Jay-Z would get $44 million in the deal that reportedly would turn 40/40 into a megasports book operation and give The Sands the right to open 40/40 clubs in London and across Europe.

A 40/40 representative said the club would have no comment.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Comedy legend Jerry Lewis is sharing more details about his being detained at McCarran International Airport July 25, after a security guard found a .22-caliber gun in his luggage. It was a gift given to him at last year's Muscular Dystrophy telethon at South Point, he told Entertainment Tonight. Lewis said he hadn't traveled since receiving the gun. He was cited by the Metropolitan Police Department for having a working firearm. ...

KVBC-TV, Channel 3 reporter Hetty Chang, back from the Beijing Olympic Games, witnessed an eerie experience. A city of 17.4 million turned into a ghost town on Aug. 8, during the opening ceremonies. "The streets were practically empty," she said in her blog about the Olympic experience. Restaurants and stores closed and taxi drivers parked their cabs. Everyone wanted to watch the once-in-a-lifetime experience, she said. Redevelopment was so massive that the hotel she stayed in on the east side of the city was difficult to spot and "not a single one of our taxi drivers knew how to find it." ...

Chef Marco Porceddu e-mailed me to say that he sold Bella Luna restaurant on West Sahara about two years ago to focus on a thriving restaurant consulting career, which includes concepts with Pinnacle Gaming, another on Sunset Boulevard, and another in St. Louis. For the past year, Porceddu has been the food and wine editor at KVVU-TV, Channel 5. ...

Robert Reynolds, manager of The Killers, informs me that the rock group is not yet ready to announce the name of its third CD, but it won't be "Do Or Die," the title which has been mentioned in several publications.

SIGHTINGS

Ja Rule, showing up for two surprise appearances on the Strip late Thursday. He made his first appearance at LAX (Luxor), then in the wee hours at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon, during the hip-hop DJ battle. Earlier, he was seen dining at The Country Club (Wynn). ... Chris Daughtry, wearing a cream colored-wool cap while dining at T-Bones (Red Rock Resort) on Thursday with friends.

THE PUNCH LINE

"During flight, they hit you with additional $200 'landing charge.'" -- from David Letterman's "Top Ten Signs Your Airline is Cutting Costs."

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.