Steve Wynn hires more bodyguards

Hotel developer Steve Wynn has been beefing up his security since his acrimonious split with business partner Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada.

Wynn, who is rarely seen in public with bodyguards, showed up at a private party for U.K. businessman Sir Phillip Green on Wednesday at Sinatra restaurant with at least two who shadowed him.

When an eye-patched reporter approached Wynn in Sinatra's bar for an interview, a bodyguard took notice and moved closer.

The bodyguards stuck out like brown shoes with a pricey black suit: They wore telltale earpieces.

Hotel employees are hearing Wynn hired ex-Navy Seals for the job.

The high-level corporate intrigue recently unfolded when Wynn asked investors to approve the removal of Okada as a director, alleging he is an "unsuitable" partner after accusing him of making improper payments to Philippines gambling officials.

TOURNEY TOPICS

UNLV President Neal Smatresk is no fan of San Diego State and Boise State's move to the Big East. "We believe preserving regional rivalries and reasonable travel times for our student athletes are important," Smatresk told me Friday. Smatresk, who watched the Mountain West tournament with Gov. Brian Sandoval, put it in geographic perspective. "UConn is closer to Reykjavik than it is to San Diego." With Rebels greats Anderson Hunt and Moses Scurry from the 1990 national championship team on hand, with their head coach, Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV put together one of its greatest defensive performances for a half Thursday against Wyoming. The Cowboys' 11 points were three more than the record for fewest points that a UNLV opponent scored in a half. Long Beach State got eight on March 8, 1991. But there's a big difference: Long Beach sat on the ball and trailed 23-8. Wyoming hit just three of 24 shots.

HARRIS OUT AT KDWN

Heidi Harris' five-year run as a featured talk-show host is over at KDWN-radio, AM 720.

She was off the air all week and she no longer appears on the web page.

Earlier this week, Harris tweeted: "Two things you need in life: 1. The truth on your side 2. A very good lawyer."

In recent days she has been posting inspirational scriptures on Twitter.

If she were down in the dumps, she didn't let it show. She posted a photo Thursday night of herself with the hunks from "Thunder From Down Under."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney has joined the "Afternoon Gridlock" talk-show team of Pauly Howard and Seat Williams on ESPN 1100 AM, 98.9 FM (noon to 3 p.m.). Graney, who started Monday, replaces Mitch Moss, who moved to the San Francisco Bay Area late last year.

SIGHTINGS

Former Mayor Oscar Goodman, with showgirls on his arm and a martini in hand, kicking off the fifth season of Wet Republic (MGM Grand) on Friday with Mark Prows, vice president of Entertainment for MGM Grand. ... Actor/comedian Martin Lawrence, with his wife and children at the Jabbawockeez's late show Thursday at Monte Carlo. ... Accompanying U.K. businessman Green at the grand opening of his Topshop and Topman store in Fashion Show mall on Thursday: actress/heiress Lydia Hearst, daughter of Patty Hearst, and actress Kristen Bell.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Will this impact the length of my parole?" -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Frequently Asked Questions About Leap Year.

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