Mirage duties put Phillies fan in bind

Philadelphia native Felix Rappaport, the new president of The Mirage, had a meeting Wednesday afternoon and missed the ninth-inning drama of Roy Halladay's no-hitter.

For a true-blue Phillies fan, that's pure misery.

But Rappaport can live with the disappointment, knowing he's the proud owner of the jersey Halladay wore during his perfect game May 29.

Rappaport got it about seven weeks ago at a Philadelphia fundraiser put on by Phillies star and Las Vegas residents Shane and Melissa Victorino.

Rappaport bid on about 25 silent auction items and was disappointed he got shut out.

"Others were paying more attention," said Rappaport, who was seated with Halladay and his wife, Brandy.

So when the live auction came along, Halladay went onstage to help energize the bidding process.

With Halladay's wife "egging me on," Rappaport won Halladay's jersey, a game ticket and a ball, signed and framed in a shadow box.

When I inquired about the winning bid, Rappaport paused before saying, "You're going to get me divorced."

He paid $10,000, which went to a foundation established by the Victorinos to promote opportunities for underprivileged children.

The winning items were shipped to Rappaport's home, but he didn't open them until Wednesday because of his hectic schedule since moving from the Luxor to The Mirage as president and chief operating officer.

Halladay's 4-0 masterpiece Wednesday over the Cincinnati Reds was the first postseason no-hitter since Don Larsen of the New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956.

Caught up in daylong meetings, Rappaport got to see Halladay in the eighth inning, but duty called: a meeting with headliner Terry Fator and his brother, Jep.

"It was very hard to turn it off, but I had an obligation," said Rappaport, who watched the no-hitter via Tivo when he got home.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Barry Manilow will visit Valley High School today to seal a donation from his Manilow Music Project to the school district. A news release said the gift of five truckloads of instruments, worth "tens of thousands of dollars" to 15 schools, will benefit 600 students.

SIGHTINGS

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, having a steak and salad at Strip House (Planet Hollywood Resort) after speaking at Tony Curtis' funeral Monday. The restaurant wasn't open, but chef John Schenk was in the kitchen and welcomed him for lunch. ... Chatting at Curtis' funeral: singing legend Phyllis McGuire and chef Julian Serrano. Curtis insisted that McGuire sit next to him at his 85th birthday in June, a month before he was hospitalized with breathing problems. ... Correction: Joan Rivers was not at Frank Marino's 25th anniversary party last Thursday. She sent a congratulatory video .

THE PUNCH LINE

"Hi, I'm 35, single, and looking to mingle." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Bad Campaign Commercial Opening Lines.

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