Got to attend The 14th Annual Advanta World Team Tennis Smash Hits fundraising event Thursday night which was, as always, hosted by great buds Elton John and Billie Jean King - and more than $350,000 was raised to fight HIV and AIDS in Orange County and around the world. The event at the Bren Center in Irvine included a live auction of such great items as a trip to Wimbledon or the U.S. Open as well as three tennis matches.

Billie Jean was upbeat but reminded people to be aware of the bigger picture: "We need to get young people in high school and Jr. High to realize that AIDS has not gone away...we've got to make a difference and make sure children aren't born with AIDS."

Photo Copyright @ 2006 Charity.com

Watched from a courtside seat as Elton teamed with U.S. number one Andy Roddick in doubles just days after Roddick lost the U.S. Open final to Roger Federer. His showing up for Elton and Billie Jean says a lot about this classy player who has to leave for Russia in a few days to represent the U.S. in the Davis Cup. Elton isn't a speedster around the court but he has solid strokes and wonderful touch.
"I thought Elton played great tonight," Billie Jean told me after the match. "I think it's very brave of him. He loves to play and plays all the time. Can you imagine? It's like one of us trying to play the piano in front of all these people. I've been a back-up vocalist for Elton about 40 times and it's scary because I can't sing at all! But I like to sing, I'm pretty good in the shower."

Elton held his own on the court as he and Andy faced Anna Kournakova and Renee Stubbs, both whom have been ranked number one in the world in doubles. Elton ripped a forehand winner on set point to win the celebrity doubles match in overtime, 5-4. You go Rocket Man!

What made the atmosphere all the more fun was the playing between games of such Elton classics as "Crocodile Rock," "Your Song" and best of all, "Philadelphia Freedom" which he wrote 32 years ago for Billie Jean when she was playing World Team Tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms. The beat of the song reminded him of how Billie Jean used to stomp around the court between points.

Roddick teamed with Kournikova for some mixed doubles but they lost to Pete Sampras and Stubbs 5-4. The final match of the night was a doozy since is pitted the resurgent Roddick against the retired Sampras who is widely considered the greatest player of all time with 7 Wimbledon titles, five US Opens and two Australian Opens, among many other titles and scoires of records. Sampras beat Roddick in both sets they played (5-3, 5-3) but it was high-quality stuff.

The night was special and really a tribute to this extraordinary friendship between two very extraordinary people who continue, in the 60s, to show younger generations what passion and commitment are all about.

"Elton and I always wanted to do something together with music and sports," King said. "Elton's been very dear and close to me. He gives back so much and it's a privledge to do this."

Elton said of King: "We are both as enthusiastic about what we do as we were when we started out, we're both very focused." He said having the USTA National Tennis Center named after his friend "one of the most moving things I have ever seen. She's a special woman and I really love her - very much."

Billie Jean, looking terrifically fit these days, says she still hits the tennis court whenever she can, doing half-court drills because bad knees limits her running.
"I have the same intensity as when I was playing. I only feel really great when I'm playing tennis - I feel connected to myself. To feel the ball against the strings, I just love it. I just feel emotionally, spiritually and physically connected."

For additional information, please visit the Elton John AIDS Foundation at www.ejaf.org and World Team Tennis at www.wtt.com.