LAS VEGAS - PINBALL HALL OF FAME!!!
If you have not been to the Pinball Hall of Fame on the Strip here in Vegas, it’s a MUST see. More about that in a future column, but for now, we’re talking Pinball Roulette baby. Online Pinball Roulette is played with the standard European Roulette table layout, featuring only one green zero. All classic inside and outside bets are available, including neighbour bets. Once you place your wagers, you click on the “Bet” button. Now the FUN starts. Instead of the usual roulette wheel, you will be transferred to a pinball machine! The ball is automatically set off towards a field full of bumpers and pins. Finally, the ball lands in one of the moving pockets at the bottom of the pinball machine, and that will be the winning number. SIGN me up!!!
THANKSGIVING IN VEGAS!!!
If you’re in town for Thanksgiving and are not sure where to eat, lemme suggest the Golden Tiki at 3939 Spring Mountain Road in the Chinatown section of Vegas. Of course, you’re gonna find the traditional Pu Pu Platters, but we would ask you to consider the Surfboard Platter. Why? How about some VooDoo Ribs, Spam Musubi, Sticky Fingers, Coconut Shrimp and Crab Rangoons. If you’re lips have never touched a Crab Rangoon, you’re looking at a simple mixture of crab, cream cheese, and various seasonings wrapped in a wonton wrapper. And you’re tasting a little slice of heaven. But for Turkey Day, the Golden Tiki is going for a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. You can munch on pretzel sticks, popcorn, jelly beans and gourmet buttered toast, all on a pingpong table. They’re also launching a few new cocktails. My favorite would be the Holiday Bird in Chinatown with some duck fat-infused Cognac! You should probably call for reservations and guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite Peanuts character. TIKI ME BAABBBEEE!!!
WINNERS ONLY!!!
OLE! You ready for the BIGGEST sporting event on the planet? Yup, it’s the World Cup starting this Sunday. Gonna take a gigantic pile of chips and throw it down on Argentina at 5/1. Lionel Messi might not be the best player in the world anymore, but he is still Messi. And this is probably his last shot at the trophy since he will be turning 39 when the next Cup rolls around in 2026 here in North America. La Albiceleste, The White and Sky Blues, have not lost a game in OVER THREE YEARS! What! Yea, that’s a THIRTY FIVE GAME unbeaten streak. They have a roster loaded with stars from the major soccer leagues in Europe. Aside from Messi (PSG), Argentina will trot out Angel Di Maria (Juventus), Paulo Dybala (AS Roma), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) and Julian Alvarez (Manchester City). And there’s another pretty important Lionel for Argentina. The manager, Lionel Scaloni. After taking over in 2019 with a handful of skeptical players, they all LOVE him now. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul talked about mistrust early on, but then said, "Now Scaloni could convince us of anything. He is very detailed and, because of how he prepares matches and tactical work, everything ends up happening. If it’s 10 in the morning and he says ‘good night’, then it’s night for us." With stars at every spot on the pitch and the GREAT Messi leading the charge, you don’t have to cry for Argentina, but you do have to send in a healthy wager.
Also gonna put my 16-3 winning streak on the line and jump on Connecticut +10 points against Army.
Benjamin Eckstein is a nationally syndicated sportswriter/oddsmaker. His column, America’s Line, with the Ecks & Bacon appetizer, has run in the New York Daily News and over 100 other papers since 1988. You can follow him online at www.americasline.com. He is beloved by most, when he picks winners, and detested by others, when he picks the occasional loser. If you wanna piece of Eck, hit his email... ben@americasline.com.