Teen baseball star Agassi commits to USC
Sdon’t care who your parents are… Case in point: Jaden Agassi, son of tennis superstars Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf. At 15, young Jaden can hit a baseball more than 400 feet and hits .400 against the top competition in the country.
His fastball clocks about 90 mph. He’s 6-feet-2 inches tall and weighs 205 pounds.
These stats have made Agassi one of the hottest teenage baseball prospects in the country. On Monday, he announced he’ll attend the University of Southern California. His verbal commitment ended a nationwide courtship from colleges including North Carolina, the University of Miami and Texas Christian University.
A two-position standout (pitcher and third baseman), Agassi has been homeschooled while playing for the traveling team LV Recruits. In January, he was named the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher as LVR won the prestigious Perfect Game West MLK Championship at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training complex in Glendale, Ariz.
Agassi was also named to the Perfect Game All-tournament Team after hitting .405 and allowing one run in 23 innings on the mound during Perfect Game USA events through the year (Perfect Game is the nation’s largest baseball scouting service).
The phenom’s legendary parents have not spoken publicly about his recruiting trips or his long-awaited decision. Jaden previously dabbled in other sports, including soccer (but not tennis), before his passion took hold on the diamond. He’s obviously a kid to watch.
Doubleheader at Flamingo
We’ll see more of Piff the Magic Dragon at Bugsy’s Cab- aret at Flamingo Las Vegas this year and next. The satin-costumed comic magician and noted parent of canine sidekick Mr. Piffles is headlining on the Strip through the end of next year. He’s also extended his contract with Stabile Productions through all of 2018. And fellow Bugsy’s headliner Tape Face is back from Sept. 29-Nov. 19.
Twelve and done
When Mike “Beans” Benigno began his run as the cat character in “The World’s Greatest Rock Show” at the Stratosphere, he wore a mask rather than applying makeup for the role. It was widely assumed by the cast that Benigno wouldn’t have enough time between numbers to apply the full-face kitty makeup, originally made famous by drummer Peter Criss.
Unlike the other members of the Kiss lineup in the show, Benigno plays multiple sets and has scant time to change costumes, even without a fullface makeover.
But Benigno has persevered. He now finishes the nightly task in just 12 minutes.
As Benigno crowed after Tuesday’s show, “And they said it couldn’t be done!” He was still in full cat costume, but because his makeup is water-based, it washes right off.
Let’s go to the Hopper
Uber-talented pianist and vocalist Jimmy Hopper headlined the Fontana Room at Bellagio in the years before it was replaced by Hyde Lounge. Before that, in the late 1990s, he was the original headliner at the then-new Voodoo Lounge at the Rio, when that place was about the coolest spot in the city.
Hopper has been kicking around town recently, spotted at Clint Holmes’ show at the Showroom at Golden Nugget and in appearances at the Italian American Club. Hopper is also making a run at a residency, appearing in no-cover-charge shows at 9:30 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Tropicana Lounge. He’s back Oct. 6, too, and worth a look-see.
What works in Vegas …
Cindy Williams as a guest star in “Menopause the Musical” at Harrah’s. The former Shirley Feeney of the hit ’70s sitcom “Laverne & Shirley” is with the wacky musical through Dec. 16. Williams originally planned to depart after Labor Day weekend.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@ reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @ Johnnykats1 on Instagram. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
1. Las Vegas police say race played no role in Michael Bennett’s detainment
Metro Undersheriff Kevin Mcmahill denied race played a role when officers detained Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett after the Floyd Mayweather-conor Mcgregor fight.
2. EDC 2018 moves to May, offers camping, traffic solutions
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5. Henderson police arrest suspect in California woman’s kidnapping
A California woman, who police say was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend Friday, was found Monday night at a Henderson hotel. The man police say kidnapped her was arrested Tuesday night. As of 9 p.m. Wednesday:
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Planned Las Vegas Raiders stadium will have 10 levels:
2. Vegas Nation: Raiders stadium progress
Ed Graney and Rick Velotta discuss the progress of building the new Raiders Stadium in Las Vegas
3. Las Vegas police briefing on Michael Bennett detainment
Las Vegas police discuss Seattle Seahawks’ defensive end Michael Bennett’s detainment that occurred on Aug. 27.