ALL-STAR SCORECARD

Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.

Before you can play matador defense at an NBA All-Star game, you must first hold a battery of official events to call attention to it. That's why you almost need a scorecard to keep track of them all.

Here's mine for this week.

Event: Official All-Star ballot tipoff

Where: Fashion Show mall

Las Vegas big shots: Oscar Goodman, Las Vegas mayor; Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president; Rory Reid, Clark County Commission chairman

Las Vegas celebrities: Wayne Newton

Wearing socks? Not sure. But given Newton was wearing cowboy boots, most likely. That wasn't the case at the official All-Star Game announcement when singer Clint Holmes showed up sans socks.

Retired NBA stars: Clyde Drexler, Greg Anthony

Current NBA stars: Shawn Marion, Brad Miller

Showgirls: Two

Dancing girls: Eight

Elvis impersonators: One

"What happens in Vegas" variation: One. "What happens here ain't gonna stay here. It's gonna be seen around the world." - Wayne Newton

Cheesey special effect: Exploding balloons, confetti cannon, game-show type music during celebrity introductions

Tired quote: "It's gonna be crazy." - Shawn Marion

Not as tired quote: "A mayor without showgirls ain't nothing." - Oscar Goodman

My personal highlight: Shawn Marion's giant silver belt buckle. I didn't know he rode bucking broncs.