Thread by @SportsbkConsig

Story time from the book:

I don’t know about the rest of you but with everything going on right now, I just want to take a trip..

In the past, when I was stressed, tired, worn out, I would get away..

For many years, it was a trip to Vegas that did it..

Not a long one, but..

usually a 48 or 72 hour “session” at one of the many fine resorts in town..

Superman went to his “Fortress of Solitude” so he could clear his head and chill..made him better to come back, save the world, and listen to Lois’ shit..

I would do the same, only it was at the MGM...

I got hooked up with a host there, and my man Ant treated me like a whale and I was barely a goldfish..

Four to six times a year, I’d show up, hang in the book, bet/watch games, play blackjack and shoot dice all night, snack in between, and watch the show leaving Studio 54..

around 4 or 5 am..

Sleep was optional, but when I did, it was during the day by the pool or in the room with those glorious black out blinds drawn..

It could be 108 outside and bright as the sun, but inside, it was 65 and dark as night..

Yes, the do not disturb sign was..

on the door, and it was better off that nobody came in anyways because, like my girls say now, it probably “smelled like boys.”

I saw shows, I saw fights, I spent many a nights trying to get them purple chips, but my favorite place to be was the book..

I blame a couple...

people for that..

One is Millman. Chad Millman wrote a book called the Odds, I read it, and that was it. I met Chad and told him that years later at the M. He probably doesn’t remember, but I do.

The others are from my first trip to Vegas. Back in 1991, on a junket from..

Pittsburgh, I flew out in July..

It was a big deal to even go because Mama Consig wasn’t havin it..

“Bullshit you are going to Las Vegas by yourself, who do you think you are?”

Big E stepped in and made my case..

“Let the kid go..he is going on Eddie the bag’s junket...

and there are a lot of people I know going..he will be fine.”

Eddie the bag was the guy who ran the trips..they called him that because he had a colostomy bag..

The old timers used to give him shit and say things like “Eddie, you need a bag for your mouth too.”

Anyways...

he organized the trips, and all the wiseguys would go..

Big E didn’t go cause he didn’t gamble or like to fly, but Mama Consig liked to do both..this was gonna be a battle of Supreme Court proportions..

Big E didn’t have a law degree, but he had a wit and charm second to none..

and knew how to craft a case..

“Listen, all the guys are goin. Little Billy, the kid who is gonna be a lawyer, is goin, and Big Billy is goin, and you know him. He knows his way around, and I’ll tell him to keep an eye on him.”

Then he looked at me.

“You go, you stick close..

to those two. You fuck up, you gotta talk to their dads before you even get to your mother and me.”

Message received. We both look at Mama Consig, my old school Italian rock.

She could kill me with a stare. She almost did. Then..

“No girls.”

What??

“No girls. I mean it...

Those boys are cornoots” (pronounced core-noods)

Maaa..

“I’m not joking. You can gamble, you can even have drinks, but if you as much as touch a girl, you’ll be sorry.”

To this day, I’m 50, and I am still scared of her. She was not fucking around. And if I wanted to make..

my first trip to Vegas, neither was I.

Looked at Big E. Like a guy facing a 20 year sentence or taking a deal, there was only one option.

“Okay, Ma. Deal.”

She gave me the look. “If I hear one thing from anybody, or you embarrass me or your father, I will beat your ass..

that your siblings won’t recognize you.” And left the room.

I wanted to high five, hug and kiss my Dad so bad, but we couldn’t celebrate cause Mama Consig heard and saw everything..

It was way too soon..

But Big E looked at me and winked..

“I call Eddie the bag and...

let him know to get you a seat. And I’ll call Z and tell him to tell Big Billy to show you the ropes.”

Holy shit, this was really going to happen. Vegas, bay-bee.

“Last thing,” Big E said. “I will find out who else is going. Might be Mr S, Cheech, Pie, Mickey the Greek..

Or That crazy fuck Harvey, but he only goes during football usually. Whoever is there, you know they know me and they know you are my kid. Don’t be a jagoff cause I will know. And I can’t save you from your mother.”

Crystal clear, message received.

We goin to Vegas! (Part 2)

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