Andre Agassi is getting lots of love from fans and giving them memorable moments at his farewell U.S. Open.
Tempest Storm is in Sunrise Hospital.
Reese Witherspoon is in town for shopping
Andre Agassi's farewell is turning into a love-lovefest. Everybody loves Andre, from the U.S. Open crowd to the media.
From the moment Agassi made his entrance to the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up," Thursday night belonged to him.
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A creaky 36 years old, Agassi is getting a royal retirement send-off.
His dramatic win over eighth-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5 in 3 hours and 48 minutes enthralled the tennis world.
"A place named for Arthur Ashe morphed once again into Andre Agassi Stadium, and where the U.S. Open's greatest revival show played for almost four more hours, on a night that was full of careening momentum, a heavyweight prize-fight feel, and as much drama as America's Grand Slam has seen in its 125-year history," wrote Wayne Coffey of the New York Daily News.
"Whatever echoes there were of Agassi's tennis, and there were plenty," wrote John Jeansonne of Newsday, "it quickly became clear that nothing in the past quite compared with this night. Not the all-tiebreak classic Agassi lost to Pete Sampras in the 2001 Open quarterfinal. Not the delightful five-set tiebreaker Agassi won over James Blake in last year's quarterfinal."
The New York Post headlined Agassi's epic win: "Going In Style."
Agassi faces third-round foe Benjamin Becker today around 12:30 p.m. on CBS (KLAS-TV, Channel 8).
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ruth Brown has been notified that her weekly show at the Bootlegger Bistro has been discontinued. Brown, who turned 78 going on 39 back in January, has been performing her rhythm and blues magic on Thursdays for more than two years. ...
Get-well wishes to Hall of Fame stripper Tempest Storm, who is in Sunrise Hospital, flirting with the doctors and working on another comeback. ...
Local salon operator and colorist of the stars Michael Boychuck is joining Nicky Hilton in a boutique hotel venture. He'll provide the salon services at her Las Vegas and Los Angeles hotels. He owns Amp at the Palms, serves as salon director at the Canyon Ranch Spa in The Venetian and co-owns The Cutting Room in Henderson. ...
Sahara headliner Amazing Johnathan was in New York on Friday to shoot "Wrong On Every Level," his one-hour special for the Comedy Channel, at the Hudson Theater. ...
Rumor has it: Life here at Rumor Central has never been more exciting. The cute factor just went up, with the addition to our family of a Yorkie-Silky puppy. We named him Rumor because he's just one more rumor I have to chase. Robin Leach insists Rumor needs a running mate named Innuendo. A big thank you to Monk & Kelly, whose dogs are the parents of our feisty furry freeloader. Best wishes to Monk & Kelly, who lost their morning show at KQOL-FM, 93.1 this week with Clear Channel's format switch to Whoopie Goldberg's syndicated show, which starts Tuesday.
SIGHTINGS
Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon, shopping at Intermix (Forum Shops at Caesars) and lunching with galpals Friday at BOA Steakhouse. ... NASCAR drivers Dale Jarrett and Elliott Sadler, making a pit stop and chassis inspection on Friday at Bare, the new topless area at The Mirage pool. ... NBAers Kevin Garnett, Drew Gooden and Tyronn Lue, at Tryst (Wynn) on Thursday. ... At Light (Bellagio): Sadler. At Caramel lounge (Bellagio: Eddie Jones.
THE PUNCH LINE
"You have to admit, it made the speech a lot more interesting." -- From David Letterman's "Top Ten Kyra Phillips Excuses Presented By CNN Anchor Kyra Phillips," after her bathroom cell phone chat went on the air Tuesday during President Bush's speech.
