‘Giant Bird’ is among season’s coveted costumes

A chair, a flightless bird, a binder.

It's not an offbeat haiku but some possible Halloween costumes in a presidential campaign season.

At Williams Costume, Mariah Kissel says the bird is the word. Big Bird, that is. Mitt Romney's debate comment that he would send Big Bird into retirement if elected has made the "Sesame Street" star into a coveted Halloween party costume.

"We haven't rented Big Bird in probably six years," Kissel says. "Out of five calls, we've rented it twice."

Technically, it's called "Giant Bird" in order to not violate any trademarks.

"We carry the Obama mask, and we do sell them," she says.

What about Romney?

"We personally don't like to carry anything until we're sure they're going to be common," Kissel says. "We haven't ordered Mitt Romney masks yet, and we haven't had any calls on it yet."

Could be a bad sign for the Republicans.

At American Costumes, Martin Sadowitz says a Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch combination might work for some partygoers.

"I'm sure somebody wants to do it," he says. "They just have to have the idea in front of them."

CANTOR TROUBLE: To the surprise of no one who has been watching the action inside the M Resort sports book, law enforcement has taken a keen interest in Cantor Gaming sports book director Mike Colbert.

Young Colbert now finds himself charged with eight counts of conspiracy, money laundering and enterprise corruption. He is scheduled to make a court appearance in Clark County District Court on Monday.

Although the case is breaking out of Queens, N.Y., it should serve as a reminder that bookmaking and sports betting are still on the radar of Metro, the Gaming Control Board, FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation.

Question of the day: Do you think Colbert will hang tough?

BOEHNER VISIT: House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, was in Las Vegas on Thursday morning and took a private tour of Don Ahern's Xtreme Manufacturing facility on Bonanza Road. Xtreme builds stout hydraulic lifts and portable metal buildings.

Ahern is a loyal Republican who has battled to stay afloat in a tough economy.

JP RACE: Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman has allies in local law enforcement as she seeks re-election, but Metro veteran Ray Berni isn't one of them.

Berni, nearing retirement after 35 years, has been working Metro's home foreclosure detail, which removes squatters from houses throughout the valley. Berni is still steaming about the treatment he says he received last year when one problematic eviction case reached Zimmerman's court.

Instead of going quietly when asked, the squatter filed a restraining order against the home's new owner and filled out an Internal Affairs Bureau complaint against Berni.

When the IAB complaint failed, she filed a stalking complaint. Trouble was, Berni only visited the squatter once.

The veteran cop sought to have the frivolous complaint tossed, and that's when he asserts Zimmerman failed to act in a timely manner on the facts.

When Metro attorneys representing Berni attempted to intervene, their entreaties also initially failed. The frivolous complaint was tossed but only after a hearing.

Between a Thanksgiving holiday and the illness of a friend, the judge didn't return to court for a few days. Zimmerman later sought out Berni and apologized for any confusion and inconvenience.

I'm guessing the apology wasn't accepted.

In an election year, such stories can have consequences. When I wrote last week about the Southern Nevada Labor Council's decision to pull its endorsement of Zimmerman, the phone started ringing.

"I think she's too distracted," the veteran cop says. "What happened to me was unacceptable."

Berni also who sits on the board of the Police Protective Association, which didn't endorse in the Zimmerman-Amy Chellini race. He's scheduled to retire Dec. 28.

I can guess who's not invited to that party.

TIMELY BRAWL: There's no one named Romney or Obama on the card, but the first World Series of Fighting mixed martial arts event is set for Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino with a co-main event featuring scowling tough guys with faces only their mothers could love. It's an 11-bout night.

The event, promoted by WSOF president Ray Sefo, is occurring right under the pug noses of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and will be televised by the NBC Sports Network.

Is there big money in being the second-biggest mixed martial arts outfit in Las Vegas?

Have an item for Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/Smith