COLUMN: Norm!

Texas moneyman nets private Stones concert for $7 million

David Bonderman, a Texas billionaire buyout shark, might be the highest of high rollers when it comes to getting what he wants in Las Vegas.

Word is leaking that Bonderman has paid $7 million for a private dinner party and concert in November featuring the Rolling Stones.

Who says you can't always get what you want?

Still a secret is which Strip property is the site of the over-the-top soiree, which will be the day before the Stones perform Nov. 30 at the MGM Grand.

The monstrous price tag adds fuel to the rumor that the Stones are breaking up early next year.

Altar-ed vows

Colleen May, KLAS-TV, Channel 8 weekend anchor, and Steve Budin, KVBC-TV, Channel 3 on-air financial planner, tied the knot Saturday at Green Valley Ranch's ballroom.

Edited into Budin's vows, at the prodding of the bride-to-be, were the words: "Any breaking news, Colleen gets first dibs; with marriage, alliances must now shift to Channel 8."

You may recall that he popped the question Dec. 26 in front of India's breathtaking Taj Mahal. They are honeymooning in Bora Bora.

Another leaked item

A male lifeguard at the Palms resort and casino got some annoyed looks Friday when he announced over a megaphone that the pool was going to be closed for five minutes so that he could take a bathroom break.

When all the swimmers climbed out, the lifeguard jumped in, and, well, went to the bathroom.

When he climbed back on the lifeguard stand and announced the pool was open, a decidedly chilly pall fell over the pool.

But no one put in a hurried call to the health department when victims of the prank were informed it was just Jamie Kennedy of WB's candid camera show playing the crowd for a taping of "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment."

The Scene and Heard

Simon says ... oops! Spies say the turnout was low, to put it kindly, for the "American Idol" ticket giveaway at the MGM Grand on Saturday for Wednesday's taping of the semifinalists' reunion concert. The show is scheduled to air Sept. 23 on Fox. ...

Burt Reynolds has pulled the plug on his return to The Orleans set for later this year. Instead he's jumping over to the Stardust for more money. ...

Jimmy Hopper and his prodigious pipes brought the house down with his version of the national anthem for the Oscar De La Hoya-Fernando Vargas fight. The rendition was one of the few times all night that the crowd unanimously agreed on what happened in the ring. ...

Tanya Tumminia, publicist at the Hard Rock Hotel since 1996, is moving to the House of Blues to fill the vacancy left by Dana Olliges, who became a partner at PR Plus. Moving into Tumminia's position is her assistant, Amy Jones.

Sightings

Eddie Murphy dancing and seen shadowboxing with sidekick Sugar Ray Leonard at Bellagio's Light on Saturday. ... At The Who concert at the Hard Rock on Saturday night: Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos," actress Lara Flynn Boyle, rocker Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony of Van Halen, Steve Harwell of Smashmouth, and Harry Morton, son of Hard Rock owner Peter Morton. ... In the Hard Rock casino: actress Rebecca DeMornay ("Risky Business" and "Hand that Rocks the Cradle"), Steve Harris (detective Buddy Ruskin on "The Practice"), and hard-to-miss Antwan Jameson of the NBA Golden State Warriors. ... Bushy-haired Justin Guarini, "American Idol" runner-up, Saturday at the MGM Grand. He's seen the bright lights of Vegas before. Two months ago he and his parents went to see the Scintas, who invited him to join them backstage after the show. ... A full force of security guards, standing in front of the shuttered Houdini's Magic Shop on Sunday at the Grand Canal Shops at The Venetian while Michael Jackson went on yet another magic tricks shopping spree.

The Punch Line

Overheard at the Mandalay Bay sports book: "What's the difference between praying in church and at the track? At the track you really mean it!"

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.

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