off to Las Vegas at the end of May for our first NARSA Convention,
although we had previously visited 3 years ago, so I shall mention a
little about this quite unique city – enjoying its centenary year right
now - before going on to describe the Convention, and all its
accompaniments.
This city is certainly worth a visit, as although still not (yet) the
vacation capital of the world, it is certainly the entertainment
capital. Apart from the ongoing construction, and the wonderful new
monorail which travels (most of) the Strip, the most obvious change we
noticed was that things seemed a good bit more expensive than they were
three years ago. We had got a really good “Convention” rate for our
rooms, fortunately, as were staying in Harrah’s – which is right in the
centre of the Strip – for a full week. Indeed, Harrah’s is right next
door to one Palace (the Imperial) where lots of Bears were staying, but
were not impressed - and right across the road from another (Caesar’s)
where I took the Mrs to see Celine Dion in concert on the night before
the Convention started. Now Celine Dion is not everyone’s cup of tea,
but every one of her concerts is a sell-out, and I was due the Mrs a
big “Thank you” for letting me abandon her virtually every evening, and
a lot of each weekend, on RST business for the past two years!
For the record, her show, “A New Day” is absolutely spectacular,
although we declined to buy a bottle of water, for which they were
charging $5!
On the Thursday morning, we were pleased to be joined by the parents of
another FF regular contributor – London Blue Nose – who were also
making their NARSA debut, and who duly informed us of the Bears taking
over Harrah’s famous Piano Bar the previous night, with regular
requests for songs like “Daydream Believer” and “Simply the Best!”
More and more Bears arrived as the day progressed, and the opening
evening reception – a quite informal affair, with the music supplied by
a DJ – was reasonably well attended. There was a fair bit of singing
later on, although the DJ got a bit of a fright, shall we say, when he
tried to play a Rod Stewart song! I then asked him if anyone had
actually briefed him about this, and they hadn’t, so he was genuinely
appreciative of the advice I offered about YNWA, etc, as there was a
serious risk he might have tried to play that too! I think the
phrase, “Play that, and you’ll get lynched!” springs to mind . . .
The inside walls of the massive function suites were covered in RSC
banners from all over the world, but particularly North America, whilst
outside, a few RSCs (as well as RFC) had tables selling mainly polo
shirts and tee-shirts, and were doing a roaring trade! Indeed,
Rangers own “51 and Counting” tops sold out on the first night, due to
the atmosphere of total euphoria which dominated the Convention, and
was sustained at maximum level throughout. It seemed like EVERYONE
just wanted to talk about his or her reaction to the last three minutes
of last season . . .
On the Friday, most folk either participated in the NARSA Golf
tournament (despite a 6am start) or went on a tour to the Grand Canyon,
or the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, etc, or explored Las Vegas, or met up
with fellow Bears by the pool. As we had visited the Grand Canyon in
2002, we opted for a visit to the Hoover Dam and a cruise on Lake Mead,
before returning to meet fellow Bears beside the hotel pool.
Bud was $5.50 a bottle in the Convention Hotel, and this was an
important factor for many Bears. Some fans just see this as four-day
drinking session, and as a tee-totaller, I can just not get excited
about that. As far as I am concerned, there is just no drink or drug
on the planet which could give me the high I experienced on the
afternoon of Sunday 22 May, when we won the League, and therefore,
despite my description of the events which followed, the aspect I
enjoyed the most about the whole Convention was meeting up with fellow
Bears, especially the ones whom I had only previously met via the
Internet. Who should I meet beside the pool bar, but the guy who sits
right behind me at Ibrox, who was there with friends from San Francisco!
The Friday night was NARSA’s largest attendance ever, with over 1,000
Bears in for a Blue Night, which included a variety of the best Rangers
music ever recorded, as well as three separate sessions from the
Cambridge Crown Defenders Flute Band, who had joined us all the way
from Ontario, Canada. My only criticism is that perhaps the songs
could have started a little earlier, although, once they did, they were
great, and only a real bigot could have taken offence. None of the
Rangers official party was at the Blue Night, although Richard Gough
and Andy Goram were. Whether this was influenced by personal
disinterest, or fear of media manipulation is not for me to say – I
just wish Rangers FC would stop having to apologise for who we are.
There is no need.
Saturday was altogether different, although, once again, we met fellow
Bears at breakfast-time who had been up partying all night, and were
still singing at the Bar even then. NARSA had their own AGM, which I
didn’t attend, although I understand that (once again) Glasgow was
rejected by the body of the Kirk – for a number of very valid reasons –
as the venue for the 2007 Convention, but what made this particularly
unusual is that Glasgow was the only nomination received, and put
forward by the NARSA Executive. At the end of the day, the lovely
Florida location of Naples was chosen – the Club could not even win a
one-horse race!
I did, however, attend the Q&A session immediately afterwards, where
all the Club representatives performed well, ie Alex McLeish, Alex Rae,
Bob Malcolm, Maurice Ross, Jim Hannah, Martin Bain, Sandy Jardine, Ally
Johnston and David Carson. Once again “those last three minutes”
dominated the session, though. The only drawback to all of this is
that some Bears (mistakenly) believe that because Scott McDonald scored
two late goals at Fir Park, everything in the Ibrox garden is rosy.
This is dangerous folly in my view.
Whilst, over the season, we were the best side in Scotland, and
deservedly won the title, we have a long way to go in European terms,
and, to be fair to Alex McLeish, he realises that too. Meantime, we
were all still savouring the moment . . .
The main formal event was the Grand Banquet on the Saturday night,
which had all the guests mentioned above sitting alongside the NARSA
Executive, and MC for the evening, Andy Goram, at the biggest top table
I have ever seen.
As a player “The Goalie” in my view was second to none; his displays,
particularly in Old Firm games where he visibly broke the spirit of the
Celtic team, were crucial to our NIAR (Premier not First Division)
success, and I also find him amusing as a speaker. Alex McLeish spoke
well, and Martin Bain delighted the audience by informing them that the
club had earlier that day decided to name the latest “buy a brick”
section after the NARSA founder, Tam Plunkett, sadly not enjoying the
best of health these days. Although not a NARSA member myself, I
unreservedly applaud the Club for this gesture, and I think that
everyone likes to see the Club making a genuine effort to get closer to
the fans.
After the Top Table was piped in (to the tune of “Scotland the Brave”)
we were treated to the national anthems of Canada, the UK, and then the
host nation, where the Star Spangled Banner was brought in by the US
Marine Corps colour party. This was a lovely touch, although the
anthem should have been sung IMHO rather than just played. When they
exited the hall, the tune of “From the Halls of Montezuma” was played,
and cue all the Bears in the Hall to lustily sing the Rangers version
of that particular song!
After the Dinner, a local band (a trio) provided the musical
entertainment, but the sight of them clapping in time to some of the
Rangers songs which they had never heard (but were quickly learning!)
was actually very amusing, and actually quite surreal . . . a picture
that will stay in my mind for many years to come.
All in all, a tiring but exhilarating three days in (a great choice of
hotel in) one of the most exciting cities in the world. The
atmosphere was massively influenced by the events of 22nd May, so this
was not, I suspect, a typical NARSA Convention.
Would I recommend other UK-based fans attend a future one? Yes.
I note with interest that Icelandair have launched a new San
Francisco service from Glasgow...
BEARSDEN BEAR