Columnist Kate Maddox: Rodman to light up the Joint

Kate Maddox's column appears Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays. Reach her at [email protected]

Dennis Rodman and his crew will be celebrating the Worm's 39th birthday tonight at the Joint at the Hard Rock and you can party too -- for $25. That's right, the former NBA superstar wants to mingle with the public and collect the public's dough. Hotel spokespersons say the admission money will go to various Rodman charities -- although they couldn't elaborate on what specific organizations would receive money.

In addition to being able to hang out with the tattooed and pierced cross-dresser, the $25 also allows guests the chance to ogle Rodman's on-again, off-again gal pal, Carman Electra. When word first spread about this shindig, it was Electra who wanted to throw the bash and only invite Rodman's closest friends and partners in crime, but the guest list grew and now organizers are expecting a whole crew of (mostly male) celebrity guests. (I'm guessing there will also be plenty of female participants as well. It is, after all, Dennis.)

Among those on the list expected to attend are: Charles Barkley, Hawaiian Tropic founder and president Ron Rice, NFL star Keyshawn Johnson, hottie male supermodel Tyson Beckford, actor/comedian Tommy Davidson , Jay Leno (who is playing the MGM this weekend), '80s has-been Corey Feldman, NFL quarterback Warren Moon, L.A. Lakers owner and former Rodman boss Jerry Buss, and the last guy to give Rodman the boot off an NBA team, dot.com millionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

If it's not the chance to schmooze with celebs and "Baywatch"-esque babes that gets your attention here, then come for the music. In addition to a DJ and some smaller bands, alternative rockers Live will take the stage at around 11 p.m. Tickets are still available at the Hard Rock box office.

Changes are already taking place at the Mirage Resorts properties since Wednesday's changing of the guard. MGM has apparently approved the immediate removal of former Mirage honcho Steve Wynn's voice from taped announcements around the properties. Wynn's vocal stylings could be heard on the moving sidewalks entering the Mirage, on the tram running between the Mirage and Treasure Island and in the "Secret Garden" audio wands during the tiger tour.

Also, Mirage insiders report that a number of hotel departments -- including advertising and PR -- have been told to pack their belongings and get ready to move locations, only they have yet to be told where.

With Barry Manilow selling out all five performances last week at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, hotel entertainment honchos are sticking with temporary acts -- at least for now.

One person in the know admits that the hotel has been meeting with three different production companies about bringing in some sort of Latin-themed musical. One hotel official was recently overheard talking about a meeting taking place with the same crew that brought the world Ricky Martin. Apparently his team is interested in pitching a show to the hotel. Martin will play the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 22.

In the meantime the next act to take the stage, after "Annie's" brief run, will be Bill Maher, host of "Politically Incorrect." The comedian will play for two nights: June 30 and July 1.

I just looked at my watch and realized that it's been almost two weeks since the last mention of Darva Conger. So, in an attempt to ease the load in her difficult journey back to obscurity after her whole marriage debacle, it's only fair to announce that her Playboy spread is rumored to be hitting the stands in August.

For those of you who don't know (and you deserve the utmost respect for being out of the loop on this one,) Conger recently posed nude in Hugh Hefner's mag for an alleged $400,000. I also hear she's taking acting lessons.

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