MARCH MADNESS may be the focus on national television this
month, but in Tunica blackjack tournaments are heating up as well. By the way,
we predict that the MEMPHIS TIGERS will make it to the Final Four if
they can improve their lousy free-throw shooting. The announcement is now out there
about the quarter million dollar tournament that HORSESHOE CASINO is
staging on April 21, one it calls the” biggest ever” in Tunica.
We
talked with JOE SCHATZ, Regional VP of marketing, on the GOODTIMES
RADIO SHOW why such a big money blackjack tournament and his answer was
“the Horseshoe is known as the place for gamblers and this event bears that
out.” You can register early at the Bluesville Promotion counter. I
did and can’t wait. If the $100,000 first place money doesn’t get your
attention or the buy-in is a stretch, check out the regular Saturday noon
blackjack tournament at GRAND. The hook is only $50 but if you get on
the $4,000 final table each Saturday, you get free ride in the end-of-the-month
tournament where the sole winner gets a free trip to CAESARS
PALACE in Las Vegas for Harrah’s Millionaire Maker
championship. Imagine sitting down at the table there for a shot at first place
money of a cool million.
And
another low buy-in event occurs at HOLLYWOOD CASINO each Sunday at 6
p.m., and it is playing to capacity. The first two events were back-to-back
wins for JOSHUA WRIGHT, who took home nearly $4,000. The buy-in is only
$30 but you need to come early to register at 4 p.m. as only the first 70 get a
seat. There is also a re-buy round. While we continue to chase the money at Hollywood, a final table
spot at Grand was ours and assures us a place in the end-of-the-month
Millionaire Maker event. If you like blackjack, you will love
tournaments. For small taters, you can take part in events where first place
money is significant. It is also cheap training ground for the mega events,
which is why I am playing in some 10 blackjack tournaments this month, to
practice for the ‘SHOE’S $250K chip fest on April 21.
FRIED CHEESECAKE? I know everybody is nuts about cheesecake but
check the looks on their kissers when you mention “fried cheesecake.” That was
my first response when talented new room chef, CHRIS LEE, at FITZ’
DON B’s surprised me with this dessert on a recent visit there. It looked
like big puff balls, crusted on the outside but so cheeeeeesy and smooth on the
inside. A former student at London’s Cordon
Bleu, Chris is also well known in Memphis
and it was their loss when URS VOGEL, who can judge chef talent better
than most, hired him to perk up the cuisine. Try the “new” Creole Grilled
Shrimp, as well.
Y’all
will love it! The fried cheesecake is now only offered as a special but if
enough of us pester Chris he might relent and get it on the menu someday. On
March 17, the Good Times show will be on the stage at the Fitz to kick off the
day’s Irish bacchanalia. Stop by and visit if you are up early from 8:30 to
10:30 a.m. and if you are dressed wearing the Green, we will reward you with a
Fitz buffet breakfast.
There
is so much going on at once at the Fitz and I’ve written it about in this
column before but the promotions are so attractive I will summarize them for
your review here:
- ST. Pat’s Day March 17
celebration, prizes, green beer, great music and Irish food.
- Sunday Blues Spins, free $2,000
slot tournament every Sunday, the Famous Unknowns with Mark Sallings, Ruby
Wilson and more.
- Million Dollar New Member
Extravaganza promo—get a card and a shot at a million bucks.
- Paycheck for life when you cash
your paycheck at Fitz and win.
GOLD STRIKE has announced a partnership with country music star T.G.
SHEPPARD who will present the next generation of talented
performers in a series of concerts titled, T. G. Sheppard Presents.
The first show will be held Saturday March 17 in the wonderful Millennium
Theatre and will feature one of the hottest bands on the country scene…CAROLINA RAIN.
Other scheduled shows include Danielle Peck (April 21), Cowboy Crush (May 17).
Get your ticket info at 888-245-7529. Starting next month, Gold Strike will
offer its new MGM MIRAGE PLAYERS CLUB that will soon give
you access to twelve resorts and casinos including the BEAU RIVAGE in Biloxi. Have you played
at the new FALLEN OAK course there yet? Have heard this is a stunner, just
like the Beau Rivage. Fore!
On
May 5, we take our act to Hollywood Casino with a remote broadcast from the
hotel lobby, next to the Batmobile. If you want to be titillated, check out the
uncensored hypno-comedy of ANTHONY COOLS at the Horseshoe’s Bluesville
on March 17 as he tests the outer limits of adult comedy and explores the
frailty of your sexual inhibitions. I’ve seen him and this is GREAT comedy
night. But don’t volunteer to be a subject for his hypnosis…no way!
STEVE CONLEY, long time and well-liked on- air personality at FM100, in Memphis, has joined HORSESHOE
CASINO as a host where his smooth personality will fit in just right. You
will also spot smooth Steve working the Memphis
market. With Elvis acolyte, GEORGE KLEIN, also hosting at
the ‘Shoe, there is enough talent on board to setup a radio station booth
just off the casino floor. Get on it, George!
BALLY’S has a few Tuesdays left on it’s $5,000 free slot
tournaments this month and there are some new items on the menu at THE BARN,
with it’s good ol’ southern cooking…”It ain’t health food.” I was a judge
at RESORT’S/BALLY’S annual employee talent contest and the winner of the
$1,500 first prize was songbird, CARLA MILLS. This amazing
chanteuse has won the event two years in a row. Says she is “too old” for AMERICAN
IDOL, so I will christen her TUNICA’S IDOL. It is amazing how much
talent there is in employee ranks. It only needs a chance to be seen and heard.
GM. GEORGE FRAWLY, played a few hot licks on his guitar sitting in with
the Memphis All-Stars. Don’t forget, for one buck, you can buffet yourself at
Resorts, and Bally’s is offering 5X Cash Back Monday-Thursday. New faces
from old places….GERRY ARTIGLIARI, now Regional Vice President of
Slots, and DEBORAH LOVINS is the new Regional Director of
Player Development. Lot’s of experience
brought to the table here.
If
you win a taxable jackpot at Hollywood
on April 13, 14 and 15, GM JOHN OSBORNE, who is also a CPA and knows the
value of a buck this time of year, sez the house will pay your state tax on it.
He also let’s us know that in May a new Premiere level player card will make
its debut there with “more rewards, more benefits, more comps and more
exclusive offers.” Send me one, John. That “Premiere Card” looks just about right
for this minnow. Starting in June, the casino will be awarding Star Group comp
dollars with redemption at various casino outlets, which offers convenient
flexibility and immediate access to your comp bucks balance.
MARC SILVERBERG, of SAM’s TOWN, sez he will have a
new menu coming out “soon” for the popular SMOKEY JOE’S eatery there,
but don’t drop my favorite, Marc, “MiMaw’s Meatloaf.” If you like
wrestling on your menu, a rare grappling show is set for April 13 when Memphis wrestling takes
to the mats. On May 4 &5, the casino will host the
CINCO De MAYO $50,000 Open Slot tournament. Calling all Keno players
wherever you are…Sam’s Town is holding a tournament on April 16-18 Call
800-946-0711 for more info.
The
TUNICA REPORT…if you haven’t heard this new segment at 9:05 every Saturday
morning on the GOODTIMES radio show, onWMC790 AM, you can catch
up here. It all starts with CLAIRE PITTMAN, the PR Pro who
handles the report for the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and who keeps
her arms wrapped around publicity ops for the organization. The $500,000 total
investment by the Memphis and Tunica bureaus hit
a home run in a recent joint campaign to lure tourist dollars from Alabama… A multicultural
rodeo will end on March 17 at the Tunica Arena and Expo Center
with Mexican bull riding, female bull riding and Native American performances.
Visit www.tunicaarenaexpo.com for
more info on this event...
Over
160 pro golfers will compete at Tunica National April 2-8 for $300,000 in prize
money…the event is free to fans….The National also has a very attractive new
membership package. Bob Wolcott, GM,
says you can call 1-866-833-6331 or go to www.tunicanational.com for more
details…and the refurbished Tunica Queen is now floating on the Mighty
Mississippi River…and Alabamian Sheryl Brannan and her husband won a
value-laden trip to Tunica and Memphis
as part of a random giveaway by both CVB s.
This
is the last notice for the ROBERT LOCKE benefit golf tournament.
Even though, sadly, Robert recently passed away due to long-time illness, his
friends are moving forward with the event chaired by GARY CLINE and FRANK
ROMAINE. It will take place Sunday,
March 18, at Tunica National with tee-off at 1 p.m. Funds raised will help
defray family medical and funeral expenses. The format is a fun one, a
four person Texas Scramble with a great lineup of cash and prizes to be won.
Call Gary at
662-519-6501 or stop by Highway 61 Liquor in Tunica to enter.
FROM
THE QUOTABLE GAMBLER, The Lyons
Press
“At a classy Strip hotel the dice got really hot and action fast
and furious. The lucky shooter became so excited stacking up $100 chips and
throwing his winning dice that his false teeth fell out onto the green felt
table. The Boxman, without skipping a beat, whipped out his false teeth, and
said, ‘You’re faded.’”
Mario Puzo, Inside Las
Vegas (1976)
I’ve
run that quote before, but like it so much, I thought readers might not mind
reading it again. I apologize for such a long column this week but my cup
runneth over from the spring-like weather that has invigorated this old
guy.
LAISSEZ
LE BON TEMPS ROULER!
