A little poker before court date
Former hockey star Rick Tocchet and Wayne Gretzky‘s wife, Janet Jones, are making gambling headlines again.
Tocchet and Jones, who were named in a gambling scandal that put Gretzky in an unwanted spotlight, are trying their luck in the World Series of Poker.
Tocchet’s name appears among those who survived the first round of the WSOP’s $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas hold ’em main event at the Rio.
Jones played on Friday, the first day, but was eliminated midway through the day, according to the Web site Gambling911.com.
Tocchet is on an indefinite leave of absence from the Phoenix Coyotes as an assistant coach for Gretzky. He is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in May to running a sports gambling ring. Authorities suspect Tocchet helped Jones in wagering about $500,000 on NFL games.
Tocchet pleaded guilty May 25 to conspiracy and promoting gambling. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Other well-known figures who made it through the first round: Bobby Baldwin, president and CEO of Mirage Resorts and the 1978 main event winner, TV talk show host Montel Williams, defense attorney David Chesnoff, Celine Dion‘s husband, Rene Angelil, actor Tobey Maguire, Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld,” actor Hank Azaria and actor Brad Garrett of “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Among those eliminated were the following: former baseball slugger Jose Canseco, rapper Nelly and boxing champ Antonio Tarver.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Mayor Oscar Goodman will play himself on another episode of NBC’s “Las Vegas,” in a scene with Tom Selleck, who replaced James Caan on the show. …
Rapper X1, a solo artist who signed to a Las Vegas record label, was found dead early Thursday in Las Vegas, according to the allhiphop.com Web site. X1 was the younger brother of Onyx member Sticky Fingaz. X1 was signed to Ball’r Records. …
That Nevada license plate MSPOKER spotted in the Rio parking lot last week and mentioned here belongs to World Series of Poker veteran Susie Isaacs. Isaacs, the first repeat winner in the World Series of Poker ladies championship in 1996 and 1997, has written several poker books, including “MsPoker: Up Close & Personal,” “MsPoker: I’m Not Bluffing” and “Queens Can Beat Kings: Broad-Minded Poker for Winning Women.”
SIGHTINGS
At “Love,” at The Mirage, over the weekend: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Alexander and Azaria. … Former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato of New York, receiving a rousing ovation after providing the ceremonial “shuffle up and deal” to open Monday’s play in the World Series of Poker. D’Amato heads the Poker Players Alliance, a group that lobbies for poker players. … Contestants in the Mrs. United States Pageant, in the audience at Rita Rudner‘s show at Harrah’s on Monday. The pageant is being held at the Silverton all week and will air on Bravo in about a month. … At the Bootlegger Bistro on Saturday: Jack Jones and “Baby-O” cast members David Proval, who played Richie Aprile in “The Sopranos,” and Theresa Russell, taking in Dennis Bono‘s showcase on Saturday. “Baby-O” is being filmed in Las Vegas. … Chef Bobby Flay, going one-for-two in the celebrity All-Star softball game in San Francisco on Sunday. Flay, owner of Mesa Grill at Caesars Palace, participated in a double play with NFL legend and former “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Jerry Rice. … At ESPN Zone in New York-New York over the weekend: former University of Texas star Kevin Durant, the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA draft last month, by the Seattle Supersonics. … At Lawry’s on Sunday: Team China, celebrating their 85-84 win over Cleveland in the Summer League and serenading center Wang Zhizhi on his 30th birthday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Kick-ass inauguration party! Bring a six pack and you’re in.” — From David Letterman‘s Top Ten Reasons Why I, Homer Simpson, Should Be The Next President.
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
NORM CLARKEMORE COLUMNS
