Andre Agassi

Good morning --Andre Agassi -- Farewell tour? Tuesday night was more like a quick "see ya."

Time once again for "The Amazing Race," or as I called it last week, The Dream Crushing, Boyfriend Eliminating Hour of Depression. I've got something that will perk you up this week: Spain! Barcelona! Beaches! It's a magical place where even the demons and devils are happy. The Twins leave the previous Pit Stop at 2:55 a.m., which is the first middle-of-the-night departure time we've seen in a long time. They catch a 6 a.m. flight to Barcelona. The Chippendales get a 7:20 a.m. flight, and they mention that they don't know who the fourth team is, because they never saw them.

What: ATP Legg Mason Tennis Classic Where: William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, Washington When: Today to Sunday Top seeds: Andre Agassi (1), Lleyton Hewitt (2), Sjeng Schalken (3), Robby Ginepri (4) TV: Fox Sports Net (semifinals), CBS (final). Ticket information: 410-547-7328

If they weren't who they are, I'd doubt they could do it, and I'd roll my eyes when I heard quotes such as, "It's going to change what people strive for when they become pro athletes. It'll change how people think about pro athletes." At first, Athletes for Hope seemed like another one of those concepts that sounded nice but probably wouldn't succeed. Its mission is to help athletes make better contributions to their communities and to match corporations and volunteers with civic-minded athletes.

Question of the day Do you care about the United States' loss to Greece in the World Basketball Championships? Every basketball fan should be concerned about the loss to Greece. Gone are the days when other nations feared drawing the Dream Team. Luiz Bravim Baltimore NEXT QUESTION Was Andre Agassi the best tennis player of his generation? Selected responses to today's question will be printed tomorrow on The Kickoff page. Please e-mail your answer (about 25 words) to sports@baltsun.

If this is June, what terrors does August hold?Indonesia had an election. Doesn't matter who won. They had an election.The grizzled come-backer, Andre Agassi, is living proof that you don't really have to be all washed up at 29.Crabs are down, oysters up. It just goes to show.Cheer up. The 106th Congress is back on the job.Pub Date: 6/09/99

Was Andre Agassi the best tennis player of his generation? If he wasn't, his farewell speech, on center court, will go down in history. Who said grown men don't cry? Tears flowed from thousands. Jim Royer Lutherville NEXT QUESTION Does Tiger Woods have a shot at Byron Nelson's PGA Tour record of 11 consecutive victories? Selected responses to today's question will be printed tomorrow on The Kickoff page. Please e-mail your answer (about 25 words) to sports@baltsun.com by 3 p.m. today.

Talk about a fun-filled two weeks in Martha's Vineyard. I wouldn't want to get the cabin after them; I hope they swept up all the glass.The Russians have only managed one economic reform so far, deciding to perforate the ruble and put it on a roll.First a relaxing two weeks with the wife and now meetings with Boris Yeltsin on the Island of the Damned. What are they going to do, share tips? Biggest meeting of the titans since Brooke Shields and Andre Agassi.Pub Date: 9/03/98@

The stars - past, present and future - will be on court at the Baltimore Arena tomorrow night in the Chevy Chase Bank Tennis Challenge. World No. 3 Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, who finished a sensational rookie season ranked No. 16, will face off in the main event. Jana Novotna, the 1998 Wimbledon champ, will join ex-ATP and current Champions Tour star Tim Wilkison in the Smith Barney Legends Match. Novotna and Wilkison will meet Zina Garrison, who won the 1988 Olympic doubles gold medal with Challenge creator Pam Shriver, and Richey Reneberg, a former world No. 1 doubles player and Davis Cup player.

Congratulations to the U.S. Davis Cup team for bringing the cup back from France by beating the Swiss team in the finals last weekend. (Congratulations, too, to the gallant Swiss, for getting to the finals and doing so well with a two-man team.) Non-playing captain Tom Gorman picked the right lineup for the U.S., and Jim Courier, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and John McEnroe all delivered -- the first two winning singles matches, the second two winning the doubles match.Jim Courier and Pete Sampras especially had a lot to prove, having done so poorly in Davis Cup play in the past.

Was Andre Agassi the best tennis player of his generation? If he wasn't, his farewell speech, on center court, will go down in history. Who said grown men don't cry? Tears flowed from thousands. Jim Royer Lutherville NEXT QUESTION Does Tiger Woods have a shot at Byron Nelson's PGA Tour record of 11 consecutive victories? Selected responses to today's question will be printed tomorrow on The Kickoff page. Please e-mail your answer (about 25 words) to sports@baltsun.com by 3 p.m. today.

Question of the day Do you care about the United States' loss to Greece in the World Basketball Championships? Every basketball fan should be concerned about the loss to Greece. Gone are the days when other nations feared drawing the Dream Team. Luiz Bravim Baltimore NEXT QUESTION Was Andre Agassi the best tennis player of his generation? Selected responses to today's question will be printed tomorrow on The Kickoff page. Please e-mail your answer (about 25 words) to sports@baltsun.

NEW YORK -- For 21 years at the U.S. Open, he had left them cheering. Yesterday, Andre Agassi left them crying. Standing and crying, no less. The inevitable had happened. At age 36, he was playing in his last pro tennis tournament. He had won here twice during a career that made him rich, famous and, in the latter years, a sort of legendary ambassador of good sport and good will. He came here with a disc injury in his back that would have most grown men crying for their mommies. Despite that, he had won first- and second-round thrillers, both long and physically taxing matches.

Good morning --Andre Agassi -- Farewell tour? Tuesday night was more like a quick "see ya."

WASHINGTON -- Andre Agassi sat in a comfortable chair inside a white tent at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center yesterday afternoon with sweat sliding down the side of his face. The white-hot sun combined with the bright lights of a dozen television cameras made the setting less than comfortable for the sport's veteran star, who is retiring after the coming U.S. Open. But Agassi, his clean-shaven head glistening, showed no sign that he even noticed, as he patiently answered questions about his career and his last appearance at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, a tournament he has won five times in 16 previous appearances.

NATIONAL Senate closer on gulf drilling The Senate moved closer yesterday to approving legislation that would make 8.3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico available for oil and natural gas drilling and ending a quarter-century ban on tapping the rich energy resources in coastal waters. pg 3A WORLD Israel to expand offensive Israeli officials said they would expand the ground offensive in Lebanon and described a 48-hour hiatus in major airstrikes as a "humanitarian gesture" rather than any prelude to a cease-fire.

WASHINGTON -- Andre Agassi sat in a comfortable chair inside a white tent at the William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center yesterday afternoon with sweat sliding down the side of his face. The white-hot sun combined with the bright lights of a dozen television cameras made the setting less than comfortable for the sport's veteran star, who is retiring after the coming U.S. Open. But Agassi, his clean-shaven head glistening, showed no sign that he even noticed, as he patiently answered questions about his career and his last appearance at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, a tournament he has won five times in 16 previous appearances.

Andre Agassi, James Blake and Andy Roddick are among those scheduled to compete this week. Where / / William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, Washington When / / Today through Sunday Format / / ATP U.S. Open Series event featuring 48 singles and 16 doubles teams. Purse / / $600,000 Admission / / Single session tickets range from $27 (today) to $45 (Sunday). Information / / Tournament hotline: 202-721-9500. Web site / / www.leggmasontennisclassic.com