Viva Las Vegas: NABJ Convention Edition

LAS VEGAS - So, I almost didn't make it there and security at Philadelphia International Airport and Delta Airlines are on my shit list. For real. On Thursday, August 9, I got to Philadelphia International Airport at 6:05 a.m. and stood in this long ass line to get through security. Then one woman told those with flights leaving before 7 a.m. to cut the line. I asked about 7:10 a.m. flights...she said sure. Then I got to the front of the line and a new woman said..only flights that leave BEFORE 7 a.m. and told me to go to the end of the line. I looked at my watch and it was 6:30 a.m. and I shook my head. After a polite plea with the front of the line woman, she allowed me to stay. After I finally got through security, it was 6:50 a.m. I grabbed my stuff off the conveyor belt and I started doing the 100-yard dash towards the gate to my flight. I got to the gate just as the Delta representative made the final boarding call for my flight. I took my seat and took a deep breath. Crisis avoided. Or so I thought.

My connecting flight took me to Salt Lake City. After a short layover, I was back on a flight to Las Vegas. Or so I thought. We got on the runway the first time (yeah we did this more than once) and we had "cabin pressure problems," according to the captain. We went back to the gate. The mechanics came on the plane and we are delayed for like 30 minutes. I had an aisle seat and I saw a mechanic take out a manual. Oh...this can't be good...I thought. We got back on the runway again and in Salt Lake City...we had another problem. "We are experiencing problems with one of the engines," says the captain. So...we taxi back to the gate again. After another 30 minute delay, we were back on the runaway again. I said to myself if we don't take off a third time...I'm getting off this cancer carriage either by handcuffs or a stretcher because obviously God is sending me a message if that happens again. FINALLY, we took off for the 1 hour flight to Las Vegas that took almost three hours because of delays. As I'm walking up the ramp to get off the plane, I gave the throat slash sign and shook my head while staring at every person ready to get on my cancer carriage. I hope they made it to their destination.

I stayed at Bally's and the hotel is huge. I probably lost 10 pounds for all the walking that I did over a three-day period.





On Thursday night, I was VIP for a party put on by the NABJ Sports Task Force at the Rumjungle Nightclub inside of the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino.


Let's just say I'll let the pics speak for themselves.









I got to the party at 11 p.m. and didn't get back to my hotel room till 4 a.m. You can imagine I had trouble waking up the next morning.

I did make it to a Friday morning breakfast sponsored by the National Office of Drug Control Policy that was moderated by Tiki Barber. The panelists were Scott Burns, deputy director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy; Dr. Lonise Bias, motivational speaker for Grabow Community and mother of Len Bias; Terrance Harris, a sports reporter at the Houston Chronicle and some others that I forget. It was a very good panel and I received some information that I could use in future stories.

Later that afternoon, I listened to a speech and a question and answer session with Democratic presidental candidate Barack Obama. I missed Hillary Clinton's speech on Thursday afternoon...thanks to Delta's cancer carriage but damn sure wasn't going to miss Barack Obama. The Republican candidates were invited but none of them showed up. I guess George W. Bush isn't the only Republican who doesn't care about black people. His potential predecessors don't give a shit too.












He was late for his 1 p.m. speech and when he gets to the podium he cracked a joke, "I want to apologize for being a little late, but you guys keep asking whether I am black enough." (enormous laughter from the crowd of black journalists). I've heard him speak on TV and but can attest he's a very eloquent speaker in person and let's just say he made my vote for the democractic candidate a lot harder.



After that, I went to the NABJ Sports Task Force's Sam Lacy Pioneer Awards Ceremony. We honored Richard Steele, a noted boxing referee; Regina Miller, the head coach of the UNLV Women's basketball team; Greg Anthony, ESPN NBA Analyst and former UNLV Men's Basketball Star; Reggie Theus, former NBA player and the controversial Don King, the boxing promoter. I didn't attend the NABJ Hall of Fame Inductions and Banquet but my NABJ sources told me who won the NABJ elections well before it was officially announced. I made it an early night on Friday.

On Saturday, the last day of the convention, I attended some meetings and had lunch with a good friend. I also attended a sports panel "Intentional Foul: Why NBA Players Are Often Targeted." I went back to my room at 9 p.m. and took a short nap. Or so I thought. I overslept and made it to the NABJ Chicago Chapter's party around 12:30 a.m. I danced with quite a few people and mingled with several people that I've emailed but have never seen before that night. I got back to my hotel room around 4 a.m. and went to sleep.





I didn't gamble and I didn't explore Las Vegas like I wanted to while I was there. I spent some big money on my ride before I got to Las Vegas...so my party budget was slashed. However, I did notice that in parts of downtown Las Vegas there are some gigantic speed bumps (you know the type that you can only go over at 5 mph or you'll rip off your exhaust system on your car). I asked someone and they said the speed bumps were put in to deter drive-by shootings.

Interesting.

Las Vegas was extremely hot as the temperature averaged 104 degrees. Las Vegas is also extremely expensive for dining. I found a shop called Snack's in the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. The sandwiches, which were tasty, were $9 and a Heineken was $7. Yikes. That was the only meal I paid for that weekend because I had the hookup on all the events with meals.


So, now I can cross Las Vegas off the list of cities that I've dreamed of visiting.