Columnist John Katsilometes: Stars come out for local cancer benefit

Monday, Dec. 5, 2005 | 8:22 a.m.

Fabulous Las Vegas runs Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Reach John Katsilometes at kats@lasvegassun.com or at (702) 259-2327 or (702) 812-9812.

While in Vegas, Lance Armstrong was steering clear of the hard-way eight.

The seven-time Tour de France champion had just been presented by event chair Michael Bellon and cancer survivor Jessica Langgin with a framed montage of his brief but hilarious scene in the film "Dodgeball" (which was set, in part, in Vegas). The gift included a proclamation that made mention of ESPN 8; fans of the film recall that the dodgeball championships were televised by the fictitious network, whose slogan was, "If it's a sport, or almost one, you'll find it -- on the Ocho."

Thus, "ocho" was in the air as Armstrong addressed the spruced-up crowd of about 550 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. As Armstrong noted that at the time of the filming of "Dodgeball" he had won five tours, "and it's now seven," a voice from the crowd shouted, "Go for the ocho!"

"Oh, no," Armstrong sheepishly replied. "Not unless they have a tour of Austin (Texas, his hometown) or Las Vegas."

But later, Armstrong's fiancee, Sheryl Crow, said the couple would be back for next year's Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Southern Nevada Breakaway Weekend, "After Lance has won No. 8."

The evening ended with Armstrong still officially retired from competitive cycling. Crow donated her valuable time (she's been known to attract a $50,000 performance fee in Las Vegas) and performed a 30-minute acoustic set with bandmates Peter Stroud and Tim Smith. Also lending their time to the event were dozens of past and present members of the U.S. men's and women's national soccer teams and comic magician Mac King.

The first-time event, which included a weekend celebrity golf tournament at Cascata Golf Club in Boulder City and a soccer exhibition at UNLV, raised more than $300,000 for leukemia and lymphoma research. Armstrong, of course, is a cancer survivor.

NoteMart

They B. Goode: It might have been an odd mix of performers -- OK, it was and odd mix of performers -- but a noteworthy jam session unfolded late-late Saturday at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill at Harrah's. Onstage performing the Chuck Berry staple "Johnny B. Goode" were Vegas legend Wayne Newton, club proprietor Toby Keith, Night Ranger singer/bassist Jack Blades, and former Great White and current Night Ranger keyboardist Michael Landie.

Night Ranger performed earlier in the evening at Boulder Station. The coordinator for this all-star ensemble was reportedly Harrah's exec Don Marrandino ...

Christmas Carl: Magician Carl Ballantine, honored as the Magician of the Year by the International Brotherhood of Magicians, is the focus of a star-studded tribute tonight at 7 at FAO Schwarz at the Forum Shops at Caesars. Those scheduled to pay tribute include Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels, Dick Van Patten, Jane Kean, Amazing Johnathan, The Great Tomsoni, Criss Angel and Rick Thomas. Call 796-6500 for information ...

They have arrived: The band Satisfaction -- a Rolling Stones tribute act -- has been added to the "Legends in Concert" lineup at Imperial Palace. The boys hail from Shreveport, La., and according to a press release "will have you jumping like Jack Flash" ...

Let it roll: The most colorful love story to come our way in a long time unfolds this afternoon at A Little White Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard North. That's when and where Francis Murphy, 75, and Margaret Nixon, 73, of Defiance, Ohio, will become married. The couple cap a whirlwind courtship by rolling through the the chapel's drive-thru ceremony on motorized wheelchairs. More on these lovebirds Tuesday.