Can’t Buy Me Love

"Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy." - Paul McCartney "How much will it take?" - Bob Stupak

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LAS VEGAS - Former professional boxer, referee, and Las Vegas construction company owner Joey Curtis died in May 2004. I was acquainted with Joey when I worked at city hall. Stratosphere Tower developer, philanthropist, and humanitarian Bob Stupak died in September 2009. Bob and I were close friends for decades. Both men were Las Vegas icons and had thousands of friends including Rick Rizzolo. Both men were known for not taking sides in disputes when it involved their mutual friends. In respect to Joey and Bob, I've waited until after their deaths to tell this story. The lyrics of Paul McCartney's classic "Can't Buy Me Love" comes to mind when I think of an uncomfortable situation that involved these two gentlemen. "I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel all right." The last time I saw Joey was a summer evening in 2003. My wife and I were with some friends enjoying dinner at the late Joe Kludjian's Golden Eagle on Paradise Road when Joey Curtis entered the restaurant and walked directly to our booth. He appeared to be on a mission. Joey laid down a roll of one hundred dollar bills secured with a rubber band. By its size, it looked like $5,000. "This is from Rick," Joey said with a smile. (He didn't mention "Rick's" last name.) More...