Two decades of fun, swordplay marked

Billy Werk has seen his share of wild knights during the 20-year run of the “Tournament of Kings” at Excalibur.

Rowdy fans of the medieval extravaganza often show up in period costumes, Werk said, “but the craziest night was the bachelor party when all of them dressed as super heroes.”

“A guy dressed as Wonder Woman jumped out of stands and ran across the arena,” recalled Werk, an original cast member.

The grandstanding reveler didn’t realize he was in over his head until he found himself in the midst of charging horses and fierce swordplay. Or maybe it was maces and battle axes.

Whatever the case, “he was running for his life,” Werk said .

Werk was 19 and working for the company that supplied the horses for the show. A cast member then injured a knee, and Werk was elevated from stablehand to knighthood.

The show started as “King Arthur’s Tournaments” before being re-launched as the more elaborate “Tournament of Kings” in 1999.

Among the many celebrities who attended the show over the years, several stand out: tennis greats Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, with their children, and Michael Jackson “with Make-a-Wish kids,” said Werk.

Excalibur marked the show’s 20th anniversary Friday with a special gathering to honor the cast.

BRET MICHAELS BOOKED

Poison frontman and “Celebrity Apprentice” winner Bret Michaels has a Dec. 5 date in front of more than 30,000.

He’s the featured entertainment for runners and walkers competing in the Zappos.com Rock ’n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

He’ll be onstage at the finish line.

SIGHTINGS

Steve Wynn and Andrea Hissom, appearing Friday at the Sinatra Family Estates’ wine dinner at Sinatra, the Italian steakhouse at Encore. It was one of their first public appearances since reports surfaced that they had split. Also at the dinner were Frank Sinatra’s daughter Tina and Amanda Erlinger, Sinatra’s granddaughter. The dinner celebrated the Sinatra Family Estates’ new “Come Fly With Me” Cabernet Sauvignon. ... Wynn Las Vegas Race & Sports Book was World Cup Central for about 100 Brazilians earlier this week. They gathered to cheer Brazil against North Korea. Among the group was Hebe Camargo, a Brazilian actress and singer who enjoys Oprah-like popularity in her home country.

THE PUNCH LINE

“They’ve figured out a way to stop the oil. Plug it with Celtics championship shirts.” — Jay Leno

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