These are trying times for Maloof
George Maloof could write a book on crisis management.
First came the staggering economic meltdown that shook the foundation of Las Vegas, including his property, the Palms.
Then an ugly court fight unfolded with former partner N9NE Group, along with a DUI arrest.
In the middle of all that, he became the point man in his family's bid to move the NBA Sacramento Kings because they are losing money.
Maloof has been working marathon hours. Most days begin with lengthy 5 a.m. conference calls with the NBA, Sacramento and Anaheim officials, because of the three-hour time difference between the Pacific time zone and the NBA's New York City headquarters .
There's not a lot he can talk about right now, he told me Friday, during a chance meeting at Comme Ca restaurant at The Cosmopolitan.
It had been another grueling week, capped by a telephone interview with a Sacramento reporter who pushed some hot buttons. Maloof said he lost his cool, rare for him, while standing up for his family, which has been taking a lot of heat in Sacramento.
There's a lot of frustration on all sides, that much is clear.
Maloof thought he had a deal hammered out to move the team to Anaheim's Honda Center, home of the NHL's Ducks.
But the league, most likely egged on by Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, stepped in and rejected Maloof's relocation plan.
NBA Commissioner David Stern , in a May 2 editorial, wrote that a number of factors, including a "substantial contribution from the owners of the Kings through a long-term lease agreement and its guaranteed payments, give me confidence that it can be done."
"The NBA is all but operating the Kings business now," said the Bee. "The NBA wants the Kings in Sacramento."
The Maloofs, according to the Bee, are giving "a whiff of being reluctant participants in a yearlong attempt at nailing an arena plan before March 1, 2012 -- the next NBA deadline for franchise relocation."
"We're going to give it an honest shot," Maloof told ESPN's Arash Markazi last week. "And hopefully there's an arena there, and if not we're going to have to move on."
If an arena plan doesn't happen, and the NBA owners block a move, the Maloofs' ultimate hole card could be to sue, claiming an antitrust violation.
And move to Las Vegas.
Stern has said that won't happen until Las Vegas gets a new arena. A lot of big money seems to think Las Vegas is a good bet, or there wouldn't be a new arena proposal seemingly surfacing every month.
The antitrust threat is what forced Major League Baseball to expand into Denver and Florida in 1991. I know this because I recommended that strategy in a meeting with then U.S. Sen. Tim Wirth, D-Colo., an antitrust expert.
Baseball caved.
Push will come to shove next March.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
After a story-swapping lunch at Garduno's (Palms) on Friday, UNLV head football coach Bobby Hauck saved the best for last. A couple of ex-Montanans, we were chatting in the valet area when he reached into his wallet and pulled out a prayer card featuring the image of St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes. It was given to him at church last June. "A little old lady came up to me and said, "You're going to need this." ...
I'm heading for Montana's mountains today for a week to burn up some time owed me.
SIGHTINGS
Barry Manilow, shutting down his show Saturday 20 minutes in, telling the crowd he had bronchitis and couldn't hit the notes. ... On "The Hangover II" red carpet Saturday at Planet Hollywood Resort: cast members Justin Bartha, Jamie Chung and Mason Lee (the son of director Ang Lee, whose films have won several Oscars). Locals included Holly Madison, Josh Strickland, Angel Porrino, and Cheaza from "Peepshow;" The Gazillionaire, Penny Pibbets and Melody Sweets from "Absinthe;" Matt Goss, Robin Antin, Nathan Burton, Jeff Timmons and Carrot Top. UNLV head basketball coach Dave Rice and wife Mindy, at Terry Fator on Saturday night with friends, including former UNLV coach Max Good. ... Former Rebels coach Lon Kruger and wife Barb, at Human Nature (Imperial Palace) on Saturday with 10 of Kruger's teammates and their wives from his Kansas State University playing days in the early 1970s. During that time, the Wildcats won two Big Eight titles and Kruger was a two-time conference player of the year. Kruger is hosting the reunion weekend in town. Rice and Kruger are teaming together to co-chair the Coaches vs. Cancer Las Vegas Golf Classic Sunday through Tuesday. ... Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, dining at Lavo (Palazzo) on Friday before heading for Marquee (Cosmopolitan). ... Whitney Port of "The Hills ," drinking champagne with friends at Lavo (Palazzo) on Friday. ... Poker pro Phil Hellmuth, at Tao (The Venetian) on Friday.
THE PUNCH LINE
"The world is supposed to end on Saturday. It would really be bad if we only survived three weeks longer than bin Laden." -- Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
