Greg Maddux is already a Las Vegas A’s fan
The Athletics’ likely move to Las Vegas is rife — rife, I tell you! — with transportation issues.
Greg Maddux also has travel concerns. His own. And he’s happy about a big-league team planning to move to his hometown.
“I love baseball, and it’d be nice not to have to get on a plane to go watch a game,” Maddux said Sunday on the blue carpet at the Baller Dream Celebrity Poker Tournament at Circa’s Legacy Club. “I’d love to see major league baseball in Las Vegas. I’m looking forward to it.”
The poker event was to support Maddux’s Baller Dream Foundation, run by his daughter, Paige Maddux. The Foundation provides financial aid to and community programming for families experiencing a cancer diagnosis.
Former major-league stars Roger Clemens, Frank Thomas, Goose Gossage, Derrek Lee, Shane Victorino and Jake Arrieta were among the participants. Circa co-owner Derek Stevens, ex-Broncos offensive lineman Evan Mathis, Raiders punter A.J. Cole, Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, ex-NFL QB Shaun King; former Golden Knights captain Deryk Engelland and Vikings center Garrett Bradbury also participated.
Maddux is a 1995 World Series champ, four-time Cy Young Award winner and Professional Baseball Hall of Famer. He rose to superstar status primarily during his days with the Cubs and Braves.
Maddux is also a Las Vegas resident who grew up here, a Valley High grad who has only watched his hometown blossom. He checked out the Vegas horizon from Circa’s 60th-floor vantage point.
“I looked north and see where I grew up, and then I looked south, where my parents moved us, to the west, where we live now,” Maddux said. “When you see the whole city, you reflect back. It brings back a lot of memories.”
Those memories were not of major league sports in Las Vegas. Now it seems it’s only a matter of time before the A’s move to town, and LeBron James has said publicly he wants to own an NBA franchise in Las Vegas. The Raiders, Golden Knights (who have again advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs) and WNBA champion Aces have shown Vegas belongs in the bigs.
“Everybody loves the Knights and Raiders and the Aces,” Maddux said. “Why not bring in baseball as well?”
A’s-plus idea
Invite Maddux to throw out the first pitch of the team’s Las Vegas home opener.
What works in Vegas
“Rouge,” the adult comedy revue at The Strat Theater, celebrated its one-year anniversary last month. This show is daring, frisky, funny … and, it sells.
Tease this …
A triumvirate of famous “legacy” rockers are expected to add or announce dates at The Strat, and soon. “Legacy” to mean they have hits from previous decades.
Cool Hang Alert
“Joiful Jazz Wednesdays” starring the Jazz Outreach Initiative “JOI” Jazz Orchestra, performers every first and third Wednesday of the month, beginning 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Notoriety Live. This is a show loaded with original, big-band compositions and unique arrangements from some of the city’s top players. Linda Woodson is this week’s guest vocalist. Go to NotorietyLive.com for info.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.