As reported today across the news wires, including this article at Forbes.com, billionaire Carl Icahn has put in a bid for $200 million to purchase the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City.
If noone bids higher than $200 million, it is expected that Icahn will get the Trop.
Stay tuned.
Former AC Weekly columnist Chuck Betson told me last month at the A-10 Basketball Tournament that the Atlantic City Surf organization was in such financial straits, the team might fold. Sadly, Betson’s information was true. Former Surf president Chris Caminucci knew what was brewing and got out early. He took a position as manager of the Brockton Rox several months ago. Since the league didn’t want to loose the AC franchise, there was an attempt to sell the club. Miles Wolff, the league’s commissioner, says that a deal to sell the Surf last week fell through.
In my interview with Surf owner Mark Schuster, back when he took control of the team in 2006, I asked him about the fact that the team had not been doing well when he took over. Said Schuster, “I thought [the franchise] had under-performed. That is my M.O., to take companies that have been under-performing and take them to new levels. It was a challenge that people told me I was crazy to take on. The town loves this team but it has struggled.”
The Surf tried to stem the tide of red ink by switching to the independent Can-Am League from the Atlantic League in 2007, hoping that the shorter season would help the bottom line. It didn’t.
Hopefully Cecil Fielder, the former Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees, who spent last season as the manager of the Surf, will find gainful employment.
The Surf won the Atlantic League’s first championship in 1998 but could never translate success on the field into success in the stands with enough fans. I’ll miss watching baseball in the lovely Sandcastle Stadium with its gorgeous views of the Atlantic City skyline.
The eighth annual Stockton Goes to the Beach Summer Concert Series will kick off Monday, July 13, with Dickey Betts (pictured) and his group Great Southern.
The concerts, which used to take place in Atlantic City, but have been produced at Ocean City’s Music Pier for the past few summers, will be performed Mondays in July and August. Tickets are available at ocnj.us/boxoffice.
The schedule:
July 13 – Dickey Betts & Great Southern
July 20 – Gary Lewis & The Playboys
July 27 – Hal Ketchum
Aug. 3 – Rare Earth
Aug. 10 – Gary Puckett
Aug. 17 - Dokken
Aug. 25 – Kutless
Tickets are $25; shows start at 8pm. Call 525.9300 for more information.
The fifth annual Top 40 Under 40 party was held Friday night at the Borgata’s MIXX nightclub in Atlantic City.
The event was a huge success thanks to everybody from Atlantic City Weekly, Review Publishing, the Greater Atlantic City Jaycees, the nominators, the event sponsors, the night’s MC Frank Catrambone and, of course, the dynamic group of 2009 honorees.
You can check out our Facebook page for more photos from the event and we’ll also have a slideshow up soon at acweekly.com as well as pics in this week’s (4/2) issue.
To purchase pics from the event, click here.
Congrats again to this year’s Top 40 Under 40. Nominations for the 2010 Top 40 Under 40 will be accepted later this year. Keep checking our Web site for more information.
(Photo by Nick Valinote)
According to ESPN.com, the date of Saturday, June 27 has been set for a Boardwalk Hall bout featuring Kelly Pavlik’s middleweight title defense against Sergio Mora.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum tells ESPN that “although he had originally considered doing a split-site telecast with Pavlik in Atlantic City and other bouts from Mexico, the card will emanate entirely from Boardwalk Hall.”
Possible undercard fighters are said to include junior welterweight contender Mike Alvarado, junior middleweight prospect Vanes Martirosyan and middleweight prospect Matvey Korobov.
Thanks to Bill Gelman for the tip.
I could barely sleep last night after the Villanova Wildcats continued their run as one of the hottest teams in the tournament, crushing the Duke Blue Devils 77-54, with defensive pressure on the perimeter and a balanced scoring attack. It was the D that dominated as the super quick ’Cats harassed Duke into shooting 26.7 percent from the field and completely shut down Gerald Henderson, who scored only 7 points. After Nova took a three-point lead at the half you knew the Blue Devils would come out with more energy than they showed in the first half. Nova took the hit, than counter-punched and started stretching their lead until they battled the Devils into submission. I think Jay Wright out coached Coach K. While Wright made player adjustments throughout, Coach K made one excellent adjustment and then abandoned it. When he brought Haddonfield’s Brian Zoubek, his 7’1” center, into the game, he plugged up the middle and made it much harder for Nova’s Dante Cunningham to find good shots in the paint. Instead of starting him in the second half, Zoubek sat on the pine and by the time he was put in the game, it was too late for Duke who fell behind by 16 points. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. The Cats balanced attack featured 14 points and 11 rebounds for Cunnngham; Scottie Reynolds had 16 points; Reggie Redding had 11 off the bench; Dwayne Anderson had 8 and the Corey’s, Stokes and Fisher, combined for 13 points. It was Villanova’s 14th NCAA victory over a higher-seeded team — the most in tournament history.
The New York Times today traces the spa craze in Atlantic City, shedding some light on the popularity — and the advantages for the city’s casino industry and image — with regard to the new trend of high-end spas.
Worth a read.
According to a recently published Associated Press article, New Jersey State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, specifically the U.S. Justice Department, seeking to overturn a U.S. ban on sports betting.
The suit hopes to overturn the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which has the support of professional and scholastic sports leagues that argue the integrity of athletic competition would be compromised without it. Lesniak’s contention is that sports gambling already exists and always has, that the federal law deprives N.J. of a potential $100 million in lost annual tax revenues, and that its casinos, racetracks and Internet operators are deprived of a potential $500 million in gross income. A 1999 study estimated that $380 billion is illegally wagered annually on sports betting throughout the country.
Lesniak’s suit was filed in a U.S. District Court in New Jersey, on behalf of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey, and the Standardbred Breeder & Owners Association of New Jersey.
The A-team dominated American Idol last night, the A-team being Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta (pictured). With Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy looking on, Lambert sat down front with his new classic crooner haircut and blew away the Idol field by going soft and tender. His “Tracks of My Tears” was, to borrow a certain judge’s catch phrase, smokin’ hot.
I felt bad for Danny Gokey having to follow that, which he did with an okay take on “Get Ready.” However, the surprising twists and turns of an excellent night of music had one more bend in the road to fame. Quirky, redheaded 16-year-old Iraheta turned herself into a serious contender with a smoky, sexy funky and fabulous rendition of the Temptations “Papa Was A Rolling Stone.” She did look ready to go out now and record a hit record.
The A-team topped the night but there were plenty of outstanding B+ performances as well. Matt Girard started off the evening with a strong, sensual take on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” followed by Kris Allen’s bouncy and infectious version of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).” Anoop Desai continued his rise with a beautiful and tender “Oh Baby Baby.” Motown really brought out the best in the strongest contestants.
However, it might spell the end for Scott MacIntyre, whose version of “You Can’t Hurry Love” was barely okay. Surprisingly, Lil Rounds, who has been one of the top vocalists to date, did not have a good week. Her choice of song, “(Your Love is Like a) Heatwave,” did not showcase her powerhouse vocals, and she was shouting rather than singing the song several times. However, she should be able to shake off this off night.
First there was Atlantic City Restaurant Week, then, due its huge success at more than 70 participating local restaurants, there was an extension of Restaurant Week — for another week.
Ever since, local restaurants have taken to the idea of offering fixed-price menus that offer quality dining experiences for discounted prices. Especially in this economy.
Nothing says fine-dining like the award-winning Max’s Steakhouse at Trump Plaza, which, along with its neighboring restaurant Roberto’s, is offering $35 per person meals, including an appetizer, soup or salad and entree. The special Prix Fixe menus are being offered at Max’s Sundays from 5-9pm and Mondays and Tuesdays from 6-10pm. Roberto’s offers the Prix Fixe menu Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6-10pm. Both restaurants are also offering a selection of $15 bottles of wine.
Some of the delicacies offered on the menus? Try entrees such as the herbed chicken breast, (a delicious) rainbow trout, prime rib of beef, New York sirloin, pan-seared salmon and roast porkloin at Max’s. Over at Roberto’s, the entree choices include pollo padella, salmone, pennoni bolognese and ossobuco taglio reale.
Add $5 per person and dessert and coffee will be included.
Not a bad deal for gourmet dining at all.
(Pictured left to right are: Jim Rigot, Trump Plaza GM, Executive Chef Antonio Campaniello and Director of Food and Beverage Tony Sanza.)