Garvey: Plenty of blame in scandal

Steve Garvey, the most durable player of his era, said he would support having asterisks placed on some of the records set during baseball's steroid era.

Garvey, in an interview at Caesars Palace, said he is convinced "at least two or three times more" players were involved with steroids than the 85 identified in the Mitchell Report, which was released Dec. 13.

Without asterisks, said Garvey, who set a National League record for playing in 1,207 consecutive games, "they're saying, 'Sorry you guys did it naturally.' "

Any player who used steroids "essentially tore at the fabric of the game," said Garvey, who took time out to chat from his twice-a-week autograph sessions at Field of Dreams, the sports collectibles store at the Forum Shops at Caesars.

The 85 players were linked by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.

Garvey, a 10-time All-Star who played 13 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, equally blames the owners and the players union and hopes the Mitchell Report was the first step in "the cleansing of the era ... that really started with international track and field and horse racing," said Garvey, who turns 59 today.

LOFTY CHALLENGES

Star chef Alain Ducasse has overcome some tall challenges to get his food on the table.

In Las Vegas, a helicopter was used to deliver the kitchen piece by piece through the roof of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay.

But taking over the restaurant at the 410-foot mark of the Eiffel Tower in Paris presented a problem at the opposite end of the spectrum, according to The Associated Press.

Because of limited space and the fact that gas cooking wasn't allowed for safety reasons, Ducasse's chefs work in an underground kitchen. The $108 lunches and $216 dinners are delivered by elevator.

To reduce stress on the 118-year-old iron structure, lighter tables and chairs were put in the restaurant. Ducasse's nine-year contract with the Eiffel Tower begins today.

BRUIN CONNECTION

Elaine Wynn, director of Wynn Resorts, has a Las Vegas Bowl connection.

She was a member of UCLA's Bruin Belles, the school's official hostesses. After graduating from Miami Beach High, she attended UCLA, where she was voted southern campus spring queen as a freshman.

She transferred to George Washington University the next year to be closer to her beau, whom she married.

He gave up his family's bingo operation, and they moved to Las Vegas in 1967. Forty years later, Steve Wynn has his name on one of the Strip's most exclusive hotel-casinos in the world and has developed many others.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Las Vegas entertainers Tony Sacca and David Osborne performed separately at recent White House parties. Osborne, who was a fixture as a piano player for years at Caesars Palace, has been invited back to play for President Bush's family Christmas party.

SIGHTINGS

Comedians Martin Lawrence and Damon Wayans and rapper Lil Jon, among the attendees at the annual Bad Santa Party at Tao (Venetian) on Thursday. Show producer Jeff Beacher served as Bad Santa. ... Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who were competitors on the latest season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," hanging out in separate parties at Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Players constantly addressing each other as 'girlfriend.' " - From David Letterman's Top Ten Signs Your Team Won't Be Going To The Super Bowl.

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