Jason Fleming referees a rock paper scissors contest at the Nomad World Pub in Minneapolis. Exciting competition comes to Las Vegas this weekend in the Rock Paper Scissors International World Championships. More than 500 finalists will vie for the $50,000 prize. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pete Rose says amphetamines, the rage of another baseball era, and steroids are a whole different ballgame.
In an interview on KBAD-AM 920 (ESPN), baseball's all-time hits leader said, "I can't tell you who took them or who didn't, and I really don't care."
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But, said Rose -- who told FHM magazine in its April issue that he took amphetamines, also known as speed, as a player -- "if you did an analysis and compare them to steroids, one thing amphetamines aren't going to do is make you stronger."
"Amphetamines aren't going to get you over an injury any faster," he told Pauly Howard and Seat Williams.
"I think amphetamines, if I'm not mistaken, are something that's going to give you something like false hope," Rose said in the radio interview.
He told FHM that he took amphetamines to help him lose weight at spring training.
"Some people would call them amphetamines, but they were diet pills," he told FHM.
"If steroids don't help you, why the hell do they take them?" he said in the radio interview.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
A former Las Vegas music pastor will celebrate a homecoming when "Phantom of the Opera" opens at The Venetian in June. Larry Wayne Morbitt, whose portrayal of Piangi has won him high praise, was an ordained minister at Assembly of God's Trinity Temple, now Trinity Life Center. An opera tenor, he has performed for more than seven years with "Phantom" at The Majestic on Broadway. ...
Here's one for those who prefer the quirky side of Las Vegas: More than 500 finalists for the Rock Paper Scissors International World Championships are competing this weekend at The House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. The grand prize is $50,000, and A&E is taping a one-hour special. ...
Palace Station headliner Earl Turner will sing the national anthem for the NHRA SummitRacing.com Nationals on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Anyone who takes a ticket stub from the drag races today or Sunday to Turner's show will get $5 off the admission price.
SIGHTINGS
Harvey Fierstein and the cast of "Hairspray," showing up en masse to see Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Ruth Brown perform Thursday at the Bootlegger Bistro. Among the "Hairspray" group was Fran Jaye, who plays Motormouth Maybelle, the role Brown created in the original 1988 film. Also on hand was Billy Joel's saxophonist, Mark Rivera, and Michael Cavanaugh, who starred in Joel's Broadway hit "Movin' Out." ... Hollywood director Curtis Hanson ("L.A. Confidential" and the upcoming "Lucky You"), checking into the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood on Friday. ... Bow Wow, having lunch at the Palms 24/7 cafe Friday with some contest winners from "The Tyra Banks Show." ... Toby Keith, Nicky Hilton and Lil Jon, at Tangerine (Treasure Island) for Juliette Lewis' band, Juliette and The Licks. MTV's Bam Margera emceed the BlogStar event. Also in the house was the West Coast Customs crew of Big Dane, Q and Ish from MTV's Pimp My Ride ... Ice Cube, filming a segment Thursday with Criss Angel at Big B's CD's & Records, 4761 S. Maryland Pkwy., for the second season of Angel's "Mindfreak" show.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The world stood still last month when New Age musician Yanni was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend. On Monday, Florida prosecutors decided not to charge him, explaining that being Yanni is punishment enough." -- Jimmy Kimmel
