Posted on 10/25/2003 11:09:22 AM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs
Would you cast Liza Minnelli as Superwoman? More to the point, as a wildly drunk and vicious Superwoman?
Her estranged husband, David Gest, insists it's a role she played during their 16-month marriage. He filed a $10 million suit Tuesday claiming she drew super strength from vodka, drinking up to a quart at a time and beating him as he pleaded with her to stop.
Perhaps that was Krypton Vodka? Or, at least, Ephedra Enhanced Vodka? Gest, 50, who has reportedly checked into a rehabilitation center in Hawaii to recover from his injuries, didn't say.
But Dr. Barbara Krantz, medical director at the Hanley-Hazelden Center in West Palm Beach, says sudden rage is common among alcoholics and the fury of an enraged alcoholic might give the appearance of brute power.
"It may not be truly super-human strength," Krantz suggests. "It may be that she's acting out of character, that she's just totally uninhibited."
Minnelli, 57, whose past problems with alcohol and pills have been widely reported, entered a "self help" rehabilitation program in March. She reacted to Gest's suit by filing for divorce, calling his allegations "hurtful and without merit."
Krantz says the relationship between alcoholism and violence is clear.
"What happens is that as you continue drinking, you disrupt normal brain function," Krantz says. "The alcohol impairs information, so the person's going to misjudge their social cues or overreact to a perceived threat."
She points to figures used by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that show up to half of all violent criminals were drinking at the time of the offense, including 57 percent of men and 27 percent of women accused of marital violence.
Drinking a quart or more of distilled liquor like vodka is routine for some alcoholics, although it could be dangerous or even fatal to others.
A quart of vodka is enough to make 10 to 15 martinis, depending on the generosity of the bartender. Krantz says six to eight drinks could render the average-size nonalcoholic incoherent with a blood alcohol level around 0.25 (0.08 is legally drunk in Florida). Above 10 drinks, or 0.30, serious injury and even death become real dangers. The peril rises along with the alcohol level.
Krantz, a medical doctor board certified in addiction treatment, says she's treated alcoholic patients with blood alcohol levels that would leave the average person comatose. "Tolerance is a characteristic of the disease of alcoholism," Krantz says. "It's also a warning sign. You've heard people say, 'I can drink you under the table?' That's not necessarily a good thing."
Does her new guy have any idea that after the concert he's going to get his lights punched out?
• Got an Oscar? Need some cash? Then perhaps you should talk to Yossi Dina, pawnbroker to the stars. He’s the man Hollywood’s rich and famous turn to when they are looking for a quick loan...or a good bargain on a priceless piece of pop culture memorabilia. Dina, a 49 year-old Israeli immigrant, is co-owner of South Beverly Wilshire Jewelry and Loan, an unassuming storefront one block from ritzy Rodeo Drive, where stars like Farrah Fawcett, Rob Lowe and TV’s Judge Judy Scheindlin often search for bargains on foreclosed jewelry and watches. “Some of my clients are very wealthy but they will need $50,000 cash or $100,000 cash and the bank isn’t open or doesn’t have that much on hand,” says Dina, a former door-to-door jewelry salesman. “With me if you bring me the right piece and you own the piece, I can give you the cash in five minutes.”
If she's singing? Yes.
Her estranged husband, David Gest, insists it's a role she played during their 16-month marriage. He filed a $10 million suit Tuesday claiming she drew super strength from vodka, drinking up to a quart at a time and beating him as he pleaded with her to stop.
Perhaps, (if his statements are even close to accurate) he should spend more than just 10 months getting to know his future "lifetime partner". Unless, of course, all he was concerned with was Liza's finances.
If he is honest with his accusations, then he should be wiping his brow with relief, and getting on with his life with what he brought to the relationship...alone.
BUT, this IS America and I'm sure my statements are taken as blasphemous to "no charge attorneys" that will take such a case for a measly 50% of winnings to cover his costs to help his client.
Yes, monitor and keyboard cleanup is sooo much easier to contend with when one is prepared!
DIVA COULD ROCK BOXING WORLD
By Lin Anderson
(New York) -- Accused of assault in divorce papers filed by her estranged husband, David Gest, Liza Minnelli could well have a bright future in the ring, reports boxing expert and commentator Ferdie Pacheco.
"I was struck -- not literally, thank goodness -- by the description of Liza's technique in David's account of the alleged assaults," said Pacheco, known to aficionados of the "sweet science" as "the Fight Doctor."
"When Gest said Liza pummeled his face with resounding rights and lefts, I could only think of Gene Tunney's relentless assault on his opponents," Pacheco continued. "When he said she yelled, 'I am the star!' during the altercations, I suddenly realized she possessed the bold, brash self-respect of an Ali."
Noting that Gest's suit alleges he suffered "severe, unrelenting headaches; nausea; hypertension; scalp tenderness and insomnia" in the wake of the alleged beatings, Pacheco pointed out that, "Those are the exact complaints of some of Mike Tyson's early opponents, back when he was an undisciplined mauler. I smell a diamond in the rough here -- Liza with a Z for 'Zowie!'"
The boxing expert added that Minnelli's future potential in the ring is only enhanced by the recent proliferation of female boxers on once exclusively male fight cards.
"This whole package represents to me the heart of a champion," Pacheco said. "A little gin in her Gatorade, and I think we may have ourselves a contender."
The gentleman seems to be carrying a little red box, who would smack a man bearing a gift? He's very well prepared.
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