Vegas antics make hometown news

Sunday's item here about members of the University of Louisville basketball team out on the town has the Bluegrass State buzzing.

The Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper on Tuesday ran a follow-up of our account that included a photo of injured star Juan Palacios at LAX nightclub at Luxor on Nov. 21.

Missing from the report were the emphatic denials by Louisville sports information director Kenny Klein, who dismissed the sighting as "completely erroneous."

"Bottom line," said Klein, who demanded a retraction before Sunday's story, "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 called Sunday and apologized but added that Palacios doesn't drink.

Almost 200 comments poured into the newspaper's Web site, almost all of them supporting the Louisville basketball program, although some disputed Klein's claim that Palacios is a teetotaler.

Among the responses:

"I'm still not sure why this is news ... UNLESS ... it was an upset UNLV fan. ... I'm sure that's more like it."

"Let's see," said another. "One fuzzy picture, lots of conjecture and speculation, no proof, lots of holier-than-thou posturing, nothing substantial, illegal, or even newsworthy."

Several respondents took a more serious view and cited possible repercussions.

"Actually, you idiots, it IS an issue ... and it could end up being a major one," one Web site visitor wrote, adding if a member of U of L's staff bought drinks for players, it "could lead to some big problems. Remember when Bill Walton paid for Richard Jefferson's plane flight while he and Bill's son were at Arizona? That cost Arizona some scholarships and suspensions."

Another blogger wrote: "The story is not that college kids drink ... the story is that Klein called out the tabloid in Vegas that ran the story, saying it was totally false and wanted a retraction from them."

The (Review-Journal) "in turn dug a little deeper and found player pics and receipts from a UL official buying $400 bottles of Patron. Klein should have kept his mouth shut, moved on and quit acting like UL players/coaches are some kind of saints."

The blogger added, "One thing of note is that Rick Majerus got in NCAA trouble for buying a player lunch at the hotel he lived at." Paying $400 for tequila "would seem to be a little outside the scope of normal expenses for BB players on a road trip."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Local casting director Ray Favero will be interviewing local actresses 18-40 for principal roles in a feature film co-starring Oscar winners Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci. Interviews will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Riviera Comedy Club for SAG members and non-union, time permitting. He's looking for candidates to play "ladies of the evening" in a Mustang Ranch-like setting. Mirren's husband, Taylor Hackford, is one of the producers and the director. There's talk the film will be shot in Albuquerque. No extras are being sought, and inquiries should not be directed to the Riviera. ...

Las Vegas radio personality Lark Williams sent a paramedic friend to investigate when she couldn't reach Quiet Riot lead singer Kevin DuBrow for days, according to a former member of the metal band. DuBrow, 52, was found dead of unknown causes Sunday at his Las Vegas home. Original Quiet Riot band member Kelly Garni of Boulder City, in a Web site posting at www.RandyRhoads.tk, said Williams, who dated DuBrow for several years, became alarmed when he didn't show up for Thanksgiving and she didn't hear from him by Sunday. When her paramedic friend went to DuBrow's residence and, through a window, saw his keys on a counter, Williams immediately ordered him to break into the house. ...

Donnie and Marie Osmond are reuniting for an eight-performance run July 17-23 at the MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Hail Marys" -- From David Letterman's Top Ten Cabbie Nicknames for Passengers.

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