Billionaires cheer Team USA win

Maybe it was an omen: Team USA's Olympic sendoff Friday included three billionaires known for cashing in on golden opportunities.

Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Steve Wynn were on hand, in front-row seats, along with some NBA royalty, to support the U.S. men's basketball team at Thomas & Mack Center.

Along with the kings of commerce was Oscar winner Jamie Foxx and NBA greats Spencer Haywood, Clyde Drexler and Dominique Wilkens.

When Grammy Award winner Ludacris was shown on the scoreboard video above center court, the crowd roared as he kept pointing his thumb at Gates, as if to say there's the real deal.

A group of Air Force officers, who were given good-as-gold front-row seats felt the same way as Ludacris.

When the half-time horn blared, the Air Force group converged on Buffett and Gates for photos.

Team USA won the game 120-65 against Canada.

Also introduced was singer Ciarra, former NBA coaches Lenny Wilkens and Chuck Daley, and UNLV head basketball coach Lon Kruger.

CHECKMATE IN SACRAMENTO

Two years after a resounding rejection by voters, the Maloof-owned Sacramento Kings have run into an unforeseen setback in their attempt to gain a new arena.

There are some pluses, but "the negative is it's a tough economy," co-owner Joe Maloof said Friday in a radio interview.

Commissioner David Stern remains "pretty confident," Maloof told Jim Gray, who was taking part in 24-hour KBAD-AM, 1100 radiothon at the Palms to benefit The Caring Place.

With attendance down and inflation up, it's a combination that continues to fuel rumors that the Maloof family will eventually petition the NBA to relocate the franchise to Las Vegas.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Check out Sunday's art display at the new Gallery Las Vegas, 5115 S. Decatur Blvd., from 3-9 p.m. Artists include singer-actress Paige O'Hara, who portrayed "Belle" in the Disney hit "Beauty and the Beast," and longtime publicist Norm Johnson, who is well-known for his sculptures.

SIGHTINGS

Two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington was at Blush nightclub (Wynn) on Thursday before heading off to Tryst (Wynn). He visited Tryst again with friends around 2 a.m. Friday. Washington has been in town all week to watch one of his sons, Malcolm, a senior-to-be point guard, play for Double Pump Elite in the Adidas Super 64 AAU all-star basketball tournament. The proud dad was spotted in the crowd at Desert Pines High School, wearing a pulled-down baseball cap with the word "Secret" on the front. ... Team USA star Kobe Bryant and his bodyguard, dining at Nove Italiano (Palms) on Thursday. ... Oscar-nominated actress Ali McGraw and former Paramount executive Robert Evans, with their son, Josh Evans, at "Love" (Mirage) on Thursday. McGraw, 69, became one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1970s after appearing in "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neil. She divorced Evans in 1972 and married action hero Steve McQueen. Also at "Love" on Thursday: Gates and guitarist Slash, celebrating his 43rd birthday with 60 of his friends and family including wife, Perla Hudson, with their two sons, London and Cash, Evan Seinfeld (HBO's "Oz"), comedian Tommy Davidson, and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine). After the show, the group went backstage to meet the cast and crew. Later, Slash continued his birthday celebration tour with an appearance at Jet nightclub (Mirage). For the second night in a row, he performed with Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains fame and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, while will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas shared DJ duties. A birthday cake in the shape of a guitar and topped with his trademark top hat was rolled out and set ablaze with sparklers.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Barack Obama was in Germany today, and 100,000 people showed up. There were so many Germans shouting and screaming that France surrendered just in case." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.