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Stars shine at Ali's Fight Night Carlos Chavez/Scottsdale Republic Billy Crystal watches Muhammad Ali do a magic trick in the VIP room during the Fight Night charity event Saturday evening at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The event netted $5.5 million for charity, including three spontaneous pledges of $1 million. Mar. 18, 2003 12:00 AM NORTHEAST VALLEY - This weekend's Celebrity Fight Night benefit with Muhammad Ali attracted some heavyweights of showbiz. Tickets for the Saturday night gala started at $1,500 per person, making it the most expensive black-tie fund-raiser in town. The sold-out event drew nearly 900 partygoers to the Arizona Biltmore Resort, benefiting more than 10 charities, including the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center and Childhelp USA. Fight Night founder Jimmy Walker says the bash netted $5.5 million, including the three guests who raised their hands and spontaneously pledged $1 million each. David Foster, the multitalented 14-time Grammy winner, orchestrated Friday night's informal entertainment for a small private dinner and for Saturday night's star lineup. The talent boasted Rod Stewart, Reba McEntire, Dennis Quaid and Halle Berry's husband, Eric Benet. And what would a lifestyles-of-the-rich- and-famous soiree be without the champagne-and-caviar guy, Robin Leach? FYI Slideshow: Celebrity Fight Night Knockout 'Fight' facts • Fight Night Founder Jimmy Walker says the event netted $5.5 million. That includes the three guests who each spontaneously raised their hands and pledged $1 million. • Saturday night's black-tie dinner and auction attracted nearly 50 local and national celebrities. • A live auction of a trip to San Francisco for four, to have dinner with Robin Williams and his wife, Marsha, went this year for $120,000 - twice! • An auction item to have dinner with Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, in either New York City or Beverly Hills sold for $70,000. On Friday, the well-knowns started to hit town in private planes, most of them landing at Scottsdale Municipal Airport. Jack Nicklaus flew in from his home in Florida. The golfing legend stayed with Lyle and Missy Anderson in their Paradise Valley abode. Kathie Lee and Frank Gifford flew in from their home in Greenwich, Conn. The couple and their kids Cody, 13, and Cassidy, 9, stayed with their friends Budd and Laurie Florkiewicz in Scottsdale. On Saturday afternoon, Kathie Lee, Cody and Laurie hiked up the Pinnacle Peak Trail. Fight Night organizers arranged for a private plane to bring in Robin Williams from San Francisco and on the way pick up his buddy Billy Crystal in Los Angeles. (Robin insisted on paying for his leg of the flight.) Dale and Vicki Jensen of Paradise Valley have had dinner with Robin in San Francisco twice. They bid a total of $200,000 at past Fight Night events for the chance to dine with Robin and his wife, Marsha, at the Williamses' internationally renowned Rubicon restaurant. By the way, Dale and Vicki were just married in Shep Gordon's vacation home on the beach in Maui. Shep, Alice Cooper's manager since day one, also has managed talents such as Raquel Welch and Rick James. Dale chartered a 737 BBJ jet and flew the wedding party to Maui. If you have an item for Celebrity Sightings, contact Kathy Shayna Shocket at [log in to unmask] SOURCE: The Arizona Republic http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/0318sr- shocket18Z8.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn