Las Vegas Weekly

April 20, 2009 · 12:26 PM

Strip Scribbles: Boris Becker trades in tennis racket for playing cards

By Robin Leach

Boris Becker at the premiere of Peepshow in Planet Hollywood.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Former world No. 1 tennis player and Wimbledon champion Boris Becker played poker at the Bellagio over the weekend and was still alive this morning for the continuing action that started at noon. Boris is participating in Bellagio’s World Poker Tour World Championship, which runs through Saturday.

The WPT tournament, which requires a buy-in of $25,000, is scheduled to feature top poker players including Phil Ivey, Antonio Esfandiari, Phil Hellmuth, Erik Lindgren, Daniel Negreanu, Carlos Mortensen, Gavin Smith, Annie Duke and Jennifer Harman. More than 330 players began in the weeklong event, in which the winner will take home more than $2 million and the runner up more than $1 million.

*The NBA playoffs began over the weekend, and the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoop Hall Experience in Planet Hollywood offered the ultimate basketball experience. Whether fine tuning a layup shot or brushing up on basketball knowledge, HHX was the place to get in the game in an exciting and interactive way. Now HHX is offering guests the chance to play their way into the attraction with a jump shot contest. For every basket made in consecutive order, $1 will be deducted from the admission fee. If a visitor makes 10 shots in a row, it’s complimentary admission.

Located on the mezzanine level, HHX is where the story of basketball comes to life in more than 17,000 square feet of fun. From the heart-pounding surround-sound Big Shots theater to state-of-the-art interactive displays, the attraction has something for basketball lovers of all ages. Fans can enjoy rare memorabilia such as the jersey Wilt Chamberlain wore when he scored 100 points and the piece of floor where Michael Jordan took his last shot. Broken into six distinct zones, HHX is the ultimate basketball expedition.

*Bette Midler is back with sequins, feathers and fun galore! Fans now have even more chances to see The Showgirl Must Go On at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace this year. The Divine Miss M has added 36 shows from Aug. 11-Sept. 6, Oct. 14-25 and Nov. 3-15; tickets went on sale over the weekend. Cher has added 33 performances starting Sept. 19 and running through Dec. 20. Her spring dates start Saturday and continue through May 24.

Tonight’s tips

Singer Estelle knows all about the “American Boy,” and he’s in her sights when she hip-hops her own party at Prive in Planet Hollywood. … Jet in The Mirage is determined to find the hottest 21-year-olds in Las Vegas with a “Sweet 21” party for those who’ve just become legal!

Tomorrow’s teases

We have our exclusive one-on-one interview with motorcross racer and Wasted Space owner Carey Hart. He reveals that the romance has returned with pop princess Pink, and they are reunited again after what he says could have been World War III! Vegas DeLuxe has the full photo tour of his new Hard Rock Hotel tattoo parlor. … Television stars and industry leaders invade Las Vegas for the annual National Association of Broadcasters and Radio & Television News Directors Assn. conventions.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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