Tempers heat up at LV Ice Center

Sparks flew when actor Alan Thicke showed up to promote BMW's new electric car on Friday at the Las Vegas Ice Center.

All media interviews were abruptly canceled without explanation because of a "situation," according to a rep for the event.

Las Vegas freelance writer Steve Friess was among those who arrived at the ice center, at 9295 W. Flamingo, and was told the star of "Family Ties" had just bolted.

Friess wrote on his blog, VegasHappensHere.com, that the event's publicist sent him an e-mail saying, "There was a situation with an earlier event at the ice center, nothing to do with my client or the car, that is the catalyst for all of this."

This much we know: One of the earlier events that took place at the ice center was the annual Bad Boys of Hockey tournament organized by prominent producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Thicke had played in an earlier game at the ice center.

A source says tempers flared in the 110-degree heat when the hockey players, usually a mix of Hollywood stars and National Hockey League standouts, saw a local TV reporting crew on the premises. Media coverage of the event has been a sensitive subject in the past.

Thicke was there to pitch BMW's new electric Mini Cooper until someone blew a fuse.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Missed the memo: The May I Recommend that appeared in Friday's column should have included the updated information that Flock of Seagulls has replaced Dead or Alive in the Regeneration Tour stop tonight at Planet Hollywood Resort.

SIGHTINGS

Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett, performing The Bird on stage during The Time's show Thursday at the Flamingo. Garnett is a friend of Jimmy Jam, the R&B legend who co-founded the group that evolved into The Time. ... Academy-award winning director Francis Ford Coppola, having lunch at Postrio (Venetian) on Friday. ... Retired boxing champions Lennox Lewis and Floyd Mayweather Jr., hanging out at the same table at Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday. Also at Tryst: Former "Full House" star John Stamos, UFC President Dana White, and NBA players Jermaine O'Neal and Alan Anderson. ...

Actor Dominic Chianese, who played Corrado Soprano Jr., or Uncle Junior, on "The Sopranos," spotted at the Gold Bar inside the Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino in Pahrump on Friday. ... Actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played Rudy on "The Cosby Show," with friends at Tao Beach's local weekly party, "Good Fridays." Also at the venue: actor Pauly Shore and Kansas City Chiefs veteran Ty Law.

THE PUNCH LINE

"In a speech yesterday, Barack Obama said he's distantly related to the famous 19th century gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok. After hearing this, John McCain said, 'Big deal, I went to high school with him.'" -- Conan O'Brien

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