COLUMN: John L. Smith

     You have to love the prevailing theme of Milton, the California-based magazine due out on the newsstands in May: "We Drink. We Smoke. We Gamble."
      Why, I think I'm related to these people.
      Milton, whose legendary namesake Mr. Berle graces the cover of the premiere issue in a fedora, is the Cigar Aficionado for the casino crowd. As such, it loves Las Vegas.
      With articles such as "Is Hollywood Invading Las Vegas?" and "Play Blackjack Without Looking Like a Dork," it is bound to endear itself to locals and visitors alike.
      "We're here to foster the skills to a new generation of players," Editor Susan Moll says. "Our reader is, really, somebody who plays these games for entertainment, not to subsidize their income."
      That makes Milton's potential circulation at least 30 million, the number of suckers who visited Las Vegas last year.
      -- Street Talk: Friends of Joe DeLuca are surprised to hear he knew of pal Herbie Blitzstein's impending demise before it happened in January. The guy appeared to worship Blitzstein, was seen with him daily and was on the scene of the January slaying.
      While we're on the subject of Blitzstein, who will end up with his sizable collection of jewelry?
      Next. Reliable word has journeyman wiseguy Johnny Branco gaining respect and plenty of visibility on the local streets, but how long can it last? Meanwhile, part-time Las Vegan Rocco Zangari and Hollywood denizen John DiMatteo, both connected to the mob families in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, are back working Southern California.
      -- Real Heavyweights: The recent local roundup of rotund organized crime figures, their prosperous physiques prominently displayed in the newspaper, prompted reader Ken Jarvis to observe, "There is one thing we know the Mafia doesn't control -- Weight Watchers."
      -- Bush Breakfast: Frequent Las Vegas visitor George Bush can eat anywhere when he hits town. But the former president was sighted Tuesday morning having breakfast at Poppa Gar's, the venerable eatery that has been a meeting place for the city's political crowd for more than a generation.
      "It was pretty exciting seeing him," says one waitress.
      After some interrogation, she admitted, "I didn't vote for him. I voted Democratic."
      But she still gave him good service.
      For the record, Bush dined with former adviser Sig Rogich, who went to college with Poppa Gar's son, John Miner.
      -- Tee Time: Participants in Monday's Breath of Life Golf Invitational at Badlands Gold Club, which benefits the National Jewish Medical and Research Center, have a chance to win a variety of prizes.
      One above the rest caught my eye: Councilman for a Day with Arnie Adamsen.
      Adamsen is a good sport, obviously, but over the years I can recall a few councilmen I wish had served only a day.
      One more thing: Is the award transferable if Adamsen bogeys his re-election bid in early May?
      -- Jock Walk: Incumbent Matthew Callister remains a favorite to defeat Larry Brown in the upcoming City Council race, but if a ball game breaks out between now and Election Day my money's on the challenger's campaign volunteers. Among the local retired athletes who have turned out to walk precincts for Brown: Former Las Vegas Stars Mike Martin and Keefe Cato, ex-UNLV quarterback Steve Stallworth and current Thunder assistant coach Clint Malarchuk. Add to that list Stars official Don Logan, and all the bases are covered. Brown, of course, is a former Stars pitcher.
      -- U2 Time: Perhaps hoping for a little pyramid power at the outset of their world tour, members of U2 took over the top floors of Luxor before tonight's concert. As enamored of Elvis as Bono has become, I figure they would have chosen the Las Vegas Hilton, where the King kept a suite.
      -- AGA Site: With the approaching national commission studying the effects of legalized gambling on America due to commence in a few months, expect the American Gaming Association's World Wide Web site to get plenty of interest. The address is www.americangaming.org.
      -- End Note: They say it's good luck to rub Buddha's belly or a bald man's head, but the bronze statue of the shapely derrieres of the Riviera's Crazy Girls show takes fortune hunting to a whole other level.
      Rumor has it superstitious gamblers will be lining up around the block to test the statue's powers.
     
     John L. Smith's column appears Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. He can be reached at John_L._Smith@lvrj.com.