Las Vegas woman: Tiger scandal ‘big mess’

The Las Vegas woman who became infamous for her role as the key whistle-blower in the Tiger Woods sex scandal says it wasn't worth the $25,000 payday.

In an interview with the New York Daily News, Ashley Samson suggested that one of her biggest regrets was the deal that fell apart.

"It probably would have been better," she said, to accept the $200,000 that she alleges was offered by Woods' camp "because what ended up happening was a big mess."

Samson said her problems started with accepting an all-expenses paid trip to Marbella, Spain, with an unidentified girlfriend back in October.

"One day she said to me, 'Hey, you want to go to Spain? My friend Rachel (Uchitel) is going to pay for it.' I'm like, 'Alright, cool. Hell yeah I want to go to Spain,'" said Samson.

Also, Samson says that same unidentified girlfriend recently appeared on "Dateline NBC."

Samson told the newspaper she hadn't met Uchitel before and wasn't aware that Uchitel worked as a VIP hostess (in New York and Las Vegas).

"The impression that I got was that Rachel was a trust-fund baby and she wanted some friends to come along to Spain and join her for a few days," Samson said. "I'm so naïve I actually believed it. That's stupid, so stupid."

The Daily News wrote, "the trip devolved on two fronts: Samson says she soon became aware of why she was at the Spanish resort. She was one of four women -- including Uchitel -- in Marbella to exclusively entertain four men."

She told the newspaper, "I've never been a party girl. I didn't know anything about the scene or how things worked. Rachel invited all these women to come to Spain to entertain these men. That was her whole idea. Well, no one told me, and no one clued me in."

Samson said Uchitel acted like a "madam."

"Who else flies a couple of girls out to Spain for three days to meet with a bunch of men" at a nightclub? Samson said. "I mean, hello."

Samson and her unidentified friend took their story to the National Enquirer after Uchitel treated her friend "like crap."

"I couldn't believe that Tiger would do that. I didn't believe it until I heard his voice," Samson told the Daily News.

Uchitel "was on her phone, 24/7, talking or texting with Tiger. Tiger was in Vegas at the time. She was trying to make arrangements for him to get into the nightclub without being attacked by the media and stuff like that."

Uchitel, in an interview with the New York Post, said one of the two Las Vegas women who joined her in Spain "conducted herself in a manner that was so embarrassing that the trip ended after a day. It was a total nightmare."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

After disappearing during the early days of Tiger's scandal, Kalika Moquin, one of his alleged mistresses, was back at her job as VIP director at The Bank (Bellagio) for the recent Socialite holiday party at the club. The event honors the most influential people on the party scene.

SIGHTINGS

Sean "Diddy" Combs, hosting Saturday's grand opening of Vanity nightclub in the new Hard Rock Hotel tower. Other celebrities included rapper Nelly, pro golf star Anthony Kim (who has been billed as the next Tiger Woods), boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr., Vanity co-owner Jason Giambi, actor Laz Alonso of "Avatar," Dijon Talton of "Glee," rapper Rick Ross, model Cassie, actress Meagan Good, pop band Chester French and Josh Johnson of the Florida Marlins. ... Retired pitching star Roger Clemens, at Cabo Wabo Cantina at Miracle Mile Shops (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday last night with a group of friends, including former local TV personality Ron Futrell. The crowd chanted "Rocket" in an attempt to coax Clemens on the stage, but he declined, instead signing autographs and taking photographs with fans. ... "Gossip Girl" star Leighton Meester, performing four songs Saturday night at Tao (Venetian).

THE PUNCH LINE

"Memo to Gilbert Arenas: Shooting Guard is a Position, Not a Bad Pun" -- headline on Bleacherreport.com after a report of alleged gunplay in the Washington Wizards locker room.

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