Ralph Macchio, left, and actor Pat Morita's widow, Evelyn, talk Wednesday during a memorial service for Morita at Palm Mortuary. Photo by K.M. Cannon.
Bret Boone might want mulligan for whole golf round.
Actor Eric Bana dines out at Bellagio's Fix
Getting Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio to catch flies with chopsticks during "The Karate Kid" shoot was not a happy time for the filmmakers.
"They almost cut that scene out of the film because it took so many takes," Morita's widow, Evelyn, told me Wednesday after memorial services for the veteran actor.
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The classic scene "was Pat's favorite story," she said. "He and Ralph needed at least 25 takes. They tried everything -- live flies, fake flies. It took forever."
Morita, who nailed the role of Mr. Miyagi so well, he was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar, died Nov. 24.
Telephoning their condolences, Evelyn said, were Ron Howard and Anson Williams, who were part of the "Happy Days" family. Former President Clinton called prior to the services at Palm Mortuary Green Valley on Eastern Avenue.
HELL ON WHEELS
Former All-Star second baseman Bret Boone might have worn out his welcome at Wynn Las Vegas.
Spies tell me a tipsy Boone rolled his golf cart Monday while playing on the Wynn's $500-a-round high-roller golf course. Later, he created a scene in the bar at the Wynn's Country Club Grill.
Security was called when Boone, 36, got testy with Wynn staffers after they asked him to remove his feet from the bar in an area where patrons were dining.
"Make me!" replied Boone, among other choice words. When Boone fell off his bar stool and hit the floor, friends removed him from the bar before security arrived.
Once the most prolific second baseman in the game, the three-time All-Star had big seasons at Seattle before a disastrous 2005. He hit .170 in 14 games with the Minnesota Twins.
He showed up at the General Managers' meeting last month with his hair dyed platinum, hoping to catch some attention.
THE VEGAS STORY
The ink just keeps flowing for Vegas Inc.
USA Today ran a splashy front-page story Wednesday about Las Vegas' growing chances of landing a major sports franchise.
The main stumbling block: "Joe Maloof acknowledges a major league franchise may be a dream until 'the city steps up, builds a spectacular venue for whoever the new owners are -- and gives them the keys.' "
'RED TABLE' DETAILS
The Museum of Modern Art in New York sent a clarification note Tuesday with regard to the acceptance of Tony Curtis' "Red Table" painting, mentioned here Monday.
Curtis' painting will be going into the Study Collection of the Film and Media Department, which collects memorabilia and personal effects such as business correspondence, scripts and animation drawings from individuals in the film industry.
The painting will not be exhibited or available to museum visitors, only to scholars by appointment in the film study center, which is in Hamlin, Pa.
SIGHTINGS
Actor Eric Bana, dining at Fix (Bellagio) on Tuesday night. ... At Pure (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday: Jason Giambi of the New York Yankees, boxer Floyd Mayweather and Kimberly Caldwell, formerly of "American Idol."
THE PUNCH LINE
"Michael Brown, the former FEMA director, has started his own private disaster consulting service. That's like Robert Blake being a marriage counselor." -- David Letterman.
