Lawsuit motive spurs speculation

The nastiest Las Vegas breakup in years has the city buzzing with speculation.

What was characterized in October as an amicable parting of the ways has turned litigious, with Andre Agassi's wife, Steffi Graf, being sued by Perry Rogers, Agassi's former manager.

Rogers' lawsuit, alleging breach of contract, against Graf comes seven weeks after Rogers resigned as president of Agassi Enterprises, where he oversaw all of the business and marketing operations.

Friends since childhood, Agassi and Rogers have been drifting apart for years, friends say, and Rogers' recent divorce, with his strong personality, created friction.

Some in the legal community said Rogers' lawsuit had the hint of a pre-emptive strike. That usually involves business deals gone bad.

The timing is interesting. Rogers alleges Graf stopped paying him in October when the business partnership ended between her husband and Rogers. Graf has been represented by Rogers since 2002, the lawsuit said.

FREDERICKS' RESPONSE

KVBC-TV, Channel 3, weatherman John Fredericks said his dog LJ's "thing for the ladies" cost him his job at the station.

Fredericks said LJ, short for Little Jordan, has not only been banned from the station but from KVBC events as well after chomping on the arm of a female employee the day before Thanksgiving.

"It was an act of affection," not aggression, said Fredericks, who has been at the station since 1996. "He 'mouthed' her arm as if to say: 'I'm LJ. I like you. Let's be friends and go for a walk,'" he added.

LJ spent hours at the station with Fredericks during the morning newscast and often appeared on camera.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

A year ago we told you about marathoner Julian Myers, a legendary Hollywood publicist. He was back for more on Sunday in the Las Vegas Marathon. Running in the half marathon's 70-to-98 age group, he finished 31st in little more than 51/2 hours. That is motoring about 2.4 miles per hour, which ain't bad at the grand old age of 90.

SIGHTINGS

At the Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao bout Saturday at MGM Grand Garden: Russell Crowe, Will Ferrell, Usher, Eva Longoria, Mike Tyson, Marc Anthony, George Lopez, Mario Lopez, Will.i.am, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Luke Wilson, Keisha Cole, Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson. ... Usher, joining Tryst co-owner Victor Drai in the VIP owner's box on Saturday. The celebrity-soaked scene included baseball's CC Sabathia -- for the third night in a row -- Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians, Torii Hunter of the Anaheim Angels, Bill Hall of the Milwaukee Brewers, Reed Johnson of the Chicago Cubs, Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Phillies, Josh Barfield of the Cleveland Indians; mixed martial arts notables Andrei Orlovsky, Ortiz, UFC President Dana White and Affliction vice president and co-owner Tom Atencio; NFR contestant Josi Young; British soccer stars Billy Holliday, Scott Booth and Will Lee-Kemp, all of Chelsea in England's Premier League; Shaun Phillips and Stephen Cooper of the San Diego Chargers; boxer Joe Judah and Frankie Delgado of MTV's show "The Hills."... Crowe and Longoria, seated next to each other and chatting during the fight before heading for dinner at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms with a group that included Palms owner George Maloof, Mario Lopez, Barkley, Miller and Maloof's brothers Joe and Gavin, owners of the Sacramento Kings. ... Later at Lavo, in the Palazzo: Longoria, Anthony and Crowe, at a dance floor table and showing off their moves. Barkley sent over a magnum of champagne to Longoria and her table. They later motored off to Tao via the Lavo/Tao custom Escalade golf cart. At Tao, Usher joined their table for the rest of the evening.

THE PUNCH LINE

"President Bush and his lovely wife, Laura, have purchased a new home in Dallas, Texas, worth $2 million. People have underestimated this guy. Five months ago he would had to pay $10 million for that house. But thanks to his economic plan he got it at a bargain." -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.