Promoters hope for grudge match

Maybe it was inevitable: Bob Arum and Jeff Beacher, two of Las Vegas' best-known promoters, are teaming up.

They're cooperating to put together a pay-per-view grudge battle between archrival rockers Kid Rock and Tommy Lee.

No one's signed up yet, but Arum and Beacher have upped the ante to $5 million in the winner-take-all throwdown.

Arum has promoted many of the biggest boxing matches in history, while Beacher's wild acts in "Beacher's Madhouse" run the gamut from dwarf wrestling to contortionists.

"If we get it on," Arum said, "it's not going to be lot of dancing, a lot of boring stuff. It's going to be a real fun, interesting fight. If it comes off, if these guys go through with it, it would be a very fun night. Better they should fight and entertain people than fight for free."

Beacher said he was introduced to Arum at Simon's Kitchen & Bar on Sunday, and they've been working out details ever since.

Reminded that he said he'd retire from the Hard Rock-based "Madhouse" if Kanye West's album outsold 50 Cent's, Beacher said, "I lied. I can't leave the Hard Rock."

O.J.'S REVENGE

O.J. Simpson has a long memory when it comes to Marcia Clark, the former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney who prosecuted him in his 1995 murder trial. A marshal was instructed to seat Clark on the opposite side of the courtroom from Simpson so that she would not appear in photos or on television seated behind the former NFL star, according to New York Times freelancer Steve Friess, who attributed the information to court spokesman Michael Sommermeyer. Clark is now a television legal analyst.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton returns to Las Vegas as club host at Blush (Wynn) on Saturday. He's in love with Las Vegas and tells me his dream is to open a gay club here. Something "on a grand scheme," he said. "There isn't anyplace I want to go in Las Vegas as a gay man. Hopefully somebody will reach out to me and make it happen."...

Small world department: Fox talk-show host Greta Van Susteren ran into a familiar face after finishing her O.J. show on Tuesday outside the jail. Stopping by to say hello was Claude Mason, whose son John was the fiancé of the infamous "Runaway Bride" Jennifer Wilbanks. The Masons were in town on a family vacation. Wilbanks, who blamed her cross-country getaway on pre-wedding jitters, took a bus to Las Vegas. She and John Mason later split up. ...

Singers Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton got engaged Tuesday night on her birthday. Holmes, spotted ring shopping earlier this week at Fashion Show by one of my spies, said he set up the evening by picking up their favorite take-out: escargot and foie gras from Josette's Bistro, rigatoni primavera from the Pasta Shop and Caesars salad from his longtime music director Bill Fayne. After dinner, "I got down on my creaky knees," said Holmes. The wedding date? "Sooner than later," he said. ...

Joining Sylvester Stallone on the red carpet tonight at Planet Hollywood Resort for the world premiere of "Resident Evil: Extinction": Pamela Anderson, Hans Klok, Ali Larter, Milla Jovovich, Ashanti, Mike Epps, Rachel Hunter and Ali Landry. The public is invited to the red carpet, which begins at 6:30 p.m. The soundtrack for the film is a single titled "Contagious" by Searchlight, a Las Vegas band formed in 2005. The band performs at 1 p.m. Saturday at Zia Record Exchange, 4225 S. Eastern Ave., No. 17, at a CD signing.

SIGHTINGS

Lord John Taylor, a member of England's Parliament, entertained at Spago (Forum Shops at Caesars) on Wednesday by Larry Wayne Morbit of "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular" and Sammy Davis Jr. impersonator Nicholas Brooks. He was a guest at a private party put on by Media Fellowship International. ... Jen Worthington, co-owner of Coyote Ugly (New York-New York) and a co-producer of the same-named film, signing her new book, "In the Spirit of Las Vegas," at Bally (Fashion Show) on Tuesday. She's in talks with Luxor to bring a spinoff of her Spotlight Live karaoke concept from Times Square.

THE PUNCH LINE

"A hit has allegedly been taken out on Kevin Federline. The plot was pretty scary: They were going to lure him to Las Vegas, then tell O.J. Kevin had some of his memorabilia.'' -- Jay Leno

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