Friday, Oct. 25, 2002 | 9:32 a.m.
The old adage goes, "Those who can't, teach."
Well, not necessarily.
The newest coach hitting balls with the Bally's hotel tennis team is David Pate -- who with partner Scott Davis won the doubles championship in the 35-and-over division at Wimbldeon this summer.
The duo also won the 2001 U.S. Open doubles title in the 35-and-over division.
Among the Bally's team members are KLAS Channel 8 reporter Erik Levine, former Rebel star Ralph Piercy (now a Las Vegas certified public accountant), MGM Grand exec Mark Stolarcyzk, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter veep Erik "Diesel" Kirschner, Mens Wearhouse sales star Javier Lopes and popular Palm Restaurant waiter Franchys Roque de Escobar.
KVBC Channel 3 weekend anchor Ben Correa is also on the team. He often wears his tennis shorts on the air -- though they are hidden by the anchor desk.
The team's captain is publicity power Bruce Merrin. Bally's recently won the United States Tennis Association-sponsored Las Vegas City Championship and then competed at the sectionals in Salt Lake City. Other league stalwarts include KLAS Channel 8 weatherman Kevin Janison and "Jubilee" juggler Wally Eastwood.
Many more
Lance Burton told us he was honored to host pioneering Las Vegas entrepreneur Jackie Gaughan at Burton's magic show at his eponymous theater at Monte Carlo this week.
Gaughan, who owns the Plaza, El Cortez and several other properties, turned 82 Thursday. He first came to town in 1943 when he was a soldier stationed at Las Vegas Airbase.
From the stage, Burton wished Gaughan a "magical birthday, with many, many more to come."
Turned off
Seems that Mike Piazza isn't the only one not watching the World Series.
As we reported this week, the baseball star -- whose nephew is a Las Vegas nurse -- has been spotted in several local eateries and gaming rooms, but never in front of a television broadcasting the World Series.
According to preliminary Nielsen ratings, this will be the lowest-rated World Series in history -- except in the two California markets where the teams are from, the Bay Area and Southern California.
On Wednesday night, for example, the Series scored only a 19 share in 55 major markets (including Las Vegas), which means that of all the televisions in use that night, 81 percent of them were tuned to something else.
Be There
The Rembrandts -- Phil Solem and Danny Wilde, who did the hit "Friends" theme song, "I'll Be There for You" -- are coming to Las Vegas.
They are part of a four-day celebration of wine, food and art beginning Nov. 14.
Joining the pop pair to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, along with the Las Vegas affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, will be comic Alan Thicke and broadcast personality John Daly, formerly of KNTV Channel 13.
Officially called Audi Presents the 3rd Annual Las Vegas Odyssey 2002, the highlight of the event should be a Masters Dinner where some of the town's top chefs will prepare various courses.
On the menu is Wolfgang von Wieser (Four Seasons), Michael Jordan (Rosemary's at The Rio), Gustav Mauler (BullShrimp), John LaGrone (Postrio), Joe Romano (JW's Tavern), Carlos Guia (Commander's Palace), and Russell Grabe from the House of Blues Foundation Room.
Book 'em
Another cultural hurdle has been cleared -- Las Vegas is getting a book fair.
Literary lights ranging from John Irving and Tom Robbins to "Zippy the Pinhead" comic creator Bill Griffith will be featured at the first Vegas Valley Book Festival.
Events are scheduled for the weekend of Nov. 1 at several area locations ranging from Paseo Verde Library in Henderson to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.
Said Kris Darnall of the Nevada Humanities Committee, one of the event sponsors, "The time is right to introduce this concept to the residents of the Las Vegas Valley."
It most certainly is.
Hoofin' along
"Spirit of the Dance" keeps kicking.
The production opened Aug. 19 at Golden Nugget as one of the most successful shows ever to come out of Ireland. Its run has now been extended through March 7.
Seeing straight
UNLV alum Brett Silver (class of 1998) might be blind -- but he can still focus on injustice.
He was recently hired by the school's Learning Enhancement Center. When he was given such menial tasks as sharpening pencils, he didn't say much. Start small, learn the ropes and move your way up, he reasoned.
When it was apparent to him that no additional training or duties were forthcoming, he reached out to Anita Stockbauer, the head of the facility.
Silver claims Stockbauer was less than responsive.
In a complaint to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Silver says his treatment is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
School spokeswoman Sue DiBella said she was prohibited from responding until the process had run its course.
We'll check back.
Check out
O.J. Simpson trolling for female companionship at ghostbar at the Palms Thursday night ... Pete Rose enjoying the various gaming options at Caesars Palace before heading to the World Series on Wednesday ... Anna Kournikova and a gal pal conversing in Russian at Starbucks on South Green Valley Parkway, then driving off in a new white Jetta ... Clint Holmes, Darren Romeo, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and Las Vegas Food Service mag publisher Michael Politz in a loud circle at the Nevada Restaurant Associations' Scholarship Ball at The Orleans on Wednesday ... Bill Acosta, Lezlie Anders and Buddy Greco, Coast Resorts executive Candi Cazau, St. Rose Delima Hospital powerhouse Susan Gurzynski-Wells and a pair of velvet-voiced Las Vegas radio hosts, Duke Morgan and Jon-David Wells, amon g the throng giving singing impersonator Bob Anderson a standing ovation at the Stardust Wednesday ...
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