Bodacious moved for decency’s sake
A life-sized bronze bull, once a virile symbol of chef Mario Batali's new steakhouse at the Palazzo, has been put out to pasture, in a manner of speaking.
His popularity with the ladies became a bit of a problem.
Concerned about safety issues and some inappropriate fondling, the powers-that-be at the new hotel and casino ordered Bodacious to a backroom.
A number of frisky female admirers climbed on Bodacious' back for gag photos when he was positioned in front of Carnevino Steakhouse.
From there he was moved into the center of the Carnevino's main room, where several other incidents occurred.
"There were legal and safety concerns," a Carnevino manager confirmed. "There was definitely some climbing going on."
George Clooney might be interested in knowing that his girlfriend, Las Vegas model Sarah Larson, had a hand in getting Bodacious banished to the bullpen.
Bodacious was named after the legendary rodeo bull who was so feared that bull riding legend Tuff Hedeman refused to ride him during the 1995 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
TRUMP FACES CHALLENGE
Donald Trump has recruited Donny and Marie Osmond to clean up his tarnished Miss USA brand, but he's facing some bad timing.
Donny and Marie, paragons of wholesomeness, will co-host the 2008 Miss USA pageant on April 11 at the Planet Hollywood Resort.
Trump is counting on the Osmonds to help repair the damage from recent scandals involving Miss USA Tara Conner and Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees.
Conner was given a second chance to remain as Miss USA a year ago amid allegations of underage drinking, drug use and publicly kissing Miss Teen USA Katie Blair.
Rees was stripped of her title a year ago as well, after racy photos of her surfaced on the Internet. She's continued to generate negative headlines with her wild partying and arrest in February on a charge of resisting arrest.
Trump, co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which includes the Miss USA pageant, will be in for a double dose of bad publicity when the pageant arrives in Las Vegas.
Rees' trial is set to start April 9, two days before the pageant, and E! Entertainment is airing a special that week on beauty queen scandals.
Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter at KVBC-TV, Channel 3, was recently interviewed for three hours for the E! special, mostly about Rees and her friendships. "They dig into her background big time," Jacobs said.
The Osmonds have been negotiating a resident headliner deal with the Flamingo.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Chas LaForte, chef and original partner at Fellini's Ristorante Italiano since it opened in 1997, is signing his new book "An Appetite for Life" from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. today at a champagne and wine tasting at the restaurant, 5555 W. Charleston Blvd. It's more about one man's musings than LaForte's famous pasta dishes, but his "sensous shrimp" recipe is a classic project for amorous couples.
SIGHTINGS
Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards and former Chiefs head coach Marty Schottenheimer, having dinner at Tao Las Vegas on Friday. At another table: NFL brothers Tiki and Ronde Barber.
THE PUNCH LINE
"She'll do fine. Here's what's going to happen: She's going to pose naked for Playboy; she'll do a season of 'Celebrity Apprentice,' maybe a 'Surreal Life,' she'll top if off by having a baby with Pauly Shore." -- Jimmy Kimmel, on Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the prostitute whose alleged business relationship with New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer led to his resignation last week.
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
