Las Vegas Weekly

July 25, 2008 · 8:30 AM

Team USA plays its only game before going for the gold

By Robin Leach

The one and only opportunity for American basketball fans to see our U.S. Olympics team in action is today, right here in a matchup against Team Canada at our Thomas & Mack Center. Veteran Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks is joined by legends Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, Carlos Boozer, Utah Jazz; Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors; Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic; Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons; Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks; Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat and Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz. They all head off for four more exhibition games out of the country in search of the elusive gold medal in Beijing. The first matchup there is against the Chinese team next month.

Photo: NBA

Members of Team USA are playing in Las Vegas before going for the gold in Beijing.

At today’s game, cast members of our hot hit Strip shows give the team a unique send off. Stars from Jersey Boys and Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian and Palazzo join cast members from Stomp Out Loud from Planet Hollywood to provide the entertainment. Anthony Crivello, who stars as the Phantom, will sing the "Star Spangled Banner" while Jeremy Kushner, who is one of the Four Seasons in Jersey Boys sings "O Canada," as he was born in Winnipeg.

Tonight, former NBA All-Star Chris Webber hosts his welcome party at Prive nightclub in the Planet Hollywood resort casino for all the players and celebrities at the third annual Bada Bling charity weekend. Walking the red carpet will be current or retired NBA players direct from the Thomas & Mack game: Kenny Smith, Derek Fisher, Mark Jackson, Rasheed Wallace, Moses Malone, Paul Pierce, Doug Christie, Dale Davis, Brian Shaw and Juwan Howard, along with Floyd Mayweather, Nas, Lil' Mo and a host of other celebrities.

Yesterday, cameras filmed NBA stars Kobe Bryant and LeBron James using the Tryst nightclub in the Wynn Las Vegas as a daytime backdrop for the ESPN special documentary "Road to Redemption," which highlights the Team USA players preparing for the Beijing bravado.

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