Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children -- LUXE LIFE SPECIAL EDITION

Andre Agassi and wife Steffi Graf arrive at Andre's Grand Slam for Children charity event.

This weekend in Vegas was so exciting and celebrity-filled that we are posting three Luxe Life Special Editions today. This is the first of three. Click here for our second edition, which recaps the wild weekend of Paris and Nicky Hilton. Click here for our third edition, which lets you in on all the sexy happenings at the opening of the Playboy Club.

Hometown sports hero Andre Agassi may well have been #1 in the world by age 25 and the proud winner of 8 grand-slam titles, an Olympic gold medal and 60 singles championships, but his wife, Steffi Graff definitely wears the tennis shorts in their house!

We found this out when Andre tried to sell the two most memorable of his tennis racquets at his 11th Celebrity Grand Slam for Children Gala Concert benefit, presented by Genworth Financial at the MGM Grand over the weekend. More than 8,000 VIP guests and fans packed the hotel’s Garden Arena when Andre put up for sale the racquet he just used in his memorable, final US Open match, along with the racquet he used to win his very first professional match two decades ago. Bidding was as fast and furious as his rocket service returns, and reached more than $300,000 within 60-seconds. Andre explained that he’d given away the first-winning racquet to a friend all those years ago and the friend returned it just 48-hours before this year’s benefit, saying it should be auctioned. Suddenly, Andre’s wife stepped in and, to his surprise, said, "They shouldn’t leave our house. They are too special." She bid $360,000 of her own, and won them back for the Agassi-Graff household! Other auction items included a 2007 Mercedes CL550, not yet available in the United States, and first-class accommodations for four to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival accompanied by a private cooking experience with Emeril Lagasse. Our Caesars Palace headliner Sir Elton John’s private Oscar party brought in a winning bid of $55,000 and an African safari with fighter jet red fetched $151,000! After his culinary services were auctioned, Emeril told us: "I think that what Andre believes in not only with the kids in Las Vegas but what he believes in with the kids it is so involved and it is so important not only for the community but also for these kids to have a future. That is why we are here and we are so happy to be a part of it. This is our eleventh year; I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Andre is the best."

The crowd at Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children event at MGM Grand.

The superstar lineup of entertainers and Andre’s Charitable Foundation (AACF) raised more than $8.6 million during the gala benefit which featured performances by Phil Collins, Michael Buble, Counting Crows, Ellen DeGeneres, John Mayer, Sarah Mclachlan, Tears for Fears and Oleta Adams. Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer David Foster served as the musical director for the 11th year. Andre talked about his role as an unmatched benefactor: "Every year, I am overwhelmed by the tremendous support the Grand Slam for Children receives from the Las Vegas community, business partners and the entertainment industry," Andre said. "It is gratifying to know that 100 percent of the money we raised tonight will directly benefit children who require our assistance. I have been very blessed and had many opportunities available to me. Children today face many obstacles. If I can make a positive impact on at least one child’s life then it has all been worthwhile. After 21 years of tennis my heart gave way to my body and now I will put that relentless passion to work to provide every child with a new bridge to success. We’ve shared the purest form of giving now for a decade and in changing young lives we can celebrate even more success stories as we show our love for the human soul."

Andre’s not-for-profit organization was established in 1994 to assist at-risk youth in Las Vegas, where Andre was raised. More than 90,000 fans and VIP guests have attended 11 Grand Slam events, raising $60.9 million for charity. Since its inception in 1995, the Grand Slam for Children has been distinguished by its rosterof top entertainers including Barbra Streisand, Sir Elton John, Billy Joel, Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Sarah Mclachlan, Robin Williams, Carlos Santana, Don Henley, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Jay Leno, Stevie Nicks, Seal, Tim McGraw, India Arie, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Dennis Miller and Usher, who last year danced on the VIP dinner tables while singing his hits.

The stunning charity weekend began when Andre, a celebrity investor in the PURE nightclub at Caesars Palace, hosted 200 of his high-roller Genworth supporters. He found time to drop off a signed racquet for his pal, Barry Dakake, the chef at N9NE steakhouse in the Palms, to add to his memorabilia collection at the restaurant. The legendary tennis champion -- in a salute to his long-term partnership with MGM Mirage -- named his new multi-purpose building at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in the company’s honor.

Andre Agassi with MGM Mirage CFO Jim Murren during the dedication of a new building at Andre's College.

It will be used for both school and community functions in addition to music instruction, dance and tumbling classes taught by world-renowned Cirque du Soleil staff. "I’m dedicating much more time to the academy," said Andre. "Now I’m not playing tennis I'll get more of an opportunity to give all of myself to the school and also enjoy its successes. We’re 6-years-old with 540 students who would never have had a chance otherwise and our goal is to have 100% of them go onto college." Andre left the stage to hug billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian making a very rare public appearance, even though he is the major solo shareholder of MGM.

RED CARPET HIGHLIGHTS

Fellow tennis champion Pete Sampras letting his beautiful actress wife and former Ms. Teen USA winner, Bridgette Wilson grab all the attention of flashbulb frenzy. She told us that she’s not at all anxious to return to a modeling or acting career much preferring playing mom and looking after their kids. "That’s takes preference," she laughed.

Fashion princesses of the glamour and glitter night were retired Russian Grand Slam tennis winner, Anna Kournikova and 'CSI: Miami' actress Emily Proctor who had to keep tugging up her Paulie Ka strapless dress. "I’m terrified I’m going to fall out of it," she told me. "I’m just not built like the girls here in Vegas." Emily revealed that for 5-years before she landed on 'The West Wing' for 2-years she used to commute on Southwest Airlines, playing blackjack at the Stardust regularly, to pay for her acting lessons in Hollywood. "I once won $9,999.99 and didn’t have to report it to the IRS," she said. Emily turned to poker as an off-camera passion but has now gone back to blackjack. "I'm simply better at 21," she commented.

My longtime friends Sir Michael Caine and his beautiful wife, Shakira gave me a warm hello when we reunited on the red-carpet. They’d been en route in a private jet to Los Angeles to begin the promotional tour of his new movie "Prestige" today, and decided to stop in Vegas for Andre’s charity. "We were married here 34 years ago," said my London mate. "It was in the little wedding chapel opposite Circus Circus and we bought little orchids in tiny lapel vases for $20 for the ceremony and then sold them back to them for $5 afterwards. The wedding was so fast you’d think we wouldn’t remember it, but here we are 34 years later. We went right from the chapel to hear Frank Sinatra at the Sands. Sir Michael told us: "I got involved with Andre as late as yesterday and I came here and met him for the first time. I came with a friend of his to be at this show because I’ve known about it and love what he is doing, but I have never been able to come. So yesterday, I met him for the first time and he took us around the school and it was an extraordinary experience. There were two things that happened. I met this extraordinary man who happened to be a great tennis player, but apart from that is extraordinary and with this great building that he has built. It is fabulous. It took my breathaway both meeting him and seeing the building."

Musical conductor/producer David Foster had a new gorgeous gal pal on his arm, former 'Bold & The Beautiful' actress Sandra Vidal, who reminded me that I’d first met her when she starred in the 'Cattle Call' movie, which held its premiere earlier this year at George Maloof’s Palm’s hotel. David said he’s been dating Sandra for the past 3-weeks.

Others on the red-carpet included 'Meet the Fockers' star Ben Stiller and his actress wife, Christine; my longtime Food Network pal, star chef Emeril Lagasse with wife, Alden; and the very gracious, 3-time Grammy Award winner Sarah Mclachlan who told us her 9th CD titled 'Wintersong' will be released on Tuesday of next week. Sarah also commented: "I love Andre and I love what he is doing with his work and this is a fantastic cause and basically I do what I can. I have been doing one or two charity events a month since I have had my time off all over the place and I am really lucky. I live a fantastic life and this is my way of thanking the universe. This is an easy thing for me to do and it is a feel good thing for everybody."

BACKSTAGE HIGHLIGHT

Phil Collins backstage, speaking about Andre, touring, and his pending divorce.

For Phil Collins it was his very first appearance at Andre’s Grand Slam. In his dressing room he laughed thathe’d simply run out of excuses not to attend and perform. Said Phil: "Andre tried for 10-years to get me, so I had to say yes this time. Previously there was always a conflict or I was overseas but this time I deliberately kept the date open. I’ve officially given up touring and I get edgy after 2 or 3 nights in the same place so I don’t envy Elton and Celine getting their fulltime shows here. I was last in Vegas in 2004 for the farewell tour and, even though there’s talk about some new Genesis concerts, I don’t have any return date in mind to play Vegas again." Incredibly, Phil told me that he brought his 34-year-old daughter Jocelyn, 30-year-old son Simon and his 17-year-old daughter Lily out with him to Vegas so they could all see Cirque du Soleil’s 'LOVE' at the Mirage last night, but at the last moment he got called back to New York so he jetted east and they saw the show without him! Go back to the original Beatles 'Hard Days Night' and you’ll remember Phil, who has been hailed as one of the world’s best drummers, had a brief cameo!! Even though Phil told me he’s going through a really bad divorce, he did get an overseas phone call from his separated wife in Switzerland to wish him "good luck" for the concert." We have a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old so, although I have an apartment in Manhattan, I’ve just bought a new home in Switzerland to be closer to them," he said. While we were chatting he used his cell phone to take part in the bidding of a painting that Andre was selling in the adjoining arena but he dropped out when it hit $220,000! Luxe Life will have more of the Phil Collins intimate sit-down interview next week, when I get more time to peruse all my notes.

It was a super celebration and one more incredible night of Vegas gift-giving generosity. This year Andre will add 10th and 11th grade classes to his academy and plan the first graduations in 2007. Luxe Life offers its own congratulations to Andre and Steffi for their remarkable generosity and achievements with this monumental community charitable venture.

Luxe Life will be back a little later today with the full report of Paris and Nicky Hilton’s wild weekend in Vegas. It began with Paris linking up with the broken-armed drummer Travis Barker at Social House and then onto celebrating the 2nd anniversary of Tangerine in Treasure island and wound up with sister Nicky’s 23rd birthday bash in Caesars Palace at the BOA steak restaurant and the PURE nightclub. We’ve got allthe close-up intimate photos. Later today, we’ll also have the full bodacious bust-out report on the star partying at the Palms as Hugh Hefner re-launched the legend of his Playboy bunny clubs!

Luxe Life will return shortly with Nicky and Paris Hilton's wild weekend with the injured Travis Barker.

Check back later for our coverage of the Playboy Club's grand opening over the weekend.

Be sure to check in with our Mayor Oscar Goodman as he blogs about his travels with the NBA Europe Live Tour in anticipation of Vegas hosting the NBA All-Star 2007.

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Andre Agassi's Grand Slam for Children -- LUXE LIFE SPECIAL EDITION