Team spokesman wants retraction

A spokesman for the University of Louisville's basketball team has demanded a retraction for an item printed here that stated team members were night-clubbing.

Kenny Klein, the school's sports information director, called it a "completely erroneous report" and added, "we have people crying for lawsuits."

Klein confirmed that first-year assistant coach Walter McCarty, a former NBA pro, was at LAX nightclub at Luxor late Wednesday/early Thursday, but he was by himself and "had a drink there."

Louisville defeated UNLV 68-48 earlier Wednesday night.

However, McCarty was not with players and he was not drinking Patron tequila and Veuve Clicquot champagne, the spirits mentioned in the sightings item, Klein said.

"Bottom line, I know they got cameras all over those casinos and pictures don't lie. I guarantee you that there's none of our players in that casino at that time," Klein said Friday.

He's right about photos not lying. We checked and found Louisville player Juan Palacios among the photos posted on the local nightclub Web site, Napkinnights.com.

Our sources say McCarty and Palacios were in the LAX nightclub's VIP section early Thursday with several male friends, including a young white man who appeared to be a seven-footer. Palacios, 22, is injured and has not played this year. Sixth-ranked Louisville lost to unranked Brigham Young University on Friday, 78-76.

A bottle of $400 Patron was charged to an Eric Scott's credit card, I'm told, and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, which goes for about $300, was paid for in cash.

The school's basketball media guide lists an Eric Scott as director of basketball operations.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Boulder City's Brian Velvick, a professional angler who appeared on ABC's "The Bachelor" in 2004, was the victim in a domestic squabble involving the woman he proposed to on the reality show, according to Florida authorities. Velvick's fiancée, Mary Delgado, was taken into custody after she is alleged to have punched Velvick during a incident Wednesday in Seminole, outside St. Petersburg. Velvick and Delgado appeared together Tuesday in a special episode of "The Bachelor" called "After the Final Rose." Velvick, 43, has been working for ESPN's "BassCenter."

SIGHTINGS

Actor Michael Clarke Duncan, brought on stage for the orgy scene in "Zumanity" (New York-New York) during Friday's 7:30 p.m. performance. Mistress of Seduction Joey Arias asked for a kiss but Duncan declined. ... Duncan and his date later checked out the Playboy Club (Palms). ... Supermodel Joanna Krupa, hosting her 2008 swimsuit calendar release party Friday at Jet nightclub (Mirage). With her was her friend, reality TV star Jennifer McCall from the "Amazing Race" series. ... Comedian Wayne Brady, dining Saturday at Sushi Roku restaurant (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... Actor Frankie Muniz, checking out Pure nightclub (Caesars Palace) and LAX nightclub (Luxor) on Friday with friend Jack Osbourne, son of rocker Ozzy Osbourne. Earlier, Jack Osbourne dined at Company American Bistro (Luxor).

THE PUNCH LINE

"Alabama coach Nick Saban compared his team's loss to Louisiana Monroe on Saturday to Pearl Harbor and the Twin Towers attack. Crimson Tide fans are mortified. They don't feel that anyone should minimize a catastrophe like the loss of a football game.'' -- 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.