Sox help Goulet live the ‘Dream’

DENVER

Knowing Robert Goulet got one of his final wishes makes his dire situation easier to take.

Before he was staring at the toughest battle of his life, Goulet was invited to perform on a dream stage.

Three years ago he told a Boston area newspaper, "I would sing for free. I would bicycle there from (my home in) Las Vegas to sing at Fenway Park."

Lucky for him, someone in the Boston Red Sox front office saw the article in The Eagle-Tribune of North Andover, Mass., and Goulet soon had an invitation to Fenway, home of his beloved Red Sox.

"I was so excited I was shaking," Goulet told the Eagle-Tribune in April. "Imagine my dream coming true. They didn't realize how happy they made me."

Born to French-Canadian parents in Lawrence, Mass., Goulet was at Fenway Park on Opening Day to sing "The Impossible Dream" during a ceremony to honor Boston's "Impossible Dream" team of 1967.

Goulet had popularized the song while playing Don Quixote in "Man of La Mancha" on Broadway.

It was the theme song of the BoSox that season, when, after eight consecutive losing seasons, they turned it around to win the American League with a cast that included Carl Yastrzemski, Ken Harrelson, Tony Conigliaro, and Jim Lonborg.

Joining them on Opening Day was their manager Dick Williams, who took four teams to the World Series, winning two in a row with the Oakland As in 1972 and 1973. Williams has lived in Las Vegas since 1990 and has been working as the color analyst for the Las Vegas 51s.

The Red Sox's dream season ended in Game 7 of the 1967 World Series when Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals, one of the most dominant power pitchers that era, defeated Boston with his third complete-game victory.

Goulet, 73, is in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he is awaiting a lung transplant after being diagnosed with a form of pulmonary fibrosis that has been described by his family as a "rapidly progressive and fatal condition."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

That Gulfsteam II at the new private hangars at the terminal off Paradise Road near McCarran International Airport is co-owned by Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, part of a co-sharing settlement in their divorce. She was in town to see hubbie Ashton Kutcher, who is filming "What Happens in Vegas" with Cameron Diaz. They are filming at Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace today.

SIGHTINGS

NBA Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J" Erving, dressed as professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan for Halloween and dancing at the Beatles Revolution Lounge (Mirage) on Saturday. The real Hulk Hogan was seen at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. ... Sir Elton John, his partner, David Furnish, and supermodel Naomi Campbell at Krave (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday, celebrating Furnish's birthday. "Entertainment Tonight" crews were in the club, following the cast of "Little Legends" and Mini-Cher, played by Terra Jole, also known for her Mini-Britney. ... Kid Rock at Sapphire strip club on Saturday. ... Diaz, dining with a group in a private room at Strip House (Planet Hollywood Resort) on Saturday night. ... Phil (The Unabomber) Laak and his girlfriend Jennifer Tilly, at Corsa Cucina (Wynn) on Saturday. ... Chris Angel, shooting scenes for the fourth season of his "Mindfreak" show Saturday at Berger & Son jewelers at Fashion Show mall. ... Nicole Sullivan of "Mad TV" and "King of Queens," at the sports book at the Hard Rock Hotel on Saturday. Also at the Hard Rock: Rocker OK Go and New York nightlife queen Amy Sacco, on the casino floor. ... Kim Kardashian, celebrating her 27th birthday with sisters, Khloe and Kourtney on Friday at Jet nightclub (Mirage) and Stack restaurant. ... Music stars Jewel and Timbaland, dining Friday in separate parties at Social House (Treasure Island). ... Timbaland, making a 3 a.m. appearance Friday at Tao nightclub (Venetian). ... At LAX (Luxor): Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Ryan Cabrera. ... At Social House (Treasure Island): Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs, Romo and Cabrera. ... At the Platinum hotel: operatic soprano Denyce Graves, hip-hop artist Pharoahe Monch and The Shins. ... Comedian Wayne Brady, dining Friday at Stack restaurant (Mirage).

THE PUNCH LINE

"NBA Commissioner David Stern admitted Thursday that half the NBA referees have broken league rules banning casino gambling. So he changed the rules and legalized casino gambling by referees. Next week the referees plan to get caught robbing banks." -- Argus Hamilton

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