NW-Wild West Show - click for full size photo

Before the Denver Broncos, The Rockies or The Nuggets, and before LODO was named LODO, before the 16th Street Mall, even before Larimer Square was Larimer Square there was: The National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver.  It was Cow Town's Main-Event-Of-The-Year, the Big Enchilada, the Moneymaker.  It was the reason Denverites left Christmas decorations up well past News Years Day.  In fact the lights & Santas remained until the closing of the Stock Show.  Cow Town's citizens wanted to give thanks and show their appreciation for all the money the cowboys and Stock Show people brought to town so they left the welcome lights on.  More lights, more money...  Sort of like painting the town Bronco Blue and Orange these days.

The National Western Stock Show is basically a meat sale.  One of the high-end-steak-houses will bid, win and buy the Blue Ribbon Steer.  After a reasonable amount of time, you will be able to order a piece of it - right off the menu.  You'll also be dining - around town - on beef-burgers, bison-burgers and steak n' eggs obtained from the competition's winners and losers...

The WORLD-CLASS Rodeo is a promotional event - promoting the sale of the meat and fowl.  This is not meant to demote the Rodeo.  It is a first rate event.  The LasVegasBuffetClub recommends that you put on your boots & hat and make a day of it: go down into the pens and checkout the livestock and exhibits, then watch the rodeo!  Check out the: Arabian Cutting Horses - Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza - African-American Heritage Rodeo - National Western's Super Dogs - Western Art Exhibit and Sale and more...

The National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver, Colorado - January 10-25, 2009. 

Click the NWSS Official Website link (above) for information, including ticket purchase. [New Yorkers are allowed!]

Visit the main web pages of The LasVegasBuffetClub...

  click to enlarge IMDb photo of Hoffman, Davis and Adams

John (Moonstruck) Patrick Shanley's "DOUBT," is a tight, lean movie - that is to say: there is no extraneous fat, what-so-ever. Every scene, every word, every shot is integral to the movie - nothing is wasted. 

Without a doubt, there will be Academy Award Action for this film.  Possible nominations may be:  BEST MOVIE, BEST CASTING, BEST SCREENPLAY (John Patrick Shanley,) BEST ACTOR (Philip Seymour Hoffman,) BEST ACTRESS (Meryl Streep) and more. 

Set in "The Bronx" (1964) at St. Nicholas' Catholic parish-school, Father Brendan Flynn (Hoffman) is accused of a vague indiscretion with a black student by principal Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Streep.)  Sister Aloysius Beauvier suspects that the head priest has taken the troubled minority student just a bit too far under his wing, eventhough she has absolutely no proof.  She is running on her moral compass and is certain that she is right.  And, she is going to win - at any cost. 

Amy Adams as Sister James is stunning even under her habit, which frames her beautiful, sparkling face in a dark halo.  There's a bit of comic-relief in the form of elementary school antics from the uniformed students, and an especially amusing scene with Sister-Steam-Roller snaking down the church-isle, during mass, whacking various students for snoozing or other inattentiveness.  Viola Davis as Mrs. Miller (the troubled boy's mother) keeps it real with a heart-wrenching portrayal of a 60s era Black mother's desperate suffering.  This is a film I'll see twice, maybe thrice, maybe more.

"It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the schools' ^[sic] strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline" read more from IMDb

Check out the IMDb pages for Doubt... 

Access the main pages for the LasVegasBuffetClub...

I'T'S A COLD GREY SUNDAY IN DENVER AND I HAVE NOTHING TO WRITE ABOUT.  The holiday's are over...Wait, I just wrote about something. 

Denver Bronco's "Owner" Pat Bowlen and x-coach Mike Shanahan were balling like babies on local TV the other day, over Bowlen's firing of Shanahan from the Bronco's head-coach job.  God, it broke my heart!

"Shanahans' new home a virtual stadium"  

"The sprawling ranch home Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan is building in Cherry Hills Village will have amenities that would make any kid's eyes pop."

"Designed by Sall Residential Design Group, the 34,927-square-foot home includes a bowling alley and lounge, a poker room, a video-golf room, a racquetball court and a shuffleboard table, according to the building permit filed with Cherry Hills Village."  "And that's just in the basement, where there also will be four bedrooms."

"The main level includes two studies, a gallery, a music and living room, a gathering room, a dining room, a conservatory, a kids' arcade and playroom, and two bedrooms, including a master suite with his and hers closets" read more from the Denver Post... 

"These days, the Broncos franchise — purchased for $70 million [1974 dollars] — is worth many times that. “Forbes recently valued it at nearly $700 million,” Bowlen says, “but I don’t give a f--- what it’s worth.” Following the Broncos each season has replaced the triathlons as his competition of choice, and having won two Super Bowls makes him no less hungry for more. “The third will feel just as good,” he says. “And I expect the fifth would, too” read more from Sports Business Journal, 1974...

"Broncos value rank slips in Forbes surveyTeam worth tops $1 billion, but it still loses ground" read more from The Rocky Mountain News...

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Isle of Capri Casino Black Hawk 401 Main Street Black Hawk, CO 80422 With a parent company sporting 18 casinos in six (US) states, the Bahamas and the United Kingdom, across the street from the Riviera Black Hawk, the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel, in the mountain town of Black Hawk, Colorado, is a “full out” Las Vegas style casino with a Las Vegas style buffet. The casino with it’s colorful, vibrant, lively atmosphere is apparently attracting a whole bunch of customers. When I was in the casino last week, it seemed to have more than it’s share of gambling folks when some of the other stores were lacking heads. It was very much alive with a maze of 1300 machines, 18 tables and more… I didn’t do the buffet since I already dined, but do plan to visit it soon. Although a bit smaller than the big guys, the room was inviting. CALYPSO’S BUFFET: “Savor the great taste of rotisserie chicken, wood stone baked pizza, baked mahi mahi, blue and dungeness crab, steamed clams, scallops or freshly baked breads. ” “For fun try the Specialty Station spotlighting a variety of cuisines - Mexican, Italian and Asian just to name a few. For a sweet ending, you’ll find all your favorites at the dessert station” [excerpts are from Isle of Capri’s website] Breakfast $7.99 Daily 7:00am – 10:30am Lunch $10.99 Daily 11:00am – 3:30pm Dinner $16.99 Sunday – Thursday 4:00pm – 10:00pm $17.99 Friday & Saturday 4:00pm – 11:00pm The website goes on to describe the hotel accomodations: “Enjoy a relaxing night in one of our 238 Cabana rooms or Paradise mini-suites. Each room includes in-room movies, wireless Internet access, plus vending and ice machines are located on each floor.” “Our spacious Cabana rooms feature either one king size bed or two queen size beds.” “Paradise mini-suites feature either one king size bed or two queen size beds, in-room whirlpool tub, a sitting area, three televisions, iron and ironing board and French doors opening out to beautiful mountain views.” Visit the Isle of Capri’s Official Website Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s pages for driving directions, photos & more information Visit the LasVegasBuffetClub’s Coupons Page

Link to the old BLOG here: www.lasvegasbuffetclub.com/blog

This is an admittedly odd post. That’s par for the course these days. Anyway there is a connection between the gaming town of Black Hawk (Colorado,) and Olympic athelete and professional Baseball / Football player Jim Thorpe (1887-1953.)

The gaming town of Black Hawk, Colorado was named after the great Sauk / Fox warrior and chief, Black Hawk.

……….BLACK HAWK - photo is from Wikipedia.

“Black Hawk or Black Sparrow Hawk (Sauk Makataimeshekiakiak (Mahkate:wi-meši-ke:hke:hkwa), “be a large black hawk”) (1767 – October 3, 1838) was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe.” [excerpt is from wikipedia] Born in Rock Island, Illinois in 1767. Chief Black Hawk died in Davis County, Iowa in 1838. “The Black Hawk War was fought in 1832 in the Midwestern United States. The war was named for Black Hawk, a war chief of the Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo Native Americans, whose British Band fought against the United States Army and militia from Illinois and the Michigan Territory (present-day Wisconsin) for possession of lands in the area.” “During the War of 1812 he fought on the side of the British.” [excerpts are from wikipedia]

……….JIM THORPE - photo is from Wikipedia.
Jim Thorpe’s career years were 1912–1929. Besides the 1912 Olympic Games, Thorpe played baseball for the New York Giants (around 1914) and the Cincinnati Reds (starting in 1917.) “He played for the Canton (Ohio) Bulldogs from 1915 until 1920 and the Cleveland Indiana (Indians) in 1921″ according to the Official CMG Website of Jim Thorpe. “Thorpe played with six different teams during his career in pro football, ending with a stint with the Chicago Cardinals in 1929.”

THE CONNECTION
The Jim Thorpe CMG Worldwide website states that: “He was born to Hiram Thorpe, a farmer, and Mary James, a Pottawatomie Indian and descendant of the last great Sauk and Fox chief Black Hawk, a noted warrior and athlete.”
Jim Thorpe was indeed of Sauk Indian heritage. While often reported to be a direct descendant of the great Sauk / Fox chief, Black Hawk, the History Channel says: “Ms. Sue Hartwick, director of the Hoard Museum and Dairy Shrine in Fort Atkinson Wisconsin recently attempted to clear up the matter of Jim Thorpe’s ancestry by contacting the Thorpe family. Ms. Hartwick reported that contacts with Jim Thorpe’s now elderly granddaughter and other direct family decendants all revealed the same stunning conclusion:” read more from the History Channel…
“Thorpe was of mixed Native American and white ancestry. He was raised as a Sac and Fox, and named Wa-Tho-Huk, roughly translated as “Bright Path”. He struggled with racism throughout much of his life and his accomplishments were publicized with headlines describing him as a “Redskin” and “Indian athlete.” He also played on several All-American Indian teams throughout his career and barnstormed as a professional basketball player with a team composed entirely of Native Americans.”

Who do you trust?

“James Francis Thorpe (Wa Tha Huck, Bright Path) was born on May 22, 1887, in Keokuk Falls, south of what is now Prague, Oklahoma, on the Sauk and Fox Indian Reservation. He and his twin brother, Charlie, were baptized on November 17, 1887, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in what is now Konawa, Oklahoma, their mother’s home.”

“Jim was one of eleven children born to Hiram P. Thorpe, a man of mixed Sauk and Fox and Irish ancestry; and Charlotte Vieux, of mixed Potawatomi, Kickapoo, Menominee, and French ancestry, the great-granddaughter of Jacques Vieux, a French fur trader. Jim’s father was a horse breeder and trainer and occasional bootlegger. Life was a struggle for the family, and only five of the eleven children grew to adulthood. Jim used to run down the horses on their ranch on the banks of the North Canadian River, an activity that developed his strength and stamina, and helped him hone the athletic skills that would later make him famous.”

“Unfortunately, after this the search quickly becomes muddy. Various writers have claimed that Jim Thorpe was Black Hawk’s grandson; others state he was his great-grandson. Some indicate Sauk decendancy through his father, other claim his mother was decendant from Black Hawk. Attempts to trace Thorpe’s lineage through Whirling Thunder tend to peter out simply due to a lack of credible information. In short, such a distinguished lineage, laced with a blend of irony touched with a sense of ultimate triumph for Black Hawk generations later, should be fairly straighforward to trace….” read more from the History Channel…

THE CONCLUSION
Both Jim Thorpe and Black Hawk have roots in the Sauk Nation!

Official CMG Website of Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe in Wikipedia…
Black Hawk in Wikipedia
Black Hawk biography webpage