May '08 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 6-14-08

	Britney in bikini at Palms Place Britney Spears is back in Las Vegas for the first time since her disastrous comeback performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. She flew in late Thursday on a private plane with a girlfriend and made a poolside appearance at Simon at Palms Place restaurant Friday, the same day her ex, Kevin Federline, was being honored as "Father of the Year" by Privé nightclub at Planet Hollywood Resort. There is speculation, however, that her Father's Day weekend visit may have more to do with her father, Jamie, than with the father of her two children. Federline served as celebrity host at Privé. Spears was spotted about noon in an orange bikini on the sixth-floor pool outside Simon at Palms Place and later at Nove Italiano restaurant in the Palms Fantasy Tower. While Spears and Federline have been together during family visitation, they have not been together in public since her numerous attempts at rehab last year. The timing of her visit comes amid various reports that she is working with Palms owner George Maloof on a comeback. Maloof has stated that recent sightings of the two together at dinner in Los Angeles had to do with their friendship, not business. Spears' comeback has been delayed since her stumbling appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Palms in September. REMEMBERING RUSSERT Like many people, I will remember Tim Russert as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press" and as one of the most savvy political analysts of this era. But I got to see firsthand the doting dad. I met Russert, who died Friday at age 58, in Denver in July 1998, and his priority in life on that day was clear. We were standing at the batting cage before the home run hitting contest of the 1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game when I recognized him. He had brought his son, Luke, who appeared to be 10 or 11, and Russert made a point of introducing the boy and his friends to an inquiring stranger with a reporter's notebook. Along with Luke was Russert's good friend, Boston Globe columnist Mike Barnicle, who was with his sons, Nick and Colin. They were in their glory, at the All-Star Game, watching Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire and Alex Rodriguez taking batting practice. Of all the accolades and tributes he'll receive, none, I believe, would mean more to him than being remembered as a loving father. The Scene And Heard The Golden Rainbow's 22nd annual "Ribbon of Life" fundraiser will be held today and Sunday at Le Theatre des Arts at Paris Las Vegas. About 300 singers, dancers and performers from throughout the Las Vegas entertainment community annually put on the biggest show in Las Vegas. Proceeds go toward housing and financial assistance for people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada. Tickets are $35, $50, $100 and $200, available at Paris box office. ... A special screening Sunday at Planet Hollywood Resort of "Get Smart," starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Bill Murray and Alan Arkin, includes a 1:15 p.m. red carpet.

Sunday 6-15-08

Larson the face of new clothing line

Sarah Larson's modeling career is moving to the next level.

Two weeks after the Las Vegas model split with George Clooney, Larson has been named the fashion face of Christian Audigier's new couture line.

The French designer founded the Ed Hardy clothing line and has been credited with being the main force behind the success of making Von Dutch trucker caps fashionable. "She is a fresh, elegant and classy girl," Audigier told People magazine.

Meanwhile, it was announced Friday that Pure Management Group is partnering with the designer on Christian Audigier the Nightclub at Treasure Island.

Reports surfaced last week that Audigier and Michael Jackson are collaborating on a clothing line that will be unveiled at the July Fourth grand opening of the club in the former Tangerine nightclub space.

In another development involving Jackson, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Colony Capital founder Thomas Barrack, who bought the loan on Neverland Ranch, wants the pop icon to sell the property as a first step in rehabilitating his image.

The Journal said Colony Capital, which owns the Las Vegas Hilton, is in discussions with Jackson to perform up to 180 nights a year.

Jackson has indicated that might to be too physically taxing and discussed an alternative: performing 20 to 30 times a year, possibly with his brothers.


Monday 6-16-08

Portrait shooter bags billionaires Portrait photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders has shot dozens of the most famous people in the world. But he has never had an impromptu photo shoot quite like Friday's at Wynn Las Vegas. It started with Steve Wynn in front of a camera that the famed photog described as "bigger than a Volkswagen," When Greenfield-Sanders showed Wynn the first attempt at a 20-by-24-inch Polaroid-like image, the casino developer was so pleased with the result he called a timeout and said, "I've got to go get the boys." When he returned, "the boys" were fellow billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. "I felt particularly poor at the moment," said Greenfield-Sanders, who posed the trio for an iconic portrait. Greenfield-Sanders, who also was in town to see his film "The Black List" debut at CineVegas, has photographed every living president and a slew of celebrities, including Nicole Kidman and Jenna Jameson. SHADOW CREEK MAKEOVER Tiger Woods won't recognize the Shadow Creek golf course he tamed several years ago with a course-record 60. Built in 1989 by Steve Wynn as a perk for high rollers, Shadow Creek recently closed for major renovations until December. "Golf construction techniques have advanced considerably since 1989," explained MGM Mirage honcho Bobby Baldwin, in an e-mail. All greens, tees and fairways are being rebuilt, with some back tees lengthened to test the best in the world. Fred Couples tied Woods' 60 last fall. But those scores "had nothing to do with the work," Baldwin said. I made two stabs at trying to get Baldwin to comment on whether MGM Mirage might be exploring tournament possibilities at Shadow Creek, but he didn't bite. The Scene And Heard In a recent radio interview, Miss Nevada USA 2008 Veronica Grabowski played down her brief relationship with illusionist Criss Angel, saying it was "very casual, no big deal." But there are skeptics. During Grabowski's modeling appearance Friday in the Ed Hardy Intimates fashion show at Privé nightclub (Planet Hollywood Resort), eagle-eyed spies noticed that she has "Criss Angel" tattooed on her ring finger.

Tuesday 6-17-08

Norm is taking Tuesdays off

Wednesday 6-18-08

Walker says he was in his room

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker told a Web site Tuesday that he was knocked unconscious at gunpoint in his Bellagio hotel room and abducted.

TheDirty.com said Walker agreed to an interview to clear up rumors that the robbery was connected to his champagne-spraying at Tryst nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas and Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel.

"I was just back at my room, and at about 5:30 in the morning, I got a knock at the door," he told the Web site. "I opened it, and three guys with guns were there. They cracked me in the head a few times, knocking me unconscious. They then robbed me of everything I had; my watch, money, everything. Somehow they got me to a car and dropped me off in the street. That's what happened."

Walker was to be interviewed Tuesday night by Las Vegas police, his second session with authorities. A statement by the NFL star was in the works for today, police indicated.

In the interview with the Web site, Walker rejected reports that the incident was tied to spraying boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his entourage. Mayweather and his crew were seated near Walker at Body English early Monday.

Walker had showered numerous bottles of Dom Perignon Rose champagne on the crowd at Tryst after arriving about 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Vegas Confidential learned Tuesday. He showed up early Monday at Body English and ordered 15 bottles of Dom Perignon Rose champagne, the same amount he requested at Tryst.

According to the Hard Rock public relations department, Walker left Body English between 3 and 3:30 a.m., not 6:30 a.m., which is the time I cited in a Web report based on information from a Body English executive.

Walker remained in Sunrise Hospital on Tuesday with a moderate concussion and a fractured eye socket.

The Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reported Tuesday that Las Vegas police said he was robbed of $3,000 in cash and $100,000 in jewelry, including a large jewel-encrusted watch. The Milwaukee paper said police indicated the robbers put him in a car and beat him.

If there is a connection to Walker's champagne-spraying actions, it wouldn't be the first time trouble followed him after the bubbly flew into a crowd.

Eighteen months ago, he was with some Denver Broncos teammates when fellow wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Marshall's cousin drenched some patrons during a New Year's Eve party in Denver.

According to published reports, some gang members took offense and confronted the Broncos players, who left the club and drove off in a limo.

A short time later, a drive-by shooting left Walker's friend, Broncos defensive back Darrent Williams, dead from gunshot wounds. Williams died in Walker's arms.

Representatives from seven Las Vegas nightclubs told me Tuesday they do not permit champagne to be sprayed because of the potential problems.

"It's just lighting the fuse," a club operator said. "Things can flare up quick."

Another club executive said, "We consider it the same as throwing your drink on someone. When it happens at our club, they are escorted out immediately."

The Scene And Heard

I hear former Hard Rock Hotel owner Peter Morton has still got Las Vegas in his blood. Two years after selling the property for $770 million to the Morgans Hotel Group, the cash-rich Morton is ready to jump back in the action, for the right price. ...

Third Town is heading home after being voted off NBC's "Nashville Star" on Monday night. Their swan song was Alabama's "Mountain Music" after being talked out of doing "Bohemian Rhapsody." ...

Melanie & Michael of Sunny 106.5 KSNE-FM will be broadcasting live at the Opportunity Village Oakey campus from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. They're doing cut-ins on KTNV-TV, Channel 13, throughout the day for the Opportunity Village telethon. The donation hot line number is (702) 368-2255, and supporters can also make a donation through the Opportunity Village web site.

Thursday 6-19-08

Poker champ has own tale of attack

NFL star Javon Walker's abduction story has become prime fodder for bloggers and the sports-talk universe.

Not a lot of people are buying the explanation.

The Oakland Raiders' wide receiver, who was found battered and unconscious at 7 a.m. Monday hours after spraying bottles of champagne at a local nightclub, says he was pistol whipped, knocked out and abducted from his Bellagio room by three men.

Conspiracy theories were flying Wednesday.

Las Vegas sports-talk host "Papa" Joe Chevalier suggested Walker was trying to set up the Bellagio for a lawsuit.

A Denver blogger at the MileHighSportsReport.com predicted Walker's story won't hold up given Las Vegas is "quite possibly the most watched-over city in the universe."

The blogger, who wrote under the moniker Sports Guru, questioned how Walker could have been removed from the hotel "without one (security) guard at the Bellagio asking, 'What the hell are you doing?'. Were they dressed as firefighters?"

A Bellagio spokesperson said, "For that to happen (and go undetected) would be pretty extraordinary."

Greg Raymer, the 2004 World Series of Poker main event champ, survived an ordeal of his own 31/2 years ago.

He was on the 20th floor of the Bellagio in December 2004 after leaving the poker room carrying more than $100,000 when two men tried to barge into his room.

The burly Raymer fought 'em off, but he believes he might have been killed had the assailants overcome him.

He was surprised to learn that surveillance cameras are not permitted in the hallways.

Raymer said he was told by security that because of privacy issues, the Nevada Gaming Commission doesn't allow it.

"I took their word for it," he said.

Be vigilant, Raymer added. "There are enough bad guys out there," he said, who are looking for a quick score.

MEDIA UPDATE

KWWN-AM 1100 (ESPN) has scheduled its annual 24-hour Radiothon for July 25 at the Palms. It will begin at 6 a.m., with numerous local personalities co-hosting each hour with winning bidders. The event is a benefit for The Caring Place, co-founded by longtime boxing analyst Al Bernstein and his wife, Connie. The center, which opens next month, is a nonprofit operation dedicated to providing free services and programs to anyone touched by cancer. Information: www.thecaringplacenv.org. ...

Jeremy Pond, former R-J nightlife columnist and Vegas Confidential Web site assistant, has been named director of Media & Public Relations at Tryst nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas and Drai's After Hours at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon. ...

Nightclub marketing veteran Marklen Kennedy has left The Light Group and is planning to stay in the business in this market. Jodi Myers is moving into his role.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Las Vegas gaming legend Jackie Gaughan, owner of the El Cortez, is throwing out the first pitch Friday before the Las Vegas 51s-Tacoma Rainiers game. Gaughan, who turns 88 in October, bought the El Cortez from gangster Bugsy Siegel, who used the capital to build the Flamingo. The El Cortez is offering a free drink to anyone 21 and older who presents a ticket stub from Friday's game. The promotion is valid only on Friday.

Friday 6-20-08

True 'Vegas Icon' Caan back in town

Veteran actor James Caan says that once NBC went along with the NFL's edict to move the "Las Vegas" series from Mondays to Friday, it was "like a death sentence."

Caan, who is in town this weekend to pick up the inaugural Vegas Icon award at the CineVegas film festival, told Steve Friess and Miles Smith of TheStripPodcast.Com that the league made it clear to NBC in early 2006 that "we're not allowed to even mention Las Vegas."

He added, "Like God forbid somebody should gamble. So they put a show ("The Apprentice") there they could promote, Sunday night for Monday, and moved us to Friday, which is like a death sentence."

Some lame plots also contributed to the failure, Caan said.

"I mean, what, there's not enough stories about Vegas, you've got to make up things about vampires floating in the air and ninjas in full battle regalia?"

The Scene And Heard

I'd wager plenty on this: The longer Javon Walker goes without revealing what really happened early Monday, the more likely it's an embarrassing mess for the Oakland Raiders wide receiver. It wouldn't be the first time a high-profile athlete or celebrity preferred not to press charges to keep a sordid story from coming out. Meanwhile, it's the latest black eye for the high-minded league that doesn't want to be associated with Las Vegas. After the Pacman Jones incident that left a bouncer paralyzed for life, and now this, shouldn't it be the other way around? ...

Elton John marks the 200th performance of "The Red Piano" on Saturday at Caesars Palace.

Correction: Jackie Gaughan, who is throwing out the first pitch for the Las Vegas 51s game tonight, is the former owner of the El Cortez. The transfer to the Epstein family, Mike Nolan, Joe Woody and Lonny Zarowitz became final last month. Gaughan, Mel Exber and others purchased the El Cortez in 1963 from J.K. Houssels, Frank Scott, Howard Cannon and others. Bugsy Siegel was a part owner of the property at one time.

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