sunshine, if every northerner who followed Quins 'cos they live in London was a part-time supporter, we wouldn't have many full-time ones left....

maybe it's because you're a Mod and people expect higher standards of you ?

and just because people don't travel doesn't make them any less of a supporter it just means they have either less money/time on their hands than others.

I commend your commitment Lister but sometimes you might want to take the high and mighty stance a little less often.

Not attacking you in any way just an observation

Surely it must be time for a Fans Forum so we can get to meet and greet the new GM/CEO..If for no other reason it will be in the location of a bar

...fine idea to have a 'fans' forum, the sooner the better, so we can see the colour of the new GM's 'eyes' and make certain his 'jib' is suitable.

Perhaps 'Gutterfax' will bend his ear on Monday at the Celtics.....presume he will be present???.....game.

I was speaking to Greg Whitaker at half time on Thursday and he said that there a plans for a fans' forum in the near future, but that no date has yet been set.

I was in Peru working. Thus missed the 60 put past the Wire.

Please have it before a home game and not on a mid week evening when people who live a fair distance away (90 miles in my case) just can't make it.

Sadly I was in Hollywood/Las Vegas.

Its at the MGM isn't it? Excellent, it will be buzzing. I stayed there too, get to the hotel early if you can, I arrived at about 9am and they gave me a room with a view of the Strip on the 26th floor. No tip needed either so don't waste your money trying the "$20 trick".

We spent most of our time in Downtown as the limits are slightly lower You can get $5 Blackjack at the MGM when its really quiet (probably no chance when you are there) so its usually $10 and these will be tricky to find on evenings. There is occasionally a $5 Craps table too but again, never on an evening (in fact I only saw this happen once). Roulette tends to have a $5 table most of the time if thats your thing but it doesn't really interest me.

Downtown is superb though and I spent pretty much every day there. Highlights include $3 Blackjack at the Golden Spike - a really small, friendly casino with a decent cocktail service. Get in before 7 and it should still be $3, sometimes it stays that way all night too. You might even get a free t-shirt, although they only had 2XL left If you go in and see the blonde pit boss called Rita, tell her that Pole sent you. They have friendly dealers on the tables too.

Times are tough in Vegas, play pretty much anything or even stand near a craps table and the cocktail waitress will serve you. $1 tip is more than enough, only 50% of people bother I would say. I was sat playing 50c Blackjack on a GameKing machine at 8pm in the MGM and within about 3 hands I was been pressured to order a drink

Away from gambling, I would have to recommend Main Street Station in Downtown. I had the lunch time buffet which was fantastic and very cheap. They have a brewpub there too, and the beers are excellent. I ate in the pub too and ordered the chicken strips - and out came 4 massive chicken steaks. Amazing. Additionally, go into 4 Queens (also Downtown) to the Chicago Brewery Cigar Lounge. The beer in here is magificent as well - for food, the pizzas are nice, but the egg rolls they serve are incredible. Closer to the strip, go to Ellis Island Super 8 and have the steak special - a cup of soup to start with and then a huge piece of thick steak with all the trimmings - a free pint too, and change for $10.

The bus is $15 for a 72 hour pass but The Deuce (the bus that goes up the Strip and towards Downtown) is VERY slow at times, as the bus drivers like to wait and try and fill the buses up at every stop. This pass is good on all RTC buses. They are doing some fairly major roadworks on the Strip too and certain areas are a bit of a mess. Oh and a taxi from the airport to the MGM is $10. Is it your first time in Vegas? It was for me, and I have never had so many static shocks in all of my life. Literally ANYTHING you touch in a casino from the doors to the machines to the lifts will shock you. Its great

Very much obliged for the tips D.L.
It is my first time there arriving at 1400 on the thursday and returning
late ish monday night. We are indeed staying at the M.G.M.
Will probably watch the fight on the big screen at the hotel as oppposed to
live in the Arena.
Really looking forward to it now.

You will have a great time. I think you have to pay if you want to watch the fight even on TV. They were advertising tickets for closed-circuit viewing for $50 IIRC, at all of the MGM Casinos. Although I am not entirely sure what this closed-circuit thing is all about.

Oh and the weather is hotter than normal for April, it was up around 41 degrees when we were there but I think its getting a bit cooler now.

Money ordered all ready to go and am glad to report the temps are now mid twenties.