Commander in chief, Jeter play 27 at Shadow Creek
President Barack Obama’s golf secrets are probably safe with Derek Jeter.
They were part of a foursome that played 27 holes at Shadow Creek golf course Saturday.
Don’t expect many details on the president’s scorecard.
Jeter, the tight-lipped recently retired captain of the New York Yankees, is unlikely to pull a Michael Jordan, who recently dissed Obama’s golf game.
The White House press corps’ Twitter feed had some fun with the long golf outing, tweeting: “With nothing pressing going on in the world, Obama meanders for 27 holes at super-exclusive Shadow Creek Golf.”
The White House press pool reported that Shadow Creek comped them a round of drinks — Arnold Palmers, naturally.
Also in the foursome, Obama supporters Stephen Cloobeck and Las Vegas Sun publisher Brian Greenspun.
The president stayed over after delivering a speech at Del Sol High School on Friday to explain his executive action on immigration reform.
COSBY RECOLLECTIONS
Bill Cosby “is not the Jell-O pudding man” who was adored by the public, according to a former Playboy Enterprises employee.
Steve “Wojo” Wojciechowski, a Las Vegas resident since 1994, worked on four Playboy Jazz Festivals during the 1980s when Cosby served as emcee, which Playboy founder Hugh Hefner always held on Father’s Day.
“He was always fine in Hef’s tight circle, but to the staff, he was grumpy,” Wojciechowski said.
During one of the festivals, Wojciechowski approached Cosby with a book to sign for his dad, who accompanied his son on that Father’s Day.
“He signed it; he acted like it was a big bother. I thought it was sad,” he said.
Wojciechowski said a hint of Cosby’s dark side had happened a decade earlier when he “sucker-punched” Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers comedy team at the Playboy Mansion.
“Tommy Smothers is one of the sweetest and most gracious people I have met — the complete opposite of Cosby,” Wojciechowski said.
Cosby and Tommy Smothers had been feuding. Cosby was seething over taunts by Smothers that Cosby didn’t speak out against the Vietnam War and wasn’t doing enough in the civil rights struggle.
Smothers recalled the incident in Gerald Nachman’s 2003 book “Seriously Funny: The Rebel Comedians of the 1950s and 1960s.”
“He slipped behind Hefner and sucker-punched me,” Smothers told Nachman.
Wojciechowski said the women who are coming out now, alleging they were sexually assaulted by Cosby years ago, couldn’t have come out 30 years ago because “it was a different world.”
“I felt a need to provide a glimpse of the man I witnessed on a consistent basis,” he said.
MEDIA UPDATE
CBS affiliate KLAS-TV, Channel 8 has been sold, the second local station to change hands this year.
Nexstar Broadcasting out of Irving, Texas, reportedly paid $145 million to Norfolk, Va.-based Landmark Media Enterprises.
In September, NBC affiliate KSNV-TV, Channel 3 was sold to Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcast Group by Intermountain West Communications Co., after the death of TV mogul Jim Rogers.
Sinclair reportedly paid $120 million for KSNV.
In another development last week, Craig Hume, news director at KSNV since the spring of 2013, announced his last day will be Wednesday.
He had replaced veteran executive Bob Stoldal as news director.
SIGHTINGS
Tony La Russa, who managed three World Series title teams, catching lunch and watching college football at TAP sports bar at MGM Grand on Saturday. He was in town for his third annual benefit for the Animal Rescue Foundation. … Jeter, celebrating his retirement at Tao (The Venetian) on Thursday with girlfriend Hannah Davis, his sister Sharlee and former New York Yankees teammates CC Sabathia and Tino Martinez. Earlier, Jeter and his party had a birthday party in the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay. … Retired baseball slugger Mark McGwire, with friends at Crush (MGM Grand) on Friday. … Gene Simmons and family, dining with friends at Cleo (SLS) on Friday. Son Nick performed at SLS’ Sayers Club.
THE PUNCH LINE
“There will be no Kardashian family Christmas card this year because they couldn’t decide on an appropriate photo. I thought, when did the word ‘appropriate’ ever have anything to do with that family?” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
