Phelps spending time with Prejean

This much we know:

They met last September at the Palms Hotel Casino, when she was better known as a beauty pageant contestant with a deadly jump shot than for her opinion on gay marriage.

Phelps, fresh from his eight Olympic gold medals in Beijing, was in town on a club-hopping celebration tour. Prejean, two months away from being crowned Miss California USA, was with a group of girlfriends.

“I introduced them in the Hardwood Suite,” said Jon Gray, assistant to Palms owner George Maloof.

The two groups joined in shooting baskets.

Prejean stood out for several reasons. “She’s got a great shot. She was throwing ’em down. I was impressed,” said Gray.

So, apparently, was Phelps.

“She was a really cool girl,” said Gray.

Prejean was a basketball standout at Vista (Calif.) High School, captain of the varsity team and was offered a college scholarship for basketball.

Prejean’s fame exploded this week after she indicated her opposition to gay marriage in response to a question during the Miss USA telecast from Planet Hollywood Resort. Prejean, who finished first runner-up to Miss North Carolina USA Kristen Dalton, said the comment cost her the Miss USA crown.

A photograph of Prejean, with a drink in her hand, and Phelps, who looked like he just came off a 24-hour flight from China, appeared in Radaronline.com on Friday.

Prejean’s grandmother Jeanette Coppolla told Radaronline that Phelps “always calls her when he is in town and they go out.” Prejean, 21, grew up in Vista, Calif., and is a junior at San Diego Christian College.

Phelps took Prejean to a University of Michigan football game last fall and a Cleveland Browns game.

“Carrie knows that he has dated a lot of girls but she enjoys going out with him and isn’t serious about being in a relationship with him,” Coppolla added. “He’s a nice guy and she likes him.”

Meanwhile, Phelps continues to date Carolynn “Caz” Pal, a cocktail server at Moon nightclub at the Palms, according to published reports.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Local free-lance writer/blogger/podcaster Steve Friess has joined the Miss California USA-Perez Hilton fray. Writing Friday on his VegasHappensHere.com Web site, Friess, who, like Hilton, is openly gay, concluded: “The vermin Perez Hilton did more to firm up the resolve of straight-only-marriage proponents and provide them with a widely sympathetic figure around which to rally around than anything in recent memory.” Asked for a response, Hilton, the celebrity gossip blogger who asked Prejean the question, told Vegas Confidential, “I am praying for Steve Friess.” …

Actress Elizabeth Berkley‘s appearance at “Peepshow” (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Thursday is raising eyebrows. The question is whether Berkley, whose acting career was damaged when she played a stripper-turned-showgirl in the universally panned “Showgirls,” is being considered for a role in the show. Last week Lindsay Lohan attended the premiere and discussed a co-lead role with the show’s creator, Jerry Mitchell. Lohan’s rep told reporters this week that the struggling actress is not interested “at this time.”…

SIGHTINGS

Rio headliner Penn Jillette, backstage after Thursday’s 9:30 p.m. “Peepshow” to say hello to co-star Mel B. They met during “Dancing With the Stars.” … Actor Antwon Tanner of “One Tree Hill,” taking in LAX (Luxor) on Thursday. … Hollywood director Brett Ratner, with Steve Wynn, at Danny Gans’ show at Encore on Friday. … Esquire restaurant critic/food writer John Mariani, dining at Sinatra (Encore) on Friday. … Jon Bon Jovi, spotted on the treadmill at the Hard Rock Hotel gym on Friday before his show at the new Joint.

THE PUNCH LINE

“I heard that Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt of ‘The Hills’ will be getting married this weekend. And if you’d like to send a gift, they’re registered at Bed, Bath, and Beyond Shameless.” – Jimmy Fallon

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