NFR at 30: Lots of celebrities, memories
Sure signs that the National Finals Rodeo is back in town, celebrating its 30th year in Las Vegas:
Among the invasion of the big hats is former Vice President Dick Cheney. He ordered a cowboy hat at the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show inside the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Musician Hank Williams Jr. and his band had an early dinner Friday at the Italian American Club on East Sahara Avenue. Another singing legend, Steve Lawrence, stopped at Williams’ table to chat before the band headed for their show at the Golden Nugget.
Legendary stock contractor Harry Vold was honored at the NFR’s opening night Thursday. He’s hard to miss. White Stetson. Custom western fashion. Vold, 94, bears a close resemblance to another NFR giant, the late Horseshoe casino owner Benny Binion, who helped Las Vegas land the NFR in 1986. Binion’s 100th birthday would have been on Christmas Day.
Proud to say I have special connections with Binion and one of the NFR’s legendary bucking broncs. My late father, Charles G. Clarke of Terry, Mont., built livestock dams at Binion’s eastern Montana ranch.
My all-time favorite horse growing up in rodeo-crazy Montana was Trail’s End.
One night I was walking through downtown Terry — yes, that would be a short walk — when I spotted a horse trailer parked outside a bar.
The name of Trail’s End was painted on the trailer, along with some of his history.
In awe, I peeked through the side of the trailer. For a small-town kid, that was like the biggest celebrity coming to down. I remember looking into his eyes with envy, thinking nothing could match that horse’s life of adventure.
A sidenote: Shawn Davis, another one of my teen-years heroes, was among an elite group of cowboys who rode Trail’s End, a three-time NFR horse of the year. He did it at the age 16.
Davis went on to a Hall of Fame rodeo career and has been general manager of the NFR since 1986. He got death threats for his role in moving the event from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas.
HIGH SOCIETY
When Las Vegas show organizer Jonathan Scott put together a TV series called “Hollywood Families” in 1999, it was the start of a friendship filled with golf outings and family trips to film festivals.
The friend: Stephen Humphrey Bogart, the son of Hollywood icons Humphrey Bogart, an Oscar winner, and Lauren Bacall, a leading lady of her era.
Scott and his girlfriend, Linda Nicolette, attended the Nov. 15 wedding of Stephen Bogart and Carla Soviero in The Skylark, famous for its 30th floor view of the Hudson River.
Scott and Nicolette received a tour of Bacall’s 4,500-square-foot condo in the Dakota, where she died in August at the age of 89. The condo, listed for sale at $26 million, overlooks Central Park.
Also at the wedding: Stephen Bogart’s half-brother, Sam Robards, the son of Bacall and actor Jason Robards Jr. Former New York Mayor David Dinkins officiated.
SIGHTINGS
Lady Antebellum, David Nall and Maddie and Tae on Friday attracted what The D’s owner Derek Stevens called “the biggest crowd I’ve seen on Fremont Street.” ... Special guests Holly Madison, Wayne Newton, Olivia Newton-John and the Chippendales had another huge crowd roaring at the Great Santa Run on Saturday at the Third Street Station. ... Actor and martial arts legend Randy Couture of “Dancing with the Stars” and “Expendables 3,” with girlfriend and actress Mindy Robinson, meeting members of Lady Antebellum. ... At the NFR’s Friday session at the Thomas &Mack Center: attendees of the conference of the Western Governors Association, including Gov. Brian Sandoval, who is chairman of the group. Nevada Sen. Dean Heller was also with the group. ... Country great George Strait, at Thursday’s NFR session. ... At The Cromwell on Friday: NASCAR stars Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr., celebrity chef and TV personality Guy Fieri, who checked out Giada’s and Drai’s nightclub. Also staying there, country stars Big &Rich. ... Country star Cowboy Troy, riding the High Roller at The Linq on Friday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Dale Junior is so popular Kim Kardashian is tweeting pictures of his a—.” — Comedian Jay Mohr, emcee of the NASCAR Champion’s Week awards dinner on Friday at Wynn Las Vegas.
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
