VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Goodman on hand for rub-out

Friday, April 30, 2004 | 5:16 a.m.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman is suddenly feeling a lot more confident about his appearance May12 in front of the state Ethics Commission.

Seems that rubbing the head of a midget is a good-luck charm for Hizzoner.

"Before some of my biggest criminal trials, I'd rub the head of a little person for good luck -- and I always won," Goodman told us at the UNLVino "Bubble-icious" champagne tasting event at the Hard Rock Hotel pool Thursday night.

When Hard Rock scion Harry Morton and comedy headliner Jeff Beacher heard that -- they were standing with us -- Beacher immediately offered the crown of "Little" Tim Loomis, the vertically challenged performer in "Beacher's Comedy Madhouse."

Goodman looked over at his chief of staff, Stephanie Boixo, and the two of them exchanged a high five.

"We got a midget!" the mayor exclaimed. "I can't lose now."

Beacher even offered to bring Loomis to the hearing, but the mayor said that being able to rub his head beforehand would be plenty.

Then Goodman merrily went back to his gin martini and schmoozed with a crowd that included hosts Robin Leach, Pat Morita and Cris Judd, and prominent locals such as Wynn Las Vegas exec Kevin Steussi, liquor mavens Michael Severino and Bob Cranston, Chris Harju of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and hot architect Deborah Bergin -- she designed the new Anthropologie store at The District at Green Valley Ranch.

Billboards went up everywhere last week for "We Will Rock You," the Queen musical opening in August at Paris Las Vegas.

So far we've spotted 'em at the airport, on I-15 and off Paradise Road.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was at the booth of Vegas scenester and birthday boy Michael Shulman (he admits to 31) at China Grill (Mandalay Bay) the other night.

Cuban deciphered the cryptic letters on his T-shirt at the Mavericks-Kings game on Tuesday night. MFFL is an acronym for Mavs Fan For Life.

Also offering birthday wishes that evening: Lauren and Mario Maccioni, Desmona Desmond and Evan Glusman, Vivi Marshall, Kathy Seiff, Lieuchi Weldon, Jeff Fine, Meital and Joshua Grantz, Kalani Weldon and Ed Williams, Adam Frankel and "Vegas Minute" correspondent Brandi Williams.

There's a nice spread on Celine Dion's Caesars Palace dressing room in the spring edition of In Style Home magazine, now on newsstands.

On the same page of the magazine -- in the Trend Report column, on page 38 -- there's also a bit about a designer rug line from Emma Gardner. Disclosure: Gardner is VegasBeat's sister-in-law, but her stuff is undeniably good.

Mike Tyson will likely fight again in July, but the question is what sport will it be -- boxing, or K-1 martial arts.

Iron Mike signed a contract with the Japanese martial arts company last month. K-1 spokeswoman Kim Koury, in Las Vegas for Friday night's Bellagio matches, told us at Plush on Thursday night that former NFL lineman Bob Sapp, who has made a name for himself in K-1, is a possible opponent for Tyson. The two had a heated exchange at a K-1 bout in Las Vegas last year.

At the same time, Tyson's boxing manager Shelly Finkel told the Associated Press that Tyson would likely fight journeyman Kevin McBride on July 31. No venue was mentioned.

Can't get to Israel? No worries. Israel is coming to Las Vegas. At least, one of its main retail thoroughfares is.

More than 100 vendor and organizational booths, including Israeli artisans and merchants and their wares direct from Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street, will be part of a celebration today honoring Israel's 56th year of statehood.

The Israel Independence Day festival takes place in the Bellagio's Grand Ballroom.

Lance Burton will perform, and special guests include representatives from the Israeli Consulate, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Sen. John Ensign, Reps. Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter and Goodman.

The event is free, but for security purposes, registration is required for admission. You can do so at Jewishlasvegas.com or by calling (702) 732-0556.

Shalom, baby.