My suspicions were confirmed Friday night at Borgata: I definitely don't have the Robin Williams gene.

That's the cellular mechanism that makes people think the veteran comic-actor is not only a singularly hilarious human being, but a bonafide genius whose lightning-like mind is almost supernatural.

There obviously were plenty of those gene-carriers at the Big B's Events Center Friday. They were the ones whooping and guffawing at most of what Williams had to say. And he had plenty to say. About everything from Atlantic City and GPS units to Sarah Palin and former Phillies star Lenny Dykstra.

It's not that Williams didn't prove to be extremely bright and clever, not to mention knowledgeable about a dizzying array of subjects. And there were plenty of punchlines that were amusing. Speaking of O.J. Simpson's book, "If I Did It," he suggested "Even the devil's saying, 'What a f-----g moron!'" He identified earthquake-prone San Francisco as "God's Etch-A-Sketch." And he described this difference between current Veep Dick Cheney and his would-be successor Palin: "If she shoots you in the face, you stay...down!"

Decent lines. But hardly the stuff of genius. At least for us gene-less types.

SIMON-IZED: They're probably still scratching their heads at the Big B over Carly Simon's set last Saturday night. According to a source who witnessed the whole sorry affair, Simon's performance was so awful--and the crowd let her know it-- she pretty much turned the gig over to her son, singer-songwriter Ben Taylor after five songs.

How hostile was the crowd? "The Borgata could have made a lot of money if they sold pitchforks at the box office," said our source.

During his legendary Phillies career, Hall of Famer Steve Carlton had the reputation as a strong, silent type, thanks to his steadfast refusal to talk to the media. So who knew the revered hurler known to Phanatics simply as "Lefty" was quite the raconteur? Carlton was glib, insightful and incredibly entertaining Wednesday night as the special guest at a Borgata World Series Party in the casino's Music Box theater.

Some 700 Big B customers and their guests  were there  to watch Game 1 on three giant TV screens. Between innings, Carlton and the emcee, the ever-upbeat and optimistic Don Tollefson of 950 ESPN, offered game commentary and answered fans' questions. Contrary to his Sphinx-like demeanor in the '70s and '80s, Carlton was a regular David Letterman.

For instance, when asked to describe his pre-game ritual, Lefty didn't skip a beat before he replied, "Throwing up." And when another guest petitioned Carlton to list his toughest outs, the ex-pitcher parried, "None of 'em."

You still might catch Lefty roaming the halls at Borgata. He was scheduled to head to Philly today, but told casino officials he and his lady friend enjoyed the Water Club so much, they decided to stick around for a while.

Frank Sinatra Jr. turned in a typically stellar performance Sunday night at the Atlantic City Hilton.

I knew it would be a cool night when, upon arriving at the Hilton, I noticed an early-'70s, copper-colored Cadillac Eldorado convertible (with its top down) parked at the porte cochere. The (New Jersey) license plate read: "SUMAWND."

Inside the theater, things were equally swingin' as "Junior" again proved he is a first-class vocalist and entertainer. Sure, he thrilled the audience with spot-on versions of such Ol' Blue Eyes signatures as "Night and Day," "Angel Eyes," "I've got the World on a String" and, of course, "New York, New York" and "My Way." But some of the set's strongest moments came when Sinatra veered from Greatest Hits Avenue onto some less-traveled side streets: "Blues In the Night," "Indiscreet" and "Grenada" (which ping-ponged between a brass-blaring, Spanish motif and classic big-band swing) were real treats.

One of the real joys of attending a Frank Sinatra Jr. concert is the opportunity to hear a full (38-piece) orchestra--something that has pretty much gone the way of rotary-dial phones and rooftop TV antennas, at least in AyCee showrooms. To his everlasting credit, Sinatra stubbornly clings to a religious-like belief in, as he called it last night, "the entire spectrum of musical color" such an ensemble provides.

In all, another great show from a criminally underrated artist.

TALKIN' POLITICS: If there is something that ignites Sinatra's passions as much as the classic pop music of the pre-rock era, it's politics. After his show, he had this word of caution for his fellow Americans in this season of non-stop promises of "change" by the two candidates:

"People need to realize," he reasoned, "that just because we get a new president on Jan. 20, everything will not be fine on Jan. 21."

And just who will Sinatra--whose father famously supported Republicans in the latter part of his life--pull the lever for Nov. 4? He explained that while he has been a friend of McCain's for some time, he is concerned about the Republican standard-bearer's health. The prospect of Sarah Palin becoming president, he continued, is simply too frightening to contemplate. Thus, he expects to vote for Obama (or, to put a finer point on it, against McCain).

FLY-GUYS PROMOTION: Wanna hang with two Flyers legends--and sip the new wines they've endorsed, to boot? Then get a Resorts Atlantic City Destination Card (if you don't already have one), and enter the drawing to win admission to a Nov. 1 VIP bash whose guests of honor will be '70s icons Bobby Clarke and Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. Hosting the soiree will be ESPN 950 host Mike Missanelli.

Winners will get their pictures taken with the two Stanley Cup heroes, two autographed bottles of Ironstone Wine and a chance to take home some official NHL merchandise. They'll also get to sample Clarke's Cabernet sauvignon, and Schultz's chardonnay along with 10 other vintages from Ironstone Vineyards' NHL Alumni Signature Wine Series.

Current Destination Card holders automatically receive one entry into the sweepstakes. Additional entries can be earned by accruing one point on slot play or by playing an hour at the table game of their choice. The promotion ends at 9 p.m. Oct. 25, at which time winners' names will be drawn.

For more info, call (609) 344-6000.

Even though I am inviting another round of chastisement, ridicule and general abuse, I must congratulate the Atlantic City City Council for granting casinos a year-long delay in implementing the full smoking ban.

The council, to its credit, grasped the fundamental point of banning smoking at this time: An already under-siege industry would be forced to absorb yet another financial body blow if smoking were prohibited on all areas of the casino floor. The September revenue numbers told the story: A decline unprecedented in three decades of legalized gambling. Simply put, this is not the time to make it even harder for the casinos to keep the customers they still have.

I really don't want to get into the same argument some of us had a little while back concerning the merits and necessity of total smoking prohibition. I understand the health risks of second-hand smoke. And, yes, in a perfect world, smoking would be banned.

But in case you haven't noticed, we don't live in a perfect world. Thousands of people--already hurting from the fallout of a once-in-a-century economic meltdown--could be rendered unemployed if smokers boycott AyCee in favor of more nicotine-friendly jurisdictions. It's fine--admirable even--to despair of employees' health. But what good will a ban do if it causes those employees to lose their jobs?

This is a no-win situation. Ban smoking, and you most likely exacerbate the revenue freefall. Allow it, and you put employees (and guests) in harm's way.

But in an impossible situation, City Council stepped up and did the right thing.

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Here's a couple of questions I recently received from readers. I think they both address interesting topics.

Q: Can you tell me why it is that when I go to see entertainment at Tropicana, I find that my favorite Atlantic City performers have all been replaced by Canadians such as Angella Seeger and Sherri Gold?
Also....the majority of the Production Shows in their showroom are Canadian? When I inquire... the answer I am given is this. Because of the economic situation cutbacks have been made.

Isn't one of the reasons the American economy is in trouble is because of outsourcing and cutting Americans out of jobs? I want to see my American favorites back and I do not want to see a Christmas show or patriotic show where I am being wished a Merry Christmas and a God Bless the USA in a Canadian Accent when I know they are taking jobs from Americans.

Signed,

Speaking up on an American injustice

A: While economics may be at the root of it all, I'm not exactly sure this is the same situation as a company that outsources telemarketing or manufacturing jobs. In this case, I think that Trop management has been very satisfied with their current situation, artistically as well financially. And there is an obvious comfort level between the two entities. Believe me, this is important.

Finally, I must add that some of the American producers/casts the Trop has used in the past weren't as good as this group. And that, I believe, should be the most important factor in this type of situation.

But yours is a valid question, and I will try to have it answered by someone at the Trop.

Q: My question is about tipping. I starting playing no-limit hold'em in Atlantic City about 2 months ago and I'm not sure how much to tip when I win a hand. And is it customary to tip every winning hand? I've gone poker crazy, please keep the great articles coming. Thanks!

Pepperkitty 525

A: Assuming you're playing $1-$2, a $1 tip is fine on most hands. Generally, I don't tip if I take in less than $10 or so profit. However if you take two three small pots, you should probably tip at least once.

And I might tip $5 or more if I rake a monster pot ($200-plus).

Remember, there is no rule that says you are required to tip. It is a courtesy extended by you to the dealer. If you are not satisfied with his or her performance (it happens occasionally), you can keep your money. However it is considered good form to tip.

Good luck!

The House of Blues inside the Showboat might better be dubbed “House of Gloom,” at least on Sunday, as Death Cab for Cutie hits the stage.

The quartet from suburban Seattle is not particularly interested in making anyone feel good with its music. The band’s most recent release, “Narrow Stairs,” is chock-full of dark meditations on hopelessness, alienation and other navel-gazing subjects.

Perhaps it’s a sign of the times that the Cabsters—whose name is the title of a song (which actually appears in the Beatles’ film, “Magical Mystery Tour”) by 1960s musical jokesters The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band—have found a sizable audience with its repertoire of life-sucks-then-we-die songs. Or maybe nothing at all has changed, and it’s just that today’s teens and twentysomethings naturally gravitate toward such a jaded, nihilist point of view—as the generation before theirs did (see Floyd, Pink).

Showboat, Boardwalk at

ON THE FLIP SIDE: Everything in this world has its opposite. For Death Cab for Cutie, that would probably be Air Supply, which headlines Saturday at Trump Plaza .

The indestructible ‘80s duo (Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell) from Australia’s  credits include such musical Hallmark Cards as “All Out of Love,” “Even the Nights Are Better,” “Making Love Out of Nothing” and “The One That You Love.”

Trump Plaza , Boardwalk at

MEDICAL MILESTONE: For 25 years, the Ronald McDonald House organization has been providing free housing and other support for the families with children suffering from serious—sometimes fatal—conditions.

Saturday at Caesars, Atlantic City , the Ronald McDonald House idea—conceived by former Eagles GM Jim Murray--celebrates its silver anniversary with a black-tie bash.

The dinner’s featured entertainer is Shore-based Chad Juros, whose nom de show biz is Magical Chad. This is far from just another gig for the 20-year-old Juros: He has twice successfully battled cancer in his young life, and he credits learning magic while in the hospital with being a main reason he was able to survive.

The master of ceremonies will be our dear friend, Joe Piscopo, who’ll meet and greet guests and maybe even do a comedy bit or two. For more info about Ronald McDonald House and benefit info, go to  www.ronaldhouse-snj.org.

The best possible news has emerged from the ongoing efforts by the state of New Jersey to find a new owner for the beleaguered Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Earlier today, it was announced that Gary Stein, the state-appointed trustee charged with selling the property has identified Gomes+Cordish as the potential buyer. The recently formed company has reportedly bid $700 million for the Trop.

Why this is such great news is that Gomes+Cordish is the entity that, above all others, merits getting the casino-hotel, which Columbia-Sussex, a hotel conglomerate based in Kentucky, was forced to surrender last December after it pretty much gutted the Trop and ran it into the ground.

The "Gomes" in Gomes+Cordish is Dennis Gomes, who was the top guy at the Tropicana for 10 years, when it was owned by Aztar Inc. Since he came to town in the early '90s to run the Taj Mahal, Gomes has proven himself to be an incredibly capable and even visionary casino exec: It was he who conceived The Quarter, the Trop's $225 million retail, dining and entertainment complex that has been a hit since opening in late 2004.

While Gomes brings to the table an intimate knowledge of Atlantic City's gaming industry and a showman's sense of fun (it was he who brought to the Trop such exhibits as those dedicated to The Titanic and John F. Kennedy), the Baltimore-based Cordish Group brings deep pockets and an impressive track record that includes Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor and the Paradise Alley RDE complex at the Hard Rock casino-Hotel in Hollywood, Fla. It is also the developer of the planned PhillyLive! project at the South Philly sports complex.

Together, the two should not only resurrect the Trop and make it one of the town's major players, but they will likely be among the leading lights as Atlantic City continues its transformation from senior citizen day-trip destination to deluxe resort for the overnight visitor.

While things look good for the company, it still has to go through an impending auction in which other bidders are welcome to top the $700 million offered by Gomes+Cordish. In these economically depressed times when,The getting major financing is as difficult as hitting a multi-million jackpot, it seems likely that part of the process will be little more than a legal formality.

Despite some rumors to the contrary, it looks like the proposed sale of Trump Marina to New York-based Coastal Development LLC is on track.

According to various news reports, New York-based Coastal Development has secured all of the $316 million sale price, and expects to close the deal for Donald Trump's perennially under-performing bayside gaming hall by early next year at the latest. Coastal CEO Richard Fields has also announced that--again contrary to some gossip--the property will remain open while the complex is transformed into the Margaritaville casino-hotel.

Coastal's purchase of the Marina, and its planned Margaritaville strategy should prove to be an across-the-board winner.

Trump's gambling entity, Trump Entertainment Resorts, wins because the Marina has been a loser pretty much from the day it opened in 1985. It's too small, architecturally challenged (the casino is on the second floor--a no-no as far as gamblers are concerned) and aesthetically inferior (it's uninteresting design begs the name "Trump's Cell Block").

Not only does TER finally rid of itself of the albatross that is the Marina, but it will also have more than a quarter-billion dollars to plow back into its two remaining AyCee operations, the Taj Mahal and Plaza.

The city wins because Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville concept is perfect for AyCee, especially for that nautically inclined property. Buffett's cache with the demographic that casinos crave should make Margaritaville a huge draw (incidentally, the singer-songwriter is not a partner; his company is simply entering into a licensing deal with Coastal Development).

And the theme is a perfect compliment to the casino's two Marina District neighbors, Borgata and Harrah's, both of which tend to market to the same kind of audience Margaritaville is expected to target.

TROP UPDATE: The ongoing, state-sponsored search for a buyer for the beleaguered Tropicana appears to be headed to a denouement: Bids have been submitted by several parties including, we hear, the Planet Hollywood organization. A decision should be announced some time this fall.

A 22-year-old from Seattle playing in his first "live" poker tournament has won the World Poker Tour portion of the 2008 Borgata Poker Open. It took Vivek Rajkumar just six heads-up hands to claim the Atlantic City-record cash prize by being the last player out of 516 standing.

Prior to this week, Rajkumar---whose nickname is "Psyduck"--had confined his poker playing to the online realm. But he beat out such superstars as Mark Seif, Gavin Smith, Roy Winston and 2006 World Series of Poker champ Jamie Gold to claim the top spot.

His final opponent was Sang Kim of Virginia, who took home $750,000 for his second-place finish. The other final table contestants were Dan Heimiller ($387,500), Jason Strochak ($337,500), Seif ($287,500), and Andrew Knee ($237,500).

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Things may have been kind of slow in AyCee showrooms last week, but that sure isn't the case this weekend.

For instance, Frankie Valli returns to Borgata for another set of sold-out shows in the Big B's Music Box tonight through Sunday, while Celine Dion will pack Boardwalk Hall for Harrah's Entertainment tonight.

There's also plenty for Motown fans as The Temptations open a three-night stand at Tropicana while their comrades-in-larynx, The Four Tops make with the hits at the A.C. Hilton tonight and Saturday.

On a more contemporary note, the hot country act Sugarland hits the Taj Mahal Saturday. And if you're looking for laughs, Robert Klein yuks it up at Trump Plaza Saturday.

On a purely personal note, the coolest gig is that of Connie Stevens, who on Sunday, opens a five-night run at the Hilton. When I was a little (and I mean little) boy, Stevens was my first crush when she starred as nightclub photog Cricket Blake on "Hawaiian Eye."