A loaded, diverse schedule underscores the city’s wide sporting reach. Yes, the major June 28 pay-per-view bout between Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz at Mandalay Bay appears standard. So does the bevy of mixed martial arts events spread throughout town. The 51s are active at Cashman Field, the Wranglers are enjoying their finest ECHL post-season ever at the Orleans Arena and the Belmont Stakes bring a prominent betting showcase to the sports books June 7. Nice, nice, nice, but expected.

Now there’s something else.

Say hello to the Olympics, dress-rehearsal style. The Thomas and Mack Center hosts the USA Olympic Trials for Judo and Wrestling June 13-15. This highly charged affair determines who represents the United States in Beijing August 8-24. Eighteen weight classes will determine their American Olympic representative and 14 judo divisions will select their champ in one gigantic Las Vegas weekend. Each day of the competition is a day-night doubleheader. Sessions run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The United States is one of the world’s top wrestling nations and captured six medals in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

For these trials, more than 300 athletes will grace the stage, accompanied by families, friends, onlookers and officials. Bedlam often dominates the atmosphere. Fan noise is multiplied by four years of previous training, numerous gut checks, qualifying rounds and successful tournaments for every athlete.

Imagine a wrestler trailing in points, but locking an opponent’s shoulders inches from the mat and the ticket to Beijing. The screaming, shouting, foot-stomping backdrop adds to the equation. One move, one strategy can decide the result of four years of hard labor.

Can you spell P-R-E-S-S-U-R-E?

“This is unparalleled drama,” says Gary Abbott, communications director for USA Wrestling, which is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. “The atmosphere figures to be incredible; these athletes have waited their entire lives for this. Now it comes down to one weekend. This is the world to them.

“The emotion of the athletes is great to watch,” Abbott adds. “They will put on a great display of athletic ability. You will see speed and strength. These athletes are in amazing condition. They have tremendous technical capacity.”

Amateur athletes offer a refreshing perspective. No guaranteed payday. No guaranteed future. In a sense, they all have one leg inside the plane to Beijing. Las Vegas results determine who steps all the way in.

“We’re excited that Vegas gets to have its own piece of the Olympic Games,” Abbott says. “It’s such a fun town, people enjoy it and they are going to be treated to a terrific show. We’re hoping that this is the greatest Olympic Trials ever.”

This was a unique investment for Las Vegas officials. The city outbid Cleveland and Sioux City, Iowa, a college wrestling stronghold, to annex the event. Bringing the event here coaxes the athletes’ families and fan bases to make a weekend of the Olympic Trials.

While gaming beckons everywhere, wrestlers seek their own version of a winning seven.

By Dave Bontempo

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.