The Devil Has Come To Collect His Due

There was a time when a person would never even consider taking out a large marker in Vegas that they couldn't repay immediately. Something about valuing the use of their extremities, I suppose. But those days have passed, and now gamblers think of markers as some sort of interest-free loan to be repaid the next time they get a big score. So if Steve Wynn of Wynn Las Vegas wants his money, he has to do what every American does when he's unhappy about a situation. He's gonna sue your ass.

First, it was Charles Barkley and the $400k he owed the casino. Then it was Alonzo Mourning and a $50k outstanding debt. Both of those debts have since been repaid. Now it's been revealed that Joe Francis, founder of the Girls Gone Wild, owes the Wynn a whopping 2 million bucks.

So now in addition to tax evasion, drug possession, child abuse and prostitution charges, Francis can add a massive gambling debt to his list of problems. It's almost enough to think that the $29 million a year cash flow and years of years of filming (among other things) young naked bodies wasn't worth it. Ok, that might be a stretch.

Still, for all of his work bringing the "Girls Gone Wild," mindset to college girls across the nation, Joe Francis should be an American hero. But instead, he's just a douchebag. It's unfortunate. Guys like him give the rest of us who just want to see an 18 yr old chick flash her boobies (and maybe make out w/ another 18 yr old) a bad name. Maybe Steve Wynn could bring a vise out just for old times sake.

I Was a Steelers Fan For an Hour

I returned from Vegas late last night, sleep deprived and hungover. I'm going through detox right now, but here are a few thoughts on the weekend that was.

Early Saturday evening, I was playing at the Palms and noticed Hines Ward, DeShea Townsend and another Steeler that I didn't recognize sitting at the blackjack table across from me. The table had a couple empty spots, so I went to check it out. It was a $25 minimum table, which is the upper limit of my comfort zone, but I figured this was a rare opportunity, so I went ahead and bought in for $300. Unfortunately, the table was pretty cold for them and they went bust about 20 minutes after I sat down, but as cold as it was for them, it was hot for me. I went on a nice roll and ended up cashing out for my biggest personal win at a blackjack table. So while I don't have any good Page Six-like Steelers story for you, I do now have enough cash to pay the outrageous prices on StubHub for the UCLA-Stanford game, so perhaps it will at least result in some pictures for the site.

Jerome Bettis was also at the Palms and Ben Roethlisberger had been there the night before, however they were playing in the high limit rooms. Perhaps if Hines Ward were a taller receiver, he would have been playing in the high limit room too.

This is my fourth trip to Vegas during the college basketball season, and each time, the Bruins have struggled and/or lost during my visit (vs Texas, vs Washington State, at Washington, at Arizona). Some friends have a free room in Vegas during Final Four weekend and now I need to decide if I should bring my jinx with me. This is of course assuming that the Bruins make it back to the Final Four. The way this NCAA season has been, I could see the Bruins winning it all or getting knocked out in the Sweet Sixteen.

Thanks to the Santa Ana winds, my return flight back was one of those bumpy, shaky, roller coaster rides that make you think about everything that's important in life- spending time with friends, the love of your family, and always, always hitting up a strip club when you've got some extra bills in your pocket.

Now it's time for a nap. A real update will be coming later...