This Luv Gov gets out of his slump
Things are looking up for the Luv Gov.
It's been a tough couple years. But maybe that awful slump is a thing of the past.
We're talking about the race horse, of course, the one named after then-New York governor Eliot Spitzer. Our governor, Jim Gibbons, also got saddled with the nickname after rumored romances in his marriage to first lady Dawn Gibbons.
She later accused him of having extramarital affairs with a former Playboy model and another woman to whom he sent some 860 test messages on his state cell phone.
The horse was named Town Prowler until 2008 when its owners made a change shortly after Spitzer's involvement with a prostitute came to light. The Luv Gov lost its first nine starts before winning a maiden race at the Kentucky Derby last year.
The Luv Gov was back in the news this week when he finished second at Churchill Downs on Thursday.
T.O. GETS O.J. TREATMENT
Three years after O.J. Simpson was refused service at a Louisville steak house during Kentucky Derby week, Terrell Owens was turned away on Friday.
It happened at the same steak house, but owner Jeff Ruby wasn't involved in this beef.
Owens, a free agent NFL wide receiver, attempted to order takeout at Jeff Ruby's Louisville Steakhouse on Friday but a hostess informed him the restaurant was too busy.
Ruby, a Las Vegas high roller, sent a text message to Vegas Confidential that read: "T.O. doesn't mean takeout at a Jeff Ruby restaurant."
In 2007, Ruby approached Simpson in a private room and told him he wouldn't be served. Ruby was quoted as saying he did it for the Goldman and Brown families, referring to the families of the people Simpson was accused of killing: his ex-wife Nicole and Ron Goldman.
Owens indicated he didn't want to eat in public and told the hostess he wanted takeout.
"I didn't know anything about it until I came in," said Ruby, who added that Owens dined at one of his Cincinnati restaurants with Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who was trying to recruit him to sign.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Actor Mark Wahlberg will be a presenter at the June 23 NHL Awards show at the Palms. The event will include performances by Florida rockers Shinedown, Snoop Dogg, Cirque du Soleil and the "Jersey Boys." ...
"Viva Elvis" cast members will perform live on "Dancing with the Stars" on May 4. ...
UNLV coaching legend Jerry Tarkanian is at Field of Dreams store at the Forum Shops at Caesars for autographs and photo ops today and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
SIGHTINGS
It was NFL night at N9NE Steakhouse on Friday, with quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Jay Cutler among groups that included Brandon Marshall, Jake Long and Ronnie Brown of the Miami Dolphins. ... Music star Gloria Estefan, spotted at Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday. ... At Tao (Venetian) on Thursday: Running backs Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson of the Washington Redskins, Fred Taylor of the New England Patriots, Roscoe Parrish and Marcus Stroud of the Buffalo Bills, free agent Jevon Kearse and Marshall. Also in the house: The Killers. ... Earlier Marshall and Portis dined in separate parties at the Palms, Marshall at N9NE and Portis at Nove Italiano. ... Supermodel and Victoria's Secret Angel Selita Ebanks, dining at Tao. She's in town to host at Lavo (Palazzo) on Friday and attend Saturday's season grand opening of Tao Beach. ... Grammy Award-winning songwriter and rapper Timbaland, with wife Monique and 25 of their closest friends at "The Lion King" (Mandalay Bay) on Thursday. During the group's backstage visit, the cast surprised Monique with their own rendition of "Happy Birthday," plus flowers and an autographed poster from the Las Vegas production.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Colombian pop singer Shakira was in Phoenix to join the fight against Arizona's tough new immigration law. It reminds me a lot of the '80s, when the Beastie Boys came to Arizona to fight for our right to party." -- Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
