Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Team in talks to buy Trump floor

Steve Wynn, left, and Donald Trump talk before Tuesday's groundbreaking for the 64-story Trump International Hotel & Tower next to the New Frontier. Photo by Jeff Scheid.

An NBA team is negotiating to buy an entire floor of the 64-story Trump International Hotel & Tower that opens in mid-2007, a spokesman for Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday.

"They want all 28 apartments on the floor," said Jack Wishna, who brokered the deal that brought Trump to Las Vegas in a partnership with New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin.

Wishna said a financial planner was the NBA team's point man for the intriguing deal, which would cost about $20 million.

"The players would be involved (with the purchase) and have a room as an investment," Wishna said after Tuesday's Trump-Ruffin ribbon-cutting ceremony next to the New Frontier. "It's the first time someone offered to buy a floor. We don't want a frat-house atmosphere, but we haven't totally said no."

A second 64-story tower is going up next to the first one, Trump announced Tuesday.

A "major celebrity" has purchased the 64th floor penthouse in the new tower, said Wishna, and has plans to customize it .

On another topic, Trump told me that he sees the possibility of having another version of "The Apprentice" tied into the Las Vegas tower. "I think the answer is yes," he said.

He confirmed that he is considering a new format for his next "Apprentice" -- a team of African-American contestants would be pitted against an all-white group.

Anna goes bananas

Sounds like Anna Benson, the ink-hungry wife of New York Mets pitcher Kris Benson, is using the World Series of Poker to angle for a future reality show.

The New York Post said Benson was tossed out of the Rio-based poker event over the weekend for her foul mouth.

The former stripper was hit with a 10-minute penalty for dropping the F-bomb and, upon her return, asked her dealer if that meant she couldn't use a lot of naughty words that describe body parts.

That got her immediately bounced, the Post said.

"That's flat-out false," said Nolan Dalla, the tournament's media director. "She continued playing and went bust."

Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, a tournament regular known for his vocal histrionics, received four 10-minute penalties in a row over the weekend -- the all-time record, said Dalla.

Benson wasn't through making a scene in Sin City. She tried to take her dog into Prime Steakhouse at Bellagio for dinner.

The Scene and Heard

Rachael Leigh Cook will be joining the cast of NBC's "Las Vegas" as a potential love interest for the Danny McCoy character, played by Josh Duhamel. Cook played Josie in the 2001 film "Josie and the Pussycats."

Sightings

Steve and Elaine Wynn were guests at the Trump-Ruffin ribbon-cutting. Trump told the invited guests and media that after checking into the hotel, he went to his room, and there was Steve Wynn waiting for him at the door. The one-time arch-rivals chatted for 2 1/2 hours in the suite, Trump said. ... Monk & Kelly, the married morning duo at KQOL-FM, 93.1, pulled onstage with a dozen others during David Copperfield's show at the MGM Grand. Copperfield made them all disappear, then reappear moments later at the back of the showroom. Kelly (Dianna Kelly) was overheard saying that she was disappointed that Monk (Jonathan Monk) "didn't reappear as Brad Pitt."

The Punch Line

"Happy Birthday to Jessica Simpson, who turned 25 years old on Sunday. Jessica threw a surprise party for herself -- and it worked. She had no idea!" -- Jay Leno

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