Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd is fresh off a gold medal win at the Beijing Games. The US Men’s Basketball team took the top prize after losing out in 2004 at the Athens Games. Kidd, who already won gold in 2000 at the Sydney Games, has no intention of holding on to his newest medal.
It turns out Kidd promised the gold medal to Elaine Wynn, wife of casino mogul Steve Wynn. The US Men’s team stayed at the $2.7 billion Wynn Casino in Las Vegas for three weeks last year while preparing for Beijing. Kidd met Elaine Wynn and struck up a friendship. He was reportedly impressed with her kindness and her amazing grasp of the game and told her he’d give her his gold medal if Team USA took gold in Beijing.
The ‘redeem team’ pulled off the win and true to his word, Kidd will present the medal to the Wynn’s. He hopes they will display the gold medal at one of their casino properties – which he would consider a Win-Wynn situation.
Steve Wynn, who owns a collection of resorts, is the 277th richest man in the world and is worth $3.9 billion. The art collection of Picassos and Matisses at Wynn Casino were purchased for $150 million, though their worth continues to appreciate in value. Surely the Wynn’s can make room for an Olympic gold medal somewhere on the premises.
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