VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: Rumsfeld figures in Ensign’s philanthropy

Monday, May 17, 2004 | 10:15 a.m.

A"Rummy" action figure, signed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld , was among the auction items at the "Keep Memory Alive" Alzheimer's fund-raiser honoring Wolfgang Puck at The Mirage on Saturday night.

"I am not sure how that is going to go over, based on what has happened lately, " Sen. John Ensign told VegasBeat at the event. Ensign supplied the unique item to the auction.

"Did he sign this last week? No," Ensign said, referring to Rumsfeld's contrite appearance at congressional hearings where the secretary apologized for the sadistic behavior of U.S. troops toward Iraqi prisoners.

"It was at a hearing about two months ago, and I slipped it to him there to sign," the senator said.

The item drew only one bid, which was its $200 minimum.

Auctioneer Robin Leach cajoled the crowd to new financial heights. Topped by a guest's $1 million bid on a rare Mercedes, the event raised $5 million.

The auction item that hit the magic number -- the last one of the night -- was Steve Wynn bidding $500,000 for the evening's honoree, Puck, and his celebrity chef pals -- including Charlie Palmer, Daniel Boulud, Alain Ducasse, Thomas Keller and Nobu Matsuhisa -- to cook him a private dinner the night his Wynn Las Vegas resort opens next year.

Sunday morning, with a hoarse voice and after a two-hour soak in the Jacuzzi at the Palms spa, Leach scratched: "Vegas is the most giving, generous, compassionate town on Earth. We went in hoping for $2.5 million and wound up doubling it. The most important fact, though, is that the Alzheimer's center will now get built downtown, and maybe we are on our way to ending this terrible disease."

Paula Abdul showed up and offered a trip for four to the "American Idol" finals at the end of the month. Also offered was a private backstage meet-and-greet with fellow judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. The lot included lunch with Abdul at Spago in Beverly Hills. Calif., the next day -- and then a home-cooked dinner from Teri Hatcher that night.

Probably the biggest surprise of the night was Puck's face, frozen in disbelief, when six of his relatives from Austria suddenly walked through the stage curtain.

"He hadn't a clue it was going to happen," Leach told us afterward.

It was hoped that Puck's mother would be able to attend, but she is too ill from Alzheimer's to travel.

Some event regulars from past years were not in attendance. Venetian boss Sheldon Adelson and Sands Chief Executive Bill Weidner were in Macau over the weekend cutting the ribbon on their new casino.

And Venetian prez Rob Goldstein and counsel David Friedman were in New York, where they officially closed the $1.5 billion sale of the Grand Canal Shoppes to General Growth Properties, a Chicago-based real estate investment trust.

Donna Baldwin, who works tirelessly to put the event together every year, hopes to have Emeril Lagasse and Puck doing a live "Iron Chef"-type televised battle at next year's event, tentatively slated for May 18.

After the party ended, Enrique Iglesias, who had performed to close out the evening, headed to the Hard Rock Hotel's high-roller Peacock Lounge for some blackjack. He was joined by his gal pal Anna Kournikova, "Las Vegas" stars James Caan and Josh Duhamel, adult film star and Las Vegas native Jenna Jameson and the Hard Rock crew of Tommy Lipnick, Harry Morton, Kevin Kelley and comedy headliner Jeff Beacher, who proudly told everyone he is now up to 300 pounds.

No fair

The verdict is in: Rande Gerber and Cindy Crawford are the best-looking couple in Las Vegas, if not the entire solar system.

The two of them moved about as if there was a spotlight shining on them at Whiskey Beach's VIP area at Green Valley Ranch Station Casino on Friday night for the Black Eyed Peas show.

Actually, the spotlight was seemingly shining out from within, as the First Couple of Las Vegas celebrity chatted with guests such as Howard Stern and Beth Ostrovsky, Clint Holmes, Tom Breitling, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Cook E. Jarr, Rick Garson, William Whatley ("Ambush Makover") and Lance Bass.

Being in the spotlight 24/7 as she is, we asked Crawford if she reads her press or any of the magazines that chronicle celebrity.

"Actually, I love US Weekly. It's my favorite -- so much better than the Star," Crawford said. "US ran some pictures a few weeks ago of me pumping gas that weren't too flattering, but basically I love that stuff."

Power event

Football legend and social activist Jim Brown was saluted in Las Vegas on Friday night.

CMX Sports and Entertainment hosted the benefit for Brown's Amer-I-Can Foundation, which contributes to the "socio-economic and educational re-development of underprivileged and criminally challenged individuals and communities."

ESPN anchor Roy Firestone hosted the event at Mandalay Bay's Lagoon Ballroom. Fright-haired promoter Don King addressed the group, and Patti LaBelle -- who sang the national anthem at the Roy Jones Jr.-Antonio Tarver fight the next night -- performed a few songs.

VegasBits

Punch: "The Apprentice" stars Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth and Kwame Jackson (separately) attended the Jones-Tarver fight, as did actress Vivica A. Fox, former Hell's Angels leader Chuck Zito (HBO's "Oz") and a shirtless Mr. T, draped in about 100 pounds of gold chains ...

Fans: Among the jocks ringside, who later made their way to Rain (Palms): Donovan McNabb, Paul Pierce, Garrison Hearst, Jevon Kearse, Tim Thomas, Joey Porter, Tory Holt, Zach Randolph, Scott Gomez and Jay Pandolfo ...

Happy: Film star Dennis Hopper is 68 today. He is chairman of the Creative Advisory Board for the 2004 CineVegas Film Festival, which kicks off June 11 ...

Still hurts: Celine Dion has canceled all her performances of "A New Day..." again this week to rest a sprained neck. She sprained a muscle performing during Mother's Day week, resulting in the cancellation of last week's shows. She expects to return to her Caesars Palace perch May 26. Since the room was suddenly available Sunday night, Caesars moved a Jay Leno appearance before 2,300 Blockbuster conventioneers from a crowded ballroom into the more spacious Colosseum ...

No illusion: TV journalist John Stossel ("20/20") and Jo Anne Worley of "Laugh-In" fame were seated next to one another at Penn & Teller's show at The Rio on Friday night. Sock it to me.

From Sun wires

One more year for Raymond: Everybody does love Raymond -- at least for another season.

CBS sealed a deal Sunday to bring Ray Romano's Emmy-winning comedy "Everybody Loves Raymond" back for a ninth and final season, though only for 16 new episodes.

The Monday night comedy featuring Romano and his dysfunctional family won the 2003 Emmy for best comedy. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Springer to be delegate: Ohio Democrats have chosen talk-show host Jerry Springer to be an at-large delegate for the Democratic National Convention July 26-29 in Boston.