Cannery offers fantasy football contest

Fantasy Football: It’s mid-August and in Las Vegas that means only one thing -- pro football is back. Okay, the official season won’t start for a while, but we can still bet the exhibition games with both hands. And of course we will be keeping a close look on all of the casinos’ contests.

This week, I’m going to tell you about the Cannery’s Fantasy Football Contest^SM which just happened to be selected as the “Best Football Contest” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s 2008 Best of Las Vegas poll. The contest has a guaranteed prize pool of $125,000, so that should get your heart beating a little faster.

Here’s the part I like. Each entry costs only $25 and enters you for every week of the professional football regular season. There is a limit of three entries per person and if you sign up before September 1 the casino is offering an early bird special in which buying two entries will get you third entry free.

If you want to enter, you can pick up entries for the contest at the resort’s race and sport between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., seven days a week. If you’d prefer to play out of the Eastside Cannery you sign up there in a few weeks or anytime at the Cannery in North Las Vegas. Here’s how the contest will play out. During each week of the regular season, 12 head-to-head fantasy match-ups will be set. Pairs of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and kickers will be pitted against each other. Fantasy scores will be given to each player based on the traditional fantasy football scoring system such as rushing, receiving and passing yards and touchdowns. You choose who will have the better fantasy day in each match-up and submit the card. Each correct pick will be worth one point.

Every week, the contestant who picks the most winners wins $5,000. In the event of a tie, the prize money will be divided among all the entrants who have tied. Also, the contestant who picks the most winners for the entire season wins $5,000. In the event of a tie, the prize money will be divided among all the entrants who have tied. All weekly cash winners will be considered “fantasy royalty” and receive an entry into the fantasy playoffs with a shot at the $10,000 grand prize.

And even if you don’t win a weekly prize, you can still qualify for the playoffs. Finishing the season in the top 50 point totals among players who did not win a weekly prize will earn you a “wild-card” birth in the playoffs. While you can win as many weekly prizes as possible, you can only garner one entry into the playoffs. Since it is possible to get in the playoffs by winning just one week, it really is never too late to join. For instance, you can join as late as week 17 and still have a chance of getting into the playoffs with a shot at the big money prizes.

The playoffs kick off when the actual professional football playoffs start. Contestants accumulate points for each correct pick over the course of the three-week playoff period, which includes the wild card, divisional and conference championship rounds. There will be no weekly winners during the playoffs. At the conclusion of the playoffs, prize money will be awarded to the top 10 finishers, with first place winning $10,000.

2-Fer-1: Fans of Broadway headliner and two-time Grammy winner Jennifer Holliday will be happy to hear that the singer will be co-headlining with George Wallace at the Flamingo August 19 to the 30. Wallace likes to share the stage with a variety of performers, and it’s not unusual for audiences to be treated to an impromptu performance by an entertainer -- not skedded -- to jump up on stage with the comedian.

Hats off to the cast of who celebrated their 500 performance last week. The show at Planet Hollywood has been performing to SRO audiences since its debut and for good reason. If you like high energy and loud music, this show’s for you.

Lucas Leaves LV: Sad to hear that ventriloquist Ronn Lucas will close at the Excalibur on August 24, after nearly eight years of performing afternoon shows in our town. One of the most popular entertainers in Las Vegas, he said he found himself “getting out of the show more than being in the show," as he more and more signed on for lucrative corporate and cruise line gigs. There will be a lot of families sorry to see him go as his show was a real hit with kids.

Bargain On Booze: Looking for a great bargain? If so, you might want to try Casa Di Amore, an Italian restaurant located at 2850 E. Tropicana. If you’re of the fairer sex you can drink free in the lounge during Happy Hour, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Drop by for dinner on a Sunday or Monday night and all bottles of wine are offered at 50% off the regular price. And if you’re hungry any day of the week, try the Early Dinner Special from 4-6 p.m. when you can get an Italian Trio with three of their Italian specialties on one plate for only $9.99. Hard to beat those deals. The number there is 702-433-4967.

Boxing Returns: The Tropicana is back in the fight game as it hosts championship boxing on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Tropicana Ballroom. The undefeated Las Vegas local, Marvin Cordova Jr. will take on Derrick Samuels in the main event. Carlos De Leon Jr. of Puerto Rico and Dallas Vargas of Texas will go head to head as part of the main event as well.

In addition to the co-main event bouts include: Geoffery Spurill vs. Ryan Ellul; Akinyemi Laleye vs. Isaiah Henderson; Aaron Williams vs. Ayodeji Fadeyi; Torrence Daniels vs. Vernie Torres;

Tickets ($35 and $75) are available at the Tropicana Box Office or by calling 702-739-2411. For more information visit www.tropicanalv.com.

A Golden Birthday: August 8, 2008 (8-8-8) was not only a big day for the Olympics, but for babies being born at Sunrise Children’s Hospital. The hospital awarded all babies born that day with a commemorative gold medal which proclaimed “Born to be great on 8.8.08. The hospital honored 11 newborn’s with gold medals. Olympic Champion of the day was Shemaryah Monique Rothmeyer , was born at :0 a.m., weighing pounds, 2 ounces. We’ll have to wait a few years to see if she is indeed, gold medal material.

Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip. And don't forget to check out eNeon each Wednesday by subscribing (free of charge) to the Review-Journal's weekly newsletter. If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@netzero.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.

. And don't forget to check out eNeon each Wednesday by subscribing (free of charge) to the Review-Journal's weekly newsletter. If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@netzero.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.