By Bryan Newcomb
Staff Reporter
If this past weekend’s Championship Heavyweight fight in Memphis sent any message, it’s that the city has a long way to go before it is truly “big league.”
First off, no other city seemed to REALLY want the fight, so we got stuck with leftovers.
Those who bought tickets at outrageous prices in hopes of making a profit easily let them go at two-for-one deals, or below face value.
Not only did Memphis attract the best and brightest the world has to offer, but the door was left wide open for everyone else to come on in.
And they did.
Some celebrities were here, but it wasn’t the “Oscar” or “Grammy” night many hoped it would be.
I did spot comedian Dave Chapelle and NBA player Dikembe Mutombo on Saturday, but that was the biggest highlight of my weekend.
And the parties. That’s a another fiasco in itself.
Over 1,000 fight fans showed up for “The Official Championship Celebrity Party” at The New Daisy Theater on Saturday evening.
The tickets said “No Refunds. No Exchange” in small print at the bottom.
The ad on the website and flyers said “watch the fight and party all night” with doors opening at 9 p.m. and the shutdown time 4 a.m. It was still going strong when I left about 3:15. But for all the advertising and promotion that went into it, that’s where the truth stopped.
There weren’t over “100 athletes, celebrities and movie stars on hand to help “us” celebrate fight night as it stated on the Website.” I saw the lead singer from Saliva and a Bill Clinton impersonator. Though rumors did surface that Demi Moore and Justin Timberlake were in attendance.
As far as athletes, I saw former University of Memphis quarterback-turned-wide receiver Travis Anglin, along with a number of other U of M football “stars.” That’s about as athletic as it got.
The New Daisy was not transformed into “a New York style nightclub with champagne bars, ice sculptures, three 15-foot videos walls and over 40 Big screen TV’s to watch the fight on.” It was more like cheap rugs laid over the pavement behind The New Daisy, with couches and televisions crammed together in small spaces. The “VIP area” for the evening included three rooms constructed of canvas and metal poles.
Evander Holyfield, Halle Berry, Britney Spears and The Rock did not show up. As far as memorabilia from celebrities such as Muhammad Ali and The Rock being given away every hour, it was more like a silent auction where you had to bid on a very few select items. I don’t know how much (if any) of the proceeds are actually going to St. Jude.
It was more like “the biggest party of the year” filled with “Corona and Bud Light wishes and celebrity no-show dreams.”
After a long wait at the entrance fans were abuzz when a stretch SUV finally pulled up after 1 a.m. dropping off the “ring girls” from the fight. NO Halle. NO Britney.
But the evening was not a total disappointment.
There was plenty of music and “cha-cha sliding.” Fashion seemed the big theme for the night with many men and women donning everything from chic to unique on what may have normally been a capri pants and tennis shoe night on Beale.
Partygoers did seem to come to an uncontested decision that the hype is not always what it seems, no matter what the print says.
Fight fans could have easily saved hundreds of dollars by dressing normally and watching two drunks duke it out on Beale for the price of a couple of drinks.
But, the hype wouldn’t have been the same. And unfortunately, neither will Memphis’ reputation as a “celebrity city.”
