Las Vegas Weekly

May 26, 2009 · 11:21 AM

Strip Scribbles: It’s a boy for volleyball couple Casey Jennings and Kerri Walsh

By Robin Leach

Casey Jennings and Kerri Walsh.

Photo: TVT

Congratulations to hometown hero Casey Jennings, who started his pro volleyball career here on the concrete playgrounds of Las Vegas, and his wife, Olympic volleyball gold medalist Kerri Walsh, on the birth of Joseph Michael Jennings. The couple’s first boy arrived over Memorial Day weekend at an L.A. hospital weighing in at 8 pounds, 10 ounces.

Casey, the youngest of five brothers, was born here and married Kerry in Palm Springs before Christmas 2005. Kerri still wears the ring Casey gave her with the nickname he dubbed her on their first date: Six Feet of Sunshine.

Wicked whispers & racy rumors

There’s a major shock coming in the nightclub world when a Strip hotel owner announces that the lease is up for a headline name owner. The goodbye letter was sent to the club over the weekend. I’ve been told the full story, but won’t name names yet because there’s a second property within the hotel that might be affected, too. … Which Strip hotel will announce this week that it will go into a pre-planned bankruptcy as the new owners have bought up all the debt and outstanding bills? … Another hotel owner went on a furious rampage this weekend over crowds of girls in dangerously short skirts and eye-popping low-cut tops and open blouses pushing against a wall of security men who’d linked arms in a futile effort to hold them back trying to get into a Strip nightclub!

*Hard to believe that The Allman Brothers Band has been on the road for 40 years, and they celebrated the milestone with an amazing open-air concert at Red Rock Resort complete with fireworks between their two sets! Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik was front and center for this candid photo gallery. The Allmans opened the set after the fireworks with their classic “Melissa” and closed the night with a blistering version of “Whipping Post.” It still wasn’t enough for the crowd, so the bros returned for an encore with a long jam session on “One Way Out.”

*Showing absolutely no signs of wear from two brutal rounds inside the Octagon, Brazilian Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida celebrated his UFC 98 win at Studio 54 in the MGM Grand. The fighter showed up following his knockout with the new championship belt shining over his shoulder. Lyoto said he had no words to explain his emotions beating Rashad “Sugar” Evans, but said, “Although the fight ended early, it was not an easy battle. I was just the better man.”

Tonight’s tips

Stay clear of the closed streets and traffic-jammed roads around Caesars Palace as President Obama comes to town for the Sen. Harry Reid tribute concert with Bette Midler, Rita Rudner, Sheryl Crow, Rachel Yamagata and Clint Holmes. … Mayor Oscar Goodman breaks open the mold for the new Symphony Park bell, and the ceremonial first peals begin at tomorrow morning’s official groundbreaking. … The parties continue on even though you’re tuckered out from four days of festivities over the Memorial Day weekend. The Hot Tijuana Nights sleepover at the Palms has a south-of-the-border pajama and lingerie costume fiesta.

Tomorrow’s teases

Michael Jackson now has his eye on two Las Vegas dancers to feature in his London shows, and Elizabeth Taylor vows to fly to Britain for his opening night. … We welcome Carlos Santana to the Hard Rock Hotel as he begins his two-year residency and go up close with a special photo gallery of comedian Dane Cook, plus exclusive news you won’t read anywhere else from Terry Fator and the Crazy Girls.

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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