Media blitz giving Agassi little rest

And you thought Andre Agassi was all over a tennis court. That's nothing compared to the ground he's going to be covering on his upcoming coast-to-coast media blitz for his new book, "Open."

On CBS's "60 Minutes" tonight with Katie Couric.

ESPN at midnight tonight on Rick Reilly's "Conversation." Back with Reilly on Monday, live at 7 p.m., for a Borders-sponsored book signing and his first media scrum at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas.

Then it's on to New York City for talk shows and book signings.

From there: Toronto, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco before returning for a Nov. 22 appearance at Costco in Summerlin.

Agassi heads to Europe on Dec. 7 for stops in London, Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris.

Check RandomHouse.com for a schedule of stops in other cities.

By the way, you need tickets from Borders to attend Monday's book signing at Encore Theater.

Agassi's "conversation" with Reilly is being turned around in near-record time so ESPN can use its own clips, not Couric's. Her exclusivity deal prohibited other TV interviews until Monday.

Agassi isn't expecting many soft lobs, not after his soul-baring incendiary volley in "Open."

From what I'm hearing, he's remaining true to the book's title. You can't call it "Open" and then submit a list of off-limit questions, as so many others do.

But in the process, Agassi has opened himself up for questions about his once-sacrosanct private life.

Ten years ago, within days of my arrival at the Review-Journal, I quickly learned how guarded he was.

I called his management office after receiving a startling sighting of Andre and Steffi Graf in Las Vegas the week after the 1999 U.S. Open, where they were seen in public.

I asked a spokeswoman if she could confirm that Andre and Steffi were together in Las Vegas.

"We don't respond to rumors," was the reply.

Times have changed.

Agassi is taking on all comers and questions in one of the most astonishingly honest celebrity books ever written by a beloved figure.

That's the biggest shocker to me, the 180-degree turn, an about-face symbolized by a stubble-faced cover photo of a guy who looks like he just checked into rehab.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

The next best-viewing hot spot of Las Vegas: the Mandarin Bar on the 23rd floor of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel at CityCenter. Located on the property's north corner, the bar's 225-degree wraparound view, from south to up the Strip, "is going to be Happy Hour Central," predicted Jim Murren, chairman and chief executive officer at MGM Mirage. ...

Hometown boy Oscar Pena will be vying for the title of the new ribs king in town now that B.B. King's club and restaurant has opened at The Mirage. A Las Vegas High School graduate, Pena is the executive chef after putting together an impressive portfolio. The restaurant opened Friday. They serve breakfast starting at 6:30 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to midnight and late night from midnight to 2 a.m.

SIGHTINGS

Johnny Damon, fresh from the New York Yankees victory parade, enjoying champagne sent over by former teammate Jason Giambi on Friday at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel. Damon, who hit .364 in the World Series, was in town with his wife to celebrate the Yankees' first world championship in nine years. ... Former heartthrob Erik Estrada of "CHiPS," with family at the Zab Judah-Ubaldo Hernandez fight Friday at the Palms' Pearl. ... Former Major League Baseball catcher Mike Piazza, with friends at Nove Italiano (Palms) on Friday. Also at the Palms: poker player Phil Gordon, at N9NE Steakhouse, slugger Gary Sheffield at N9NE, Wes Scantlin of Puddle of Mudd at the Playboy Club and singer Donnie Klang, who was awarded a solo contract by P. Diddy after appearing as a contestant on MTV's "Making the Band 4," at Moon.

THE PUNCH LINE

"If The Phone Doesn't Ring, It's Me." -- David Letterman's favorite country song

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.