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Feb. 14, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal


NORM: Goodman shoots down arena talk




Cee-Lo Green of the group Gnarls Barkley celebrates at Jet (Mirage) on Monday the group's Grammy win.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman says there is "no truth" to our Web site report that he is preparing to announce a $10 billion downtown development that would include a sports arena as the centerpiece.

"I wish it were true, but it isn't," said Goodman, who has been promising a major NBA-related announcement for this week.

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Goodman and NBA Commissioner David Stern are speaking at a Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce luncheon today, but it won't involve an NBA team relocating to Las Vegas.

"There is nothing to that," said Mark Broussard, director of NBA Communications.

Goodman said he will meet with Stern to discuss going forward with "an attempt to get a franchise here." Goodman said his goal is to be in "serious discussion by early spring."

"The only team that can move is the Sacramento Kings," said an NBA source. "They don't have a lease, but you don't move without an arena deal."

MILLER TIME

Some unsuspecting wedding couples at Graceland Chapel will be all shook up today when they recognize two strangers during the ceremony.

NBA great Reggie Milller and his hoop star sister Cheryl Miller are dressing up as Elvis Presley for a TV segment during Sunday's NBA All-Star Game broadcast.

Longtime Elvis impersonator Brandon Paul said he got a call from a talent agency that the Millers were going to stop in to shoot some footage. Paul, who expects to marry 75 Valentine's Day couples today, said he's planning to show the Millers some dance moves and "involve them in the ceremonies."

Paul will be part of an All-Elvis Choir that will be performing "Viva Las Vegas" at an after-party Friday after the slam-dunk and special skills event.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Show producer Jeff Beacher says it's a case of something getting lost in the translation. Cirque Du Soleil has filed a cease-and-desist order against Beacher over media reports about his plan to stage an orgasm contest featuring Katie Rees, the dethroned Miss Nevada USA. Beacher says an overseas online editor took liberties with that Rees announcement and made it appear that his "Beacher's Madhouse" show is associated with Cirque. Rees is appearing in the March 31 "Madhouse" show at the Hard Rock Hotel. ...

Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler, fixtures at Los Angeles Lakers games, will be front and center at the All-Star Game, I hear. ...

Flamingo headliner Toni Braxton has a Valentine's Day surprise planned for tonight during her popular love song, "Unbreak My Heart." A surprise proposal has been arranged. ...

Thirty years ago this week: There was a different crowd in town, and they were speaking a different language. Conventioneers attending the Personal Communications Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center were there to see C.W. McCall, whose hit song "Convoy" was an ode to truckers with CB radios. R-J reporter Sherman Frederick reported that the crowd went bonkers when McCall, who went by the handle "Rubber Duck," sang the line, "Mercy sakes alive, looks like we got ourselves a convoy." ...

Chad Weiner, mentioned in Sunday's Anna Nicole Smith item, is Jeff Beacher's business partner in "Beacher's Madhouse."

SIGHTINGS

Star Jones Reynolds, checking out The Art of Shaving salon and Lush Puppy at Mandalay Place (Mandalay Bay) on Tuesday. ... Michael Jordan, getting an early start on the NBA All-Star Weekend. He showed up at Jet (Mirage) on Monday with pal Charles Oakley. Also there: actor Laurence Fishburne, Kiss bassist Gene Simmons, spotted dancing on VIP tables and booths, and Cee-Lo Green of Grammy award-winning group Gnarls Barkley. Former boxing champ Bernard Hopkins, dining at Fix (Mirage). ... Michael Jackson, shopping in FAO Schwarz (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Tuesday with his children, both in veils, with a security team in tow. Besieged by fans, they entered the Chinois and settled into a VIP room at OPM nightclub for lunch. His children removed their veils during lunch, revealing faces painted like they were celebrating Halloween.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Busy time of the year here in New York City. Last week, it was Fashion Week, and this week it's the big dog show. I'm telling you, ladies and gentlemen, we got bitches coming and going." -- David Letterman

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



NORM CLARKE
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