NFL Sunday

Sunday meant another early start due to the 10AM kick off local time in the weekend's NFL fixtures. I've always seemed to finish up on my NFL picks, and when I awakened I toyed with the idea of splitting my meagre remaining bankroll and slamming it on my 5 best bets of the day. The downside was too unbearable to comprehend though. 36 hours in the party capital of the world with zero dollars was akin to a 36 hour lap dance where you can look but not touch (maybe not too bad...). I left Karl in the room and set off to the sportsbook, my major worry being that I may not find a form guide anywhere with the latest statistical trends.

My fears were allayed when I walked up to the sportsbook counter and found a copy of 'Covers', which gave one of the most comprehesive form analysis I have seen of every NFL and College matchup. I set to work on my picks and ended up with an outlay of around $125. When placing a bet at the Circus Circus the cashier asked me for ID, and I promptly showed my passport, a now common occurance. "You look kinda young for 27" said the cashier, to which I replied "We all do in Britain". "God damn", the 40 year old replied "I wish I was British"

I was taken aback as to how crowded the sportsbooks were for NFL Sunday. Reserved seats were required, and the same Casinos I visited 24 hours earlier for America's premier horse racing event were now twice as full. It was standing room only, and I moved from casino to casino down the strip watching the games unfold. Casinos showed as many as six different games at a time on seperate jumbo screens several meters high, causing fans to crane their necks and gaze in awe at odds, scores and pictures in a scene resembling NASA's mission control. Holidaymakers decked out in the colours of their local NFL team clapped and hollered along with the bettors as touchdowns and fieldgoals rained down across the USA. A special mention goes to one of my favourite casinos, Treasure Island, where iced beer was sold by a vendor next to the six massive TV's.

The games went well and my picks netted a $50 profit. I was close to a big payout before Dallas Cowboys blew a last minute fieldgoal against Washington to knock out a number of my lines. One amusing incident in this game was the ongoing saga of Dallas player Terrell Owens. After allegedly attempting suicide earlier in the season, "TO" had this week been accused of falling asleep in team meetings. He blamed this drowsiness on a medical condition. When he scored a TD in today's matchup, he placed the ball on the floor and lay next to it, his head resting on the pigskin. The Vegas punters were clearly amused, and laughter roared around the Mirage sportsbook. The officials were less than pleased, however, and gave the Cowboys a 15 yard penalty (The TD was allowed to stand).

I mused about watching the later kick offs, but as I didn't have much riding on them I went back to the hotel to meet Karl. Karl was just heading out to play some more poker, so I decided to get an hours kip before our pub crawl. Tonight was the night of the 'casino crawl' down the strip, stopping off at each casino for a drink.

As the sun started to set on the Vegas landscape, I rose from my slumber and looked out of our window over the strip. Punctuated by the Grand Canyon to the right, the scene moved me to pick up my I-pod and flick the tracks forward until I came to the second 'Killers' album. I pulled up a chair and watched as day faded into night, the first flickers of neon appearing as 'Sam's Town' sprang into life. This amazing scene went hand in hand, and possibly inspired, the music flowing through the headphones.

When Karl returned, we took the 'deuce' bus down to the Mandalay Bay to start the crawl. The bus' repetitive call of "Have fun, get out of the sun, ride the deuce for five dollars a day" made the first drink even more welcome. Here is how events unfolded:-

• Mandalay Bay - One Budweiser consumed. Watched some of the late kick off between New England and Indianapolis. Money riding on the Colts.
• Luxor - Hit the Nile Bar, one of Karl's favourites from last year. After seeing a Yank energy drink named 'Sobe Energy Rush', promptly ordered a 'Sobe and Vodka'. Tasted of pineapple.
• Excalibur - Found a dark neo-gothic bar in this medieval themed casino. Budweiser bottles over here 30% bigger than in UK. Accidently mistime swipe at oversize bottle and spill on groin. Karl kindly buys me another while I dry off in gents. Attractive chain mail covered gothic waitress sits in wet patch while trying to sell us vodka jello shots. We buy them out of sympathy. Colts win game.
• New York - New York - Karl chows down on an alarming looking hot dog, then we use our free passes to gain entry to 'Coyote Ugly' bar. They should have paid us.
• Monte Carlo - Check out the real ale bar, which turns out to be a real highlight. I select the 'Vegas Lights', a light but hoppy brew with a distinctive taste. Could have done two or three here easily but rules are rules and we head on.
• Bellagio - Vodka and Red Bulls downed in a classy joint similar to the I-Bar at the Rio, but with more colour and less attractive barstaff.
• Caesars Palace - Karl thinks it would be a good idea to order double shots of cranberry flavour Absolut vodka in addition to the beers. Shots are main reason why I approach attractive blonde American. Attractive blonde American repels advances of pissed up Englisman, her childhood ideology of 'the English gentleman' probably shattered.
• Treasure Island - Attempt to enter 'Tangerine' nightclub for free. Club closed for night. Decide to play 5 X $10 hands of blackjack instead. Lose $50, having 19 on 4th hand dealer has 20. Have 20 on 5th hand. Dealer has 16 and then hits a 5 for 21.
• Slots-o-Fun - Miss out all other bars due to cloud of depression. Have final beer in this dingy hole next door to our hotel. Contemplate giving up gambling before being distracted by 'Bud for $1.50' offer. Night ends.