 |  |  |  |
LAS VEGAS -- The plane touched down as the passengers peeked out the windows, all pointing to this sign or that building, all anxious to hit the tables or the slots or the bar, and perhaps all three by noon.
That's the way folks think when they arrive at the world's best adult playground.
|
|
| Wally Judge, bound for Kansas State, will be in Las Vegas. (Provided to CBSSports.com) |
And that's why this is a helluva place to try to work.
But make no mistake, I am here to work. Even as I found myself constantly trying to convince friends of this before I departed for my trip to Las Vegas to cover the three summer basketball tournaments that annually turn Sin City into, well, it's still Sin City, I guess.
That's not changing. But there are a lot of basketball players playing basketball games here this week, and that's the point I tried to stress when I ended up in conversations that typically went like this:
Friend: So what do you have coming up, Gary?
Me: Vegas.
Friend: Really, for a bachelor party or something?
Me: No, I'm working. It's for work.
Friend: You're working in Vegas?
Me: Yeah.
Friend: Hahahahahahahahahaha!
That happened four times last week, only difference being the variances in length and pitch of the laugh. Nobody believes it's actually work, and that's bothersome, because this stuff is hard to do. If you don't believe me I'd like to see you try to play cards until 5 a.m. and then make it to Rancho High for the Adidas Super 64 tip-off at 8:30 a.m.
Not. Easy.
But that's basically the requirement for coaches (and writers) this week as long days of watching basketball are followed by long nights of watching double-downs or all-ins or come bets, depending on your game of choice. Like I said, it's not easy. But it is necessary (in the spirit of networking), which is why July 22 is circled on every basketball calendar in the country.
For those unfamiliar, July 22 marks the opening of three major tournaments that bring pretty much every relevant high school prospect to Las Vegas each year, as well as the college coaches positioning themselves to sign them. Consequently, that date is cemented in my head along with other notable dates like Christmas (Dec. 25), my son's birthday (Feb. 19), Halloween (Oct. 31) and Cinco de Mayo (May 5).
(What can I say? I love white cheese dip!)
Anyway, back to July 22.
It falls on a Tuesday this year, which is why I'm here on a Monday preparing for the Adidas Super 64, Reebok Summer Championships and Main Event. Those tournaments will combine to host hundreds of teams featuring players such as John Henson (committed to North Carolina), Mason Plumlee (Duke) and Wally Judge (Kansas State).
If you've heard of a prospect, that prospect is probably here. And at some point they'll likely wander into a casino in their shirt that makes them look oldest, because what self-respecting teenager wouldn't at least try to sneak onto a craps table, just to say he did it?
It's hilarious to watch.
And the basketball isn't bad either.
The Reebok event two years ago produced the now-legendary O.J. Mayo-Derrick Rose showdown, the one where Mayo converted a four-point play in the final seconds to give his team a one-point win despite Rose finishing with a triple-double. Last summer, it was Derrick Favors who emerged as the top player in the Class of 2009 with a championship, and this summer should be no different.
Will future McDonald's All-American Xavier Henry, on a bad and bothersome ankle, limp to a title?
Will Bill Self or John Calipari secure his commitment by the end of the week?
The subplots in Vegas are endless (and Team USA is out here, too).
So wish me luck as things get under way Tuesday morning.
And remember, it's never wise to split face cards.