Soccer star’s honeymoon party seems never to end

By Robin Leach

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 | 5:35 p.m.

It’s the multimillionaires’ honeymoon that wont end –- and the romantic newlyweds have become the darling couple of Sin City. British soccer superstar Wayne Rooney had originally wanted to marry his 22-year-old supermodel bride Coleen McLoughlin here in Vegas. She won though with her desire to marry in a villa in Portofino, Italy. But ever since their June 12 wedding, she compromised with the Vegas honeymoon and her 22-year-old husband who makes megamillion$ from the Manchester United team have partied nonstop here -– and there’s no sign of it slowing down.

Everywhere they’ve gone around town, Coleen, a British TV host and million-dollar fashion spokeswoman, has flashed the $400,000 “blinding” diamond wedding ring. She’s happily shown it to fans and curious spectators -- and he tells anyone who listens how happy he is to have married his childhood sweetheart –- without a prenup! They began dating when both were 16.

They danced hand-in-hand for two straight hours during George Michael’s concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. They then turned up at a toga party in the Blush boutique nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas, where they have been staying. Comedian Pauly Shore hosted the toga bash, which was attended by Sunset Tan owners and E! reality show stars Jeff Bozz and Devin Haman, along with mixed martial arts fighter Gray Maynard. Wayne also turned up for a second consecutive night at Blush, when he heard NBA superstar LeBron James was partying. They’d previously met while filming the famous Nike TV commercial that featured them with Kobe Bryant, Roger Federer and other sports legends. Rooney asked a Blush staffer to take him over to LeBron so he could get a honeymoon photo memory of the two together! Watching the action were Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets player Carmelo Anthony and New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul.

The newlyweds have also been regulars at Victor Drai's Tryst nightclub in the Wynn. One night when Coleen wore an elegant ivory silk dress with gold earrings they shared a steamy kiss liplock session near the 90ft waterfall and lake in the center of the dance floor. Some British soccer fans in the crowd began chanting for him! She’s also been spotted in a succession of strapless brief bikinis kissing and cuddling him in the pool at the resort -- and British tabloids have been enjoying a field day chronicling the romance on an hourly basis. “They can’t keep their hands off each other,” the Daily Mail reported. The headline hungry newspapers have also slammed him for smoking cigarettes publicly stating it sets a bad precedent for British athletes

SURPRISE 20-YEAR REUNION OF THE TIME SET TO BECOME PERMANENT – EVERY NOW AND AGAIN:

Reaction to the newly reunited Morris Day and The Time group and their shows at the Flamingo has been phenomenal. Among the stars there have been upcoming Flamingo headliner Donny Osmond, Venetian comedy king Wayne Brady, former NBA star Darrell Griffith, and Bette Midler’s choreographer Tony Basil, who was pulled out of the audience with some of her dancers to join the musical group onstage. Also sitting in were Flamingo late-night comedy star George Wallace, afternoon magician Nathan Burton, the striking Alizma violin triplets, Mosaic, and onstage with the Time were former major league superstar Barry Bonds and R&B singer Johnny Gill dancing the group’s signature “Bird” dance! Johnny will be back this weekend with The Time and I hear that Toni will be bringing Bette with her this week, too.

It was the first time in 20 years that all of the original members of The Time were together on stage. The seven guys are Morris Day, Jerome Benton, Jimmy Jam, Jellybean Johnson, Jesse Johnson, Terry Lewis and Monte Moir. They’ll be playing the Flamingo through Saturday night, and then return again July 29 through August 2, with a third run of engagements before Donny & Marie start there in early September.

Morris and Jerome have kept the group’s ’80s dance hits alive, but it was Jimmy Jam who became a top record producer and Terry Lewis that dreamed up the reunion first at this year’s Grammy’s Awards show. Said Terry: “We’d been apart for a couple of decades while we’d been producing records and when we started rehearsing together all again it just all felt so good. People have been starved for good music, musicianship and fun. We had that great feeling and decided there and then to make a new record and do the Flamingo shows showcasing some of the new tracks. We might be from the ’80s but we’re bringing a lot of fun young stuff to the scene to make them dance in the aisles. We’re ripping it up bringing a lot of sexiness. We’re just here to have fun. We went over 30 minutes long with it one night we’re enjoying ourselves so much.”

I’m told that the reunion has been a phenomenal success -- far more than ever expected and that now they are back together they intend to stay together and keep doing the concerts on a regular -- but not full-time -- basis. “Its simple we just wanted to play great music together again” Terry summed up. “We’ve tested the waters and since it’s nice and warm you can expect us for an extended stay. We’ve got a big Rolodex to go through and call some guest stars to come jam with us -– and don’t be surprised if Prince himself shows up unannounced and unexpected one night”

MORE ON THE CRISS ANGEL BELIEVE DELAY:

Luxe Life was first with the news story Monday about Criss Angel’s magic spectacular Believe being postponed until October. I ‘ve learned more on the massive technical creative challenges Cirque du Soleil is facing.

“It is far more technically ambitious than what Cirque created for the Beatles Love musical at the Mirage. That was the most difficult staging Cirque had ever attempted. Even beyond Ka,” I was told. “Believe is an even bigger challenge -- and remember Cirque has never produced a magic show before and working with just one headline star. So in a sense its new territory -– but it’s just the tremendous scope of the undertaking. Everybody believes in Believe and promises it will be truly a groundbreaking never before seen spectacular.

“They were seven weeks later than planned getting into the theater because of the engineering and re-design delays -- and what they were doing in the rehearsal hall and dance studio became totally different once inside the theater. The creative folks simply needed the seven missed weeks back on the calendar to make sure all the mechanical worked properly and without hitches with what had been blocked and rehearsed. What they discovered was that with the seven missing weeks it was too risky and too difficult to stick to the original dates. Nothing is wrong. There’s nothing to be concerned about. Don’t read anything into this -- other than just they ran late being able to get into the theater and start working properly on the actual staging.

“Nobody wants hitches, hold-ups. Everybody wants it to be perfect –- and now it will be without the dangerous time crunch.” As Luxe Life reported first Monday, the new date for the gala premiere will be Oct. 9, with previews starting Sept. 12.

MOTLEY CRUE KICKS OFF AMERICAN LEG OF NEW WORLD TOUR TONIGHT:

Exactly one month from now, hometown rocker Vince Neil leads his Motley Crue

into Vegas at Mandalay Bay for the Loudest Show on Earth tour. But tonight, the 40-city American leg of the group’s new world tour gets underway in West Palm Beach, Florida where Vince owns his Dr. Feelgood’s Bar – and already this morning preparations are nearly complete for the kickoff party.

In the past few days Vince, Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx and Mick Mars were in New York City, where they caused a near-riot. Before appearing on The Late Show with David Letterman, they rode motorcycles down Broadway with the silver women from their new Saints of Los Angeles album released last week. Its their first studio album of new material by the original Crue in 10 years, since Generation Swine. Click here for the behind the scenes footage and performance:

“It’s a fun album with some dark moments. It covers a lot of emotions of four human beings and their life as a band,” says Nikki.

The group has been the constant subject of outrageous headlines over the years, and nothing has changed as they’ve gotten older.The night before Saints of Los Angeles was released, Tommy Lee and Fox News Network anchor Greta Van Susteren clashed live when she asked if it was weird he’d gone from high-school marching drummer to Motley Crue and Tommy responded by asking her what color panties she was wearing!

Among the groups appearing on the inaugural “Crue Fest” will be BuckCherry, Papa Roach, Sixx AM and Trapt. Vince and the Crue who will wrap this part of the summer tour in Pittsburgh on Aug. 31 have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide since they began back in 1981 as one of America’s top glam heavy-metal bands. A film adaptation of their best-selling autobiography The Dirt is due for release next year if current friction between the group and MTV /Paramount Films is resolved. Actors Val Kilmer and Christopher Walken are rumored to be starring -– with Walken playing rocker Ozzy Osbourne!

PHIL IVEY’S CELEBRITY POKER TOURNAMENT RAISES EDUCATIONAL FUNDS FOR KIDS:

Poker prince Phil Ivey will be racing between his own charity celebrity poker tournament and the sixth annual World Series of Barbecue tonight -- but fortunately, both events are taking place downtown at the Golden Nugget. Phil, our hometown poker hero, has joined with Howard Lederer and his wife, Suzie, and Steve Zolotow to host the barbecue at the Nugget’s Tank where he will announce plans to benefit the Vegas community through his Budding Ivey Foundation.

More than 600 guests will be on hand for the private event, which will feature a 20-minute fireworks production on the Golden Nugget rooftop by the Vitale family. Evelyn Ng will also conduct a Guitar Hero exhibition along with a chess clash and authentic cigar rolling.

Then Phil will dash to his poker tournament being held in the Events Center, with more than 30 of his closest pro-poker playing cronies. Film star Don Cheadle has promised to join in with Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson, Mike Matusow, Chris Ferguson, Jennifer Harman, Andy Bloch, Gus Hansen and Howard Lederer amongst many others. They are all putting up $1,000 as a charity donation to get the games started. Although the barbecue event is private, members of the public can play and watch the tournament. Phil is hoping to raise sufficient funds for his foundation to give underprivileged children an academic opportunity to participate in enhanced learning programs and reopen the closed North Las Vegas children’s academy.

NATHAN BURTON WINS COVETED MAGIC AWARD:

Congratulations to Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton for being named Best Comedy Illusionist of 2008 by the International Magicians Society. The ‘ Merlin Award’ was presented by Tony Hassini, founder of the IMS, which in 40 years has grown to almost 40,000 practioners of prestidigitation as the largest magic organization in the world. The Merlin is the equivalent of the film industry’s Oscar! Flamingo President Don Marrandino hosted the surprise presentation while interrupting Nathan’s regular afternoon show at the casino resort. Backstage after the show, Nathan commented: “Without my fans, none of this would be possible. I appreciate every single person who has come out and supported me over the years.”

STRIP SCRIBBLES:

-- The NBA championship Boston Celtics team is determined to party in Vegas until the new season gets underway apparently! They are still celebrating their win over the L.A. Lakers here with MVP and Vegas resident Paul Pierce showing the sights! Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo were in the group, with Paul tucking into a winners meal at the Fix restaurant in the Bellagio. They then carried on next door to the Bank nightclub and kept the non-stop partying also at the Jet nightclub in the neighboring Mirage. Many of them also celebrated with Cristal and Dom Perignon champagne and a bevy of beauties when electro hip-hop group LMFAO performed their hit “I’m in Miami Bitch” at Prive at Planet Hollywood. Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen partied at Wet Republic’s MGM Grand Daylife celebration. He jumped into the pool and initiated the first volleyball game. He tested his skills at volleyball, as fans followed his lead and packed the pool to get a chance to play against one of the leading shooters in the game while renowned DJ and producer, Benny Benassi twisted the turntables with his torrid tracks.

-- Just asking if its true that one Strip resort has told travel agents quietly that they will price room-rates for the balance of the hot summer months per the daily Vegas temperature! Thus if its 95 degrees its $95 and if it gets up to 120 degrees its $120. A unique promotion, but rather costly?

-- Actor Dennis Quaid brought his wife, Kimberly, to Vegas for a mini-vacation. They checked into a suite at the Hard Rock Hotel, then joined friends to party at the Bank nightclub in the Bellagio. Dennis, who has just wrapped filming with Sienna Miller and Brendan Fraser on the new G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra movie enjoyed the Perrier Jouet champagne on the outdoor VIP balcony.

-- Readers of yesterday’s column wondered why in the report of Lauren “Lo” Bosworth’s graduation party at Prive, I omitted any and all mention of her best friend and roommate Lauren Conrad! The truth is that she wasn’t there! Now before tongues get wagging about yet another feud amongst the Hills cast lets tell you why! Lauren was stuck in an Italian airport trying to get a flight back to LA to scoot to Vegas for Lo’s celebration. When flights go awry in Europe no amount of American showbiz power can break the deadlocks. She simply got stranded 5,000 miles away but tried all in her power to get here!

-- Hypnotist Marc Savard, who just won the 2008 Star Award at the Stage Hypnotists of the World conference, began a new run of shows Monday at the Trader Vic’s Comedy Club at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. He has also launched the International Institute of Hypnosis right here in Vegas.

-- It was back in April 1996 –- 12 years ago -- that the American Superstars tribute show of celebrity impersonations was launched -- and now they’ve just been given the news they’ll continue their contract at the Stratosphere for another 15 months through November of next year! The full-scale production show features Darren Lee as Elvis Presley, John Anthony as Rod Stewart, Chad Givens as Tim McGraw, Damian Brantley as Michael Jackson and Lorena Peril as Christina Aguilera. Dancers Nadia Albulet, Teresa McAuliffe, Eric Chandler, Audrey Rusher and Renee Herter round out the cast.

-- Three alumni from Rock of Love 2 are now starring in VH1’s new reality game show, I Love Money and to help launch the premiere Heather, Megan and the shy Destiny hosted a party at the Jet nightclub in the Mirage.

TONIGHTS TIP:

Bring your swim shorts and bikinis if you’re going to hunt for the prizes among the more than 25,000 ducks floating at the new Palms Place pool after the Happy Hour at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s new restaurant there. Specially marked ducks will win prizes ranging from free drinks or dinner for two at Kerry’s Palms Place restaurant, to free rooms and a Fantasy Suite weekend at the Palms. This party will be every Tuesday in July and Lindsay Lohan’s best girlfriend SaMANtha Ronson will DJ there next Tuesday … The Blush boutique nightclub at the Wynn honors the men who run our nightclub scene with the King of Clubs party … Stunning Stephanie Jordan, lead singer of the Fantasy topless cabaret revue at the Luxor will perform with all her glamour-girls in tow as they debut the first Fantasy Tuesday at the new Flight lounge in the resort. You’ll also get a 20-percent discount off their show as this week blonde bombshell Dar is under the spotlight! … Comedian John Henton kicks off his six-night run at the Improv in Harrahs with fellow comics Kenny Bob Davis and Jim McCue through Sunday night.

TOMORROWS TEASE:

After losing millions gambling in Vegas, former NBA star Charles Barkley breaks his vow not to play in Vegas so he can join all the celebrities in Don Cheadle’s poker tournament at the Rio, and our hometown heroes the Killers put on a special surprise concert.