December '07 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 12-22-07

Garvey: Plenty of blame in scandal

Steve Garvey, the most durable player of his era, said he would support having asterisks placed on some of the records set during baseball's steroid era.

Garvey, in an interview at Caesars Palace, said he is convinced "at least two or three times more" players were involved with steroids than the 85 identified in the Mitchell Report, which was released Dec. 13.

Without asterisks, said Garvey, who set a National League record for playing in 1,207 consecutive games, "they're saying, 'Sorry you guys did it naturally.' "

Any player who used steroids "essentially tore at the fabric of the game," said Garvey, who took time out to chat from his twice-a-week autograph sessions at Field of Dreams, the sports collectibles store at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

The 85 players were linked by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

Garvey, a 10-time All-Star who played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, equally blames the owners and the players union and hopes the Mitchell Report was the first step in "the cleansing of the era ... that really started with international track and field and horse racing," said Garvey, who turns 59 today.

LOFTY CHALLENGES

Star chef Alain Ducasse has overcome some tall challenges to get his food on the table.

In Las Vegas, a helicopter was used to deliver the kitchen piece by piece through the roof of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay.

But taking over the restaurant at the 410-foot mark of the Eiffel Tower in Paris presented a problem at the opposite end of the spectrum, according to The Associated Press.

Because of limited space and the fact that gas cooking wasn't allowed for safety reasons, Ducasse's chefs work in an underground kitchen. The $108 lunches and $216 dinners are delivered by elevator.

To reduce stress on the 118-year-old iron structure, lighter tables and chairs were put in the restaurant. Ducasse's nine-year contract with the Eiffel Tower begins today

BRUIN CONNECTION

Elaine Wynn, director of Wynn Resorts, has a Las Vegas Bowl connection.

She was a member of UCLA's Bruin Belles, the school's official hostesses. After graduating from Miami Beach High, she attended UCLA, where she was voted southern campus spring queen as a freshman.

She transferred to George Washington University the next year to be closer to her beau, whom she married.

He gave up his family's bingo operation, and they moved to Las Vegas in 1967. Forty years later, Steve Wynn has his name on one of the Strip's most exclusive hotel-casinos in the world and has developed many others.

The Scene And Heard

Las Vegas entertainers Tony Sacca and David Osborne performed separately at recent White House parties. Osborne, who was a fixture as a piano player for years at Caesars Palace, has been invited back to play for President Bush's family Christmas party.

Sunday 12-23-07

City Center will get new hot spot

Beverly Hills hot spot Mr. Chow is heading for MGM Mirage's $7 billion City Center project.

A celebrity magnet for years, Mr. Chow was under contract to be part of the Hard Rock Hotel's massive expansion but that changed when owner Peter Morton sold to Morgans Hotel Group Co. in May 2006 for $770 million.

Owner Michael Chow has been looking for a Las Vegas presence for almost a decade.

The restaurant lineup at City Center, due to open in late 2009, will borrow heavily from the Bellagio's deep pool of star chefs.

Others include: The celebrated Maccione family, who operate Le Cirque restaurants in New York and Bellagio, along with Osteria del Circo at Bellagio; Julian Serrano, fresh from a two-star Michelin rating and a AAA five-diamond award at Picasso; much-decorated New York City chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten of Prime steakhouse; San Francisco chef Michael Mina is rumored to have two concepts in the works; and Jean-Phillipe Maury is the Bellagio executive pastry chef.

The Scene And Heard

Mark Cuban, billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks and chairman of HDTV cable network, is attempting to woo unbeaten boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. into mixed martial arts. ESPN.com reported Saturday that Cuban and Mayweather met in Las Vegas on Thursday to discuss a deal. Mayweather is "strongly considering" the move, according to ESPN.com....

Norm took Monday 12-24-07 through Thursday 12-27-07 off

But... here are photos from his gallery

Friday 12-28-07

Time runs out for comedian Pudgy

One day Beverly "Pudgy!" Wines was a wisecracking waitress who hopped tables near Chicago's City Hall. Almost overnight, she was the toast of Rush Street.

"She never dreamed of being of a comedian. She just was," said her son, Mike Cardella.

Wines, who had emceed X Burlesque at the Flamingo since last year, was found dead of natural causes at her home early Monday, Cardella said.

Often referred to as "the female Don Rickles" for her roasting style, Wines and her family had lived here since 1993, when she arrived for a comedy gig with the "Crazy Girls" at the Riviera.

A regular at Chicago's legendary Pump Room, her career "started steamrolling when she was 30," said Cardella, who works for N9NE Group as a nightclub door host. His mother worked for Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton, whose son, Michael, is co-owner of N9NE Group.

"She was 'the next big thing,'" said Cardella, 28, "but because she had us (her three children), that was her main focus. She didn't want to do the Hollywood parties or whatever it took. We were her priority."

One of Wines' biggest breaks came when she landed a 1983 Showtime special on the Queen Mary in front of an all-celebrity audience. They took a royal ribbing.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Wines will be buried in Chicago.

The Scene And Heard

Actress Mischa Barton's role as co-host of Saturday's grand opening of CatHouse at Luxor is up in the air after her arrest Thursday on DUI charges. Barton, 21, who starred in "The O.C.," was pulled over about 3 a.m. while driving in West Hollywood. She was briefly jailed on suspicion of drunken driving, marijuana possession and driving without a license, Los Angeles police said. She joins Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan as Hollywood stars who were booked as Las Vegas celebrity hosts but encountered drug and alcohol issues. ...

Former UFC champ Tito Ortiz and girlfriend Jenna Jameson are co-hosting the official preview party for NBC's reality show "Celebrity Apprentice" at Tao Las Vegas tonight. Ortiz, a Las Vegas resident, is among the celebrity cast in Donald Trump's latest talent search. The winner will be crowned "Best Business Brain." It's open to the public. Red carpet action begins at 11 p.m. ...

Sunday's opening of 40/40, the nightclub and sports bar being built at Palazzo by music mogul Jay-Z, will be going down to the wire. A media tour guided by Jay-Z was scheduled for today but was called off late Thursday when a county building permit was not approved.

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