Lieberman, former publicist, dies at 68

Former Siegfried & Roy publicist Frank Lieberman, one of Elvis Presley's closest newspaper pals during the singer's Las Vegas comeback years, died Saturday at Summerlin Hospital.

Lieberman, who had been in declining health in recent years, was 68.

His son, Adam, said his father broke a shoulder during a fall on Tuesday, a setback that may have been too much for his weakened heart.

"His heart has been working at 40 percent," Lieberman's son said. "Doctors felt after he started dialysis that he had six months to live. That was 2½ years ago."

Lieberman, who was 14 when his family moved from New York City to Los Angeles, worked as a sportswriter on the Lakers beat for a Los Angeles area newspaper before joining the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner to cover the entertainment beat.

Elvis liked Lieberman's review of his show at the Las Vegas Hilton and sent Joe Esposito out one night to fetch the journalist. Elvis thanked him and agreed to a rare one-on-one interview.

One night in Elvis' suite, Elvis asked Lieberman why he wasn't wearing his TCB (Taking Care of Business) necklace, which was reserved for Elvis' inner circle. Lieberman said he didn't have one.

Elvis presented one to Lieberman and a TLC (Tender Loving Care) bracelet to Lieberman's future wife, Karen. The Liebermans wore the mementos the day they got married in 1972, Karen Lieberman said.

"One night in the restroom at the Hilton a man saw the necklace on Frank and offered him $10,000," Karen Lieberman said. No way, her husband said.

He was Tony Danza's publicist for 10 years and also represented Tony Orlando and Engelbert Humperdinck.

He served as Siegfried & Roy's publicist from 1996 to 2003, leaving just weeks before Roy Horn nearly died from a tiger attack on stage at The Mirage.

A few years ago I asked the tight-lipped Lieberman about the far-fetched rumor that Horn had died years ago and was replaced by a double.

"Like a new Roy could show up and relate to the animals," Lieberman said. "Does a dog act on instruction from a new owner?"

Funeral services are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at Eden Cemetery in Mission Hills, a Los Angeles suburb. An entertainment columnist for The Israelite in recent years, he will be buried in the New York Yankees jacket he wore to most functions.

OSCAR'S OPTIONS

Ears perked up the other night at Salvatore's Ristorante Italiano at the Suncoast when Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was asked about the arrest of 120 reputed mafia members last week, the largest East Coast mob crackdown in history.

"He chuckled and said, 'I've already heard from three of them,' " according to Las Vegan Sherry Lombardi, who was entering Salvatore's with Paul Boisvert when they chatted up the mayor.

Was it just the gin talking or is Goodman, who turns 72 in July, itching for another shot at being one of the country's most celebrated mob attorneys?

Well, Goodman said, when contacted Friday, he was embellishing, but only a bit.

He has heard from someone who was calling on someone's behalf, he said.

Would he consider it?

"Fortunately, I'm a lucky fellow," he said. "I've been talking to a lot of people. Life after mayor will be very interesting."

The offers, he said, include being an executive producer, working for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, publishing a children's book, heading up a business development or opening a speakeasy in downtown.

KOBE COURTS TWINS

Sean and John Scott, the twin tap dancing sensation in "Vegas! The Show," have a fan in the NBA.

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant had the twins perform Saturday at his daughter's birthday at Bryant's home.

He saw them 10 years ago dancing on the Third Street promenade in Santa Monica and tracked them down. "They are huge Lakers fans, so I had to oblige," said the twins' boss, David Saxe, who produces the show at Saxe Theater in the Miracle Mile at Planet Hollywood Resort.

Bryant has an appreciation for what the twins do: He took tap dancing classes six years ago to strengthen his ankles.

SIGHTINGS

ESPN sportscaster Steve Levy, catching lunch Saturday at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas. ... NFL standout Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens, dining Friday with friends at N9NE Steakhouse (Palms).

THE PUNCH LINE

"Pardoned Brett Favre" -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Ways President Obama Celebrated His Two-Year Anniversary In Office.

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