A Strong Case of the Las Vegas Blues

A Strong Case of the Las Vegas Blues

If I can’t go to Vegas, I can at least write about it

The Sphere in Las Vegas, viewed riding the High Roller, the Ferris wheel at the LINQ Hotel. (Photo by author).

If you’re not a member, you can read here.

As I sit outside a waiting room while my wife gets an anatomy scan of our daughter, I can’t help but think I’m starting a family.

And upon researching the ongoing family feud between the Buss kids is something I never want for my family. Five out of the six Buss kids are in favor of selling their remaining 17 percent stake in the Los Angeles Lakers. Jeanie Buss, Lakers’ governor and president, has been the most involved with the franchise over the years and refuses to sell.

This situation could drag out for a long time, especially with lawyers getting involved.

Who is right? Who is wrong?

It doesn’t even matter at this point. As a Lakers fan for 31 years, I can’t help but think about how much of a circus act this franchise is becoming.

But with my daughter coming in December, I love that my wife and I can take her to all of the places that mean a lot to us.

Crowded streets, bright casino lights, cigarette smells, blackjack and roulette tables. There is nothing better than that!

My wife and I have visited the Las Vegas Strip at least a dozen times from 2018–2025. The drinking has reduced significantly, but the food and fun are like no other.

Staying at the Excalibur, Bally’s, or now the Golden Horseshoe was phenomenal. Our last visit about a year ago was spent at a resort a bit off the strip, but it was just as fun.

Our future trips now will have to be at a resort off the strip, but I will love it just the same. But what I miss the most is the food! There is every ethnicity of food imaginable.

I have a love-hate relationship with the best, but most expensive buffet on the Strip at Bacchanal, located smack dab in the middle of the strip at Caesars Palace.

We went every single trip until about two years ago. The buffet left us feeling extremely sick. We didn’t even get to enjoy our last day in Vegas.

Would I go back? Yeah, probably someday.

For pizza, Giordano’s used to be my favorite, but now it is Grimaldi’s Pizzeria. Giordano’s has the perfect stuffed-crust pizzas, and Grimaldi’s is famous for brick oven pizza.

And for burgers, my absolute favorite is Gordon Ramsay Burger located at Planet Hollywood. They make the best burgers with loaded fries, paired with great cocktail drinks.

Can you tell I really like the food in Las Vegas?

During my last couple of visits to Vegas, attendance has been suffering in 2025. My wife and I talked to many Uber drivers who told us things have not been the same since, of course, the COVID pandemic.

In 2019, my wife surprised me for my birthday with a trip to our beloved Excalibur resort. And ever since then, it’s been a big part of our relationship.

The memories and experiences are the best part of Vegas. There is so much fun to be had for any age over there. You just have to find the right things to do.

The absolute best thing about Vegas is riding the High Roller Ferris wheel at the LINQ. It’s an amazing 30-minute ride, hoisting you 500 feet in the air. The cabins inside are very nice, with some seats and the ability to stand and move around — through protective ceiling glass all around.

Oh man, the gorgeous views to be seen, especially at night on that Ferris wheel. That will melt my heart when I see how excited my daughter will be on the High Roller, hopefully someday, if she does enjoy it.

All of this brings me so much joy. The world is our oyster for the growing Slobodien family.

Unlike the Lakers, who really grind my gears.

The situation with the Buss family is only a small sliver of the problem. Beloved Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter has made a mockery of the Lakers, and it could get even worse.

It honestly feels like I still have a warm handprint on my face from a huge slap with everything going on.

Walter is in a lot of trouble, and this is just the beginning.

Even though Walter sold the Lakers for $12.5 billion, it's being discovered that he still owes billions of dollars. How does he make up the difference?!

Is he going to have to give up his other franchises and assets? Chelsea Football Club, the Los Angeles Sparks, his motorsport assets, and his financial assistance for a women’s hockey league?

And, of course, his beloved three-time World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.

I mean, everything going on with Walter is technically allegations, and there have been no criminal charges. Even if they go away and he complies with everything, it just changes the whole landscape.

If this were any other team facing scrutiny, I’d have my popcorn ready, waiting to hear every trinket of information out there. But I can’t listen right now. I’m very disappointed.

Maybe I’m jumping the gun here. Maybe I’m not.

At the very least, I’ll be busy during the winter with my daughter coming, and I can’t wait!

Thank you for reading!