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I'm not a gambling man, but if I was to make one solid bet it would be that, come President's Day Weekend (February 15-19), as we welcome the 2007 NBA All-Star festivities, we'll hear definitively for the first time that Vegas will get its very own professional basketball team.


"We're in very serious negotiations," Mayor Oscar Goodman told me. "We'll get it done this year." But when I pushed him if he'd announce it next month during the All-Star weekend he looked me right in the eye and winked, saying "Now Robin, you know I can't tell you that first. It has to be a regular, proper public announcement." But when I pushed some more he added: "The most I'll say is 'maybe.' First we've got to land the team and then the arena has to follow. That's a two-year-process but a Vegas team could be playing before three years from now."

And old B-ball pal, Greg Anthony (seen below with Mayor Goodman), a former UNLV hometown star and 11-year NBA player, is anxious to head-up and be part of the investment group that would ante up the $350 million to purchase a team to relocate here -- maybe the Memphis Grizzlies since they are currently for sale. The well-spoken, smart businessman who is also an ESPN analyst is already beginning to line up potential investor partners. He told me: "There are four or five teams that could actually come here. But there's no doubt anymore this will happen. The NBA doesn't give a city like Vegas the All-Star game if it's not serious about sending the signal that it's A-OK for a team to be located here. I'm going to go further and predict that since the game is going global there will eventually be a European conference, and thus World Finals fame. Can you imagine that being held in Vegas? It's not out of the realm of possibility, and I never even dreamed there'd be an All-Star game here when I was growing up here."


"All the players in the league can't wait to come here; they love our city," Anthony continued. "However, during the season they won't be distracted by everything Vegas has to offer. Michael Jordan and Charles Oakley come here now to play because they are retired, but the players will not be tempted during season." Incidentally, both Michael and Charles are expected at the Brendan Theaters in the Palms where the Sacramento Kings will be hq'd when actor Dennis Hopper hosts a charity screening of his celebrated basketball film 'Hoosiers' at as the CineVegas Film Festival tips off the All-Star weekend.

Gregg and Mayor Goodman were at Mandalay Bay to kick off the ticket sales for All Star Jam and Gregg donated T-shirts and 100 tickets to kids from various City and County schools. Said Gregg: "Jam Session is the best way for fans to experience NBA All-Star and have a chance to get up close and personal with some of their favorite NBA players. I'm excited to be able to give back to a community that has given me so much and give young kids the ability to attend Jam Session and be a part of All-Star."

More than 30 basketball-themed attractions meet and greet autograph and photograph sessions, slam-dunk and hand and shoe size Measure Ups will be set up over 400,000 sq.ft of Mandalay Bay convention center space starting Feb 15. But first, on Thursday this week, Jan. 25, the NBA will announce the starters for the All-Star game.

Everybody from Kobe Bryant and Yao Ming to LeBron James and Trey Parker will be rocking in Vegas in just 23 days time, and they'll be joined by a glittering galaxy of such stars as Jay-Z, Diddy, and 'Desperate Housewives' star Eva Longoria. Even Paris Hilton will simultaneously host her birthday party at the Joint nightclub in the Hard Rock. Over at the Orleans, hip-hop stars, Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas will be in concert and next day NBA All-Stars Denis Rodman and Allen Iverson will be on the court! The Harlem Globetrotters will go head-to-head with the Dennis Rodman All-Stars and then by night Allen Iverson Celebrity Player's "Playa's Ball" will throw open the Arena transformed into the ultimate ultra-lounge, with table seating, bottle service and dancing. Luxe Life will continue to track all the upcoming events for NBA All-Star weekend and as we get closer to February 15 we'll provide you with a daily listing of everything plus our full-court daily coverage.

BUSY BEAUTIES

Tonight, you're invited to line up along the Venetian's waterways of the Grand Canal Shops and watch all 52 Miss America contestants ride the gondolas and probably receive a rousing song or two from the gondoliers! It's their last weekend event before the serious preliminary pageant events get underway. Friday they all arrived safely at their Aladdin/Planet Hollywood headquarters (Click here for our debut coverage) and Saturday they took to the runway of the Fashion Show Mall on the Strip to officially "meet and greet" Vegas residents and visitors.


The 2007 Miss America Pageant with Mario Lopez as host will broadcast live on Monday, January 29 and, for the first time in pageant history, viewers will be able to vote via text message for the winner of the Miss Congeniality award, after the CMT airing of the Becoming Miss America reality special this Friday from 9-11PM In addition, the CMT Miss America website offers a contest with an opportunity to win $1 million by correctly predicting the winners.


Luxe Life will have full photo coverage tomorrow of the gondola gadabout and Wednesday we'll have a chat with Las Vegas' very own Cady Cole, our hometown contestant!

MAKING MUSIC 1

My record-producer pal Ron Dante (above left) has produced more than 100 hit songs, including Barry Manilow's 1970's run. He invited me to the new Palms recording studios to sit in on his latest session. He was recording a new album in English and Spanish with 1960s hit maker Trini Lopez (above right) and Ron's own version of his 'Sugar Sugar' hit he's set to the beat of Trini's smash 'If I Had A Hammer' sounded like a new #1 to me! Trini goes rock and latin with versions of 'Lady Madonna,' 'Rambling Man' and Dion's 'The Wanderer' on the new disc. Ron is back again February 14 to wrap up the sessions and then again in September when he stars in his own right at The Cannery.

MAKING MUSIC 2

The Beatles Revolution Lounge has now officially opened in the Mirage with celebrity guests and a special performance by 'Mellow Yellow' singer Donovan (below). Justin Timberlake popped in quickly after sushi at Nobu in the Hard Rock and then left for some high-limit gaming at the Mirage. Enjoying cocktails of Strawberry Fields and Marshmallow Pie martinis were former lead guitarist from Guns N' Roses Slash (seen below with film and television producer J.J. Abrams) and Jane's Addiction lead singer Perry Ferrell. Pamela Anderson, who'd been expected after flying down from Vancouver film-locations, canceled due to a last minute illness and stayed home in LA to recuperate!



PLATINUM PARTY PEOPLE
The stars have been on a non-stop party whirl making scorching Skin City even hotter than normal. Further to our earlier Luxe Life journal about Justin Timberlake's tour of the town, Kevin Federline (right) returned to TAO for the 3rd consecutive night -- this time with 15 friends dinging and dancing until 3AM. Chris Masterson arrived shortly after midnight with friends to celebrate his birthday, which included a cake presentation for the birthday boy by TAO's beautiful cocktail girls. Also there was Justin Timberlake's mother Lynn Harliss who had dinner in the TAO Asian Bistro with Timberlake friend Trace Ayala and six other guests celebrating her birthday.

At Social House in TI, Luxor stars, comedian Carrot Top and 'Mindfreak' magician Criss Angel palled up in the lounge there for skewers and sushi while nearby was Jai Rodriguez from 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' in the Newspaper Room before everybody went downstairs to party at Tangerine, where even UFC champ Chuck Liddell and Germany's Playmate of the Year Janine Habeck was seen. Social House also attracted O.J. Simpson houseguest Kato Kaelin, Paige Davis (below) from 'Trading Spaces' and, for two consecutive nights, actor Cole Hauser who, after dinner, hit Tangerine downstairs.


Kato, Cole and Paige also hit PURE nightclub at Caesars on their separate weekend whirls. 'Apprentice' vixen Omarossa was in the spotlight when Enrique Iglesias, Nick Stahl (above), Pauly Shore, and Junior Seau who'd been there the night before too, turned up for Steve O's weekend party at PURE, (see Steve below) Enrique was last to leave just before 4AM! Shortly after arriving at Body English in the Hard Rock last night, Steve O's 'Jackass' co-star Novak tried a silly stunt and wound up taken to hospital where he was kept overnight with a broken clavicle!


CONGRATULATIONS
For the 4th consecutive year Vegas' own Gary Loveman, top honcho of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. was named "Best CEO" in the gaming and lodging industry by Institutional Investor magazine. Over 1000 financial analysts and portfolio managers voted in the competition with CEO's in 62 industries being honored. The magazine has honored Gary each year since he assumed office as CEO in 2003!

STRIP SCRIBBLES
Three-time Grammy winner Jon Secada, surprising his wife, Maritere, by joining the Chippendales dancers as part of the Secadas' 10th anniversary weekend. ... Tickets went on sale at the weekend for Country Outlaws Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard's Last of the Breed Tour with special guests Ray Price and Asleep At The Wheel at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood on Saturday, March 10. ... Diva/Model/Former Surreal Lifer Janice Dickenson threw a party for 30 of her closest friends at MIX atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay, 64 floors above the Las Vegas Strip. Over a tasting of wines from California and as far away as Australia the ever so humble business mogul passed out "Janice Dickenson Modeling Agency" hoodies during the soiree.

TONIGHT'S TIP
Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Toni Braxton and Usher are definites and Oprah Winfrey is a maybe for tonight's Trumpet Awards at the Bellagio with the official after party at LIGHT directly afterwards. Expect Quincy Jones, Jasmine Guy, CeCe Winans and Eric Benet to also attend the 15th annual awards for achievement and excellence in the African-American community, which will also feature a special performance by The Glitter Girls.
TOMORROW'S TEASE
The 'Baywatch' hunk means it when he says "Don't Hassle the Hoff" But how can one resist when he's wearing high-heels and a ladies dress? Luxe Life has an exclusive interview with David Hasslehoff at the Paris resort-hotel casino where he's in final rehearsals for next Wednesday's first previews of the laugh-riot musical 'The Producers' from comedy king Mel Brooks.


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