Pro Football Flashback: Favre Leads Minnesota To Rout Of Cowboys
When legendary quarterback Brett Favre announced his return to the NFL from what has become a seemingly annual flirtation with retirement, many second guessed the Minnesota Vikings' decision to sign "The Gunslinger". On Sunday, Favre and the Vikings answered those critics in the best way possible-with a lopsided 34-3 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys. Favre threw 4 touchdown passes in the victory and the Vikings' defense sacked Dallas QB Tony Romo six times in the blowout.
NFL football betting fans also cashed tickets on the Vikings as -3 point home favorites. This was the shortest pointspread of the divisional playoff weekend and many thought that Dallas' momentum would carry them to victory. The 37 combined points went UNDER the posted total of 45. Minnesota had gone UNDER in four of six games to conclude the regular season.
After the contest, Favre boasted that a playoff run was a large part of his motivation to return to NFL action:
""This is what I came back for. Probably the most fatigued I got today was celebrating. I feel like I'm playing the same way. I have the same enthusiasm. As long as I'm out there, the enthusiasm and the passion that you see is real. And I know the guys feed off of that. Fans enjoy that, because it is real and genuine. Today was like this season: It's been wonderful."
Former South Carolina Gamecock Sidney Rice caught three of Favre's touchdown passes:
"Same ol' Brett. He's doing thing he's done since he first came in the league: moving around, getting the ball out, breaking tackles and even running down the field and throwing blocks. That just shows you how big of a heart he has."
Head coach Brad Childress mixed up a bunch of metaphors as he took a swipe at the prognosticators who picked Dallas to win:
"The Tasmanian devils were coming from Dallas that were about to bombard the state of Minnesota and run through us like Sherman through the South. All of us felt it quite palpably."
Cowboys' QB didn't have much to say in defeat:
"Any time you come in with the expectations and goals we set and don't accomplish them, No. 1, it's frustrating. Right now, it's just hard to think the season is over."
Cowboys' head coach Wade Phillips had a similar take:
"It's like the elevator falling from the top. It's tough when it's over. If you don't win it all, you have not reached your goal."
The Vikings will now head to New Orleans for Sunday's NFC Championship game against the Saints. Minnesota is a +3' point road underdog with the total set at 52'. The winner will advance to the Superbowl to take on the winner of the New York Jets/Indianapolis Colts contest.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on . His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
UFC Flashback: Ultimate Fight Night Features Lauzon Vs. Stephens
Ever since he burst onto the MMA scene with a shocking first round KO upset of Jens Pulver at UFC 63, Joe Lauzon has been working to earn respect. Hes lost only once since then--to top contender Kenny Florian in a bout that earned fight of the night honors--but for some reason hes had trouble being taken seriously as a top contender in the UFCs lightweight division. He may not fit the classical profile of a fighter, looking more like a fresh faced kid and is often referred to as a geek due to his educational background in computer science. When the fight starts, however, hes all business. In the main event at the UFC Ultimate Fight Night in Tampa, Lauzon withstood a game challenge from late replacement Jeremy Stephens to earn a 2nd round submission victory.
Lauzon was in control of the fight throughout, but Stephens gave a good account of himself despite his opponents obvious technical superiority on the ground. Lauzon appeared to be on the verge of ending the fight midway through the second with a ground and pound assault that he attempted to transition into a rear naked choke. Stephens fought back with a vengeance despite his disadvantageous position and opened a nasty cut on Lauzon's forehead with an elbow strike.
Lauzon gained a new sense of urgency not wanting to lose on a stoppage due to the cut. He regained control on the ground and from full mount twisted into a nasty arm bar. Stephens tried to extricate himself, but was eventually forced to tap giving the bloody Lauzon a hard fought triumph.
The semifinal matchup featured another impressive effort from Cain Velasquez, who many have pegged as the heavyweight superstar of the future. Velasquez is a formidable physical presence at 6'2" 241 pounds, and has very well developed technical skills for a fighter with only five bouts under his belt.
Velasquez was never really threatened in the fight, but he did have difficulty finishing off tough UFC newcomer Dennis Stojnic. Stojnic displayed impressive toughness and a chin of granite, which is less surprising given his training home at Amsterdam's Golden Glory gym where he works alongside such fighters as K-1s Semmy Schilt and DREAMs Alistair Overeem. Stojnic did become the first of Velasquez's opponents to make it into the second round as he withstood a brutal beating near the end of the first to make it to the bell.
In the second round, Velasquez quickly caught his opponent and sent him to the canvas with a nice combination which he followed up with another ground and pound attack. Stojnic again kept trying to defend himself despite a hellacious beating, though the referee finally jumped in and stopped the contest awarding Velasquez the TKO verdict. While Velasquez continues to show all of the qualities of a future top heavyweight, he needs to improve his stopping power and ability to finish a fight.
On the undercard, Josh The Dentist Neer earned a tapout victory over the sports best known (and perhaps only) vegan, Mac Danzig. Danzig looked decent in the first round but in the second he looked listless and quickly fell victim to a nasty triangle choke.
In the opening bout of the evening, up-and-coming welterweight Anthony Rumble Johnson used his significant height and reach advantage to dispatch tough Luigi Fioravanti.
The live crowd in Tampa gave a very poor account of themselves, at times booing fighters mercilessly for no apparent reason whatsoever. This was in addition to the usual booing when the fight goes to the ground typical of uneducated MMA fans--they often turned on fighters midbout for no discernible reason. Their behavior reached a nadir in Cain Velasquez's post fight interview, where he was booed mercilessly despite an impressive victory and informing Joe Rogan that he was about to become a father for the first time. It was somewhat surprising, since the Tampa/St. Pete area is home to a flourishing MMA scene.
Ross Everett is a widely published freelance writer experienced in travel, poker and . He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily . In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, flower arranging and scuba diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.
NFL Preseason Handicapping Basics
There's not much 'middle ground' when it comes to the desirability of betting NFL preseason games. The overly conservative handicappers suggest that its a poor wagering opportunity, while the 'boiler room' sports touts try to suggest that short of a fixed game there's no more sure thing than preseason football. There's a degree of truth in both views. Handicapping preseason NFL football is a unique discipline unto itself, but with knowledge and caution it can be a profitable endeavor.
First, let's examine the case against preseason NFL wagering. Clearly the biggest argument against it is the simple fact that the games don't count. Though spots will exist during regular season games when the motivation and preparation of individual teams may vary, in theory both teams want to win. That's not always the case in preseason football, since different coaches have different goals. Some might want to just evaluate their personnel, others might want to establish a winning attitude, and all coaches want to keep their stars from getting injured. Factor in all of the variables and conflicting agendas, the preseason naysayer would argue, and there are just too many unknowns to consider taking a financial position on.
But like the old saying goes "every dark cloud has a silver lining". And the divergent agendas at play in preseason football can be seen as precisely why it is a good wagering opportunity. For example, say the Superbowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers are set to play an 'also ran' team like the Houston Texans. By regular season standards, the Steelers would almost certainly be favored. In the preseason, however, they'll often have a different agenda for the individual game. A "better" team has more concern about protecting key players. and usually has fewer personnel decisions to deal with. They don't need to worry about implementing coaching changes, or creating 'team chemistry'. As a result, 'better' teams frequently approach preseason games as a mere annoyance.
On the other hand, consider the 'lesser' team in a preseason matchup. They often have a number of key starting positions they need to fill, along with backup positions up for grabs. They may have new coaching staffs that players want to impress, new offensive or defensive schemes to implement. Most significantly, 'lesser' teams often view the preseason as an opportunity to build team chemistry or create a winning attitude. A team trying to rebuild can benefit from winning *any* games, regardless of whether or not they count in the standings. For a league doormat, a win over an elite level opponent can serve as a rare highlight of a losing season.
Even among teams that don't worry much about wins and losses during the preseason, they don't want to go into the season losing them all. For that reason, one of the most successful preseason situations over the past decade and a half have been teams that lost their first two preseason affairs. During that span, 0-2 teams have hit right around 60% against the spread.
There may be no greater determining factor of a team's preseason success than the philosophy of their head coach. Some coaches just don't like to lose *any* game, and usually these hyper-competitive teams are good preseason bets. Bill Parcells, for example, was legendary for his serious approach to preseason games. The coaches that he mentored like the NY Giants' Tom Coughlin have to some extent carried on this legacy. While the "good" preseason coaches are often reflected in the pointspreads assigned to their team, a motivated team is almost always worth a look.
The smart preseason handicapper makes use of the Internet, and more specifically uses it to follow the local sports media of NFL teams. During NFL preseasons, teams' beat writers are anxious to write stories and need to fill articles but have little in the way of "real" news to write about. As a result, a handicapper can frequently find valuable details like a coach's goals for the game, playing time for key players, and specific strategies that will be implemented. Occasionally, coaches will come out and say that they're more interested in evaluating certain players for certain positions than they are in the outcome of the game. A thorough evaluation of this type of media coverage can often produce not only teams to play "on", but teams with priorities other than winning to play "against".
In closing, the best advice is to not be afraid of wagering on preseason football, but to not get too excited about it either. It's a good chance to grind out a small profit, but definitely not the moneymaking opportunity of a lifetime. There will be plenty of other"and better"football wagering opportunities down the road. Discipline and self-control is always in your best interest when betting on sports, and that certainly is the case in the preseason NFL.
Ross Everett is a experienced freelance writer experienced in travel, casino gambling and . He is a staff handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily . In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and scuba diving. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Stock Car Racing’s ‘Silver Fox’ David Pearson
The Darlington Raceway in upstate South Carolina is considered one of NASCAR's most challenging tracks. It's shaped like an egg and has earned the moniker 'the track too tough to tame'. That applied to everyone except David Pearson, who won 10 races and took 12 poles at Darlington. These records will likely never be challenged, let alone broken. Pearson's ability to get around the track was almost instinctive. In fact, he made it look easy.
David Pearson was born on December 22, 1934 in Whitney, SC--a textile town near Spartanburg. Like most of the locals, his parents worked in the local cotton mill and did their best to provide. David quit school after the 10th grade and went to work in the mill. It wasnt long, however, before his love of cars and racing made him leave the mill life behind. He bought a car and began racing at short tracks in the upstate. He ran his first race on 9/19/52 in Woodruff South Carolina. Within a few years, he won his first championship at the Greenville/Pickens Speedway in'59.
Pearson never really sought much more than this local fame and success, but a couple of his friends and some fans had loftier ambitions"they began raising money to buy a car to compete in the NASCAR Grand National series (which was the forerunner to today's Sprint Cup series). With the financial backing from friends and family, David began racing a limited schedule on the Grand National circuit and was named the'60 rookie of the year. In'61, he became the first driver to win on 3 of 4 superspeedways in the same year (Charlotte, Daytona, Atlanta). Success beget sponsors, whos dollars allowed him to afford better cars and crew. This brought about championships"he won three Grand National titles in'66,'68 and'69.
During the 70's, Pearson specialized in superspeedway racing. Through the end of the'70s, Pearson won 43 races. In addition to his mastery of Darlington, he posted remarkable numbers all over the circuit. He is one of two men to have won more than 100 races, and his 105 is second only to The King Richard Petty's 200 wins. Hes also second on career poles (113) to Petty. Head to head, however, he has a slight edge over NASCARs legendary King: in races where he and Petty finished 1-2, Pearson won 33 to Petty's 30. His 11 consecutive poles at Charlotte is a feat that will likely never be matched. Another record that may never be broken is his'.29% winning percentage, as well as his record of starting from the pole in 20% of the races he ran.
In March, 2000, SC Highway 221 through Spartanburg County was renamed David Pearson Boulevard in his honor. He lives in Spartanburg to this day. Pearson still takes to the track occasionally--he and current NASCAR driver Carl Edwards were the first to race on the newly repaved Darlington Raceway last Spring. And he's still known as 'The Silver Fox', a nickname given to him for his prematurely gray hair.
Ross Everett is a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and an expert on . He has written extensively on , horse racing, travel, and fencing. He lives in Las Vegas with four dogs and a pair of racing wombats.
Las Vegas Poker Superstar Stu Ungar
Too often amazing talents are given to those people who are not able to handle them. Such was the case of poker legend Stu Ungar, who had skills at the card table unrivaled in history. Unfortunately, his ineptitude at every day life and self destructive behavior was equally legendary. Ungar would eventually succumb to his demons, and was found dead in his room at the Oasis Motel in Las Vegas in late'98.
The only way to accurately describe Ungar's poker skills is to evoke a sports metaphor--Ungar's skills at the card table were like those of Michael Jordan or LeBron James on the basketball court. Ungar's greatest accomplishment was his three World Series of Poker victories, an accomplishment not far removed from Michael Jordan's six NBA titles. While countless volumes have been written on poker strategy, Ungar's understanding of the game was almost instinctive. Although he won millions playing poker, the amazing reality was that it was essentially a 'plan C' for him as a professional card player. He started as a Gin Rummy prodigy, but quickly ran out of willing opponents in his native New York. He then moved to Nevada, and cleaned out the gin players in the Silver State. He turned to blackjack out of necessity and was almost instantly successful, only to be barred as a card counter at a number of Las Vegas casinos. Needing a new way to earn money as a card player, he took up poker.
The problem, however, was that as masterful as Ungar was at life in the poker room, he was profoundly inept at existence beyond the casino walls. He fought a number of addictions-most notably to drugs and sports gambling. Following his WSOP victory in'97, the'98 tourney found him broke and almost wasted away from drug use. Though he had secured financial backing that would have enabled him to play, as the games began Ungar sat in the dark in his hotel room at Binion's unable to compose himself enough to appear.
There are countless other Ungar stories that evoke the same theme: he once paid cash for a new Mercedes and drove it until it simply fell apart from lack of basic maintenance. He signed his mortgage paperwork at the table in the Dunes poker room and was taken aback that he couldn't make his down payment in chips.
Sadly, Ungar's death came as a ray of hope had entered his life. Noted casino owner and longtime friend Bob Stupak had stepped in to help Ungar pay off his debts, clean up his life, and provide the stake money to enter the major poker tournaments. Ungar was found two days after the two had formalized the agreement in a contract. Ungar also left behind an ex-wife and a teenage daughter, who still live in Las Vegas. The official cause of death was listed as "coronary atherosclerosis" and a mixture of drugs including cocaine, methadone and Percodan were found in his system.
Many of the famous gamblers of Las Vegas legend such as Puggy Person and Doyle Brunson have been tough, larger than life individuals with a healthier than normal dose of self-preservation skills. In this respect, Ungar was an anomaly among gambling greats-he was physically frail and almost completely helpless away from the poker table. At the table, however, he became an almost unbeatable adversary. His story is certainly not one that the modern day, publicity conscious Las Vegas will celebrate. He will be remembered, however, as part of the tradition that gives the city its unique character. From the mobsters that pioneered the city, to the Rat Pack that civilized it, to the corporations that cleaned it up, characters like Stu Ungar have provided Las Vegas with its unique character.
Ross Everett is a well known freelance writer specializing in travel, poker and . He is a consulting handicapper for Anatta Sports where he is responsible for providing daily . In his spare time he enjoys fine dining, fencing and deep sea diving. He lives in Southern Nevada with four dogs and a pet coyote.
Which TV Is Best For Your Home
There are many televisions on the market today, with several different types of displays. However, the two types of television most often discussed are the LCD (or Liquid Crystal Display) television and the Plasma TV. Each of these two types has its own unique advantages and drawbacks.
Lets start with the LCD television. This television utilizes individual lights to create the image on your screen. These televisions have a relatively long life span, at an average of fifteen years of use. An LCD television is also lighter than the televisions that you have grown accustomed to, and it is even lighter than many of the Plasma Televisions that are available for purchase. An LCD has high levels of brightness, however the contrast and black levels is where the LCD television starts on the downward slope.
Because individual lights are used, LCD televisions must block out light to create black. Another disadvantage to the LCD is that, on Liquid Crystal Displays with refresh rates higher than 16, fast-moving images, like sports telecasts, will often appear pixelated or choppy. This problem has been addressed, however, with newer LCD TV models being manufactured with lower refresh rates, some even as low as 5, which creates a much smoother picture when viewing fast-moving images, so that this pixelation rarely if ever occurs.
With a plasma TV, it is said that you will have the best brightness and contrast rates, along with some of the truest looking blacks possible. Plasmas are only available in larger sizes, 37 inches and higher, however are the more affordable choice when you are looking for a 42 inch television or larger. Another great thing about plasma televisions are that they can be viewed from any angle in the room, without picture clarity failing. This makes it simpler to place in your room without having to rearrange you furniture so that everyone can have a clear view.
Although plasmas are a truly great television to purchase, there is one major drawback and that is the stamp effect of the images on the screen. The stamp effect refers to the "burning" if images on the screen after it has been on the television for a length of time. Therefore, if you leave your television on a channel that keep the logo on the screen all day you may find that your televison has a "ghost" image of the logo even after you switch to a new channel.
While you are redecorating your family room you may want to consider purchasing a new plasma or LCD television. To get the best deals on accessories, such as an shop at .
Tvs In The Current Household Vs. Not That Long Ago
Modern people love to watch television. Before the advent of tvs, people would listen to each other for entertainment. Not every person in the world has the ability to fill their minds with the creativity that causes a person to feel thrills and chills while listening to a story. Many people can't read either, so listening to stories being told and seeing moving images on tvs is an especially wonderful privilege for them.
Communication is the spreading of information and ideas between people. Long ago the best form of entertainment for ancient people was to sit at the knee of an elder and listen to the stories of wisdom and experience. The only other way people learned new things from outside their own daily lives was to hear it from messengers. Sharing information has always intrigued the human animal.
Many cultures once relied on stories and tales from elders to pass down information. These cultures suffered greatly when they were conquered by more 'educated' civilizations that brought in the written word. Conquering nations as a rule impart their own form of education upon the conquered people they subjugate. Societies that had no form of writing soon lost their traditional tales and stories and the very morals and principles that their beliefs were based on.
It wasn't too long before most developed countries relied on the written word and subsequent scrolls and documents full of text to store information and share it with others. Printing used to involve monks or nuns taking months to transcribe a manuscript or document, writing page after page of text all day long. This was one of the only ways to produce, for example, multiple copies of the bible.
Soon people began to send letters to each other on a daily basis. Envelopes and cheaply made paper, stamps, all became a regular part of sharing information. Newspapers, magazines and other serials were made available to the public, making it easier for people to pick and choose the kind of information they received. At one time in history, people would sell volumes of encyclopedia door to door, bringing educational information to people who were isolated in remote areas.
The more communication evolved, the more people wanted their own choices and unique options for the information they were exposed to. However, people missed hearing the sound of human voices. Written texts could only offer so much and seemed almost cold to people who wanted to listen to another human being. Magazines were full of photos without having so much text, but to many, it just wasn't enough.
That was about the time that radio was developed as a form of communication. Not only could it bring in news, weather and sports, but radio was also used for entertainment. Families gathered around their old radios and listened to theatrical audio displays with very detailed sound effects, much the same way people do now around tvs. They were riveted listening to their favourite adventures in a way that would surprise modern children and television addicts.
Television has had its own sway over people for a very long time. Even with the heavy competition that computers offer, tvs are still popular. With new technology ever on the rise, people have fallen in love with moving pictures and imagery attached to the sounds and nuances of human voices and song. Many people put television down for its ability to steal creativity from its audience. However, it remains a tool for entertainment as well as education.
Andrew Johnson is an expert in computer products. If you want more information about varieties of or are looking for a reputable television retailer please visit http://www.ebuyer.com
Review Of Canon Power Shot Cameras
Canon power shot cameras are a great buy if you are in the market for a new camera. Most models have wonderful picture quality particularly for a compact camera that you can carry with you. You can purchase models that are light weight and easy to use. The costs are reasonable when you consider the standard of photographs you get.
There are plenty of different models available. Some may have different features that you will need to look at before making a purchase to make certain you are getting what you need. The model may make a contribution in the amount of megapixels and memory.
Some of the models in the power shot series are water explanation while other might be light weight. The features will vary depending on the model you choose. Most all the models have the capability to take quality pictures even in dim light. If you know what features you desire then you can search the models and typically find something that suits your needs.
Most models are extremely basic. You simply aim and click. These are great even for beginners to take great photos. They are so easy to use and require little to take the pictures you would like. This may be a good first camera for a younger person too.
The power shot series also has a semi-professional camera. These are great but they'd require a little more form the user. This isn't your basic point and shot and they may be rather more complex. It isn't recommended for casual users who want to take pictures of family events like vacations. You'll probably need more experience to take the kind of footage you need with this.
Canon power shot cameras can be bought at any major retail outlet or online . Prices alter and the more sophisticated model or features could make a massive difference in the price you may pay. Overall the power shot series has a load to give consumers searching for a cheap, basic camera.
Author Marcel Torres reveals some pieces you will really want to find out about which you can access via the support site.
A Look at the Sony Bravia KDL32W5500
Sony is the world leader in consumer electronics. The company has been in the field since long, and has been rolling out beautiful home appliances. Their TVs, Music Systems, Laptops, Handy Cams, Digital and Conventional Cameras, etc have all were very well appreciated and received by the consumers. BRAVIA is a LCD HDTV brand of Sony. Here we shall see the all new BRAVIA - Sony KDL32W5500.
HD TVs are the latest televisions that feature high definition. They have a quality image is very strong and known for high-resolution images. BRAVIA is the flagship brand of Sony LCD HDTVs. They are known to give high-quality color and image quality that is excellent. They are made with the latest technology to work with many devices that can support a TV with DLNA. 32E550 is the brother of Sony KDL32W5500, which costs double as much as Sony KDL32W5500.
This TV has the default black bezel blueprint found in almost all the brands of Sony. This is not as good looking as the 32E5500 but is a classy looking model. It features about four HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) ports. This is really nice. This also USB and Ethernet connectivity so that any dlna enabled PC can support the TV. This also provides access to Sony's Applicast online service that has content that can be viewed on the television.
This latest BE-3 or BRAVIA Engine 3 present in bravia television helps to deliver high quality viewing experience. It also is equipped with the revolutionary MotionFlow 100 Hz technology that doubles the PAL refresh rate. The menus on the screen are neatly designed and offer a whole lot of features that are truly user-friendly.
Color quality is very close to the ideal of all other products of Sony. KDL32W5500 has the most beautiful color resolution technology during the night view shots in films. This is when watching dark movies. The quality is simply amazing. LCD TVs these days has reached excellent levels in the LCD display quality, but Sony, of course, is above all.
It is not only this quality Sony handles color also very well. This BRAVIA is ideal for viewing high color balanced images and movies. The latest movie rich in color like Wall-E looks extremely realistic of watched in this particular TV because the TV processors BE-3 engine is a king maker among others. MotionFlow features with the revolutionary technology that can very easily plat the videos that have heavy motion sequences without too much blurring.
Be 3 was exceptional in handling high-definition equipment. HD looks real. BRAVIA Engine really needs to celebrate. The shortcoming is that the angle of view the screen a bit smaller. This means that many people cannot watch TV at the same instance. Audio is another issue. It isn't as good as other rivals' products.
Just keeping the negative effects aside this TV is good bargain for money. It is really a nice piece to own for the HD experience BRAVIA offers. Though many competitors exist Sony truly shows the door to all of them with this KDL32W5500. I give it 8. 5/10.
Cheapest Prices and Reviews for the Sony KDL32W5500 in the UK at and
The Mapes Hotel: Reno’s Lost Art Deco Jewel
On a cold, gray morning in late January 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The controlled demolition came despite years of effort by a number of groups within the community and nationally to preserve the building with lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots lobbying efforts.
While the logic and necessity of demolishing the Mapes is very questionable, one thing that is certain is that the hotel was an important part of Northern Nevada history. The opening of the Mapes in'47 ushered in a new era in casino gambling, and changed the economy and way of life in Nevada forever. The Mapes was actually the first property in the country to combine a hotel, casino and live entertainment under the same roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of 'The Misfits'. Joseph McCarthy, America's famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn't have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.
During the 'Rat Pack' era of the 50's and 60's it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the'60's and 70's but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in'82, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.
Reno has yet to experience the sort of growth that has been seen in Southern Nevada, and for that reason the destruction of the Mapes is more open to debate than the hotel demolitions to the south. Even the demolition of The Sands--perhaps the most historically significant casino in the state--is hard to argue against given the inability of such a small property to compete in the current Las Vegas marketplace and in light of the value of the mid-strip real estate.
This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land--which sits along the banks of the Truckee River--to expand its riverside district of art galleries, restaurants and shops. The revitalization of downtown Reno is definitely needed and a legitimate goal, but at the same time it is hard to think that the Mapes was a barrier to this. Indeed, a number of proposals for redevelopment including office space, artists lofts and upscale senior housing would have probably served to enhance the livability of the downtown area. For whatever reason, the City Redevelopment Authority wouldn't approve any of the proposals and the fate of the Mapes was sealed.
The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. Back in'96, the city of Reno purchased the hotel and began entertaining proposals for renovation and redevelopment. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which eventually led to the demolition of the structure.
After the demolition of The Mapes Hotel, the lot remained vacant for almost a year until a temporary ice skating rink was constructed in the winter of 2001. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, brings into question the insistence by the City Redevelopment Agency that none of the proposals to preserve the building were viable. Clearly, they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was 'haunted' and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark of a more civilized era.
Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and noted authority on sports betting . He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sports news and sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.