O’Bannon’s son excels at basketball and more
The son of UCLA great Ed O’Bannon is undecided about his college destination and which sports to pursue.
A 6-foot-7 junior at Liberty High School, young Ed O’Bannon has options: He’s not only one of the top Las Vegas basketball prospects, but he’s armed with a fastball clocked at 93 mph.
“It’s his dream to play both,” his dad said by telephone on Thursday.
The talented teen averaged 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks at Liberty High School.
The senior O’Bannon knows something about dreaming big.
A week before he entered UCLA, he tore up a knee so bad that doctors predicted he might never walk. Four years later, he led the Bruins to their 11th NCAA basketball championship.
That was 20 years ago.
In 2002, O’Bannon moved to Las Vegas, where he nearly played for Jerry Tarkanian and UNLV.
In 2009, he sued the NCAA in an antitrust action.
Last summer, a federal judge issued an injunction in favor of O’Bannon and fellow plaintiffs who sought payment for service to their schools, including the rights to their names, images and likenesses.
BACK IN VEGAS
Actor Bradley Cooper and director Todd Phillips, who teamed up on “The Hangover” trilogy, are back in Las Vegas on a new film project.
They were out on the town Wednesday, taking in Elton John’s show and clubbing with “Arms &the Dudes” co-stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller.
It was announced on Thursday that Cooper’s two-year relationship with British actress Suki Waterhouse had ended.
Hill and Teller play two 20-something stoner friends who live in Miami during the Iraq War. They take advantage of a little-known government initiative that permits those who run small businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts.
They land a $300 million deal to arm the Afghans. Big problems with shady customers arise.
Phillips, an Oscar nominee, is directing, with Cooper producing.
The film is based on a true story, written by Guy Lawson, that appeared in Rolling Stone magazine.
Cooper, fresh from an Oscar nomination for “American Sniper,” and Phillips have formed a production company and have a three-year contract with Warner Bros. pictures.
ONE DROP AT A TIME
Oscar-winning singer John Legend joins Cirque du Soleil’s eight Las Vegas productions tonight at the “Love” Theatre in The Mirage for the third One Night for One Drop.
The global philanthropy event, backed by MGM Resorts International and Microsoft, is a showcase for One Drop’s water-access initiatives.
Blue carpet invitees include: Cirque founder Guy Laliberte; Camila Alves; members of Plain White T’s band; “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” stars Mauricio Umansky, Kyle Richards, Camille Grammar and Faye Resnick; UFC great Forrest Griffin; chef Susan Feniger, and the casts of “Rock of Ages,” “Absinthe” and “Fantasy.”
SIGHTINGS
Cooper and his crew partied at Surrender after taking in Sir Elton’s show at the Colosseum (Caesars Palace). From there they went to see Lil John perform at Surrender. The group included producer Brett Ratner, British comedian Jimmy Carr and Jeff Beacher of Beacher’s Madhouse, back in town after attending Justin Bieber’s roast. ... UFC lightning rod Nick Diaz, with friends at Lavo restaurant (Palazzo) on Wednesday. ... Joe Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, backstage with Penn &Teller after their show on Tuesday.
THE PUNCH LINE
“St. Patrick’s Day is the fourth biggest drinking day in America. It’s not the biggest. It’s right behind New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July or any Secret Service party.” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
