Dealmaking potential quickly fades for Macca’s ex as publishers and TV execs see her booed at pageant

BY BILL ZWECKER Sun-Times Columnist
Heather Mills has been busy lately trying to do some deals. But a couple of sources close to Paul McCartney’s ex-wife say things aren’t going so well.

Mills knows her moneymaking prospects in Britain aren’t great, given how widely she’s despised there. She has an image there as a major golddigger, thanks to her lengthy, nasty divorce battle with the beloved ex-Beatle. But things aren’t moving along so smoothly over here either. Good thing she has all those millions from Paul McCartney — sounds like she’s going to need ‘em.

A number of people I’ve spoken with think whatever star potential Mills picked up from her run on “Dancing With the Stars” last year has evaporated.

A couple of publishing sources who tell me they have turned down her pitch for a book say the boos she got while judging the Miss USA pageant last week may have been indicative of more widespread feelings in this country. Mills also reportedly has faced slammed doors regarding ”an interactive talk show” she’s been pitching to host.

‘We really think that no one is going to buy a Heather Mills book,” a publishing source told me, “unless she goes into great detail about her marriage and life with Paul McCartney … and obviously she can’t do that,” because of restrictions in their divorce decree.

That said, Mills reportedly is very close to plunking down $5 million for a posh condo in Manhattan, and supposedly also is looking at a place in Miami’s hot South Beach area.

BABY BEAT: On the heels of all the hoopla over the Ashlee Simpson pregnancy, a number of other stars are dealing with all kinds of baby rumors. Faith Hill’s rep says recent photos of her in full, flowing tops do not signal the fact she’s expecting. … Nicole Kidman’s people are laughing off online speculation by Perez Hilton that the Oscar winner’s not really pregnant — based on a photo of Kidman looking pretty svelte (for a pregnant lady) with hubby Keith Urban at the CMT Awards in Nashville the other night. … Apparently, the papa of the baby Minnie Driver is expecting is San Francisco musician Craig Zolezzi, a guy the actress and singer has been dating for about a year. Life & Style mag says the kid is due in August. … And Uma Thurman isn’t pregnant again, but she is starring in ”Motherhood,” a film that will also star Driver (after she gives birth) and Anthony Edwards as Thurman’s husband.

STILL THE MAN: The new ”Dream” spot for the NBA playoffs proves Michael Jordan still resonates big time — with all the major hoops stars playing today. What amazed the campaign’s directors, married couple Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Feris (who helmed the acclaimed ”Little Miss Sunshine”), was how everyone in ”Dreams,” including LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd and Chris Paul, unanimously agreed with the following ad copy: ”I’ve dreamed about winning [the NBA championship] since I was a kid. I remember seeing Michael Jordan win it all. I made up my mind, that was going to be me.”

• Speaking of MJ, some vintage footage of His Airness will air at noon Saturday on Ahmad Rashad’s ”NBA Access” show on WLS-Channel 7. In one 1992 interview with Rashad, Jordan explained it was his mother, Deloris’, kibosh that killed any idea of him playing football in college or beyond — though he had an impressive passing arm, demonstrated when he played quarterback in high school. ”You’re not going to any more emergency rooms,” Mother Jordan declared.

OTHER BROTHER: Brother Michael Segvich from the Office of Educational Services for Edmund Rice Christian Brothers North America informs me that while former Chicagoan and actor Denis O’Hare did indeed attend a Brother Rice High School, it was not the one in Chicago but one in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Class of 1980.

”He was a student while I was teaching there. … It was the same alma mater as former Bull B.J. Armstrong,” e-mailed Brother Segvich.