Roger Clemens stays in top shape

Amid the swirl of festivities during Planet Hollywood Resort's official name-changing on Tuesday, All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens found a tranquil place to keep his future Hall of Fame arm in shape.

The seven-time Cy Young Award winner was above it all, warming up on the roof of Planet Hollywood, 43 stories above Las Vegas Boulevard.

Clemens, 44, remains undecided about whether he's going to play this year, but he's clearly staying in condition.

When I brought up the decimated New York Yankees' pitching staff, Clemens coyly responded, "I heard something about that."

Later, Clemens joined Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl, Bruce Willis and other dignitaries on the roof, where Willis pulled the switch that illuminated the Planet Hollywood sign. The Aladdin name was no more.

During earlier ceremonies, Willis announced the renovated hotel and casino's grand opening will be Sept. 28-29 and promised "the biggest party Las Vegas has ever seen."

From there, it was on to the opening of "Stomp Out Loud."

GOULET RETRACTION

A Boston area newspaper has retracted a claim that Las Vegas resident Robert Goulet was lip-synching during his Opening Day appearance at Fenway Park.

The Sun of Lowell, Mass., came back with a story saying Goulet's pregame performance of "The Impossible Dream" last Tuesday was indeed live.

Members of the 1967 American League champion Red Sox were introduced during Goulet's performance.

"Lip-synching seems to be the norm with singers in today's world," Goulet's wife, Vera, said in an e-mail to The Sun, "but Mr. Goulet never has, nor will he ever lip-sync when performing. Mr. Goulet's voice is as powerful as it was 50 years ago."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Curtis Bridgeforth, lead singer of the Platters, announced Tuesday he is leaving the group to seek AIDS treatment. He has been HIV-positive since 1990, and his health started failing two years ago, he said in a statement. He will leave the group, which is performing at the Sahara, at the end of April. Bridgeforth, 51, has been a member of Larry Marshak's Platters since 1996, except for two years off for HIV-related medical treatment. ...

John O'Hurley is the leading candidate to succeed Bob Barker as host of "The Price is Right," according to the celebrity Web site, TMZ.com. Currently the lead in "Monty Python's Spamalot" at Wynn Las Vegas, O'Hurley reportedly auditioned for the position. His rep told TMZ he would be "honored to be considered" Barker's replacement. Barker, 83, is retiring this year after 35 years as the game show's host.

SIGHTINGS

NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler, dining at Stack restaurant Monday at The Mirage. ...MSNBC talk-show host Chris Matthews, talking politics over breakfast Monday with KVBC's Kendall Tenney and KVBC publicist/comedian Carla Rea at the Grand Lux café (Venetian). ...

Trishelle Cannatella from the "Real World Las Vegas" cast, hosting a "Ninja Cheerleaders" premiere party at Moon Nightclub at the Palms. During the party, four Ninja stuntmen rappelled from the retractable roof while two other stunt men performed a martial arts exhibition. It was filmed for MTV's "Reunited: The Real World."

THE PUNCH LINE

"It's so rainy, Tom Cruise is lecturing Matt Lauer on precipitation." -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Answers to the Question: "How rainy is it?"

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