VegasBeat — Timothy McDarrah: School expansion is Agassi’s first service

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 8:59 a.m.

It is easy, and generally a lot more fun, to poke fun at a celebrity than to write something nice.

But after spending some time with Andre Agassi on Thursday, the worst thing I can say is that perhaps he could have been wearing a black turtleneck instead of gray.

Otherwise, after seeing his performance at the groundbreaking for Phase Two of Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy and talking to him privately afterward, he is not only a role model for the students at the school, but for celebrities everywhere.

He was humble, sincere and was genuinely nice to the kids who swarmed around him.

"The thrill of holding a trophy over your head fades. But the looks on these kids faces is a real thrill," Agassi told VegasBeat. "These are not 'at risk' kids. These are 'at promise' kids."

Agassi said he's still trying to convince his wife, Steffi Graf, to come out of retirement to join him for mixed doubles at the French Open.

Agassi also showed a sense of humor.

Part of the deal was the announcement of a new association with Aramis, which will be the new title sponsor of his annual Grand Slam charity event and will make a fat donation for school construction.

And in the fall, Aramis is introducing a line of men's fragrance and cosmetics linked to Agassi.

"Let me assure you, my new perfume smells a whole lot better than Celine Dion's," Agassi cracked.

(Fellow Las Vegas resident Dion's new scent goes on sale March 25.)

The new phase of the West Lake Mead Boulevard school will accommodate grades seven through nine. It now services kids in grades three through six.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., school principal Wayne Tanaka, benefactors Elaine Wynn and Susan and Irwin Molasky and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., also turned over ceremonial shovelfuls of dirt outside the school.

Berkley smartly wore sneakers, even if they were bright red.

Grammy man

Bryce Krausman is off to New York today.

For the third year in a row the Las Vegas native and press rep for Blue Man Group at Luxor is a "celebrity escort" at the Grammy Awards. Nothing naughty -- he just walks them around inside Madison Square Garden.

Last year in Los Angeles, he spent most of this time with Patti LaBelle.

Krausman is also going to an exclusive all-star jam party at B.B. King's club located off Times Square on Saturday night.

What a hoot

Sunset Station is having a job fair of sorts on Saturday.

It is opening a branch of Hooters at the casino and is looking for women to work there.

"There's no mold for a Hooters girl," said Jim Upchurch, Hooters Las Vegas marketing veep. "But she should be outgoing, courteous, friendly and always be wearing a smile."

And little else.

Hooters recruiters will be on hand from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Afterward the high-energy '80s cover band the Spazmatics will perform.

Amazin'

Hard to get through an entire lunch with a Strip headliner without his cell phone ringing off the hook.

VegasBeat had lunch Wednesday with Amazing Johnathan and producer Marvin Lashever.

First, GQ magazine called Johnathan, wanting to do a feature on his new house. It is decorated in typical Johnathan style: When you walk by an oil painting of a dog, it growls at you.

Then an executive associated with the Golden Nugget called him, begging him to come back. He just moved his show from the downtown property to the Flamingo Las Vegas where Johnathan says business is booming.

"People like to see stupid stuff," Johnathan said after politely declining to return whence he came. "Luckily, there is a lot of stupid stuff in my show."

Then Rita Rudner's producer-husband Martin Bergman called, with another business proposition.

"Imagine if I had talent," Johnathan mused before switching off his phone. "This thing would never stop ringing."

VegasBits

Terrific gag pulled by KVBC Channel 3 sports guy Mitch Roberts during the 6 p.m. Wednesday broadcast. He delivered his entire report with a Mike Tyson-esque "tattoo" on his face -- then peeled it off at the end of his segment ...

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman had a party to formally open his re-election campaign headquarters Thursday afternoon. The offices are on Las Vegas Boulevard South near Carson Street ...

Baseball Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers and family had a big Valentine's Day dinner at the Hawaiian Plantation House restaurant in Henderson ...

Nicole Kidman might be coming to town. She is in talks with Martin Scorsese to play opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in "The Aviator," a Howard Hughes biopic set to film scenes in Las Vegas later this year ...

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Ensign were both at a private event last week at Aureole, the upscale Mandalay Bay restaurant. They said hello to one another, and that was it ...

Kiefer Sutherland went to see the hot new band 88 at the Los Angeles club Spaceland over the weekend. It is fronted by Adam Merrin, whose father, Bruce Merrin, lives in Las Vegas. 88's debut CD, " Kind of Light," which got a rave review in L.A. Weekly, drops March 4 ...

Want to be a Coyote Ugly girl? The popular New York-New York bar and club is looking for some new talent. Call 212-8804 for an audition ...

Wonderful story on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" on Monday about Las Vegas' 24-hour pawn shops ...

Speaking of wonderful radio, VegasBeat today makes our regular weekly appearance on KNUU 970-AM (K-NEWS) at 4:10 p.m. Clint Holmes follows us; he'll talk about some changes he's made to his popular Harrah's show.

From Sun wires

David Hasselhoff and his wife suffered broken bones when the actor lost control of the motorcycle they were riding and hit a curb, police said.

Strong winds were blamed for the crash Thursday afternoon on a busy Los Angeles street.

The crash threw Hasselhoff against a light pole, while his wife, actress Pamela Bach, fell onto the shoulder of the road. Police said both were wearing helmets.

They were taken to UCLA Medical Center, where Hasselhoff, 50, was treated for possible lower back fractures, a broken rib and cuts and bruises. Bach, 39, was treated for a fractured ankle and broken wrist.

Bear in mind: Celine Dion plans to build a new home in one of Palm Beach's most exclusive golf-course developments.

Dion paid $3.5 million for 3 acres of waterfront land in Jack Nicklaus' The Bear's Club. The club is less than a mile from her previous home in Jupiter, Fla., which she sold two months ago for $9 million.

An innocent man?: Former "Eight Is Enough" child star Adam Rich pleaded innocent to misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Prosecutors added the latter charge Thursday after it was disclosed that Rich allegedly had various drugs in his system, including cocaine, when he was arrested Dec. 18. Rich, 34, was pulled over after California Highway Patrol officers said he drove onto a closed section of Interstate 10 in Pomona and nearly struck a patrol car.