From: Subject: 'P' in ATP might stand for pampering Date: Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:50:28 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://enquirer.com/columns/knip/1999/08/12/jk_p_in_atp_might_stand2.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5994 =EF=BB=BF 'P' in ATP might stand for = pampering
Thursday, = August 12,=20 1999=20

'P' in ATP = might stand=20 for pampering=20



BY JIM KNIPPENBERG
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        Hanging = around the party=20 tents and beer gardens at the Great American Insurance ATP = Championship=20 ...=20

        =E2=80=A2 Player Vince = Spadea spent=20 Tuesday night working the room in the Time-Warner party tent. = Most=20 players don't do that =E2=80=94 they like to stay focused on = tennis =E2=80=94 but Spadea=20 was eliminated earlier in the day after a loss to Nicolas=20 Lapentti, so he shifted to a party mode.=20

        =E2=80=9CI plan to stay all week, = right through=20 every party there is. I love to party,=E2=80=9D he said. Then = hauled out that=20 deliciously dry wit of his and gave no one a serious = answer: =E2=80=9CI'm=20 totally opposed to anything fun,=E2=80=9D he said when invited = to the Beach. =E2=80=9COh=20 no, I don't like pretty women at all,=E2=80=9D when someone = asked about the=20 constant parade traipsing to the table =E2=80=94 even as = he was leading a=20 chorus of =E2=80=9CHappy Birthday,=E2=80=9D showing that = Pavarotti has nothing to=20 worry about.=20

        =E2=80=A2 Tennis coach John = Skelly, a=20 veteran of 72 million tournaments, talking about how tournament=20 directors Paul and Bruce Flory and their staff = pamper=20 them: =E2=80=9CThey won't let you spend a dime. I got here five = days ago with=20 about $20 in cash. I still have $18. They feed you, water you, = give you=20 cars, free tickets to anything. I don't know what I'd = spend money=20 on.=E2=80=9D=20

        One more thing about pampering = from=20 Skelly: =E2=80=9CLasy year after Vince beat (Andre) = Agassi, he had to=20 play (Pete) Sampras. But after four days of eating here, = he=20 couldn't get into his shorts. Had to wear practice shorts when = he played=20 Pete.=20

        =E2=80=9CI had to ask Adidas for = an extra-large=20 shirt, too. I blamed the dry cleaner,=E2=80=9D Spadea added.=20

        =E2=80=A2 Know what Sampras is = getting for his=20 28th birthday today? Lots of people at the tournament do, but = it's a=20 surprise and he doesn't get it 'til later today.=20

        But ... seems a shopper showed up = at one=20 the the exhibition booths surrounding the stadium Tuesday night = and=20 dropped close to $400 on a, well, er, gift. Nice gift. Small. = Powerful.=20 Ought to really ring his bell.=20

        =E2=80=A2 E.J. Hilvers, = commanding a small=20 army of servers, bartenders and cooks from the family catering = business,=20 was talking about how the party scene has grown: =E2=80=9CEvery = year is bigger.=20 We have more than 30 parties tomorrow (Wednesday) alone. Do you = have any=20 idea how many hams and turkeys that comes to? I can't keep count = anymore.=E2=80=9D=20

        DOWNHILL SLIDE: Meanwhile, = over at=20 the Beach, the staff is still talking about Andre = Agassi's=20 Monday visit.=20

        He and an entourage of about 15 = =E2=80=94=20 =E2=80=9Cseveral women and all gorgeous,=E2=80=9D one staffer = said =E2=80=94 showed up about 9=20 p.m. for a late-night slide or two after the park closed.=20

        Problem is, Beach lifeguards go = off duty=20 when the park closes, so management had to ask for volunteers. = =E2=80=9CFunny=20 thing,=E2=80=9D says public relations consultant Alliea = Phipps, =E2=80=9Ceven=20 though they were supposed to be off, they were all yelling "me, = me, me'=20 when we asked if anyone would mind staying late.=E2=80=9D=20

        Agassi posed for pictures, signed = autographs and, of course, went downhill fast on any number of = water=20 slides.=20

        The same staffers who volunteered = hand=20 over fist to stay late for Agassi are now lining up for a = rumored=20 Sampras visit, which Beach people won't confirm =E2=80=94 = =E2=80=9CThey ask for no=20 media,=E2=80=9D Phipps says =E2=80=94 but that everyone thinks = will be tonight at=20 closing time.=20

        Knip's Eye View appears = Sunday,=20 Tuesday and Thursday. Have an item to report? Call Jim = Knippenberg at=20 768-8513; fax: 768-8330.

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