Health rumors surround Newton

Amid rumors of a health scare, Las Vegas entertainment icon Wayne Newton returns to ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" tonight.

Rumblings circulated this week that Newton, 65, flew to Texas late last week for heart tests.

It was confirmed Monday that Newton canceled engagements in Washington, D.C., and Verona, N.Y.

Newton's wife, Kathleen, declined an interview but said through an intermediary that he was fine and had just completed a rehearsal Monday in Los Angeles.

Newton has appeared to be in good health recently although he has lost considerable weight from a grueling rehearsal schedule that began in late August.

He and dance partner Cheryl Burke were voted off the show last week, the third week of the competition involving 12 celebrities matched with professional ballroom dancers. He is returning for a special, live performance.

He was booked to perform Thursday in Washington. and Friday in Verona.

ROSE ISSUES CHALLENGE

Disgraced baseball star Pete Rose says he won't lose this bet.

Rose, in an interview with Steve Friess on TheStripPodcast.com, said he will cough up $100 to anyone who sees him gambling.

Rose, the former Cincinnati Reds All-Star who was banned from baseball for gambling, told Friess, "I don't think my gambling was ever out of control. I mean, I'm not sitting here in denial.

"You have to understand that there was a lot of exaggeration about the amount of money I was betting. I never had any problems paying my mortgage or my gas or electric money or anything like that. I never had to borrow money from anyone to go and gamble. It wasn't one of those kinds of deals.

"Guys with gambling problems are up at 5 in the morning trying to figure out how to bet that day. I enjoyed 'Monday Night Football' and on my off days I enjoyed going to the races. But something was missing when I stopped playing as a player and I just needed that little edge and that little edge was betting on my own team to win."

He told me that he does not play at all in Vegas casinos and says that if anyone sees him playing, they can tap him on the shoulder and he'll give them a $100 bill.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Planet Hollywood Resort headliner Hans Klok was named Magician of the Year, and Pamela Anderson was honored as Assistant of the Year at the World Magic Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles. Harrah's Mac King received the comedy magic award. Other locals honored were Kevin James, comedy illusion; Rick Thomas, best illusionist; Luna Shimada, best female magician; and Jason Byrne, best bird magic. ...

Tony Bennett, with a big assist from almost a dozen local entertainers, raised $350,000 for the Marty Hennessey Jr. Tennis Foundation on Sunday at Tao in The Venetian. Joining Bennett were Clint Holmes, Vinnie Falcone, Jack Jones, Rita Rudner, Mosaic, Alizma, Bill Fayne, 15-year-old Josh Keating, 10-year-old Ellie Smith and Dominic Allen. Bennett was so smitten by Mosaic that he asked the group to perform at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in New York City, which Bennett supports. ...

Lani Misalucha, the featured singer of Society of Seven, joins Josh Groban this week in Manila, Philippines, where she was dubbed "Asia's nightingale." The Society of Seven performs afternoons at the Flamingo.

SIGHTINGS

Steve Wynn, using a walker on his way through his hotel on Monday. ... Veteran actor Scott Glenn, dining Sunday at Corsa Cucina & Bar in Wynn Las Vegas. ... Wayne Brady and Mosaic, joining the group Santa Fe on stage Monday at the Palms. ... Scott Baio shot an episode of his VH1 reality show "Scott Baio is 45 and Single" at the Hard Rock Hotel. ... Siegfried Fischbacher, leading the Hofbrauhaus band in song Sunday during an Oktoberfest outing. He and Roy Horn, with Klok, stopped in for their favorites, white sausages and wheat beer.

THE PUNCH LINE

"You can always tell it's autumn in New York City because the shadow of the guy following you is longer." -- David Letterman

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