One local journalist who covered Saturday's Ultimate Fighting Championship card at MGM's Grand Garden Arena wrote me an e-mail, offering this impression:  "UFC attempts to be more controlling than other sports. UFC sounds like it's trying to hem in media."

We were discussing his experience as well as the credential application that UFC demanded that I sign to be approved to cover the fight. The application specified everything from the trivial, forbidding my wearing certain clothes, to the ridiculous, controlling where and when I was allowed to write about the event forever more. In explaining this bizarre credential application that most would call not an application but a contract, UFC events manager Diann Brizzolara wrote me: "We have the right to protect our brand and how coverage taken from our events is disseminated." Actually, UFC does not have that right to control "how coverage taken...is disseminated" at all. This rather unique privilege in fact is what the credential application is trying to give them a back door claim to having. Brizzolara continued, "Other sports leagues, such as the NFL, have similar regulations printed on the back of their press passes." Two points: Similar isn't identical, and regulations on the back of a press pass are a wish list because they do not require my signature of agreement. Oh and the obvious, the UFC is no NFL.

Interestingly, in another e-mail, Brizzolara also wrote to me defensively that the UFC credential application was "actually reviewed by our COO (who also has a law degree)."  Huh?  Who is the COO's client: UFC or media?

Credential applications are supposed to be basic as they are designed to confirm only the legitimacy and assignment of media to an event. The standard application answers two questions: is this writer a legitimate journalist and does the writer have an assignment? Since it is an application and not a contract, it is therefore revealing that UFC felt the need to have this routine document examined by a COO with a law degree.

By the way, the writer I was exchanging e-mails with who covered this weekend's fight was not asked to sign any credential application. He was not even told that the application existed. Like me, he would never sign such a form. Could it be that UFC has a problem with the Buffet? Not according to an MGM spokesperson: "He [the other writer] had tickets to the event and no credential." Of course, that offer of review tickets without a credential was never made to me.

But why would UFC have any problems with the Buffet? Certainly this was not the case two years ago, the last time I covered a UFC fight. At that time, there was no discussion of a credential application at all.

Of course, since then I have attempted to question famously touchy UFC head Dana White about his issues with fighter Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson, pictured. That request for an interview with White was at first rebuffed and then ignored. Now, when it comes to me, a credential application with all sorts of stipulations is required for a press pass. I wonder what they are so worried about?

Here is one possibility: if credentialed, I would have been there this weekend to view the after-fight press conference fight. According to Robin Leach's blog, that press conference turned into such a fiasco with such vitriol and chaos that the police were called and "UFC officials immediately ended the press conference." Eventually order was restored and the press conference resumed.

So, was the problem caused by two emotionally high-strung fighters who could not settle it in the ring? No. Once again the situation was apparently a conflict between White and Ortiz and Jameson. Apparently, White wanted Ortiz at the press conference about as much as he wanted me there.

Of course, next time, I can always just buy a ticket and go blog about the UFC event. But that might not be necessary. UFC's moment may be passing anyway. Ortiz, the league's biggest star, now is done with UFC, and the league is facing increased competition.

On his blog, Leach also reports about speculation on the future of Ortiz and for White's UFC: "Will Tito join a rival Mixed Martial Arts league or retire and how will White take on his more bitter rivals in the XC Extreme Sports league that starts its CBS TV network coverage next Saturday night from Newark, New Jersey. If a ratings success I am reliably told three further fights would be broadcast live from Vegas."

And, of course, network fights on CBS are likely to get many more viewers than pay-for-view and cable fights. That would begin to make UFC obsolete even as it approaches mainstream status. When I first wrote about a UFC fight in 2006 that league was bringing unprecedented attention to mixed martial arts. But maybe now it is time for the next big sensation. I wonder if EliteXC requires select press to sign a credential application?

UPDATE: An MGM spokesperson writes: "I can clarify the incident about the post-fight press conference -- there was NO incident at all -- the officers were simply there to monitor the situation in the event anything got out of control. Everything was fine and so you know they attend every event we have whether it's boxing, UFC or concerts."

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)

I usually don't post promotional photos sent out by nightclubs. But this shot of '80s pop star Tiffany performing Tuesday night at MGM's Studio 54 seems so very Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come for today's nightclub stars that I thought I would share.

(Photo courtesy MGM Mirage)

One of the stranger aspects of Vegas entertainment has been the return of supposed mind readers and psychics to Strip showrooms. And, to me, worst of all, back in Vegas are the people who claim power to communicate with the dead and then sell that as entertainment. As dubious as entertainment this may be, cheap the experience is not. The ticket prices for the top entertainers in the supernatural circuit beat out even most of the top ticket prices of Cirque's five shows on the Strip.

Today through Saturday, for example, professional future-predictor Sylvia Browne will be performing at Excalibur, with a top ticket price of $137.50. Even more expensive is the bring-out-your-dead clairvoyant entertainer, John Edward, who will be at the Flamingo at  $175 for the top ticket.

In case you can't tell from my tone, I am very uncomfortable with entertainment that proclaims to predict the future or to offer communication to people's lost loved ones. This is religion or at least faith that is being packaged and sold as entertainment in Vegas. We have built a city for tourists' amusement, and the Strip should never be confused as a spiritual haven where wisdom is dispensed from its showroom stages.

Even if you believe John Edward is sincere, how is it righteous to charge people desperate for a message from those they have lost in life $175 for a ticket? This does not, by the way, even guarantee that he will call on you in the audience.

Anyway, by one of those coincidences that inspires faith, the James Randi Educational Foundation will be following John Edward to the Flamingo next month when Randi holds his annual skeptics convention to support his foundation. Amazing Randi's foundation is most famous for its Million Dollar Challenge, which offers $1 million to anyone who can demonstrate paranormal powers under scientific conditions and protocols. Actually, Browne agreed to take Amazing Randi's challenge in 2001. What happened? To this day on his website, Amazing Randi keeps track as the years tick by and Browne has yet to fulfill her promise.  Maybe Amazing Randi can come to the Flamingo a bit early this year for the convention and we can finally get the issue resolved with Browne?

Meanwhile, John Edward has refused to take the foundation challenge. That is smart of him. Why would he take the challenge? I mean, on the up side, if he passes, he would get $1 million and show scientists that there really is another world where the dead live. He would also undermine the entire community of skeptics by having famed debunker Amazing Randi proclaim his supernatural powers are authentic. He could make doubters like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins cry in misery and failure, not to mention have the pleasure of telling that smug atheist Penn Jillette, "I told you so!" It might even cause a spiritual revolution in this country. In fact, if Amazing Randi authenticated John Edward's "powers," nothing but great things for the entire world would come from passing the test. It would sure beat a gig at the Flamingo.

Of course, there is a possible downside for Edward if he fails the test. Edward is reasonable if not psychic enough to know the outcome if his ability to talk to the dead were to be tested by the James Randi Educational Foundation. Right now people will line up to pay $175 for the chance that he may call on them in a sold-out showroom at the Flamingo. How many would still come if he failed the challenge?

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)

Criss Angel has finally commented publicly on the ugly spat between himself and Review-Journal's Norm Clarke that happened after the Miss USA pageant in April. During the incident, Angel threatened the eyesight of Clarke. He then ignored opportunities to deny or retract the threat. Yesterday, on the red carpet for the Academy of Country Music Awards, Steve Friess asked Angel about the incident. On his blog, Friess transcribes their brief exchange:

Friess: Are you planning to apologize for the threat you made against Norm Clarke of the Review-Journal?

Angel: The problem is, some people got their lines crossed. And if some people got the whole story, they would see that what he wrote is actually not what really happened. So there’s nothing to apologize for.

Friess: What really happened?

Angel: I’d need awhile to explain that to you and now is not the appropriate time.

The appropriate time, of course, would have been immediately after the incident. If Angel has a story to tell at any point, he can still offer it; then there will not be more of these awkward red carpet encounters. And there will be more. In fact, the questioner could have as easily been me, if I had been covering ACM's red carpet instead of the Helldorado Days Parade. I am sure I will run into Criss Angel soon and get my chance to ask. And I wonder what questions Norm Clarke might have for Angel on the next red carpet those two meet?

Angel has created a public relations nightmare for himself that with his Cirque show set to open in September, many in Vegas are still interested in his threat to Clarke and other ugly behavior attributed to him during the Miss USA contest back in April.

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)

In many ways Saturday night's Helldorado Days Parade in Las Vegas could have been any small town. It was hosted by the Las Vegas Elks. An honor guard of firefighters took the lead in dress uniforms with flags. There were high school marching bands, chanting Girl Scouts groups, the Shriners in their little buggies and community groups that I never heard of, such as the Nevada Gay Rodeo Assn.

The Helldorado Days Parade claims to be the oldest tradition in Las Vegas, boasting a 103-year-old legacy. Of course, like most truths about Vegas, there is some fudging around the edges. For example, the parade was discontinued for a while in the '90s, has been moved (the Fremont Street Experience stands on part of one old parade route) and shrunk and, finally, perhaps to attract more people, moved into the evening (avoiding the necessary heat-braving attitude implied in the Helldorado Days name).

And, like everything about Vegas, Helldorado was a tradition originally created to bring tourists to Las Vegas. Helldorado Days was started in 1935 after the completion of the Hoover Dam (and the departure of thousands of workers who built the project) caused the city fathers to feel that the nascent city of Las Vegas was threatening to become a ghost town.

But nowadays Helldorado is the rare Vegas event definitely geared to locals. Fans given out on wooden sticks urged support for local judicial candidates. "I like to see the politicians," Monica Patalong told me as she monitored a group of four children watching the parade. She added: "I like that they moved it to the evening instead of during the day. The history is important, and in Las Vegas it is always good to have something you can bring kids to."

In fact, families and seniors lined much of the parade route, making up the majority of spectators. Carol Layland, 70, told me she has come to more Helldorado Days Parades than she can recall. "This brings back many memories," Layland said while awaiting the start of the parade. "It used to have a much longer parade route. But I still enjoy it every time."

Perhaps the most recognizable presence in the parade this year was Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, bearing a supersized version of his trademark martini. After waving to every person he could find, Goodman explained his take on the Helldorado Days Parade to me:  "This is what Las Vegas is all about, a sense of community. It is absolutely a locals' thing."

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)