Alberto Tomba, Leading Man in Skiing to Leading Man on the Big Screen
March 18, 1997

Three-time Olympic Champion Alberto Tomba wants a big-time Hollywood career and what Alberto wants, he usually gets. After spending time with him this past weekend at The World Cup Alpine Ski Finals in Vail, Colorado, I can tell you he certainly has magnetism, and if that translates on screen he will be a big success

Alberto told me that he was in Los Angeles for a few days prior to coming to the races in Vail. I asked the Italian sex symbol if he got a lot accomplished for his goal of becoming a movie star in Hollywood. He said "I went to dinner in Hollywood." I said "well that is a good start-you’ve got to schmooze a lot in Hollywood."

Alberto said maybe next year he will begin his big push for stardom on the movie screen. He said his mother is very afraid that he will get hurt skiing, so she is pushing him to quit skiing and go into acting.

"I’d like to do Baywatch" said Alberto. I asked him if he has a Speedo and can swim. He said "Oh, sure" and he would offer to rescue the girls. Spoken like a true Italian guy.

Alberto said he would like to be an action hero movie star. He told me that he thinks he can make the transition from ski star to Hollywood movie star because Americans love him.

I told him I heard a rumor that he has an amazing wine collection. Alberto told me he has over 5,000 bottles of wine-lots of reds. I told him I am coming over to his house for a party. He said "will you come?" I told him anyone with over 5,000 bottles of wine must have a good party.

He said one of his favorite parts of America is Napa Valley in California. "I wouldn’t mind living in San Francisco" said Alberto.

I suggested he start his own winery and/or vineyard. " Yes, maybe I will, and I will have a wine called ‘Tomba’." I have a feeling whatever Alberto does in his life--whether its acting or wine making-he will shine like he does in the ski world.

Friends of mine who work in skiing say that when Alberto retires from skiing what the ski world will lose, the movie industry will gain.

A LITTLE OF THIS AND A LITTLE OF THAT…

Renegade former college football player Brian Bosworth will now play a renegade private investigator, John Lawless (love that name) who is hired by a beautiful psychiatrist (Holly Gagnier), whose placement in the federal witness protection program has gone awry on the premiere of LAWLESS on Saturday, March 22 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on the FOX Television Network. The action series is set in Miami’s trendy South Beach-home of celebrities Madonna, Sly Stallone, Cher, Gloria Estafan…

Mark those calendars—triple threat—three generations of the Al Unser racing family (Al Unser, Al Unser Jr. and Al Richard Unser) will visit "Tool Time" on "Home Improvement, " Tuesday, March 25 at 9:00 p.m ET on the ABC Television Network. I adore Al Unser Jr.’s son, Al Richard who told me on a flight we shared to Australia that he loved to figure skate-I bet that makes his macho race car driver dad real happy...

"Beverly Hills 90210" star Jason Priestley and co-driver Andy Pilgrim finished an impressive 2nd place in the IMSA Endurance Race event this past Friday at the Sebring Raceway in Florida.