Andre, Pete not stingy with insults
An exhibition tennis match between rivals Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras raised $1 million Friday night for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, but neither legend was charitable toward the other.
They were opponents in a doubles match at Indian Wells Tennis Center in California. Each wore microphones so the crowd of 16,100 could be treated to their keen wit.
Fans roared when Sampras mimicked Agassi's pigeon-toed walk.
Agassi's return was to chide Sampras for being stingy, a topic Agassi addressed in his tell-all book "Open" when he called his nemesis a "poor tipper."
After Sampras' footwork shenanigans, Agassi turned his pockets inside-out.
"I don't have any money," Agassi said, using his left hand to continue rifling through that pocket. "No, wait, I've got a dollar!"
In the book, Agassi told a story in which a valet said Sampras had tipped him a dollar after they had eaten at the same restaurant.
Sampras responded with a high, hard serve that forced Agassi to duck.
"It's better than being a valet driver and you pulling up," Agassi said.
Both Agassi and Sampras were smiling, but neither showed up at the post-match news conference.
On Monday, Agassi told ESPN.com he was "out of line" and apologized for poking fun at Sampras.
"I was trying to be comedic. I only had a split second to make a decision. I went for it and it fell flat. I was trying to get past it, but Pete didn't really let me get past it. He didn't really roll with it. I've texted Pete to ask him if I can apologize in person."
Sampras might not reply if his texting service charges.
■ PRESIDENTIAL PARTY -- Two-time British Open winner Padraig Harrington, playing in the PGA Tour's Transitions Championship beginning Thursday in Palm Harbor, Fla., will take time out today to visit Washington, D.C.
The Irish golfer will participate in a St. Patrick's Day party at the White House, which will not be painted green for the festive day despite pressure from the Irish lobby.
"I won't say it's perfectly convenient, but it's worked out obviously as I'm in the States," Harrington said. "I can fly up and come back down in the same day and meet the president -- it's very nice."
To honor the annual green day, the president today will add an apostrophe to his last name -- O'Bama.
■ TYSON TO FLY -- Former world heavyweight champ Mike Tyson will take flight on Animal Planet with a new sport -- pigeon racing.
The cable network this week announced a new reality show that will pit Tyson, a novice pigeon racer, against serious competitors.
The show is titled "Taking on Tyson" and promises to bring audiences inside this "intensely competitive and bizarrely fascinating world."
Tyson has raised pigeons all his life but will take to the rooftops as a racing rookie.
Tyson's pigeons are easily recognized: Each has a tribal tattoo on its beak.
No comments please about jail birds.
COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
