Hawk posted pictures of his wild ride on Twitter, fueling debate over whether his escapade was appropriate.

Before attending Buffett's star-studded event, Hawk defended himself against the backlash.

"Wow, haters! My passion, the sport that made me who I am, has allowed me to live the American Dream, disrespects the White House? Not at all," he wrote.

He had been invited to the White House by President Barack Obama for a Father's Day celebration.

Hawk, 41, wrote: "Hi, I am inside the White House gates eating Frosted Flakes and about to do press. You heard it here first. Yes, I brought my skateboard."

Later, he tweeted: "The Prez did apologise for not having any ramps to skate on the grounds."

After receiving permission, he briefly skated in the Grand Foyer of the White House and took a ride over the checkered tiles in the nearby Old Executive Office Building.

Hawk even had an exit strategy. "And here is my exit," he wrote, while linking to a picture of him skating. "Supposed to return at noon for the First Fathers event if they let me back in."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Shawn King had some exciting news after Friday's appearance at Encore Theater, where she opened for her husband, CNN talk show host Larry King. She's heading for Broadway after being asked to play a villainess in the "Spider-Man" musical. She's in talks, she said, and was approached by producer David Garfinkle, who asked her to audition after Danny Gans died. She was to open for Gans the day he died. When I asked her about her meeting last week with the "Real Housewives of Los Angeles" talent scouts, she made a face. Not interested, she said. ...

Holly Madison makes her "Peepshow" debut as Bo Peep tonight at Planet Hollywood Resort, which heralded her arrival by blocking out "wood" in the rooftop sign. A couple of things you may not have known about her (see HollyMadison123 at Twitter): She attends church with a friend named Angel (a galpal), she's taking French classes, and she didn't utter a peep -- Bo Tweeps? -- about getting caught trying to sneak an underage girlfriend into Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel on June 14. ...

Veteran local publicist Frank Lieberman broke a hip in two places over the weekend. Wish him well at PRLieber@aol.com.

SIGHTINGS

Tennis ace Pete Sampras and his wife, Bridgette, at The Country Club at Wynn for dinner on Saturday. They were in town for Buffett's Netjets bash, as was Billy Crystal, who performed, Wayne and Janet Gretzsky, Dean Cain, and Rikki Lake.

THE PUNCH LINE

"David, don't forget to send Larry King a Father's Day card." -- David Letterman, attributing a quote to his mother, Dorothy Mengering, during Friday's "Late Show" monologue.

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