Roy Horn, left, shown in September, shares progress during seminar.
Peter Morton called 'opportunistic seller.'
Jerome Bettis takes in night at Tao.
Another big step for Roy Horn.
After walking on stage with a cane during an awards presentation Wednesday at the World Magic Seminar at The Orleans, he told the fellow magicians he had made a New Year's resolution.
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With that, he tossed aside his cane, took several unassisted steps and announced, "The magic is back."
Horn couldn't think of a better place to demonstrate his ongoing progress than a room full of his fellow magicians, said Dave Kirvin, a spokesman for Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher.
HARD ROCK MYSTERY
Who's the mystery investor making a run at buying the Hard Rock Hotel?
"It's not us," said Station Casinos spokeswoman Lori Nelson.
Reports circulated last month that Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone magazine was in town exploring a local deal, but my guess is that it's a well-connected Las Vegan with vast experience on the Strip.
Deutsche Bank gaming analyst Andrew Zarnett said it shouldn't be a surprise that Hard Rock owner Peter Morton would sell the property.
"He's always been an opportunistic seller," Zarnett said. "He's created a lot of value in that property, and clearly, it's a good time to take some money off the table."
The selling price "could be in the billion-dollar ZIP code," he said.
The big question making the rounds after the bombshell announcement was why Morton went public.
"Clearly, something leaked and he felt compelled to disseminate the information," Zarnett said.
Sources tell me Hard Rock execs have been putting out job feelers in the past two weeks.
"He had to go public because of the ($1 billion) condos project," a source said. "If he's selling, he can't be out soliciting people to buy condos."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
A weekly Internet food and beverage newsletter known as "Eye on Vegas" may be ordering a large helping of crow today. The publication is reporting Beacher's Madhouse is out at the Hard Rock Hotel and moving to the Imperial Palace. That's far from what will be announced today, I'm told.
SIGHTINGS
Jerome Bettis of the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, dining at Tao (The Venetian) on Wednesday night, while teammate Ben Roethlisberger was downing N9NE Steakhouse Kobe beef burgers at the Palms' new Mint high-roller salon. ... At Wynn: Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day and Usher, separately checking into the Tower suites; actor Terrence Howard, dining at Tableau and Russell Simmons of Def Jam Records catching lunch at Terrace Point Cafe. ... Guitarist Ted Nugent, in town Wednesday on some hush-hush mission. I hear he's joining up with a group of well-known rockers for a smokin' jam for VH1. ... Wilmer Valderrama of "That '70s Show," lunching at Postrio (The Venetian) on Wednesday. ... Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, surrounded by admirers during lunch at Mesa Grill (Caesars Palace) on Tuesday. ... At Jaime Pressly's fashion show for her J'aime line Tuesday at Pure (Caesars): members of Green Day, Suicidal Tendencies, boxer Floyd Mayweather, Kansas City Chiefs stars Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez, illusionist Criss Angel, and Christopher Knight and Adrienne Curry of "Surreal Life 4." ... At ghostbar (Palms) on Tuesday for a party for a clothing line by Blink 182's Travis Barker: Nelly and rapper Paul Wall, performing together; rapper Fabolous and Benji Madden from Good Charlotte. ... A popular Internet beauty twice has left a $1,000 tip in recent weeks for her favorite guy in Sapphire's male revue.
THE PUNCH LINE
"An Arab country in charge of ports? That's like FEMA in charge of disaster relief. That's like Wayne Gretzky's wife in charge of your bank account." -- David Letterman.
