decorated for the occasion. Churchill West The sports book at the MGM Grand gave sports fans the opportunity to lose money and throw back $5 Mint Juleps just like they were at Churchill Downs. I opted to save my money and splurge on a Mojito.
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Name from the past The self-proclaimed “Kobe Stopper” himself Ruben Patterson is playing craps at the MGM before the fight. I know there’s an easy joke in there but I’ll pretend I’m above that for the moment.
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Sugar coated One of the highlights of fight night is seeing boxing historian Bert Sugar with his loud pants and chewed up cigar. Sugar is currently chilling at the Zuri cigar bar at MGM and likes Mosley tonight.
“I’m picking Mosley,” he said. “I’m not sure how much Floyd has lost having fought just once in two years. Mosley has equal if not better hand speed, and I just don’t know what Mayweather has or has not lost in his defensive genius in two years. Mosley in a decision.”
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Another NBA reference I just walked past Planet Hollywood which has something called the Gregory Popovich Pet Theater. The man at the box office assured me it has nothing to do with the San Antonio Spurs coach but how amazing would it be if it did?
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Another Sugar and a Hitman “Sugar” Ray Leonard and Tommy “Hitman” Hearns were at the Media Center yesterday making their way around Radio Row and also chatting with us media members without radio shows. “Sugar” Ray, who looks like he could still go 12 rounds, wouldn’t make a prediction but at least didn’t say the outcome would come via decision as most everyone has done this week. “I had a premonition the other night and saw a knockout by someone,” said Leonard. “I am not a guru, I am not a psychic, but I did see a knockout.”
