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Published Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 12:34 p.m.
Updated Monday, Aug. 31, 2009 | 2:30 p.m.
NOW
I can't believe it has been three years since a bartender named Kara, a beefy guy with a red shirt who kept pouring quarters into a video golf game, and I, watched Andre Agassi play the last match of his illustrious tennis career on a big screen TV at Buffalo Wild Wings.
They had the sound turned down. That didn't seem right.
You could see the tears after Our Guy lost to B. Becker -- Benjamin, not Boris -- at the U.S. Open. But you couldn't hear the cheers after Agassi said this was it, time to move on, time to become the greatest philanthropist the world has ever known, although, come to think of it, that Andrew Carnegie was pretty darn generous with his time and money, too.
Tonight, they'll cheer for the Las Vegas ace of style and substance again at center court, where he will be feted on opening night at Flushing Meadows for his charitable work as well as being a pretty good tennis player.
This time, I hope they'll have the sound turned up at Wild Wings.
THEN
I was at Green Valley Ranch Thursday night when Drew Carey joined the Lon Bronson All Star Band on stage and sang the Monkees' ("I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" almost as well as Micky Dolenz did in the 1960s.
Granted, that may not be that difficult. But being there when "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" morphed into "Guitar Hero" is just one more reason why Las Vegas is the coolest place on the planet. And you should have heard those horns wail during The Who medley.
This sort of thing could never happen in Fresno.
Sorry, I'd say Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and Michael Bloomberg would top the "greatest philanthropist" list well ahead of Andre Agassi. I'm sure Mr. Agassi does a lot of good in his community, but let's not elevate him to sainthood just yet.
The money donated has little to do with the quality of a philanhropist. Any billionaire can donate millions of dollars. The Agassi Charter School does more than any money donation can do. Further, I know for a fact that Andre is very involved in the day to day operations of that school ensuring the kids of the west side of las vegas receive a proper education.
Gates, Buffett and Bloomberg might donate a ton of money but Agassi donates his time and effort to be a hands on influence into the education of underprivileged children of Las vegas.
P.S. Gates takes an 8 figure salary from his position atop of the Gates Foundation. Gotta love 501(c)(3) and its "stict" donation rule of 5% of revenue must go to the charity.
P.P.S. I don't think Agassi is the best philanthropist ever. That has to go to Frank Stallone.
Andre Agassi is a remarkable person. Thanks for all the great tennis Andre.
The great fallacy of the Agassi Prep Academy is that it is helping children from the West Side. A quick glance shows that the vast majority of students come from OUTSIDE the immediate surrounding zip code. That's just a fact.
That whole area is depressed.
--- Reagan: Frank Stallone still owes me $20. That was hilarious, tho.
--- Everybody else: Nothin' but love for Andre in this space.