Limo’s not a good start for marriage

A worn-out wedding chapel limo apparently had a short trip down the freeway of love.

A tow truck was spotted Monday afternoon at Main Street and Charleston Boulevard hauling a supersized white limo from the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel.

On the back of the spent limo was a "Just Married" sign.

Local author Rob Miech, who witnessed it, suggested via email, "That should be a picture for the back of the New Yorker (magazine), for readers to fill in their own imaginative line.

"Then again," he added, "I did once see, in this very town, a tow truck hauling a hearse ... sooooo."

TOUGH LOVE

Former heavyweight boxing champ Michael "Dynamite" Dokes learned early how to take a punch.

Dokes, who died Saturday at age 54, was a frequent diner at the Pasta Shop Ristorante & Art Gallery with legendary sports gambler Lem Banker when it was on East Tropicana. Chef and co-owner David Alenik on Tuesday recalled a conversation with Dokes.

"I once asked Michael who hit the hardest in his career and he replied, 'my mother,' " Alenik said in an email.

Dokes, who turned pro in 1976 after winning the Golden Gloves title that year, won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title in Las Vegas on Dec. 10, 1982, with a first-round technical knockout of Mike Weaver.

Dokes lost the title to Gerrie Coetzee on a 10th-round TKO on Sept. 23, 1983. He finished his career with a 53-6-2 record.

Dokes was arrested in Las Vegas in 1986 for cocaine trafficking and served two years of probation. In 1998, he was arrested in Nevada for assaulting his girlfriend and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

REMEMBERING PALLADIN

The annual Jean-Louis Palladin benefit dinner will be held at the Palms' rooftop restaurant Alize on Oct. 21, with 20 top chefs creating a seven-course dinner. Proceeds will go to the James Beard Foundation. The benefit dinner was originated by Palladin's close friend, chef Andre Rochat, in 2002, one year after the death of Palladin, who elevated local fine dining when he opened Napa at the Rio in 1997. The evening begins with a cocktail reception for about 100 at the Palms' ghostbar along with a silent auction. The dinner costs $325 per person or $300 for James Beard members. Reservations: 702-951-7000.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Cellicentric, a cello trio best known as a featured act for Celine Dion, has a special appearance Thursday at The Freakin' Frog, 4700 S. Maryland Parkway. The show starts at 9:30 p.m.

SIGHTINGS

U.S. Sen. John McCain, with wife Cindy at Stack Restaurant & Bar (The Mirage) on Sunday night. ... Nicolas Cage, hanging out with Motley Crue's Vince Neil at Neil's Girls Girls Girls strip club Saturday. ... Virginia Madsen at Penn & Teller (Rio) Saturday. ... Shaquille O'Neal's former wife, Shaunie, of the reality show "Basketball Wives," dining with a producer of the show at Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucina at Crystals at CityCenter . ... "Star Trek" legend George Takei, taping Penn Jillette's weekly podcast Sunday backstage at Penn & Teller. They were contestants on "Celebrity Apprentice."

THE PUNCH LINE

"It was a great Olympics - Team USA finished the games with 17 more medals than China. China said it was tough to swallow - especially when they had to make all of our 'We're No. 1' T-shirts." - Jimmy Fallon

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