Beacher says Lee ready to rumble

The Kid Rock-Tommy Lee grudge match is "100 percent going to happen, even if it has to take place in Zaire," according to showman Jeff Beacher, who pitched it.

The celebrity boxing battle, a spinoff of their scuffle at the MTV Video Music Awards last Sunday, is blowing up into a TV event, Beacher said. There is talk that HBO has entered the competition, he said.

Beacher confirmed that Lee has expressed interest in making the event happen.

"We haven't heard back from Kid Rock's people yet. Considering he sucker punched Tommy, you'd think he's want to man up and settle this thing once and for all."

Beacher said the pot for the event is now at $1.5 million.

O.J. UPDATE

Josh Merrin of Las Vegas was at the Palms about 10 p.m. Thursday, waiting at an elevator near N9NE Steakhouse, when O.J. Simpson got on the elevator.

When Merrin asked, "How ya doing?" Simpson responded, "Just fighting my battles."

When Merrin got the news on TV and radio on Friday, he realized Simpson was likely referring to his latest "battle": O.J.'s alleged participation in an armed robbery at Palace Station, which he told police was a "sting operation" to regain some memorabilia.

'APPRENTICE' TO VEGAS

Stefanie Schaeffer, winner of the sixth season of NBC's "The Apprentice," has moved over to Donald Trump's Las Vegas luxury tower project.

She's replacing Jack Christie, who resigned as sales and marketing vice president of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas.

Trump hopes to cash in on Schaeffer's celebrity status.

Schaeffer, who has been working for Trump in the Dominican Republic, will promote the Trump International project around the world and "direct the sales efforts of the Las Vegas sales office," said Jack Wishna, who has been working with Trump since brokering Trump's deal with New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin. Trump and Ruffin have two 64-story towers going up.

Schaeffer will speak Thursday at the Women In Communications luncheon at Maggiano's (Fashion Show).

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Demolition crews have been seen tossing televisions out the windows of the New Frontier, which, I hear, faces a mid-November implosion. Elad Group, an Israeli-owned real estate investment group, bought the Strip property and its 36 acres for more than $1.2 billion in May. Elad plans to build a replica of New York's landmark Plaza Hotel. ...

Artist Steve Kaufmann tells me he's meeting with the governor's office soon to push his plans for a Las Vegas sign on a mountainside in the valley. It would be a collage of 20 to 40 casino logos, 30-foot high dice, a 40-foot high MGM golden lion, a 30-foot high Statue of Liberty and "Las Vegas" in 75-foot high letters. ...

Mystery solved: Pamela Anderson's mystery man/poker player is the same guy she's been making the rounds with recently. He's Rick Salomon, a Hollywood insider most famous for making millions with his video with Paris Hilton and a brief marriage to Shannen Doherty. ...

With the arrival of Tom Selleck for the fifth season of NBC's "Las Vegas," look for a "Magnum, P.I." reunion. Selleck, who takes over for James Caan as owner of the fictitious Montecito casino, is reportedly bringing in Larry Manetti and Roger E. Mosley, who played Rick and T.C. on the '80s series. They'll be high-roller pals who come to Las Vegas for their annual poker game. Manetti operated Manetti's Italian restaurant at the Plaza Hotel for a couple of years. The new season premieres Sept. 28.

That grand marshal appearance by former "American Idol" contestant Mikalah Gordon at Inspirada is next Saturday, not Thursday. She'll sing the national anthem for the opening ceremonies of the master-planned community in Henderson. ...

Grant MacPherson, executive chef at Wynn Las Vegas and before that the exec chef at Bellagio, has resigned to pursue other opportunities.

SIGHTINGS

Actors Ray Romano and Brad Garrett of "Everybody Loves Raymond," partying Friday at Jet nightclub (Mirage) after performing at the Danny Gans Theatre. Garrett ordered bottles of Grey Goose vodka, Crown Royal and Triple Sec so he could make Kamikaze shots for the entire table. ... Carrot Top, chatting with Mick Fleetwood at Social House on Friday. ... Illusionist Criss Angel, partying Friday at Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace).

THE PUNCH LINE

"Maybe before helping Britney Spears get on track, they should concentrate on getting Paula Abdul straightened out." - Jimmy Kimmel, on the offer by "American Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson to help Spears revive her career.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.