Mayor, depicted in new book, calls author a ‘jerk’

Friday, May 2, 2003 | 11:01 a.m.

Mayor Oscar Goodman is furious about his portrayal in "Positively Fifth Street," a new book about poker and Las Vegas that's No. 9 on The New York Times best-seller list -- even though he said he hasn't read it yet.

"I'm not even going to answer a question (about) some jerk who mentions me in (a book) without even talking to me," Goodman said at Thursday's news conference at City Hall.

The book's author, James McManus, is a poet, novelist and teacher who lives in the Chicago area. The book chronicles McManus' performance in the 2000 World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe, in which he finished fifth and won nearly $250,000.

It also delves into subplots such as the Ted Binion murder trial and the history and mystique of Las Vegas.

In one portion of the book, the author recounts an anecdote that suggests a young Goodman was at a meeting in which a hit man was hired to assassinate a U.S. District Court judge -- "or so the lore has it."

"Anybody who writes something like that without calling me is a jerk," Goodman said. "He's an idiot.

"That's what libel suits are based on."

In a previous interview, McManus told the Sun he was "a little concerned" about crossing Goodman but that he didn't believe the mayor would resort to violence against him.

"Well, he doesn't know the mayor then, does he?" Goodman said Thursday.

McManus plans to return to Las Vegas later this month to sign books and play in this year's World Series of Poker.

Goodman didn't seem eager to meet the author.

"I wouldn't know him if I saw him," Goodman said. "I don't know if I even want to see (his picture). If anything happens to the guy, I don't want to be held responsible."

Since becoming mayor in 1999, Goodman has frequently injected dark humor into references to his previous career as a defense attorney for organized crime figures.

Earlier this year an angry Goodman threatened to "revert to my baseball bat days."

Last summer, irritated by an apparent hoax that reflected badly on Las Vegas, he said that in the old days he and his colleagues would have had the perpetrator "whacked."

And he once suggested turning the historic post office building downtown into a "mob museum." (After the subsequent uproar, Goodman recanted that statement, joking that he misspoke and meant to say a "mop museum.")

After the news conference Thursday, Goodman was handed a copy of "Positively Fifth Street," which is subtitled "Murderers, Cheetahs and Binion's World Series of Poker."

He immediately turned to the index to find his name and began reading relevant passages aloud as reporters and staff members formed a semicircle around the podium.

It was like some perverse impromptu fireside chat -- although the only thing smoking was the mayor.

Goodman turned to page 348 and began reading.

" 'Maybe Bill Cassidy, Oscar's eccentric pollster, will whack Dillard right here while we watch, and Oscar will still get him off,' " Goodman read.

The mayor paused, then mused, "That's true. I would (be able to get him off)."

In the earlier interview with the Sun, McManus acknowledged he "wasn't there" for many of the historical events mentioned in the book, but was merely reporting what his research revealed.

McManus also told the Sun he thinks Goodman will go down in history as the "quintessential" mayor of Las Vegas.

Even that didn't appease Goodman.

"Well, he'll go down in history as the biggest jerk to ever visit Las Vegas to play poker," Goodman said.

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