Late last Friday, casino giant MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) announced that it would provide $200 million to keep its $8.7 billion CityCenter project running.

This move should help resolve a "likely bankruptcy filing." Of the $200 million, $100 million should be provided by Dubai World, which is MGM's partner in the CityCenter joint venture. MGM stated that the funding is "with the authorization of its senior lenders" and satisfies the necessary sponsor equity contributions.

Perhaps The Donald should assign some of his interns to price out the value of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRMP). It seems, according to the Philadelphia Enquirer, that the company's asking price of $22 a share is double what the prospective buyer is willing to pay.

In an analysis that would deflate the ego of a lesser man, Bear Sterns Cos. Inc. recently placed a fair-market price of $11 on the stock, which is trading modestly above that level. Trump Entertainment Resorts, which owns casinos in Atlantic City, is thought to be very vulnerable to new gambling venues in development in New York and New Jersey. Earlier this month, CEO James Perry was forced out due to his lack of support for the rumored sale to Dennis Gomes and JEMB Realty Corp.

The disconnect between TER's expectations and the market's valuation of the company has a couple of troubling aspects. Given the sweet deal Harrah's Entertainment recently penned with Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group, Trump's paltry valuation makes even more obvious its shortcoming. And since the company hired Merrill Lynch to help craft a deal, I have to wonder who is avoiding a reality check here.

Trump Entertainment is in a precarious position to turn down a legitimate offer, but the spread between the two positions could well prove as impenetrable as The Donald's coiffure.

Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX)

Amazing. Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), that big online retailer, sees the flix for the net. The shares keep rising for the online DVD rental company-up about 15%, highest since January-- even if their discs do come a little scratched. More than that though is while new subscribers are coming on; it's not exactly going gangbusters. Still, 6.8M is a whole lot of subscribers. Will Amazon, or someone else, overpay?

Rackable Systems Inc (NASDAQ: RACK)

Which came first: The ongoing takeover rumors or the higher stock price? Or was it that Dell Inc (NASDAQ: DELL) is said to be after Rackable, a provider of servers and storage products for high density data center deployments. Rack it up.

Feldman Mall Properties Inc (NYSE: FMP)

Word is that this real estate investment trust will look for a sale, combo or merger. They said the venerable firm of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. will help them "explore strategic alternatives." Then the stock went up.

STILL FLYING AROUND

Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc (NASDAQ: TRMP)

Dennis Gomes, whose name surfaced in March, is a one time gaming exec and regulator. He's signed a confidentiality agreement to have a look see at the firm's Atlantic City casinos. Separately, Las Vegas' Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) has also been mentioned as a possible contender.

YRC Worldwide Inc (NASDAQ: YRCW)

The CEO of this Kansas-based transportation service provider has been quoted as saying that a takeover is possible. An LBO is likely. This week the shares have actively been trading up.

Dollar Tree Stores Inc (NASDAQ: DLTR)

Imagine a dollar tree where the stock keeps going up, up, up. Well, here it is, once again, a subject of takeover talk.

BUZZ

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X): Russia's Severstal may be prowling around...Plains Exploration & Production Company (NYSE: PXP): Takeover candidate's stock is sharply higher... Micron Technology Inc (NYSE: MU): Blackstone has interest...Ameristar Casinos Inc (NASDAQ: ASCA): A hot stock and takeover rumors abound...Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA): Remains an LBO candidate...The First Marblehead Corporation (NYSE: FMD): The student loan business is booming and earnings growth is strong, but who would buy it?...Marriott International Inc (NYSE: MAR): A target? But where's the movement?...Oakley Inc (NYSE: OO) as a target has been around and around, and now some say it will be bought by Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX).

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) announced it intends to raise another $5 billion via a domestic credit facility. The money will be used to refinance current debt, provide operating capital and fund current development projects such as the Cotai Strip project in China.

Preliminary first quarter 2007 figures for LAV's Las Vegas properties showed a 7% bump in hotel revenues over same quarter '06, with average daily rates at its flagship Venetian in Las Vegas up $26 over the previous year. The hotel continues to enjoy almost 100% occupancy.

Vegas casino revenues continued to grow as well, up 24%. EBITDAR for LAV's Las Vegas property was estimated up between $6-11 million over first quarter 2006's $101.1 million.

The company expects its new Palazzo complex, targeting top-end customers, to come online later this year, adding 7,000 rooms and 2.3 million square feet of convention space to Las Vegas Sands' holdings. Also opening this summer is the company's $2.4 billion Venetian Macau.

LAV's stock has been suffering over the past few months, as investors express uncertainty about the potential for overdevelopment of the far East market. Rolling up another $5 billion of debt may not help bolster confidence, unless the company can convince investors they have great prospects in sight.

Complete first quarter numbers are expected around May 3.

There are at least three busy bees this week: Donald, Carl, and Andy. Andy? Who's Andy? Read on...


TRUMP ENTERTAINMENT RESORTS INC (NASDAQ: TRMP)

Can you image Trump being in demand? Gosh, he always says that, but now, there's something to it. If "The Donald" decides to sell his casino company, his timing is right because there's strong interest in gaming assets, and not too much competition in Atlantic City, where his casino properties are located. Last week Donald's company hired Merrill Lynch to help with "strategic options", which, of course, means it's for sale. And if everyone gets this one right, Donald won't have to fire anyone.


MOTOROLA INC (NYSE: MOT)

There's no satisfying Carl. Carl Icahn, that is, who wants a seat on Motorola's board and keeps upping his stake in the company, now at 2.7%. The company buys back its shares; Carl wants them to buy more. Over the last five months, thanks to cheaper phones and tough competition, the company has lost about a third of its market value, or $22B. Then they issue another profit warning. Carl still wants in, but the company doesn't want Carl. Motorola sure hopes those shareholders will stand with them. Not Carl.


PALM INC (NASDAQ: PALM)

"As you can imagine, there's a lot of rumors and speculation out there and we're not going to comment on that stuff," says Palm CFO Andy Brown. Oh, come on Andy, what's up? Really. You have a 60%-plus profit decline, and gee, Wall Street doesn't have the hots for your stock. Earnings projections are in the tank. And what's Morgan Stanley doing to earn their keep and help you sort this all out, anyway? Sale, sale, sale? Will it be DelI (DELL)? Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)? Microsoft (MSFT)? Motorola? Come on Andy! Would you call us first? We're listed.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• According to the Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the situation, Las Vegas casino company Station Casinos Inc (NYSE: STN) has entered into a definitive agreement with Fertitta Colony Partners to be acquired by the company for about $5.5B and taken private.
• The Wall Street Journal's "Heard on the Street" column reported that many investors are getting cautious on REITs, saying "If Sam Zell is selling, I should too." The article advises to be cautious, and not to flood the REIT market, but not to be too worried by these signs.

OTHER PAPERS:

• In more Sam Zell related news, the Chicago real estate billionaire who just sold his office development company for $39B wants to buy the Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB), according to the New York Times.
• Also according to the New York Times, Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) is expected to name Gary Crittenden as its new CFO, replacing Sallie Krawcheck.
• According to Bloomberg, Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) is expected to receive an LBO offer of up to $54B, or $60 per share, from a private equity consortium.
• According to the Sunday U.K. Times, EQT is close to acquiring Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: HLT) Scandic Hotels for around $1B.
• The Associated Press, citing an Iranian State-run radio, is reporting that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran will move forward with its nuclear program despite international demands to halt the uranium enrichment.

All hell is breaking loose in Jolly Olde over rights to build England's first Las Vegas-style mega-casino, and now the U.S. company Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) has jumped in the middle of the maelstrom.

Just last week the Casino Advisory Panel advising Britain's Dept. for Culture, Media and Sport released its recommendation that Manchester be chosen to host this casino. This was a bombshell to the press and locals who had touted Blackpool or London as prohibitive favorites.

Once the site was chosen, the game was afoot for potential casino operators. Krezner International seemed to have the inside pole, but now Las Vegas Sands, on a roll from its China successes, has announced they will enter the competition. The Sands has world-class speed and a fat wallet, although they are already committed to another enormous development on Hengqin Island near Macau.

As you can imagine, rumors are flying about other potential bidders for the rights, including Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) and MGM Mirage (NYSE:MGM).

The plot thickens even more, however. Members of Parliament, led by the Blackpool contingent, are demanding reopening of the decision-making process. They seem to be gaining a great deal of support, although it's too early to put odds on their chances.

Watch the news over the next couple of days. Odds are, no contest will be quite as entertaining.