Las Vegas Weekly

July 7, 2010 · 3:37 PM

Strip Scribbles: Shaquille O’Neal faces Shane Mosley in the ring

By Robin Leach

Shaquille O'Neal and Oscar de la Hoya at a press conference at Planet Hollywood for their exhibition matchup for the ABC series Shaq Vs on Aug. 18, 2009.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

For the second time this week, NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal is doing battle. Last night, he played basketball against Penn & Teller at The Rio, and he faces “Sugar” Shane Mosley in a boxing match Friday. Both events are featured in the same episode of next season’s Shaq Vs on ABC.

The fight is free, but seating is limited, so reserve your tickets in advance at ShaqVsMosley@gmail.com. The showdown is at the open-air Roman Plaza on The Strip at Caesars Palace. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. when will call ends. The fight starts at 9 p.m., and no T-shirts, shorts or flip-flops are allowed. Dress code is business casual and evening clothes.

Security will be tight so that the outcome of the battle remains secret until the broadcast. Cameras, cell phones and recording devices are not allowed, and the media aren’t invited, either. That’s also why we can’t tell you how Shaq’s basketball challenge ended!

*Two stars of Saxe Theater’s new show Zen Magic slipped and fell from high above the stage during an aerial stunt last night. Paramedics transported Ai & Yuki to Spring Valley Hospital’s emergency room. Executive Director Mike Kawata said the mishap occurred halfway through the show when a performer made a miscalculation while performers were suspended from silk ropes. “This accident underscores the technical difficulty of these routines. These are live performances, and there is always an element of danger involved,” he said.

The performance at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile was canceled, and audience members were issued a refund. The good news is that both performers will return to the stage tonight. Zen Magic features highly skilled aerial acrobats and martial artists, and Ai and Yuki are well-known entertainers in Japan with several productions and TV appearances to their credit.

*The newest social networking site connecting the sports world to its fans will be launched at Steve Wynn’s Encore Beach Club’s weekly Dip and Dance swim party tomorrow. RawTeams.com has invited The Hills star Audrina Patridge, BMX racer Corey Bohan, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Monty Beisel, UFC fighter Drew McFedries and model Claudia Jordan to celebrate the kickoff.

*Minus 5 Lounge, which opened America’s first ice lounge at Mandalay Bay in 2008, opens its newest location next month at Monte Carlo. The ice bar will include all the frozen attractions of the original, with a 1,200-square-foot ice-encased room with bar, tables, benches, walls and glasses made from 100 percent Canadian ice. Today’s temperature hovers at 100 degrees, while inside Minus 5, you cool off just knowing it’s 23 degrees. Seats are covered in faux fur pelts so that your tush doesn’t shiver.

*Just had to share this wonderful and nostalgic YouTube video of screen legends James Cagney and Bob Hope in a dance that would’ve won them Dancing With the Stars. Check closely halfway through Bob’s tabletop routine, and you’ll see him “moonwalking” years before Michael Jackson’s invention.

*Cast members of The Beatles’ Love by Cirque du Soleil at The Mirage descended on Hard Rock Cafe on The Strip before noon today to mark the 70th birthday of Ringo Starr. The cast wore their costumes to take part in a “Peace & Love’ wave that’s being duplicated at venues across the world per Ringo’s wishes. Check back later here at Vegas DeLuxe for photos and video.

*L.A.-based restaurant recruiter Brad Metzger, who matches chefs and managers to investors and restaurant owners through his at-home, test-kitchen private dinners, has set up a Las Vegas office to plan a similar strategy here.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

Cleveland Cavaliers star Shaquille O’Neal enjoyed a backwards dinner last night at Munchbar in Caesars Palace, starting with a vanilla sundae and polishing off the meal with a turkey burger and Philly cheese steak sliders. … Chris Anderson of the Denver Nuggets was in a party of 10 for dinner at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms. … Actress Mischa Barton and girlfriends enjoyed champagne and roller-skating during Roller Boogie Night at Crown Nightclub in The Rio. … Motley Crue rocker Vince Neil returned from Detroit concert appearances and dined at Nove Italiano in the Palms before heading up to The Playboy Club, where boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. partied with six friends and played blackjack with the Playboy Bunny dealers for an hour. … Erica and Jacqueline of VH1’s You’re Cut Off arrived at Vanity in the Hard Rock Hotel just as Guns ’N’ Roses guitarist Darren Jay Ashba walked in with Vanity partner Jason Giambi. … Dennis Haskins, Principal Belding on Saved By the Bell, had lunch at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage.

TONIGHT’S TIPS

Rapper Ja Rule performs a mini-concert at LAX in the Luxor. … 51/Fifty performs at Carey Hart’s Wasted Space in the Hard Rock Hotel as part of its second anniversary. With a maximum price of $40, the party mood is guaranteed as you can drink all night and not be charged a penny more. … Paul Provenza is the guest for a tarot reading at Matt Donnelly’s improv show Executive Monkeys at the Palms as the audience steers the comedians via Twitter.

TOMORROW’S TEASES

With rumors flying that LeBron James is about to announce that he’s joining the New York Knicks, players from 23 NBA teams arrive here to tip off the NBA Summer League. Eleven of the 2010 playoff teams are competing in the 58-game schedule, and we have the complete rundown with Friday’s first four games and continuing through July 18. Plus, reigning World Series of Poker champion Joe Cada shuffles the cards for the first hand dealt as WSOP’s Main Event gets underway.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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