Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Roy stuns crowd at the Stardust

Lori Harrigan issues a challenge to LeBron James. Mark Cuban seen with Michael Jordan at Bellagio. Mike Krzyzewski takes in a show at Golden Nugget.

In his first public appearance since the career-ending tiger bite, Roy Horn waved and flashed a thumbs-up Tuesday at the Stardust showroom.

A stunned crowd broke into applause as the wheelchair-bound Horn was escorted to his table minutes before the start of "Havana Night Club," the Siegfried & Roy-backed revue from Cuba.

The 59-year-old Horn clearly enjoyed his first night on the town, pumping his fist in the air and hollering his approval as the show played out on the stage where Siegfried & Roy's career took off in the mid-1970s.

"It's a historic night," Siegfried & Roy manager Bernie Yuman said. "He's been looking forward to this for months."

In evidence of his paralysis, Horn applauded by slapping his right hand against his leg to the energetic Latin beat.

Roy returned from Denver on Saturday after a two-week evaluation at Craig Hospital, a leading rehabiliation center for stroke and trauma victims.

"It allowed him to see his potential," Yuman said.

Multi-sports stars

Hey LeBron James. U.S. Olympic softball pitcher Lori Harrigan will take that bet.

James, the Cleveland Cavaliers rookie sensation, is throwing down a challenge to Harrigan's teammate Jenny Finch.

James, a member of the struggling U.S. basketball team, says he can hit Finch's best stuff.

From the sounds of it, the gold medal-winning U.S. women's softball team is ready to send a limo for James.

Harrigan, a former UNLV star and currently a security supervisor at Bellagio, said she would bet her Nike endorsement contract against James' that he couldn't hit Finch.

"I thought it was funny he even went there," said Lisa Fernandez, another member of the U.S. pitching staff that tossed eight shutouts in nine games. "I mean, he struck out in slow-pitch.

"He should start off a tee, first, then elevate his game."

Step up to the plate, LeBron.

The Scene and Heard

Al Dvorin, known for his signature concert call "Elvis has left the building," died Sunday in an auto accident, two days after an appearance at the Aladdin. Dvorin, a longtime member of Elvis' entourage, was thrown from his car while driving on a desert road near Ivanpah in San Bernardino County. Dvorin, 81, was with Elvis when he launched his comeback at the International Hotel (now Hilton) on July 31, 1969. ...

Harrah's has scheduled a Friday news conference to announce details of a headliner deal with country star Toby Keith that will include a new entertainment venue. Keith, the 2003 and 2004 Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, has 19 No. 1 singles and was named Billboard's No. 1 male country artist. ...

Harrigan told R-J sportswriter Mark Anderson by telephone on Tuesday that the U.S. women's softball team will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated next week.

Sightings

Michael Jordan, so mobbed by admirers Sunday that he and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had to be escorted through a back door at Fix, the new Bellagio restaurant, to get to Light nightclub. ... The Scintas, helping the Clark County Fire Department kick off its 50th Annual Boot Drive for Muscular Distrophy on Tuesday morning. Their father was a firefighter in Buffalo, N.Y., for 32 years. ... Basketball coaches Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Jim Boeheim of Syracuse and P.J. Carlesimo of the San Antonio Spurs at Downtown Gordie Brown's show at the Golden Nugget on Sunday.

The Punch Line

"Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it." -- Danny Kaye

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