FLASHES

Ollie, Ollie Oxen Free After Posting Bond
Oliver Miller had a dubious homecoming when the Detroit Pistons flew in recently to play the Suns. A court hearing in his divorce had been scheduled to coincide with the visit: During that hearing, somebody pointed out that Ollie had an outstanding warrant in Phoenix City Court. The Porky Piston had failed to show for a hearing that stemmed from a misdemeanor spousal-abuse case, and a subsequent protective order, involving Ollie.

Executing a trapping defense, deputies detained The Big O in a booking room at the courthouse. His lawyer fast-broke to City Court to post bond. Before Miller was freed, he posed for a photo with a deputy, then autographed the mug shot (the photo was made with the booking-photo camera).

Some notes from the divorce file: Ollie’s salary is listed at 90K per month, with a net income of $69,536. He lists his monthly expenses at about $12,200, including $4,485 in car payments, $1,500 in clothing–but only $200 for food. Of course, Ollie receives a hefty per diem for meals from the Pistons. The $200 must be for snacks. Like, for example, entire bricks of Velveeta.

Ollie’s line for the Phoenix game: six points and four rebounds in 18 minutes. His line about Phoenix fans who booed him roundly: “They dumb.”

Fife’s Foul-Mouthed Flack
“Hell, I never read that piece of shit,” Governor Fife Symington’s public relations spokesman Doug Cole said of the March 16 New Times cover story on how Symington and former aide George Leckie acted to steer a $3 million state contract to Symington’s personal accounting firm, Coopers & Lybrand (“Anatomy of a Greased Bid”).

Moments after Cole boldly cursed while on state time, the author of the offending piece, New Times writer John Dougherty, bumped into the Fifester himself, who was taking gubernatorial sustenance at Tom’s Tavern.

“Here’s a copy of the New Times,” Dougherty generously offered.
“I never read it,” retorted Fife.
“Well, you should.”
“I’d rather read comic books,” the fleeing Fifester said as he fled.

Pass the Buck, and a Brew
Here’s what you probably don’t know about the Tempe City Council’s disingenuous vote to deny Hooters a liquor license last month. First off, the city has known about the racy establishment’s plan to move into the historic Laird Building since June 24, 1993. Back then, the city approved an ordinance giving the city ownership of the land Hooters would occupy. So why did all councilmembers except one, Linda Spears, vote no on an already done deal? They capitulated to a shrill group of feminists who fear those well-endowed waitresses would demean Tempe womenfolk.

Developer Ted Clawson refuses comment, insiders say Clawson will lose tens of thousands of dollars because construction has crawled to a halt pending the state liquor board’s April 6 hearing, when it will decide once and for all whether Hooters can serve hooch.

Although they voted no, council folks made sure that Hooters will get its liquor license. That’s because the city council, failed to provide a legal reason for rejecting Hooters’ license request. And liquor lawyers tell the Flash that by refusing to state a reason for its denial, the council paved the way for the liquor board to grant the license, anyway.

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