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.

E-MAIL your items to: NYConf@NewsCommunications.com

NYConfidential by Michael Schenkler with: Tom Allon, Steve Azzara, Peter Catapano, Ira Cohen, Tamara Hartman, Barbara Jarvie, Evan Kapitansky, Joshua Kaufman, Mike Nussbaum and Dee Richard.