March '08 Notes from Norm — Norm Clarke Column

Saturday 3-22-08

	In hospital, ex-star shows Rebel pride It takes more than pneumonia and a damaged heart to keep Glen Gondrezick down. Weak and bedridden while preparing for a possible heart transplant, Gondrezick proudly showed his colors Thursday in the midst of UCLA Bruins territory. "I'm taking a lot of heat," the former UNLV basketball star said in an e-mail, "because I'm wearing my UNLV stuff and I was telling everybody not to schedule anything between 12 and 2 p.m., so I could watch the game. "But this is UCLA Medical Center and everybody here is a UCLA fan and they tried to take me at noon, but I put them off until the second half," said Gondrezick, the Rebels' radio analyst for the past 16 seasons. Gondrezick, 52, checked into UCLA Medical Center on Tuesday instead of joining the Rebels in Omaha, Neb., site of UNLV's first-round game in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional. UNLV's 71-58 romp over Kent State was good medicine for Gondrezick. He was cheered up Friday by get-well calls from Rebels basketball coach Lon Kruger and wife Barb Kruger, and assistant coach Lew Hill. Former Gov. Bob Miller also called while on his way to Russia. Gondrezick's heart is operating at only 10 percent of capacity, a far cry from his glory days when he teamed up with Reggie Theus, Robert Smith, Sam Smith and others to make it to their first Final Four 31 years ago. They lost to North Carolina, 84-83, and finished third with a 29-3 record. The Scene And Heard Rebels great Larry Johnson continues to follow UNLV's tournament run. He's been in Omaha all week. Miami Heat coach Pat Riley was at the tournament Thursday, scouting Kansas State star Michael Beasley and Southern Cal's O.J. Mayo, both freshmen. The Heat, with only 12 wins in 67 games this season, appear to have the No. 1 NBA draft pick in their sights. ... Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf appear in a two-page Louis Vuitton ad in The New Yorker magazine for former Vice President Al Gore's The Climate Project. They are shown cuddling on a hotel room couch.

Sunday 3-23-08

Upscale comfort food goes down

A shake-up at Pure Management Group's newest restaurant is taking Company America Bistro at Luxor in a different direction.

Several top chefs, including executive chef Adam Sobel, have resigned, according to Pure spokeswoman Kate Turner.

The restaurant opened Nov. 30 with PMG touting a celebrity investor lineup that included Nick Lachey, Nicky Hilton, Wilmer Valderrama and DJ AM.

The concept of upscale comfort food never caught on, nor did the hope the restaurant would feed business into PMG's LAX nightclub, located next door.

The focus, when it reopens Thursday, will be on more bistro and less big-ticket.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week and offer a bar menu, Turner said.

Sobel had left Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace to put together a menu of upscale comfort food in an Aspen-esque setting that featured antler chandeliers, stacked stone and walls lined with skis.

It was the latest setback for Pure Management Group, which is gearing up for a legal battle after an IRS raid Feb. 21 at the company headquarters, along with Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace. Agents also entered LAX nightclub.

Kevin Federline celebrated his 30th birthday Friday at Pure nightclub. Partying with him was former girlfriend (pre-Britney) Shar Jackson, below.

The Scene And Heard

Meaghan Jette Martin, a 16-year-old Las Vegas native, is about to become a Disney film star and the envy of the teen world. Martin has a lead role in "Camp Rock," an upcoming Disney Channel film that co-stars the Jonas Brothers, the pop rock sensations.


Monday 3-24-08

Norm took the day off

Tuesday 3-25-08

Norm is taking Tuesdays off

Wednesday 3-26-08

Larson bringing glamour home

Another day, another runway for rising model Sarah Larson.

Fresh from being a media darling at L.A. Fashion Week, George Clooney's Academy Award date will add some starpower to the Clark County Medical Society Alliance Pucci Fashion Show on April 9.

Larson, who has made Las Vegas the base for her modeling career, will help unveil Pucci's spring collection at the Four Seasons Hotel.

At Los Angeles, she modeled Ashley Paige swimwear.

The event will benefit The Shade Tree, which helps women and children who find themselves in crises.

MOTION DENIED

Our name came up in local court Monday.

Citing our March 9 column, attorneys sought a change of venue and a gag order in an excessive force lawsuit involving Rumjungle at Mandalay Bay.

Attorneys for the defendants said in a motion that our story about the case was prejudicial and "could potentially poison the jury pool or even cause a mistrial."

The defense took issue with my conclusion that the trial was "likely to shine more light on aggressive tipping practices and unreported income" at a time when the nightclub industry is under a magnifying glass.

Judge David Wall denied the motion, and the trial proceeded.

The Scene And Heard

Part-time KLAS-TV, Channel 8 meteorologist Justin Cooper is leaving his hometown market after eight years for the CBS affiliate WSPA-TV in Greenville, S.C. He's been filling in for Gina Cancelliere, who was out on maternity leave. Cooper also worked at KVBC-TV, Channel 3 and KTNV-TV, Channel 13.

I'm off to Arizona for spring training, and Lon and Marissa's wedding. See you back here Sunday.

Thursday 3-27-08

Norm took the day off

Friday 3-28-08

Norm took the day off

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