John Katsilometes talks to the real Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger about his plans for an energy drink and the upcoming Rudy inspirational awards

Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006 | 7:21 a.m.

There's a little Rudy in all of us, don't you think?

The actual Rudy - Henderson's own Rudy Ruettiger - thinks so. His inspirational story about playing football as a walk-on for Notre Dame was brought to the big screen as "Rudy" in 1993. Since then Ruettiger has become a one-man corporation. He performs up to 70 speaking engagements a year (at a rate of $20,000 per gig) and, in his latest endeavor, is marketing a new Rudy-fied energy drink called Rudy Revolution.

The drink is "packed with vitamins," as Ruettiger said during a phone interview last week, and comes in such flavors as Blue Fuel, Fruit Punch Blast, Orange Lift and Citrus Slam.

"It has eight vitamins and is low in sugar," said Ruettiger, who is in partnership with Drew Carver (the son-in-law of Ruettiger's coach, Dan Devine) on the new beverage. "We're trying to address obesity in kids, which is an epidemic."

Ruettiger is keeping the spirit of his onscreen image alive with a new award - to be called the Rudy Award - that will be handed out next year at the Palms.

"It'll be the new 2,500-seat theater there," Ruettiger said. "We're going to go after the inspirational people in all walks of life and give a Rudy Award there, then we'll have a Rudy Award for the inspirational athletes. There are so many stories I hear all the time. So many people have been touched by this thing, I can't even tell you."

A few months ago Ruettiger (whose first name is actually Daniel and who turns 58 on Aug. 23) was asked to make a call to a man in New Jersey who was gravely ill with cancer. "I call, and his wife answers and tells me this man is literally on his death bed, taking his final breaths. So she puts the phone to his ear. I say, 'This is Rudy - the real Rudy.' And he says, 'You're (kidding) me!' I talked to him for a little bit, and he lived another day when he was just about gone."

NoteMart

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My guess, educated in nature, is that the next pedestrian bridge on the Strip will be across Las Vegas Boulevard at Harmon Avenue when Project CityCenter is completed in a couple of years

In honor of "Mystere's" 6,000th show, which was grandly celebrated Saturday night at Treasure Island, we report the plate on the red Ferrari owned by aerial artist Paul Bowler, which reads simply "CIRQUE."