Maloofs get a win in fight over team
A deepening standoff between the Maloof family's Sacramento Kings and Sacramento city officials took a bizarre turn last week.
The latest infighting over the city's efforts to build a new arena for the Kings involves a letter signed by a group of Sacramento businessmen urging the Maloofs to sell the team.
That open letter to NBA commissioner David Stern turned into a small victory for the Maloofs after reports surfaced that a number of signatures on the letter were forged.
According to the media reports, the Maloof family hired a retired FBI agent who now works as a private investigator to pursue the credibility of the signatures.
The Sacramento Bee reported last Tuesday that one of the letter-signing organizers acknowledged that five of the 21 signatures on the letter are not the signatures of the people whose names are listed.
"Instead, someone signed for them, assuming proxy signatures would be OK, according to Greg Hayes, who organized the effort," the Bee reported.
The development came after Chris Lehane, head of the mayor's Think Big Sacramento arena advocacy group, compared the Maloofs to North Korea's leaders.
Lehane's response to the forgery investigation? He says he asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the Maloofs violated any laws by attempting to track down those who signed the letter. Lehane suggested it was harassment and intimidation.
Ray Ratto, a longtime San Francisco Bay Area sports columnist, offered a multitiered solution last week.
"In short, there's no way out of this one except middle fingers at thirty paces, custard pies at ten and seltzer bottles at three - with our deep and abiding thanks if they agree to go that route."
THE SCENE AND HEARD
CBS aired the trailer for its upcoming fall drama "Vegas," starring Dennis Quaid as former Las Vegas Sheriff Ralph Lamb, during "60 Minutes" on Sunday. Check it out on YouTube.com. Looks like a solid case of casting. ...
Kelly Clinton hosts an entertainment podcast on the Vegas Video Network starting tonight with a live interview with Bubba Knight. It starts at 6:30 p.m. She hosts every other Monday.
David de Alba has a June 17 booking at the Onyx Theater for the final chapter of his Finocchio's Backstage Memories. De Alba was a longtime Judy Garland impersonator at Finocchio's, the legendary San Francisco drag club. Last month he was the recipient of a vintage gown that belonged to famed Finocchio Club emcee Carroll Wallace. He had it appraised for $15,000.
SIGHTINGS
Justin Bieber and Chris Brown, dining together at N9ne Steakhouse (Palms) on Sunday. Bieber drew a crowd of onlookers on Saturday as he shopped at CRSVR Sneaker Boutique (Cosmopolitan). ... Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Mavs' All-Star Dirk Nowitzki, in an Encore Beach Club cabana on Saturday, part of Nowitzki's bachelor party. ... "Dancing With the Stars" pro Karina Smirnoff, hosting a pre-awards party at Tabu (MGM Grand) on Saturday with friends, including Carson Kressley of the Las Vegas version of "Dancing with the Stars" (Tropicana) and Jonathon and Drew Scott from the hit TV show "Property Brothers." ... At Marquee Day Club (Cosmopolitan) on Saturday: Nikki Reed of "Twilight," celebrating her 24th birthday. Emmanuelle Chriqui of "Entourage" stopped by to pass along a birthday greeting. Also on the scene: British singer/songwriter Taio Cruz. ... At Lavo (Palazzo) on Saturday: recording artist Miguel, hosting a pre-awards party in celebration of his Billboard Award nominations for top R&B artist and top R&B song. Miguel jumped onstage and sang a medley of four songs.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Clear!" - From David Letterman's Top Ten Things You Don't Want to Hear in a Fast Food Restaurant.
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.
