Programming Alerts: Tupac Shakur and Andy Cook

[wiseguy182]

New episodes on these cases take up 2 consecutive hours of programming tomorrow (Monday, February 29, 2016) on ID, on Vanity Fair Confidential and Murder Comes To Town respectively.

[tsaun]

Will watch; thanks for the heads up Wiseguy.

[Awsi Dooger]

I watched both. It's weird to watch the Tupac case because that murder site is a corner I've frequented at least 1000 times. Flamingo and Koval. That's a few blocks east of the Strip, right where the old Maxim Hotel and Casino used to be. Now it's a fancier hotel/casino under a different name but lacks a sportsbook so I'm not sure why anyone cares.

There was a gas station on the corner on the Maxim property and the edge of an apartment complex on the opposite corner, the northeast corner. But I believe the murder took place across the intersection, on the southeast quadrant. There's an Arco gas station on that corner. The Vanity Fair program used pictures of that Arco station. I think the limo was stopped at the light heading north on Koval.

After I sold my place in Las Vegas near market peak about a decade ago I stayed at Desert Club Apartments on Koval. That was only a few hundred yards north from that Tupac intersection. I'd often stand at the light waiting to cross toward the Arco and its convenience store at midnight or later, and realize I was smack where the murder took place, and at roughly the same time of night. It seems like such a tame place, with a longtime popular dry cleaner adjacent to the Arco and then a 7/11 next to that.

The MGM Grand where the Tyson fight took place is smack down Koval to the south, maybe a mile away. The back entrance to the MGM is where the scuffle took place after the fight, the incident that may have prompted the murder. From there it's a quick exit from the valet area and then immediately turn left on Koval toward the fatal encounter.

I thought the Vanity Fair program did a good job pinpointing the likely killer, a gang member who was murdered himself a couple of years later.

I had forgotten that Tupac had so many high profile brushes with the law in the year or two preceding his death.

Andy Cook is less interesting every time I see a new portrayal. He's a step up from Oba Chandler but that's about it. This version didn't use Cook's father nearly as much as other programs have.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

I watched both. It's weird to watch the Tupac case because that murder site is a corner I've frequented at least 1000 times. Flamingo and Koval. That's a few blocks east of the Strip, right where the old Maxim Hotel and Casino used to be. Now it's a fancier hotel/casino under a different name but lacks a sportsbook so I'm not sure why anyone cares.

There was a gas station on the corner on the Maxim property and the edge of an apartment complex on the opposite corner, the northeast corner. But I believe the murder took place across the intersection, on the southeast quadrant. There's an Arco gas station on that corner. The Vanity Fair program used pictures of that Arco station. I think the limo was stopped at the light heading north on Koval.

After I sold my place in Las Vegas near market peak about a decade ago I stayed at Desert Club Apartments on Koval. That was only a few hundred yards north from that Tupac intersection. I'd often stand at the light waiting to cross toward the Arco and its convenience store at midnight or later, and realize I was smack where the murder took place, and at roughly the same time of night. It seems like such a tame place, with a longtime popular dry cleaner adjacent to the Arco and then a 7/11 next to that.

The MGM Grand where the Tyson fight took place is smack down Koval to the south, maybe a mile away. The back entrance to the MGM is where the scuffle took place after the fight, the incident that may have prompted the murder. From there it's a quick exit from the valet area and then immediately turn left on Koval toward the fatal encounter.

I thought the Vanity Fair program did a good job pinpointing the likely killer, a gang member who was murdered himself a couple of years later.

I had forgotten that Tupac had so many high profile brushes with the law in the year or two preceding his death.

Andy Cook is less interesting every time I see a new portrayal. He's a step up from Oba Chandler but that's about it. This version didn't use Cook's father nearly as much as other programs have.

Good ensight. For some reason I thought he got shot on the Las Vegas Blvd and flamingo intersection. Everyone always points to conspiracy with Tupac but I think that fight right before the shooting is most likely the cause of the murder. It was just strange how the one witness got murdered too. I think it is more
Likely that Christopher Wallace was a contracted murder in retaliation for Tupacs alleged attempted murder in NY.

[Awsi Dooger]

Many people I've spoken to thought it happened on the Strip. The Strip runs north-south, similar to Koval and also to Industrial Road. That road is on the opposite side of the Strip, the west side. Locals often use Koval or Industrial to make better time when the Strip is jammed. But Koval became more problematic when Steve Wynn built a huge parking garage for his employees just off Koval, not far from his hotels. For decades that area was reasonable apartment housing not far from the Strip but Wynn gobbled up acre after acre solely for an employee parking garage. The Tupac limo would have passed that area in about a half mile minus the shootings.

I agree that the fight at the MGM was likely the spark toward the shootings. From the video it's easily identified that the area where the fight took place is the back entrance to the MGM, right where the check-in counter is. I say back entrance because it's on the side away from the Strip, toward Koval. The older hotels had the check-in counter near the front but after the Strip became more crowded and garages were built in the back the newer hotels logically altered their design.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Many people I've spoken to thought it happened on the Strip. The Strip runs north-south, similar to Koval and also to Industrial Road. That road is on the opposite side of the Strip, the west side. Locals often use Koval or Industrial to make better time when the Strip is jammed. But Koval became more problematic when Steve Wynn built a huge parking garage for his employees just off Koval, not far from his hotels. For decades that area was reasonable apartment housing not far from the Strip but Wynn gobbled up acre after acre solely for an employee parking garage. The Tupac limo would have passed that area in about a half mile minus the shootings.

I agree that the fight at the MGM was likely the spark toward the shootings. From the video it's easily identified that the area where the fight took place is the back entrance to the MGM, right where the check-in counter is. I say back entrance because it's on the side away from the Strip, toward Koval. The older hotels had the check-in counter near the front but after the Strip became more crowded and garages were built in the back the newer hotels logically altered their design.

So you don't think that Tupac was killed by a rival record company and Biggie Smalls was killed in retaliation for Tupac's death?

Damn. There goes that conspiracy theory.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Many people I've spoken to thought it happened on the Strip. The Strip runs north-south, similar to Koval and also to Industrial Road. That road is on the opposite side of the Strip, the west side. Locals often use Koval or Industrial to make better time when the Strip is jammed. But Koval became more problematic when Steve Wynn built a huge parking garage for his employees just off Koval, not far from his hotels. For decades that area was reasonable apartment housing not far from the Strip but Wynn gobbled up acre after acre solely for an employee parking garage. The Tupac limo would have passed that area in about a half mile minus the shootings.

I agree that the fight at the MGM was likely the spark toward the shootings. From the video it's easily identified that the area where the fight took place is the back entrance to the MGM, right where the check-in counter is. I say back entrance because it's on the side away from the Strip, toward Koval. The older hotels had the check-in counter near the front but after the Strip became more crowded and garages were built in the back the newer hotels logically altered their design.

Makes sense I think I've been on koval a few times driving in and out of the parking garages for some of the hotels. I've been to Vegas for long periods but spent all my time downtown and on the strip. Then I've driven the Blvd up north to some of the cheaper places lol. I guess I always had it in my head that he was driving down Las Vegas Blvd. I have been to the mgm garden arena. I now recall that we had a long walk because we walked in and out from Las Vegas Blvd whereas the arena must be on the far northeast side of the property closer to koval like you said.

[Awsi Dooger]

Originally Posted by DALLASTEXAN!!

Makes sense I think I've been on koval a few times driving in and out of the parking garages for some of the hotels. I've been to Vegas for long periods but spent all my time downtown and on the strip. Then I've driven the Blvd up north to some of the cheaper places lol. I guess I always had it in my head that he was driving down Las Vegas Blvd. I have been to the mgm garden arena. I now recall that we had a long walk because we walked in and out from Las Vegas Blvd whereas the arena must be on the far northeast side of the property closer to koval like you said.

Yes, the arena is in the back toward Koval. MGM acquired quite a bit of property toward Koval because the former hotel on that site -- the Marina -- had a golf course behind it. There was a putting green alongside Tropicana Avenue and then the golf course was in the area behind the Marina Hotel and extending toward Koval and to the north. I loved the convenience of that during my early years in Las Vegas beginning in the mid '80s. I could bet sporting events in the afternoon and then practice putt on the green alongside Tropicana. I had a nice apartment directly across Koval. Actually that apartment complex is still there. I could walk across Koval and hit balls on the course near dusk, and even sneak in a few complete holes on occasion.

Now you would never know that type of simplicity existed merely a few decades ago. I could dash around town and get anywhere within 15 minutes. It was no trouble at all to drive on the Strip in prime time or mid afternoon and park smack in front of a hotel to walk in for a quick check of sportsbook odds. I would dash across Tropicana Avenue from the Marina side to check the Tropicana sportsbook odds. The Excalibur across the street didn't exist. It was a vacant lot.

The younger guys now in that sportsbook scene are always amazed at some of my stories. I hate to tell them that they missed out on the easy times, when errors were rampant by the sportsbooks. I left town several years ago partially because it's simply not as easy as it used to be. Now the sportsbooks have reliable power ratings, even on minor sports, and the town is flooded with "painted numbers." In other words, you can't find the disparity, which often was comical when you'd find a number that didn't exist anywhere else in the world. I would have to suppress laughter while walking to the window to bet into it.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Yes, the arena is in the back toward Koval. MGM acquired quite a bit of property toward Koval because the former hotel on that site -- the Marina -- had a golf course behind it. There was a putting green alongside Tropicana Avenue and then the golf course was in the area behind the Marina Hotel and extending toward Koval and to the north. I loved the convenience of that during my early years in Las Vegas beginning in the mid '80s. I could bet sporting events in the afternoon and then practice putt on the green alongside Tropicana. I had a nice apartment directly across Koval. Actually that apartment complex is still there. I could walk across Koval and hit balls on the course near dusk, and even sneak in a few complete holes on occasion.

Now you would never know that type of simplicity existed merely a few decades ago. I could dash around town and get anywhere within 15 minutes. It was no trouble at all to drive on the Strip in prime time or mid afternoon and park smack in front of a hotel to walk in for a quick check of sportsbook odds. I would dash across Tropicana Avenue from the Marina side to check the Tropicana sportsbook odds. The Excalibur across the street didn't exist. It was a vacant lot.

The younger guys now in that sportsbook scene are always amazed at some of my stories. I hate to tell them that they missed out on the easy times, when errors were rampant by the sportsbooks. I left town several years ago partially because it's simply not as easy as it used to be. Now the sportsbooks have reliable power ratings, even on minor sports, and the town is flooded with "painted numbers." In other words, you can't find the disparity, which often was comical when you'd find a number that didn't exist anywhere else in the world. I would have to suppress laughter while walking to the window to bet into it.

Cool good stories. I like it. It's always nice to be able to walk out that close and golf. I first went in 2008 I think when the palazzo just opened and they were building the new city hall area. I do like it there would love to do more outdoor stuff in rural areas. Hoping to move to Nevada, Utah, or Colorado one day. I'd even be cool with Wyoming Idaho or Montana.

[Awsi Dooger]

Originally Posted by DALLASTEXAN!!

Cool good stories. I like it. It's always nice to be able to walk out that close and golf. I first went in 2008 I think when the palazzo just opened and they were building the new city hall area. I do like it there would love to do more outdoor stuff in rural areas. Hoping to move to Nevada, Utah, or Colorado one day. I'd even be cool with Wyoming Idaho or Montana.

Those desert drives are great. I'm in Miami now but I visit Las Vegas a few times per year. When I'm there I always make the long rural drives at least twice per trip. I'll go to Pahrump or Grand Canyon, or north to Bryce or Zion. Heck, I don't mind heading to Barstow, even though there's not much there. My Las Vegas buddies don't understand it but I try to explain that it's more interesting than driving to Naples, FL from Miami. I can't drive too far east from where I am right now.

I have to say those western highways are more desolate and often eery than anything in the east. Even as a 6-4 guy I'm often extra careful, for example, when stopping at a rest area in the West at night. I always think about Lisa Kimmell and other examples. No matter where or when I travel in the East there are seemingly always many cars at those rest areas at any point in time. Not true in the West. Spooky approach all alone.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

Those desert drives are great. I'm in Miami now but I visit Las Vegas a few times per year. When I'm there I always make the long rural drives at least twice per trip. I'll go to Pahrump or Grand Canyon, or north to Bryce or Zion. Heck, I don't mind heading to Barstow, even though there's not much there. My Las Vegas buddies don't understand it but I try to explain that it's more interesting than driving to Naples, FL from Miami. I can't drive too far east from where I am right now.

I have to say those western highways are more desolate and often eery than anything in the east. Even as a 6-4 guy I'm often extra careful, for example, when stopping at a rest area in the West at night. I always think about Lisa Kimmell and other examples. No matter where or when I travel in the East there are seemingly always many cars at those rest areas at any point in time. Not true in the West. Spooky approach all alone.

i love driving in the western USA. It's my favorite part to drive through because it's so beautiful.