Friday, November 08, 2002
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Norm!

Former wrestler says political career, beef with Kid Rock not over

Former pro wrestler "Buffalo" Jim Barrier isn't giving up politics -- or his beef with Kid Rock.

Barrier, a member of the Independent American Party, got body-slammed in his bid Tuesday to become an assemblyman for District 14. He received only 659 votes of the 8,178 cast, losing to Democrat Ellen Koivisto (4,709) and Republican Richard Gardner (2,810).

Undaunted, he's planning to keep his hat in the ring.

"It's my first dance, not my last," said Barrier. "They haven't heard the last of me. Governor 'Buffalo Jim' has a nice ring to it."

And on the subject of rings, Barrier isn't giving up his effort to recover $12,500 in damages from Kid Rock, who rented a 1961 pink Cadillac from Barrier, owner of Auto & Marine Electric, for his April proposal to Pamela Anderson.

Uncle Kracker, dressed as Elvis, drove the car to a desert location near Primm and delivered the $24,000 engagement ring. But the car, which was not supposed to be driven more than a mile or two, blew up on the way back.

Barrier, 49, had threatened to make a scene at the MGM Grand Garden Saturday night, when Kid Rock opens for Aerosmith. "They said they'd take care of it. They haven't," Barrier said.

Kid Rock had fueled rumors recently that he and Anderson were getting married after his show and before the Aerosmith concert.

But Scott Ghertner, director of sports and PR for the MGM, said, "At this point, there is no truth to the rumor."

No fare

The Election Day chutzpah award: "We had one voter who arrived by cab to a polling place," said Larry Lomax, registrar of voters for Clark County.

"He sent the cabbie in to the team leader (polling supervisor) to collect the fare," said Lomax.

The response: No dice. "I don't think the taxpayers are willing to pay everyone's transportation to a polling place."

'Fan Man' a dropout?

A caller asks: "Whatever happened to James "Fan Man" Miller?"

First, the Henderson resident propelled his way into infamy by crash landing a paraglider into the ring of the Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe fight at Caesars' Palace outdoor stadium on Nov. 7, 1994.

After that, he landed on top of Buckingham Palace, buck-naked except for a coat of green paint on his posterior.

Try that nowadays, post-9-11, and you'll be staring at a Stinger missile.

The Scene and Heard

Former Republican National Chairman Frank Fahrenkopf saw the faces of disappointed Democrats early on during Tuesday's elections. Keeping a 15-year tradition, Fahrenkopf, president of the American Gaming Association, had Election Day lunch in Washington, D.C., with former Democratic National Chairmen Bob Strauss and Charles Manatt. "Both were in shock," said Fahrenkopf. ...

"Burn the Floor," a theatrical dance production that enjoyed wild sold-out success on its recent Japan tour, opens a three-night stand at Paris Las Vegas tonight at 9 p.m. The concept: international ballroom dancing with a va-va-voom Vegas touch.

Sightings

Auto racing star Michael Andretti, picking up a $6,000 tab to have his wife and her pals treated to hair extensions at Amp, the salon at the Palms. They ordered Cristal champagne and shared it with all the patrons. ... Shannen Doherty, in town for a new television show, has been making the rounds: She and friends partied on Cristal champagne in the VIP area of Studio 54 (MGM Grand) on Tuesday. At one point, she joined Studio 54 dancers. She was at ghostbar (Palms) on Wednesday night, playing "truth or dare" with a group. ... NASCAR driver Kyle Petty, on a burgundy Victory motorcycle, leading a pack of 50 bikers Wednesday on a four-hour fund-raising run to Lake Mead for the Las Vegas Animal Foundation. They capped the trip with three laps around the oval at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a get-together at NASCAR Cafe (Sahara).

The Punch Line

"Ellen Burstyn made herself 30 pounds heavier and 20 years older, and Russell Crowe still hit on her." -- Steve Martin, while hosting the 2001 Academy Awards. He has been named to host next year's Oscars.

Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.