Matt Jacob
Associate Editor
Contact: Email
The local freelance writer has penned Vegas Seven's “Going for Broke” column since the publication debuted. Jacob has been a professional handicapper for five years, and prior to that he worked as an editor at Las Vegas Life and a sportswriter and sports copy editor at the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Recent Articles
Loss Angeles
Big-money Dodgers, Angels striking out on the field, at the window
May 15th, 2013
Usually, $358.5 million goes a pretty long way—even in a place as overly pricey (and overly vain) as the greater Los Angeles area. But within the friendly confines of two stadiums affectionately known as the “Big A” and Chavez Ravine, all $358.5 million buys you is a heaping dose of underachievement. And despair. And mockery—lots and lots of mockery.
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Action Aplenty
Recapping a busy week at the books (and a cloudy one for our columnist)
May 8th, 2013
With the sixth pick in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, the San Diego Chargers select … Manti Te’o, linebacker, Notre Dame. And that’s when I blacked out.
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‘Who said anything about being governor?’
Bob Miller talks about life in and out of politics—and about the possibility of another Governor Miller
May 1st, 2013
Sitting in the nondescript conference room of the nondescript Summerlin office building where he operates his public-affairs consulting business, Nevada’s longest-serving governor is talking about how he can’t believe he’s Nevada’s longest-serving governor. Wasn’t part of the career plan, he says. Not for a second.
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Henderson’s Hail Mary
Beset by delays, developers still hope to get 'health village' moving forward
May 1st, 2013
As the one-time commissioner of the fast-paced Arena Football League, David Baker became accustomed to seeing a touchdown about every 90 seconds and final scores in the 74-68 range. Cue the irony: As the main man behind the $1.5 billion integrated health village planned for Henderson, Baker is involved in a game that’s scoreless … and has been for more than two years.
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Seven Questions for Tim Brooks, Emerald Island Casino Owner
The owner of Nevada’s only all-penny casino on surviving a decade, the allure of downtown Henderson and trusting your gut instinct
April 30th, 2013
Recipe for small-business success: Take over a failed casino—one that’s been vacant for three years—in a stagnant section of downtown Henderson. Rebrand it the Emerald Island (because your mother’s 100 percent Irish), complete with murals of 17th-century Irish village landscapes and faux stonework. Market it as “Nevada’s only all-penny casino.” Then wait for the money to roll in. OK, maybe that’s not the ideal recipe, but it certainly worked for Tim Brooks, who along with his twin brother, Michael, opened the Emerald Island just west of Water Street in 2003.
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Never Too Early for Action
Studying NFL point spreads ... in April? You bet!
April 24th, 2013
Studying NFL point spreads ... in April? You bet!
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Turning up the Heat
As the NBA playoffs tip off, there’s only one team worthy of your investment
April 17th, 2013
When it comes to things you probably should never bet against, the list goes like this (in order): sex (because sex always wins); Father Time (ain’t that right, Kobe Bryant?); Meryl Streep on Oscars night; Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan’s sobriety (for God’s sake, never parlay the two); and the 2012-13 Miami Heat winning back-to-back NBA championships.
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Seven Questions for Linn Mills, Horticulturist
The longtime horticulturist on the importance of soil prep, his landscaping pet peeve and the one veggie he can do without
April 16th, 2013
From his days growing up on a farm in Salt Lake City to his former job as a horticulturist for the Springs Preserve and Las Vegas Valley Water District, Linn Mills has dedicated his life to the great outdoors—and to helping others learn to enjoy the great outdoors. To wit: In 1992, Mills launched Southern Nevada’s Master Gardener program, which over the past two decades has spawned more than 1,000 certified Master Gardeners who have volunteered more than 270,000 hours to help local residents in their quest to build their dream garden.
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As Good As Advertised
A Mad Men-style toast to the best and worst from the NCAA tournament
April 10th, 2013
It seems appropriate that March Madness, the best sports tournament on the planet (with no due respect to World Cup fans), wrapped up some 24 hours after Mad Men cracked the vodka-bottle seal on a sixth season of the best TV show on the planet (with all due respect to Breaking Bad fans). To commemorate the convergence, let’s head to Madison Avenue and put a Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce-like bow on the 2013 Big Dance.
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Who Will Win the NCAA Basketball Championship? Here's My Bet
Michigan +4 vs. Louisville
April 8th, 2013
Now let’s get to your obvious question: Why in the hell are you taking Michigan tonight when you have money on Louisville to win it all? Answer: A chance at the often-elusive “middle”—otherwise known in sports-betting circles as gambling nirvana.
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