by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

I always make it a point to either watch the ESPY Awards Show live, or I digital tape it for later viewing. And, this year, I was really glad I taped the show. The Arthur Ashe Award For Courage was presented to two men, who 40 years ago (1968) stood tall in a stadium in Mexico City and defied the Olympic Committee.

One has to understand exactly what the committee was like in those days. It was almost a dictatorship when it came to the United States group. Avery Brundage was the man who called all the shots for the U.S. delegation, and literally ruled with an iron fist: Brundage was first elected to the Presidency of the U.S. Olympic Committee in 1929, became Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1945, and in 1952 became its president. No athlete dared to challenge his authority, nor did any committee members (not if they wanted to stay on the committee). I personally witnessed this power while covering some events as a sports writer during the '60s. Just a few of the things Brundage has been documented doing: He refused to boycott the 1936 Berlin Olympics (he later received a contract from Hitler to construct the German Embassy in America); he opposed allowing women to compete in the Olympics; he wanted to eliminate the Winter Olympics altogether, and refused to allow a boycott of the Mexico City Olympics.

Avery was accused of using his influence to have the only two Jewish sprinters on the 1936 track team, Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller, removed from the 400-meter relay team, the morning of the finals. Jessie Owens and Ralph Metcalfe replaced them and went on to lead the team to the Gold Medal victory.

But, where Brundage really showed his colors (that he was obviously unaware of what was going on around the world and in the United States), was what he did following the raised (black) gloved fists by Tommy Smith and John Carlos (after winning and placing third in the 200-meter race) on the medals podium. The two sprinters also wore black socks and no shoes to represent black poverty back home. Brundage immediately had them expelled from the Olympic Village and suspended them from the team. And, for the next 40 years, that stigma hung over the two athletes heads: regardless of the awards and recognition bestowed on them by everyone from the President of the United States to a small sports team. Brundage retired from the Olympics in 1972 and died on May 8, 1975. He was 87.

But all that went flying out of the auditorium like a tornado last Sunday night. A very comprehensive film was presented and, when Smith and Carlos walked to the front of the stage, you could honestly see tears on their face and those of the audience. Everyone was standing. I stood up in my living room and applauded. It was that kind of moment.

Another wonderful moment took place a few minutes later when Kevin Everett of the Buffalo Bills was presented the Jimmy V Award (named for the legendary basketball coach Jimmy Valvano who passed away in 1993 from cancer) for perseverance and for "Never Giving Up." Everett was seriously injured in a game against the Denver Broncos on September 9, 2007, and was never expected to walk again, let alone be able to use any part of his body. Everett walked on his own to the microphone following a film of his struggle to overcome. Kevin had done the impossible and had not given up. The audience (comprised of some of the greatest athletes in the world) stood again, tears running down their faces.

Those are moments you remember forever. They are what award shows are all about: honoring great moments in a tough profession - sports!

Two of my favorite entertainers will be doing their thing in August, Clint Holmes and Steve Lawrence, for the Boyd Gaming Group: Holmes at the Suncoast August 1-3, and Lawrence at The Orleans August 15-17.

Clint Holmes is more than just a wonderful singer. He weaves magic on a stage and makes every performance an original piece of tapestry. His powerful voice and magnetic personality brings his audience right on stage with him, as he takes his show from perhaps an operatic number to a bit of "scat." And, the nice thing about his performances, they are never the same.

Clint enjoys what he does. His musical indoctrination began with his mother (a classically trained singer in Britain), and with his dad showing him how to scat-sing in the jazz club (dad was an African-American jazz musician in the Army when he met his future wife). Holmes first real break came when Joan Rivers (the comedian) invited him to be her sidekick and announcer on her now defunct, "The Late Show." This was followed by a two-year stint on, "Entertainment Tonight," for which Clint served as their musical feature event reporter.

Needless to say Clint Holmes has done it all: from a successful Emmy-winning talk / variety show, "New York at Night," to a top ten hit with, "Playground in My Mind (My Name is Michael)," to his own theatre in Las Vegas. He is currently working on placing his latest creation, "Just Another Man," which premiered at the Judy Bayley Theatre at UNLV in 2007, in London or on Broadway. Show times are at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $29.95 plus tax and can be purchased by calling (702) 636-7075.

Steve Lawrence has spent more than 50 years in show business and is one of the most popular and respected male vocalists of his time. The last time this writer watched him perform was the final night of the Stardust Hotel. What a show that was! He appeared at that time with his singing partner and wife, Eydie Gorme, who unfortunately will not be with him this time. She will, however, be on stage with him in spirit and thought and hopefully able to watch from the wings.

For this very special engagement, Vince Falcone (Steve and Eydie's long time friend and conductor) has assembled a fantastic 27-piece orchestra - something you do not see much of anymore. Over the years, Steve's television and recording repertoire has grown to legendary proportions: too many guest TV appearances to list them all (he was especially appreciated by Johnny Carson, for not only his singing but for his sense of humor too). Steve has recorded more than 30 solo albums, as well as a bunch with his lifetime companion, Ms. Gorme. His most recent CD, "Steve Lawrence Sings Sinatra." is a tribute to his friend. And, gang, what a recording that is! Steve will be a guest star on the new A&E series, "The Cleaner," starring Benjamin Bratt on August 12th

The Orleans Showroom accommodates 827 people in a theater-style seating venue. Show times are 8 p.m. nightly. Tickets, priced from $54.00 plus tax, can be purchased by calling (702) 365-7075.

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: Just a quick little reminder that Paige O'Hara and Norm Johnson (this writer) will have our pieces of art (her paintings and my bronze sculptures) on display at the new Gallery Las Vegas, 5115 S. Decatur (corner of Reno) this Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m. Please drop by and say hello... Nancy Barr, my personal psychic and dearest friend, reminded me to let all our friends know that the Psychic Eye store has moved to a new location at Eastern and Russell. Just give them a call at the same phone numbers for more information...

Well, that's about it for this week.

I'm outa here!

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