BIG BUCK$ PARTY OF THE DECADE
It was deja-vu as if I’d returned to shoot another episode of my old TV show Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous.
When Gavin Maloof—today’s Great Gatsby partying philanthropist—celebrated the Vegas housewarming of his new magnificent mega-mansion, I felt like bursting into Danny Gans, Rich Little and Gordie Brown’s impressions of me raving: “It’s a mind-blowing, multi-million dollar palace perfect for a platinum playboy, and so luxurious and lavishly large you need a chauffeur-driven Segway scooter to go three floors from the upstairs bedroom’s balconies to the sub-level private movie-theater! It comes complete with a swimming pool so long you could light a runway catwalk down it and still have room to stage a rock band at the other end!”
And that’s exactly what the Palms resort-hotel mogul did when he had rapper Xzibit MC the premiere party with an acoustic performance by Panic! At the Disco, and his own Sacramento Kings basketball dance team. He even imported a 45-strong fleet of femme-fatale-fashionistas who modeled everything for Mosci & Colcci, from the briefest of bikinis to naughty nightwear and glowing gowns. Gavin co-owns the Pacific Division NBA team with his brother Joe, is a partner with brother George who runs the Palms resort casino hotel, and with fourth brother Phil who runs the family’s record and movie production company. All—including mom and sister—were front row for the super-star-studded party! Depending who you talked to, I heard prices ranging from $8-million for the house up to $12 and $18-million for the Southern Highlands land, the mansion and the furnishings! I’m thrilled for their success because you just wont find a more incredibly nice, genuine, kind, humble and hard-working family!
Among the celebrities hugging and glad-handing were baseballs’ home run king, Barry Bonds and a slew of sports stars including boxing champ Floyd Mayweather who told me that, now that he’s been kicked off Dancing with the Stars, he’s working out like a demon for his big upcoming December fight.
“It was a great experience, and dancing takes a lot of tough discipline and practice—more than I expected,” he told me. “I wouldn’t have traded it for the world, but lets just say I’m glad to be getting ready for the ring again and the real fight.”
Former UNLV go-to b-ball hero, Reggie Theuss, who is the new Sacramento Kings coach, was keeping his eye on all his players including controversial Ron Artest and newly signed Mikki Moore from the NJ Nets, and the sexy silver-short-skirted shapely Kings cheerleaders who put on three sizzling dance-demos. I said hello to reigning roast-master comic Jeffrey Ross, NBA sportscaster Jim Gray, former Britney Spears manager, Larry Rudolph who was with the owners of E!-TV’s Sunset Tan, Jeff Bozz and Devin Haman. They told me that although the Olly Twins were “fired” midway from this season of shows, the blonde beauties will be back for Season Two!
The personal five-minute highlight of my night was meeting Playmates of the Year, Kara Monaco (2006) and Sara Underwood (2007). Others celebs attending included Terrell Owens and quarterback Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys, Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs, musicians Timbaland and Papa Roach, plus MTV reality star, Tila Tequila.
“Now that was the party of the year, and maybe the decade,” one of the guests told me. “You should start your TV show again and feature this incredible home on the first episode.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!