VP-ataki?
With the Republican National Convention in
Philadelphia commencing in a couple of weeks,
the only suspense left is over who Texas Governor George W. Bush will select as his
running mate. Sources tell NYConfidential that New York might factor into that
decision.
NY Guv George Pataki has emerged
among the short list of names that Bush, his advisors, and the GOP hierarchy are
considering to place into nomination alongside of Bush for the fall election. The two
Georges had discussions as recently as last Friday.
One GOP political consultant told NYConfidential:
"When Giuliani pulled out of the Senate race, had Pataki jumped into the fray, he
would have wound up beating Hillary by a landslide." We were also told that the
Governor’s low-key decline to run amid pressure "was subterfuge to cover up the
discussions that he was having with the Bush campaign about running on the GOP
ticket."
Bush has apparently narrowed the field of
potential VP candidates down to three after eliminating: Oklahoma ex-football stars,
Congressmen Steve Largent and J.C. Watts, Gov. Frank Keating, Christine
Whitman, Elizabeth Dole, and the unrealistic "Dream Team" pairing of
Bush-McCain.
Still in the running are Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge,
ex-Missouri Senator and Clarence Thomas buddy, John Danforth, and Pataki.
Pataki’s appeal is that he could deliver New York and other northeastern states
(Bush’s weakest region), and seems capable but not too overly presidential by
contrast to George W. Is it any wonder that Pataki has reinvented himself as a moderate
over the last few months?
Who's The Big Dog?
Well, it wasn’t Japan’s 101-pound
Kazutoyo "The Rabbit" Arai, but his stomach was big enough to wolf down
25 and one-eighth franks at the hot dog eating championship at Nathan’s in Coney
Island. Beating out contestants nicknamed "Hungry," "The Terminator,"
and "The Maspeth Monster," "The Rabbit" took home the championship
belt.
Last year, the contest was marred by
controversy, as Corrections Officer Charles "Hungry" Hardy was cheated
out of the title — video evidence showed the winner Steve "The
Terminator" Keiner with a hot dog in his mouth before the starting gun.
To ensure such an injustice would not
happen again, the 11,000-member New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent
Association (COBA) issued a stern warning to the International Federation of Competitive
Eating.
"In spite of continuing massive news
coverage and an overwhelming public outcry, the federation persisted in its refusal even
after the tape was shown again on local TV (NY1) and at least once on national TV (the Jay
Leno Show)," said a COBA spokesperson. "Now a year has gone by and Officer
Hardy has to compete on the international stage once again, but not as the U.S. Champion.
The humiliation inherent in this unpunished theft is a gross insult to every Correction
Officer in NYC."
As it was, Officer Hardy would not have
repeated as champ, but managed to absorb 19 hot dogs into his massive frame before
reportedly feeling ill and covering his mouth with one of his mammoth paws.
Bon appetite!
The Skinny On
Calista
"The Vagina Monologues" got a
bump in publicity when Rudy Giuliani’s scorned wife and part-time actress Donna
Hanover was scheduled to act in Eve Ensler’s controversial homage to the
female sexual organ.
The scandal that rocked her personal life
caused Hanover to pull out before she was to begin her limited run. Notables who have
performed in "The Vagina Monologues" include Marlo Thomas, Marisa
Tomei, and singer Alanis Morissette.
Now, Calista Flockhart, on hiatus
from Ally McBeal, has returned to New York to appear nightly. Reports are, however, that
it’s more like she has been disappearing, nightly. Flockhart’s alleged anorexia
is nothing new.
But seen shopping at Barney’s recenetly, discreetly
dressed down in a tank top, jeans, and Yankee cap, she inadvertently brought attention to
herself, and bewilderment among shoppers by her alarmingly gaunt, emaciated appearance.
For Pete's Sake!
Pete Sampras, the newly crowned
men’s winner of the 2000 Wimbledon Championships fortnight, was in town last week to
unveil a new Wheaties box, with his likeness.
Sampras announced that tendinitis of the
ankle would keep him from representing the U.S. in this year’s Davis Cup semifinals
later this month in Spain.
NYConfidential learned that
America’s Davis Cup Captain John McEnroe was livid when he heard of
Sampras’ withdrawal. The two already had a frosty relationship, with McEnroe
questioning Sampras’ heart. Sources say that McEnroe lashed out, calling
Sampras’ decision "gutless" and a "betrayal" to tennis and the
U.S.
McEnroe supposedly took his anger even
further, by slamming Sampras and his family. McEnroe allegedly called Sampras’
parents moving appearance on center court to watch their son win at Wimbledon after years
of staying away out of superstition a "sham" meant to cover up his parents’
hostile relationship with their son. Sources tell NYConf that McEnroe revealed to
friends many of Sampras’ NC-17 rated peculiarities hidden by the G-rated aloof
persona that has had tennis fans favor Andre Agassi during the decade-old rivalry.
Sampras’s recent engagement to actress Bridgette
Wilson has helped the Sampras family set things straight.
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