August '08 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 7-26-08

	Billionaires cheer Team USA win Maybe it was an omen: Team USA's Olympic sendoff Friday included three billionaires known for cashing in on golden opportunities. Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Steve Wynn were on hand, in front-row seats, along with some NBA royalty, to support the U.S. men's basketball team at Thomas & Mack Center. Along with the kings of commerce was Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and NBA greats Spencer Haywood, Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkens. When Grammy Award winner Ludacris was shown on the scoreboard video above center court, the crowd roared as he kept pointing his thumb at Gates, as if to say there's the real deal. A group of Air Force officers, who were given good-as-gold front-row seats felt the same way as Ludacris. When the half-time horn blared, the Air Force group converged on Buffett and Gates for photos. Team USA won the game 120-65 against Canada. Also introduced was singer Ciarra, former NBA coaches Lenny Wilkens and Chuck Daley, and UNLV head basketball coach Lon Kruger. CHECKMATE IN SACRAMENTO Two years after a resounding rejection by voters, the Maloof-owned Sacramento Kings have run into an unforeseen setback in their attempt to gain a new arena. There are some pluses, but "the negative is it's a tough economy," co-owner Joe Maloof said Friday in a radio interview. Commissioner David Stern remains "pretty confident," Maloof told Jim Gray, who was taking part in 24-hour KBAD-AM, 1100 radiothon at the Palms to benefit The Caring Place. With attendance down and inflation up, it's a combination that continues to fuel rumors that the Maloof family will eventually petition the NBA to relocate the franchise to Las Vegas. The Scene And Heard Check out Sunday's art display at the new Gallery Las Vegas, 5115 S. Decatur Blvd., from 3-9 p.m. Artists include singer-actress Paige O'Hara, who portrayed "Belle" in the Disney hit "Beauty and the Beast," and longtime publicist Norm Johnson, who is well-known for his sculptures. Sightings Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington was at Blush nightclub (Wynn) on Thursday before heading off to Tryst (Wynn). He visited Tryst again with friends around 2 a.m. Friday. Washington has been in town all week to watch one of his sons, Malcolm, a senior-to-be point guard, play for Double Pump Elite in the Adidas Super 64 AAU all-star basketball tournament. The proud dad was spotted in the crowd at Desert Pines High School, wearing a pulled-down baseball cap with the word "Secret" on the front. ... Team USA star Kobe Bryant and his bodyguard, dining at Nove Italiano (Palms) on Thursday. ... Oscar-nominated actress Ali McGraw and former Paramount executive Robert Evans, with their son, Josh Evans, at "Love" (Mirage) on Thursday. McGraw, 69, became one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1970s after appearing in "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neil. She divorced Evans in 1972 and married action hero Steve McQueen. Also at "Love" on Thursday: Gates and guitarist Slash, celebrating his 43rd birthday with 60 of his friends and family including wife, Perla Hudson, with their two sons, London and Cash, Evan Seinfeld (HBO's "Oz"), comedian Tommy Davidson, and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine). After the show, the group went backstage to meet the cast and crew. Later, Slash continued his birthday celebration tour with an appearance at Jet nightclub (Mirage). For the second night in a row, he performed with Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains fame and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, while will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas shared DJ duties. A birthday cake in the shape of a guitar and topped with his trademark top hat was rolled out and set ablaze with sparklers.

Sunday 7-27-08

Comedians offer views on Obama

Brunch came with a side of one-liners Saturday, until the subject turned to politics.

With more than 150 years of stand-up comedy among them, nothing was sacred as David Brenner, Bobby Slayton, Tommy Smothers and George Wallace took turns needling one another in a rare gathering that reminded them of the good old days.

They had spent two hours reminiscing in a booth in Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace -- "This is great," said Smothers, "we don't do this anymore" -- when a newspaper man who was invited to the yukfest brought up politics.

The question was how much would comedy change if Barack Obama becomes president, after eight years of Bush whacking.

Wallace, the Flamingo headliner, said that he expects the jokes would be "gentler" for a spell.

"But we'll find something; his ears, his facial expressions," he said.

It goes with the territory, Brenner said.

There will be a certain amount of kindness but the "dedicated right-wingers aren't going to be nice. I think you're going to hear the prejudice come out."

They're not buying into Obama's plan for a U.S. exit from Iraq in 16 months.

"It's going to be four years," Brenner said.

"I think it will be eight years," Wallace said.

Smothers said he has not voted for a Democrat or a Republican in 20 years but he will vote for Obama this year.

Wallace said his experience has been that comedians have a good sense of "the pulse of the country" and he's picking up a vibe that "people are starting to feel good already."

"He's causing changes in the world. I don't see race in him. I just him as a good man and we need to stop saying he's black. He's just as much white."

The Scene And Heard

Monte Carlo headliner Lance Burton told one of his favorite stories Friday while co-hosting with Clint Holmes during their one-hour gig on the KWWN-AM, 1100 radiothon for The Caring Place. Burton said his assistant got a call years ago while he was performing at the Hacienda from a "strange lady" in California.

"She said she accidentally opened a portal to another dimension and demons were chasing his children." Burton said he told his assistant, "tell her David Copperfield is in charge of portals."

Sightings

Hanging out at the 40/40 Club (Palazzo) on Thursday night: Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, with his wife. He is the last of six sons of the king of Saudi Arabia, who ruled from 1982 to 2005, when he died. ... At Tryst: Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim Helú, reportedly the second richest man ($67.8 billion) in the world behind Warren Buffett, and members of the Cuervo family, Walgreens family and a Saudi prince. Slim Helu is rumored to be interested in buying an NBA team. ... Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum honored as Sportsman of the Year Friday night at the third-annual ESPN Radio benefit for The Caring Place at the Palms. ... Actress Eva Longoria and her husband, Tony Parker, of the San Antonio Spurs, dining at Spago inside the Forum Shops at Caesars on Friday. ... Actress Amy Smart with her boyfriend actor Branden Williams, attending Ashley Scott's birthday party Friday at Christian Audigier The Nightclub (Treasure Island). ... Kobe Bryant, sipping Cristal champagne in the VIP room at Blush (Wynn) on Friday after Team USA's 55-point rout of Canada. Also in the house: LeBron James, Jason Kidd and Deron Williams. ... At the Planet Hollywood poker room for the Chris Webber Foundation Bada Bling poker tournament on Friday: Moses Malone, Shawn Marion, Finesse Mitchell of "Saturday Night Live," and San Diego State head basketball coach Steve Fisher, Webber's coach at University of Michigan. The party later moved to Privé.


Monday 7-28-08

Larson is looking for a L.A. home Sarah Larson's modeling career must be paying off. She told reporters during a red carpet appearance at Tao Las Vegas on Friday that she's looking for a house in Los Angeles to get closer to more prestigious runways in the fashion world. But before George Clooney's ex-girlfriend stepped on the red carpet, a club rep set the ground rules: No Clooney questions, or interviews would be cut off. In one of her first public interviews since the split with Clooney in May, the former cocktail server at the Palms said she's in no hurry to leap back into the dating pool. "I'm staying single," Larson, 29, told People magazine. Asked if she was spending more time in Los Angeles or Las Vegas, she said she's been in Los Angeles more of late. "I'm still holding onto my house out here, but eventually I might have to make the move completely. I'm actually looking for a place more permanent in L.A. right now." She hasn't decided if she's going to sell her Las Vegas residence or rent it, she said. As far as her modeling career, she just finished a shoot for a Los Angeles magazine and "things are going very well," she said. A photo shoot in England has been discussed. BACKSTAGE DRAMA Some backstage drama erupted, we hear, after the Mrs. United States pageant at The Orleans on Thursday. One of the semifinalists, who should have known nothing gets around faster than gossip about beauty queens gone bad, was irate and letting one of the local pageant organizers know about it. I put in a call to local socialite Sandy Peltyn, who was the production coordinator. "On the contrary," she said. "They were very happy with me. There was no incident whatsover. Everybody understands somebody's got to win." The winner was Mrs. South Carolina Gariane Phillips Gunter, a psychiatrist. Nevada was represented by real estate agent Jill Barnhart, who was one of the 12 semifinalists. The last Mrs. Nevada to win the title was Michele Berk in the late 1990s. The Scene And Heard Director Brett Ratner has lined up his three-time "Rush Hour" star, Chris Tucker, for a big-screen film about Frank Sinatra's personal valet. Ratner will direct and produce the film adaptation of George Jacobs' memoir "Mr. S: My Life With Frank Sinatra," according to Internet reports. In his exposé, Jacobs revealed details about Sinatra's trysts with Marilyn Monroe and others. Jacobs became Sinatra's confidant during Sinatra's Rat Pack years. Sightings Trumpeter Chris Botti, Katie Couric's ex-boyfriend, wasn't hiding his affection for his date Saturday at Hank's steakhouse at Green Valley Ranch. During dinner, he was seen feeding KVBC-TV, Channel 3 entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs after his show at GVR's Ovation venue. Later, they were seen dancing when members of Botti's band provided the dinner crowd with some cover songs of Sting's hits. Botti previously worked for Sting. ... AnnaLynne McCord, who was recently cast in the new version of "90210," celebrated her 21st birthday Saturday at Pure (Caesars Palace). McCord, who turned 21 on July 21, will play Naomi, a popular high school girl from a wealthy family. ... "Entourage" star Jeremy Piven, celebrating his 43rd birthday Saturday at The Bank (Bellagio) with friends. Also at the club: Actors Amy Smart and Elden Henson, along with Richard Brener, CEO of New Line Cinema, celebrating publicist Kate Fenney's birthday. ... At the Smashtime party at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday: Rapper Lil Jon, performing; Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce, actor Amaury Nolasco from "Prison Break" and "Transformers."... At 40/40 Club (Palazzo) on Saturday night: Antoine Walker of the Memphis Grizzlies, boxers David Estrada and Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs, the Cleveland Cavaliers' Joe Smith, and retired NBA player Howard Wright.

Tuesday 7-29-08

Norm is taking Tuesdays off

Wednesday 7-30-08

Judge Glass clears courtroom quickly

It looked like a jailbreak at the Clark County Courthouse on Tuesday after an earthquake rattled the 15th floor courtroom of O.J. Simpson Judge Jackie Glass.

As the building lurched during the 11:45 a.m. quake and the courtroom creaked, Glass ordered everyone out after her clerk pointed to a window and said, "Look at the blinds."

"They were swinging from side to side," said attorney Al Lasso, who was cross-examining a witness in a competency hearing.

"There was creaking noises coming from the gallery," Lasso said.

Lasso said the judge told the attendees, "We're having an earthquake" and then ordered everybody out because she was concerned for their safety.

About a half-dozen people, including her district court staff, left the courtroom and rushed down the stairs in the building, which has come under fire for construction defects and elevator issues.

"It was definitely an E ticket ride," said Lasso, who spent a lot of time on New York City's subway system while growing up in New Jersey.

Glass is scheduled to preside over Simpson's kidnapping and robbery trial in September.

CELEBRITY FURNITURE

You couldn't swing a tennis racket without hitting a celebrity at the World Market Center this week.

Tennis greats Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf unveiled their new line of furniture on Tuesday, while Donald Trump was on hand for the debut of his Mar-A-Lago furnishings collection to be produced by Lexington.

The Agassi Graf Collection was the second collaboration with San Diego-based furniture designer Michael Kreiss. They began working together on the high-end furniture about three years ago.

The collection features black granite, black leather and white ash, which Agassi pointed out was wood favored in the past for tennis rackets. Graf said black and white have long been her favorite colors, and she wore a black-and-white dress to the unveiling.

Kreiss said the popular collection is going international, with stores opening soon in Dubai and Mexico.

Also at the furniture center's "Summer Market": fashion designer Nicole Miller, who has a furniture collection; Kathy Ireland, china pieces; and actress Kelly Preston, who appeared on behalf of Karastan at an invitation-only, meet-and-greet event on Tuesday.

Bad health forced famous fashion designer Bob Mackie to cancel his appearance.

JERRY LEWIS CITED

Comedy icon Jerry Lewis faces concealed weapons charges after an unloaded handgun was discovered in a carry-on bag at McCarran International Airport, according to Metro. The 82-year-old Lewis, who was taking a Northwest Airlines flight to Detroit on Friday, told Metro he forgot the .22-caliber Beretta was in the bag.

He did have a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Lewis' manager, Claudia Marghilano, told The Associated Press that the handgun was a hollowed-out prop gun that Lewis sometimes twirls during his show.

Metro spokesman Bill Cassell said if the gun were merely a prop "it wouldn't be a weapon and we couldn't cite him for carrying a weapon."

Sightings

At CatHouse (Luxor) on Monday: Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp and his band. Over in the ultralounge: Craig Ferguson, the host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS, with a group of friends. ... Sirius Satellite Radio's "Whatever" hosts Alexis Stewart, Martha Stewart's daughter, and Jennifer Koppelman Hutton, having cocktails and sushi at Sushisamba (Palazzo) on Monday. The pair are doing their daily show from 2-4 p.m. at the Shoppes at The Palazzo on the second floor between Barneys and Burberry.

Thursday 7-31-08

Piero's owner denies assault

Longtime Las Vegas restaurateur Fred Glusman faces assault charges filed by an ex-waitress at his Newport Beach, Calif., eatery.

Glusman, who owns Piero's Italian Cuisine here as well as The Ritz in Newport Beach, was arrested June 25 on a charge of battery with serious bodily injury.

Reached in California on Wednesday, Glusman said the incident was "strictly self-defense" and he added he is "99 percent sure that it's going to be thrown out."

He was released on $25,000 bond after being booked in the Orange County jail.

Jennifer Kenney, 30, was treated for having a tooth knocked out, a bloody nose and other multiple cuts and bruises, according to the police report.

The incident happened outside Glusman's restaurant in the Newport Center.

"She was in a fight with her boyfriend, and I tried to help her out," Glusman told me.

Kenney later filed a civil complaint against Glusman and has a temporary restraining order against him.

A year ago Glusman was forced to surrender a badge he received as an Orange County sheriff's reserve volunteer after flashing the badge during a dispute over a parking space in Newport Beach.

Glusman had donated the maximum $1,500 through his business to Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona's re-election bid and hosted a fundraiser at The Ritz for the sheriff's 50th birthday. Carona resigned in January to fight federal corruption charges that he sold access to his office for thousands of dollars in gifts and kickbacks.

While sheriff, Carona came under media criticism for appearing in a photograph with Rick Rizzolo, then the owner of Crazy Horse Too strip club. Before his release in May, Rizzolo spent a year in federal prison for conspiring to defraud the U.S. government by evading taxes.

The Scene And Heard

Justin Timberlake will host a special concert featuring some of his friends in entertainment at Planet Hollywood Theatre for Performing Arts on Oct. 17. Tickets range in price from $250 to $75 plus applicable live entertainment tax, and will go on sale to the general public on Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. Timberlake will host the Shriners Hospital-sponsored PGA tour stop in Las Vegas that week.

Sightings

Michael Jackson and his three children attended the 9:30 p.m. performance of "Mystère (Treasure Island) on Tuesday. Jackson's group, which included four other friends, entered the theater shortly after the show began and sat a few rows back from the stage. Meantime, there are rumors that the Star Trek Experience, which is closing Sept. 1, will become the theater for Jackson's deal with the Hilton. ... John Calipari, head basketball coach for the 2008 NCAA runner-up Memphis Tigers, dining with two of his assistant coaches at Ferraro's Italian Restaurant (Flamingo/Jones) on Tuesday. ... Paris Hilton, celebrating the launch of the new line of Paris Hilton Footwear with friends at Pure (Caesars Palace) and Social House (Treasure Island) after her appearance at Macy's at Fashion Show mall. With Hilton was Jeff Beacher and one of the female contestants on Hilton's upcoming new reality show "Paris Hilton's My New BFF." ... Also at Pure: Danger Mouse of the duo Gnarls Barkley, Dennis Haskins of "Saved By The Bell" and Computer of MTV's "Adventures in Hollyhood." ... Donald Trump, driving a private car down Las Vegas Boulevard, without security on Tuesday before his appearance at World Market Center. ... Kevin Everett, the Buffalo Bills tight end who was paralyzed in the season opener in September, playing blackjack at New York-New York and walking through the Las Vegas Hilton on Tuesday. ... Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner of "The Cosby Show," dining at Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar (Bellagio) with friends on Tuesday evening.

Friday 8-1-08

He said, she said, both have bruises

The California woman who filed assault charges against prominent restaurateur Freddie Glusman is talking to the media.

Jennifer Kenney, 30, told an Orange Country Register columnist that Glusman, owner of Piero's Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas and The Ritz in Newport Beach, beat her on June 25 at his Newport Beach home.

Kenney, who was a cocktail waitress at The Ritz until about three years ago, said she and her boyfriend were having drinks with friends when Glusman sent over some wine and came over to the table with some friends.

She told the Register that Glusman's friends included some Las Vegas pals, casino owner Gary Primm and entertainer Jimmy Hopper.

The group partied together while Hopper played a piano and sang.

Kenney told the Register that her boyfriend left after a heated text-messaging exchange with his ex-wife over a motorcycle.

About 11 p.m., Glusman approached her and said the party was moving to his house and invited her to ride over with him.

"I'd been there several times. Obviously, he was somebody I trusted," she said.

When they arrived at his home, Kenney said, she sat on a sofa while Glusman poured drinks.

After joining her, Glusman exposed himself, she told Register columnist Frank Mickadeit, and asked her to perform a sex act.

"I said, 'No way.' " she said. "He started choking me and yelling, 'I'm going to (expletive) kill you.' ... I couldn't breathe. I thought I was going to die. After he was done choking me, he started socking me in the face, like, 20 times" with a closed fist.

As she rose from the sofa, Kenney said, Glusman punched her again.

"That's when I lost it and punched him in the face."

Kenney said she stumbled out of the house and called 911.

According to a police report, officers arrived at 1:57 a.m. and found a "female acquaintance" of Glusman who required medical treatment.

Glusman was arrested and booked for battery with serious bodily injury. The woman lost a tooth and had cuts and bruises, according to the police report.

Glusman told me by telephone on Wednesday that it was "strictly self defense."

His attorney, Joe Smith, showed the Register columnist a photo that indicated Glusman lost a tooth as well and suggested that some of the bruises on the restaurateur were caused by Kenney's stiletto heels.

Newport Beach cops found Glusman about 2 a.m. in his car, in his garage, talking on a cell phone. He was bailed out of jail for $25,000 and flew to Hawaii aboard Primm's Gulfstream V, according to the Register.

The case is still being investigated.

The Scene And Heard

The 21-member Dallas Mavericks Dancers are in town to shoot their 2008-2009 calendar at local hot spots, starting Saturday at the Treasure Island lagoon. Other sites include the Neon Boneyard, Jet nightclub and Bare pool at The Mirage, and at Valley of Fire State Park. They will be at The Bank nightclub (Bellagio) on Sunday and Jet on Monday.

May I Recommend

The Regeneration Tour, made up of 1980s pop icons The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, ABC, Naked Eyes and Dead or Alive, is performing at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort. Most of the tickets are $69, with a limited number of premium seats available at $125.

Sightings

Washington Wizards forward Antawn Jamison and Toronto Raptors forward Jermaine O'Neal, at rapper Fat Joe's table after he performed Wednesday at LAX (Luxor). Also in the house: newly retired NFL star Jonathan Ogden, Al Harrington of the Golden State Warriors, Zaza Pachulia of the Atlanta Hawks, and former NBA player Eric Williams. ... Morris Day of the band Morris Day & The Time, at Body English (Hard Rock) on Wednesday. ... Mike Tyson, at the Zab Judah-Joshua Clottey press conference Thursday at the Palms. They fight Saturday at The Palms.

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