The chances of getting any kind of bill through Congress this year to legalize online gambling appear all but dead. Sources did report, though, that Internet gambling opponents were negotiating some details on the online poker bill backed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Some of the details being talked about in these negotiations reportedly dealt with including some kind of “blackout period” to keep existing websites from being able to get licensed immediately.
Six months ago, Las Vegas constable Bobby Gronauer created a hot line for callers to report out-of-state license plates and city residents jumped with glee.
The calendar said 2010, yet this year comes to an end feeling a lot like 2009, at least when it comes to the top news stories of the year. The poor economy and its far-reaching effects nearly earned the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive year but was bumped to No. 2 by this year’s elections.
Oscar Goodman’s term as mayor of Las Vegas is coming to a close, but don’t even think about suggesting that he’s done. “Don’t write my obituary yet,” he said earlier this month as he sat to down to discuss his time in office and the homestretch before he has to step aside for a successor. “I plan to have the next six, seven months (be) very active.”
As Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once opined, “I know it when I see it.”
Las Vegas entertainment this year may best be summed up by the Steely Dan chestnut “FM”: “Nothin’ but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song.”
By almost every measure, “Glee” was the series of the year. Emmy Awards. Grammy nominations. Sold-out concerts. More magazine covers than you could shake a half-naked Lea Michele at. The musical comedy dominated seemingly every arena but one: consistency.
More is always more in Las Vegas, where too much is never enough, right?
My favorite restaurants in Las Vegas? That varies greatly, not only from year to year but from day to day, as I continually discover new spots and re-examine venerable ones.
We’re big enough to admit when we were wrong. Did we actually say a year ago in this very space that 2010 couldn’t be worse economically for Nevada and Las Vegas than 2009 was?
In what has been a surprisingly successful season for Tampa Bay, quarterback Josh Freeman has led five fourth-quarter comebacks. The young Buccaneers need another late rally to reach the playoffs.
10. Jim Livengood is no Mike Hamrick: Thank goodness. UNLV athletics might have a chance. In his first year as the university’s athletic director, Livengood hired coaches in football (Bobby Hauck) and baseball (Tim Chambers) who could change the fortunes of both programs, announced a new, state-of-the-art basketball practice facility, restructured the department, reorganized fundraising and facility upgrade efforts, and had one more sit-down with local media to discuss the program’s vision than Hamrick had in six years.
10. JIM LIVENGOOD IS NOT LOCAL: How many were hoping for somebody in our own backyard to finally get a crack at running the UNLV athletic program? How many thought Jim Livengood had worn out his welcome at Arizona and was coming to town to reprise former AD Charlie Cavagnaro’s routine of getting paid a handsome salary for playing golf?