Sparks rethinks Brown gig

"American Idol" Jordin Sparks -- singing Saturday in Primm -- was on track to work with singer Chris Brown again, but she has had second thoughts after Brown was accused of beating his girlfriend-pop star Rihanna.

Sparks, 19, worked with Brown on her No. 3 hit of last year, "No Air."

"I wanted to work with him on this new album, but I'm not very sure anymore. I don't think that would be a smart move right now," she told me. "I had actually gotten a song pitched -- I think two weeks before the Grammys -- that had him on it. But we'll see what happens."

I then asked Sparks in our phone interview: Does she agree with Oprah that once a man beats a woman, he'll beat her again? Sparks' publicist broke into the call to stop Sparks from answering.

Sparks is writing some melodies and lyrics for her second album, slated for summer release. She half-seriously told execs she could name it "JSpa, like JLo" (Jennifer Lopez), she said and laughed. "They were like, 'Jordin, don't you dare!'"

She lives in her family home in Arizona. She called me from her childhood bed, on a stained concrete floor, between bright lime green walls: "Everything is the same as when I left for 'Idol' two years ago," she said. "More clothes. Stuffed animals -- yep, they're all still here."

I heard her say, "Sorry Maggie! ... I just totally kicked my dog off the bed, and I didn't mean to!"

Sparks and Babyface perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at Star of the Desert Arena at Buffalo Bill's ($50-$71; 800-386-7867).

A BIZ BOUNCE FOR NCAA

Major sports books at Caesars, Mirage and Hilton reported Thursday more men than last year showed up for Day One of March Madness. Dudes lounged in comfy chairs, watched the NCAA basketball tourney, drank morning beer and ate hotdogs.

Compared with last year, sports books were taking more bets, but men (and some women) were betting fewer dollars per wager.

"I'm pleasantly surprised in light of the economy," said a happy Jim Pedulla, director of Caesars' race and sports book. He got to work and immediately had to find an extra 160 seats for the more than 1,000 people who packed his book by 5:30 a.m.

First-time Madness bettor Adam Smith, 35, said he and his Phoenix friends were lured here by $80 rooms. He admitted what Madness tourists always do: He hadn't showered or brushed his teeth; he couldn't lose valuable seat-snagging time.

After noon, Caesars' Pussycat Dolls Lounge dancers and card dealers strutted in to tease males.

I asked Smith's friend Jersy DePonty, 38, whether Vegas Madness is better than watching the NCAAs on a couch. "It depends," he said. "Who's on the couch with me, and what's she wearing, or not wearing, and is the beer stacked?"

SHOWS

Today's Neon section dishes on shows by Puddle of Mudd, Tom Jones, Dee Snider and "Monster Circus," Don Rickles, Better Than Ezra, Andrew Dice Clay, Jay Leno, Vicki Lawrence, plus ticket on-sales for Nine Inch Nails, Jane's Addiction, Dane Cook, Depeche Mode, Rod Stewart, The Cult, Motley Crue and Peter, Bjorn and John.

My column appears Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. E-mail me at delfman@reviewjournal.com or post at my blog, reviewjournal.com/elfman.