Thursday, May 15, 2003 | 10:45 a.m.
Celebrities find it hard to say "no" to Andre Agassi.
Among those who have just said "yes" to the Las Vegas native and full-time resident include Robin Williams, Jamie Foxx, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Billy Joel, Faith Hill and Celine's producer, David Foster.
Those were some of the confirmed performers announced Wednesday for Agassi's 8th annual "Grand Slam for Children" fund-raiser Oct. 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Many high-profile entertainers and athletes sponsor all kinds of charity concerts, golf tournaments, dinners and similar functions.
All are filled with good intentions. Few deliver like an Agassi event. His stage -- and audience -- has hosted everyone from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Stevie Wonder.
And the Grand Slam events have raised more than $23 million for a variety of kids' charities over the last seven years.
Agassi was typically modest when asked about his intense level of participation and giving.
"Giving back is something I always had an intention of doing if life gave me those opportunities. The question was how and when," Agassi simply said.
Agassi said one reason there is such a terrific response to his events is virtually all the money raised goes directly to the children. He added he was genuinely "amazed" at the celebrity turnout.
From time to time Agassi personally delivers sporting goods and clothes to places such as Child Haven, a temporary living facility.
Why does he do it? "I find it more surprising that somebody couldn't. How can you grow and succeed and not want to share that success with your community?"
Individual Grand Slam tickets, as well as special Sponsor Tables that sell for as much as $75,000, go on sale Saturday at MGM Grand or at Ticketmaster.com.
Casa-bank-a
In the "selling out your famous last name" department, we bring you Stephen Bogart.
The son of screen gem Humphrey Bogart has licensed out his famous family name so a furniture company can bring you couches that "capture Humphrey Bogart's elegant, independent style."
We look forward to what may come next, such as an Al Jolson line of cosmetics, or perhaps Clark Gable futons.
You can ask Bogart yourself to "explain the appeal of '40s and '50s glamour that the Bogart Collection embodies" when he makes an appearance at Thomasville Home Furnishings of Las Vegas II on West Sunset Road in Henderson Wednesday evening.
Pitt stop
Look for an increase in Vegas sightings of Brad Pitt.
Director Guy Ritchie is reteaming with his "Snatch" star to make a gangster flick called "Revolver," to be filmed mainly in Las Vegas, a spokesman for Ritchie's Ska Films confirms.
Sounds a little familiar. Didn't Pitt already appear in a Vegas crime flick called "Ocean's Eleven"?
Regardless, the good thing here is that apparently Ritchie's wife, Madonna , will have no on-screen role.
"Revolver" revolves around a Las Vegas gambler who gets in trouble for refusing to take a fall in a poker game.
Side work
Vince Neil, who leaves Las Vegas on Saturday to start a 40-city summer tour, has a new side business going in case that rock star thing doesn't continue to work out.
Besides the Wild Side tanning salon he's opening at the Palms, he and his gal pal, Leah (no last names, please), are opening an erotic bakery at the Hard Rock Hotel. You know, food shaped like certain body parts and things like that.
He's also got an infomercial in the works for a talking dog-bone clock to amuse pets when their owners are away.
Charo closes
Charo officially pulled the plug this morning on her show at the bankrupt Sevilla showroom at the bankrupt Aladdin.
A spokesman for the Latin bombshell and Las Vegas icon said the main reason was Sevilla's "lack of marketing and inconsistent operation of the box office."
Charo told VegasBeat last week that Sevilla had been diverting receipts to pay unrelated bills, forcing her to pay her cast out of her own pocket.
Negotiations between the star and the facility broke down late last night. A Sevilla spokesman was not immediately reachable this morning for comment.
VegasBits
Miracle worker: 1980 Olympic gold medal hockey hero Mike Eruzione was partying at the Stirling Club the other evening ...
Blowin': Folk music legends Peter, Paul and Mary play The Orleans Arena Sept. 19. Wonder what they think of the new Christopher Guest movie, "A Mighty Wind," which goofs on the folk genre ...
Anchors away: We came across scores of local television personalities at the "Miss Saigon" opening at the Aladdin on Tuesday night. From KLAS Channel 8: Casey Smith, Kevin Janison, Michael Geiser and Polly Gonzalez; Dave Malkoff from KTNV Channel 13; Dan Wilson and John Fredericks from KVBC Channel 3; and KVVU Channel 5's Marc Weiner and Ted Pretty ...
To the nines: Screen veteran Ernest Borgnine was spotted relaxing in the lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas ...
Congrats: Sen. John Ensign presented the Afterschool Champion Award to Elaine Wynn at a congressional breakfast in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. Wynn was honored for her service with the Greater Las Vegas Inner-City Games program ...
Gulp: A gaggle of Scintas were at Sammy's Woodfired Pizza on West Sahara Avenue the other day, eating a John Overall Signature Pizza, named for the KVVU Channel 5 anchor. Until May 31, 25 percent of the proceeds from Overall (not overall) pie sales will be donated to the Fox 5 Telethon for the Children's Miracle Network ...
On schedule: CBS announced its fall television schedule Wednesday. The top-rated, Vegas-centric "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" remains in its same slot at 10 p.m. Thursdays, as does the popular spinoff, "CSI: Miami," which airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ...
Pixie: "Peter Pan" flies into UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre Friday to Sunday. Nevada Ballet Theatre teams with Master Chef Gustav Mauler to host a fun pairing called Dinner and Ballet on Opening Night at Sazio's. Call the UNLV box office at (702) 895-2787 for tix and info ...
From Sun wires
Prosecutors have charged actor Tom Sizemore with hitting, harassing and threatening his ex-fiancee Heidi Fleiss over the past year.
The former Hollywood madam reportedly is a witness in an unrelated domestic violence case against Sizemore.
Prosecutors filed 16 misdemeanor charges Wednesday against Sizemore, including counts for intimidation of a witness, vandalism, threatening to inflict injury to a person or property, corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition, and making obscene phone calls.
The television program "Celebrity Justice" has reported that Sizemore, 41, allegedly left messages on Fleiss' answering machine threatening to knock out her teeth, kill her and harm members of her family.
Fleiss plans to open a brothel in Nevada under the banner of her Australian corporate partner, Daily Planet. A formal announcement is to be made July 4 in Las Vegas. No location has been selected for the facility.
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