The Return of the Leroy's Sports Hour Leroy’s Sports Hour Busts Out at Hooters Casino
Fridays 3 - 4 p.m. KLAV-1230 AM Hosted by John Kelly
Top Handicappers Featured in Money Talks Invitational
Leroy’s Race and Sports Book brings its popular Leroy’s Sports Hour radio show to Hooters Casino Hotel for the 2009 football season and will feature sports betting’s version of the handicapper cage match -- Leroy’s Money Talks Invitational.
The venerable John Kelly, a 20-year veteran of Las Vegas sports radio, returns as host on Friday Sept. 11 and said he is eager for this season’s Money Talks showdowns.
"I like to step aside and let the personalities come out,” Kelly said. “We have many showmen and I’m just as surprised as the audience at some of things they say.”
The live Leroy’s Sports Hour, broadcast from Pete & Shorty’s Book and Bar inside Hooters Casino Hotel 115 E. Tropicana (across for the MGM), can be heard on KLAV 1230-AM in Las Vegas and podcast at www.leroys.com.
Kelly said listeners can also expect interviews with sports personalities as well as a rundown of happening at Hooters Casino to be part of the broadcast. The weekly Sports Hour will also keep tabs on the four football contests being presented this season by Leroy’s; the College Challenge, Pro Football Challenge and the full-season and mid-season Three ‘N Out.
“The brunt of the show will be Money Talks,” Kelly said. “Last year we had several of the handicappers raffle off $100 tickets to their weekly best bets. It’s always a great show.”
Money Talks pits football handicappers in a head-to-head battle with only the player with the best weekend record moving on. It can trace its roots back to the Stardust Invitational which was Kelly’s brainchild.
“I started out as the race correspondent for the Stardust radio show back in the 90s and came up with this head-to-head invitational as a sports book promotion. There was no entry fee money, just $10,000 in prize money,” he said. “Leroy’s really picked it up with the $5,000 entry and the winner-take-all format. You don’t come across that kind of payback in Vegas very often.”
Kelly expects the 16-player, $80,000 Money Talks field to be announced early next week. Defending champing Ken “The Shrink” Weitzner and runner-up “Fat Jack” Ross – a rookie who blitzed through the field with an incredible 21-7 record -- are scheduled to return along with pro poker player Bill Edler and the high-voltage Fezzik.
Kelly said this season’s college and pro football handicapping should be focused on the quarterback.
“Quarterbacks seem to be this year’s story line,” he said. “In the NFL with Bret Favre in Minnesota and the return of Tom Brady in New England, while in the college ranks there’s Colt McCoy of Texas, Sam Bradford at Oklahoma and Tim Tebow, who is trying to bring Florida an unprecedented third national championship in four years. For bettors this year it is certainly going to be a case of follow the quarterback.”
About Leroy’s
Leroy's is a subsidiary of American Wagering, Inc. Leroy's is licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission and operates the largest number of sports book locations within the state of Nevada -- currently 61.
Leroy's offers a "turn-key" sports book wagering operation to casinos. Utilizing a Leroy's sports book franchise allows the casino to satisfy their patrons' desire for sports gaming while eliminating the casino's risk of losing money and the associated overhead of running a sports book operation.. Leroy’s bas been taking sports bets and paying winners since 1978.
ABOUT HOOTERS CASINO HOTEL
Hooters Casino Hotel is conveniently located one block from the famous Las Vegas Strip and across from the MGM Grand. While guests can expect to see more than 200 world-famous Hooters Girls throughout the property, an exciting mix of drinking, entertainment and nightlife is also featured, from eight fine and funky restaurants and bars, to one of the hottest pool decks in town. Home of the world-famous chicken wings, the casino’s Hooters Restaurant is connected to Porch Dogs, a Caribbean-themed, casual, indoor-outdoor club with a full-service bar and live entertainment. They’re joined by the sports fan’s favorite, Pete & Shorty’s Book and Bar and The Lobby Bar, conveniently located at the main entrance – what else would you expect from Hooters? For a good time, head to Dixie’s Dam Bar, a rock ‘n’ roll watering hole on the Las Vegas Strip. Nippers Pool Bar injects the Hooters energy and style into the dramatic tropical pool area, complete with waterfalls and palm trees. Dan Marino’s 24-Hour Dining delivers upscale dining in a casual atmosphere ‘round the clock. Just a few steps away, the Night Owl Showroom packs a one-two-three punch, with performances by all male revue “The Men of X” and The Todd Paul Show. Purple Reign, the Ultimate Prince Tribute Show performs weekends in the showroom. Hooters Casino Hotel is also home to Tito Ortiz MMA Punishment Las Vegas retail store. The 30,000 square-foot Hooters-themed casino floor offers approximately 650 state-of-the-art slot and video-poker machines and 33 table games. Hooters Casino Hotel is owned by 155 East Tropicana, LLC. For more information, call (866) LVHoots or visit www.HootersCasinoHotel.com.
