Columnist Kate Maddox: U2 to touch down at Super Bowl

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001 | 8:33 a.m.

According to insiders close to the NFL, bigwigs associated with organizing the Super Bowl XXVI halftime show have been trailing the Irish band on its last few concert stops -- and an agreement for U2 to headline the show could reportedly be reached as early as today.

Apparently Sunday night's performance in Las Vegas was all NFL corporate honchos needed to assure themselves that U2 would be the best pick to lead halftime entertainment at the Feb. 3 Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Last year's halftime show featured the schizophrenic combo of Aerosmith, Britney Spears, Sting, Ray Charles, Mary J. Blige and 'N Sync.

And Sunday was truly a beautiful day for local photographer Denise Truscello. Truscello was part of the large pack of paparazzi shooting U2 up close during the concert -- and when I say up close, I mean up close.

U2 frontman Bono, who spent part of a song rolling on the stage's walkway in front of photographers, apparently fancied Truscello's lens (or the face behind it) so much that he seemed to momentarily forget where he was.

After refusing to leave Truscello without something to remember her by, Bono boldly pushed her lens aside and planted one square on the lips. The kiss shocked Truscello and her fellow photogs, but drew cheers from the audience and was long and very, very friendly.

Local professional sports gambler and self-proclaimed "oddsbreaker" Lem Banker wants to make a bet with USA Today sports columnist Jon Saraceno.

On Monday Saraceno wrote that Mike Tyson will "pulverize" Lennox Lewis should the two meet in the ring next spring, as expected. (Um, maybe the boxing analyst forgot the fourth round KO Lennox signed, sealed and delivered to Hasim Rahman on Saturday at Mandalay Bay.)

Banker isn't buying Saraceno's logic and is willing to pony up $100,000 -- or more -- to prove it. "Lewis is going to win that one," Banker says. "(Tyson) hasn't got the jaw for it."

Maybe Meg Ryan should check in with Banker. Seems Ryan is deep into learning every little detail about boxing manager Jackie Kallen. The actress has been ringside with her girlfriends at just about every major bout since January, including the Lewis-Rahman fight on Saturday, since signing on to play Kallen in the biopic. Filming on the movie is slated to start in coming weeks, with some scenes to be shot on location in Las Vegas.

N9NE, the hot new steakhouse at the Palms, drew an interesting celebrity powwow at the bar late Friday night. Former Van Halen lead singer Sammy Hagar (looking decidedly clean-shaven for a rocker in the tequila biz), baseball Hall-of-Famer Reggie Jackson and the ubiquitous Robin Leach gathered to toast George Maloof's successful opening weekend. General Manager Michael Lowney was a natural at keeping the celebs happy -- he was, after all, plucked for the N9NE position straight outta Spago.

Scott Weiland blew his new good-guy image on Sunday night at the Hard Rock Hotel. After fighting with his wife, Weiland (who has battled drug addiction for the past several years) was arrested for domestic abuse following a dispute in the couple's hotel room. The Stone Temple Pilots singer is in town for two shows, including one scheduled for tonight, at The Joint.