Celebs join T-mobile crowd for Game 1
TKats! Bureau at this writing is the Perch at T-mobile Arena, where the ice is solid but the action is torrid as the Golden Knights ward off the Washington Capitals, 6-4.
Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final has drawn a bevy of Vegas celebs, naturally. As I was telling my good friend (requisite name-drop warning) Brad Garrett a bit ago, it seems my whole column has been dumped into this building.
Earlier, I had to shout over Michael Buffer’s voice-over as he introduced the starting lineups while I conversed with Criss Angel, Carrot Top and Lil Jon. A few feet away, Gladys Knight posed for photos as arena emcees Mark Shunock and Wayne “Big D” Danielsen held an informal pregame summit.
Knight said she and her husband, William Mcdowell, have been following the team all season. “I’m so proud to be an original Knight,” she said, and remarked of goalie Marc-andre Fleury, “We’re making him an honorary Pip.”
Lee Greenwood was in the wings, too, which I accurately deduced meant he would sing “God Bless the U.S.A.” during a break in the action.
I encountered this uncommon collection of newsmakers behind the Castle, where Angel and Lil Jon cranked the siren to ceremoniously start the night’s action. Knight, a Vegas resident, also sang “God Bless America” between the first and second periods. She was also presented a chocolate cake for her 74th birthday as 18,000-plus sang “Happy Birthday to You.”
The moment, and the cake, were delicious.
Leo lives!
Leo the Lion, the massive golden cat at the entrance of MGM Grand, now bears
J. Keith Moyer • Chase Rankin •
a Golden Knight logo on his chest and sits behind a 15-foot-tall Golden Knights puck. Work began at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday and was finished early Monday morning.
The puck and Leo’s painted VGK chest will remain in place through the Stanley Cup Final. Leo looks like he’s about to put someone into the boards …
Tributes abound!
Aside from Leo the Lion’s makeover, the guys from “Chippendales” at the Rio had VGK logos painted on their chests for a photo shoot Sunday. Whenever the Golden Knights score, the troupe sends a Twitter post of one of the cast members tearing off his shirt to reveal the logo.
Meantime, Andrew and Mike Tierney, Phil Burton and Toby Allen of Human Nature at Sands Showroom at The Venetian all wear the team’s jersey during its show-closing “Runaround Sue.”
Wynn Las Vegas race sports book director Johnny Avello has leapt in, too, by going “no caps” on all of his betting boards on Monday. Yep, every line is lowercase through the end of the Finals, in the #nocaps trend.
Lil Jon’s call
A bunch of social media entertainment authorities wondered why Lil Jon was chosen as the pregame entertainment at Toshiba Plaza with all the options available in Vegas. It was the NHL’S call, but the rap star deserved the call if only for his avid support of the team. “I remember when they said Las Vegas shouldn’t even have a major sports team, so I’ve been involved in
By mail:
this since before they gave us an expansion team,” he said. As for a prediction, he said, “Get it over quick. Four games, and a parade on the Strip — we should have a parade, win or lose.”
Speaking of parades …
In Vegas, a pep rally is never just a pep rally. They are commonly filled with stage performers. The showgirl leading the party parade into The Park promenade before Game 1 was Rachel Swindler. She’s the co-star of the updated version of “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” at Bally’s. The show reopens June 15.
Swindler’s showgirl sidekick at the Park event, Emily Callaway, is in the cast of “Wow” at the Rio.
And, the smallish gentleman in the VGK uniform and oversized (for him) hockey stick was Brian Thomas, better known for his full-time gig as Lucky the Leprechaun at O’shea’s.
Thomas hires performers for such functions in his production company, aptly named Vertically Limited. He’s portrayed Lucky for a lucky 13 years.
Yes, it’s a team
Chuck Todd is the host of “Meet the Press.” Yet, the Golden Knights phenomenon has escaped the esteemed newsman’s attention.
Todd ended Sunday’s show by teasing to NBC’S coverage of the Stanley Cup Final by saying, “The Washington Capitals are playing the Vegas Golden Knights. Yes, that is a team.”
Yes, that is a team. It’s also a whopper of a story.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @ johnnykats on Twitter.
Life, entertainment
As of 9 p.m. Monday:
1. Family seeks public’s help to find missing Bonanza High teen
The family has been handing out fliers and searching night and day for 15-year-old Molly Reyes, her older sister, Sasha Reyes, said Friday.
2. I-15 traffic heavy from Las Vegas into Southern California
Those headed back to Southern California from Las Vegas after Memorial Day weekend can expect heavy traffic on Interstate 15. 3. Anthem singer Carnell Johnson strikes a chord with Knights fans
At Vegas Golden Knights games, it doesn’t begin until the big guy sings.
4. Police report: Bonanza teacher threatened shooting at Las Vegas bar
A Bonanza High School teacher who was arrested this month on a terrorism charge had made threats to “poke a lot of holes in a lot of people” during a concert in downtown Las Vegas, a police document shows.
5. golden knights supporters’ #nocaps campaign sweeps las vegas
the #nocaps campaign is our community’s response to the golden knights’ opponent in the stanley cup finals, the washington capitals. As of 9 p.m. Monday:
1. Holiday traffic on Interstate 15
Traffic is back up on southbound Interstate 15 as visitors head toward Southern California after the Memorial Day weekend.
2. Traffic cam video of crash scene at Charleston and Decatur
Traffic cam video shows police at the scene following a multicar collision at Charleston and Decatur boulevards on Sunday.
3. Driver stopped on U.S. 95
A worker with the Freeway Service Patrol was able to stop an impaired driver on
U.S. Highway 95 near the Cheyenne Avenue exit on
April 12.