HONEYMOON IN VEGAS: The WWF will demolish the former
DEBBIE REYNOLDS hotel-casino in Las Vegas and build a 1,000-
room wrestling-themed resort in its place. The new complex
will include a casino, bars and restaurants, but will not
have a live wrestling venue (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/18)....After
hosting the MIKE TYSON-FRANCOIS BOTHA fight Saturday, MGM
Grand CFO JIM MURREN said, "We're squarely back in the
boxing business" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/19).
OTHER NAMES: FRANK GIFFORD will play himself in OLIVER
STONE's film, "ANY GIVEN SUNDAY." Dropping out of the cast
is TOM ARNOLD, who was supposed to play a former football
star turned broadcaster. One insider said Stone found his
voice "too monotone" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/21). ESPN's John
Clayton: "Watch for more comebacks. More than a dozen
retired players are practicing in Miami for roles in the
football movie, 'ANY GIVEN SUNDAY,' and are getting the bug
again" (ESPN, 1/19)....ALEXEI YASHIN's C$1M donation to
Ottawa's National Arts Centre, which he pulled on Tuesday,
reportedly came "unstuck over questions" of how his money
"would be treated for income-tax purposes" (GLOBE & MAIL,
1/21)....Brewers 1B and Australia-native DAVE NILSSON
purchased the Australian Baseball League for an "estimated"
A$5M (US$3.2M). The league consists of six teams and has
"struggled" to draw crowds and media exposure (SYDNEY
MORNING HERALD, 1/20)....MSNBC.com reports that the creator
of the "Spawn" comic book and NHL Oilers co-Owner TODD
MCFARLANE "might well be" the owner of Mark McGwire's 70th
home run ball (MSNBC.com, 1/21).
