RSS 2.0 FeedVol. 3, No. 12, December 2007, Sports
British Invasion
Pugilists and pool sharks hop the pond for a week in Las Vegas
The biggest British Invasion in 40 years hits Las Vegas in December. Forget the Beatles and Rolling Stones. It’s Ricky Hatton and some pool sharks seeking “satis-faction.” Their “ticket to ride” spans an entire week.
MGM hosts back-to-back international events, both with British-American overtones. Hatton, the British boxing idol, opposes Floyd Mayweather in one of the year’s top bouts on December 8. Hatton brings a fanatical British contingent across the pond and assumes a home-arena advantage. Five days later, the Mosconi Cup pool championship begins. The best players from the United States and Europe renew their annual rivalry in an exciting marathon.
The events differ radically, but reveal cultural contrast. British fans pour heart, soul and vocal chords into support of their favorite athletes. Fans chant Hatton’s name, scream the song “Blue Moon” for his ring entrance and unfurl numerous improvisational jingles throughout a contest. Their constant noise differs from American counterparts, who cheer only when action heats up.
Hatton has become boxing’s financial pied piper. No other fighter can bring his fans in from around the world. Patrons who make the pilgrimage utilize economic disparity. The pound has TKO’d the dollar, at an exchange rate of more than 2-1. That makes a weeklong trip here affordable. Airfare, hotels and fight tickets may come to less than $1,000 American dollars if purchased through official channels. On the internet, of course, tickets have skyrocketed. Ringside seats cost an astronomical $15,300 according to some sites.
The pool championship offers significantly more bang for substantially less buck. Tickets cost $30 for one session, $100 for the entire championship. Think billiards is boring? Observe the Brits screaming and chanting over a rack being cleared. Go to the Mosconi Cup championship and a soccer game may break out.
Mosconi Cup drama resonates back in Great Britain. Its SKY network devotes non-stop coverage to the championship.
Boxing and billiards… what a combo.
MGM hosts back-to-back international events, both with British-American overtones. Hatton, the British boxing idol, opposes Floyd Mayweather in one of the year’s top bouts on December 8. Hatton brings a fanatical British contingent across the pond and assumes a home-arena advantage. Five days later, the Mosconi Cup pool championship begins. The best players from the United States and Europe renew their annual rivalry in an exciting marathon.
The events differ radically, but reveal cultural contrast. British fans pour heart, soul and vocal chords into support of their favorite athletes. Fans chant Hatton’s name, scream the song “Blue Moon” for his ring entrance and unfurl numerous improvisational jingles throughout a contest. Their constant noise differs from American counterparts, who cheer only when action heats up.
Hatton has become boxing’s financial pied piper. No other fighter can bring his fans in from around the world. Patrons who make the pilgrimage utilize economic disparity. The pound has TKO’d the dollar, at an exchange rate of more than 2-1. That makes a weeklong trip here affordable. Airfare, hotels and fight tickets may come to less than $1,000 American dollars if purchased through official channels. On the internet, of course, tickets have skyrocketed. Ringside seats cost an astronomical $15,300 according to some sites.
The pool championship offers significantly more bang for substantially less buck. Tickets cost $30 for one session, $100 for the entire championship. Think billiards is boring? Observe the Brits screaming and chanting over a rack being cleared. Go to the Mosconi Cup championship and a soccer game may break out.
Mosconi Cup drama resonates back in Great Britain. Its SKY network devotes non-stop coverage to the championship.
Boxing and billiards… what a combo.
Casino Connection Sports Editor Dave Bontempo is an award-winning sports writer and broadcaster who calls boxing matches all over the world. He has covered the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs, as well as numerous PGA, LPGA and Seniors Golf Tour events, and co-hosted the Casino Connection television program with Publisher Roger Gros.
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