Columnist Kate Maddox: Affable Shaq conquers Vegas

Kate Maddox

Sunday, July 9, 2000 | 11:08 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach her at kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Sinking or not, NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal has climbed aboard Planet Hollywood International. O'Neal is the company's newest celebrity shareholder, signing on just a few days after his NBA championship win. While in Las Vegas this past week for the Black Sports Agents Awards festivities, Shaq made a stop at the Las Vegas Planet Hollywood to show some support for the beleaguered chain -- which is quickly working its way out of Chapter 11.

Shaq's friendly attitude followed him wherever he went while he was in the valley. At Planet Hollywood the L.A. Lakers star signed autographs and refused to exit through the back after his meal, preferring instead to greet the fans who were waiting to see him at the main entrance. (What a guy.) Forum Shops at Caesars security guards were sent to "help" with crowd control, but instead wound up posing for pictures with a grinning O'Neal. (No, really, what a guy.) During his meal, which he shared with three pals, Shaq struck up a casual conversation with the folks at the next table -- and then insisted on buying their dinner. (Did I mention he was a great guy?)

O'Neal was the star of the Black Sports Agents weekend, hosting a pool party at the Hard Rock, hitting the tables at the Venetian, partying after-hours at Ra.

Actually, the party at Ra at the Luxor caused a bit of a stir on its own. The fete, which was the official after-party following Monday night's awards ceremony at C2K, was packed with celeb sports heroes and VIPs. However, party planners got busted trying to make a pretty penny off of the guests. The hosts, who had shelled out somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,000 to ensure that Ra would be closed to outsiders that evening, apparently tried to make that money back. Fliers were spotted around town and in Southern California touting the party and inviting anyone who could spare the $25 cover charge. Trouble was, if one rents out the club, one can't charge an entry fee -- a nightclub no-no. Ra's management put a stop to the plan ahead of time and the party got off without a hitch.

This week Planet Hollywood will also play host to the traveling wedding dress. The silky white number worn by Playboy's newest piece on the cover of the August issue arrived at the Vegas eatery late Thursday.

The dress, which was not the one worn by Darva Conger on her TV appearance last February on Fox, was rushed here in the hopes that it would arrive in time for Conger's visit to Planet Hollywood. But, alas, Ms. Conger was too pooped from her media travels to drop in on the Vegas extension of the Hollywood restaurant chain. So the dress stands alone. But you can sneak a peek at Planet Hollywood at the Forum Shops.

People magazine's 100 eligible bachelors issue hit newsstands this week and two of the grab-able guys have a Las Vegas connection -- and a family company worth $1 billion.

Joe Maloof and his younger brother, Gavin, both have residences in Vegas, but spend most of the time in Sacramento, where the family owns the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Younger brother George, who lives here and is president of the Maloof-owned Fiesta hotel-casino, was left off the list -- although I hear he's still single. His older bros are in pretty fine company -- People's list includes such notables as George Clooney, Matt Damon and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Former Hell's Angels tough guy Chuck Zito will shoot his new TV series here in Las Vegas. Muscle-bound Zito, who also has a recurring role on the HBO jailhouse hit "Oz," is the star of "Street Court," a sort of "Judge Judy"-on-acid-in-a-bar-fight type show. Real people will come on with disputes and the honorable -- but tough and imposing -- Zito will dispense advice and help settle things. "Street Court," which is in pre-production and just got picked up by swanky reps from CAA, is scheduled to begin shooting here in the next few months.