Bloomberg - USA - Comedian Billy Crystal batted leadoff and struck out in his spring-training debut with the New York Yankees, the team he's rooted for since childhood.

Crystal, who turns 60 tomorrow and wore that uniform number, saw six pitches from Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm during the first inning of an exhibition game at Legends Field in Tampa, Florida.

He batted right-handed and fouled off the second pitch to the right side before swinging and missing twice. Crystal didn't play in the field because he was the DH -- designated hitter or, as he said yesterday, ``designated Hebrew.''

``At least I know how it feels,

E! Online - USA - It's one, two, three strikes and Billy Crystal is out of the old ballgame.

The funnyman got a standing ovation from the crowd, which included pal Robin Williams, and his temporary teammates in his baseball debut Thursday.

Crystal, in full Bronx Bomber regalia and wearing the number 60 in honor of his birthday tomorrow, was listed on the lineup card as DH—or as Crystal preferred to call it: "Designated Hebrew."

He led off for the New York Yankees during an exhibition game ni Tampa against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Crystal waved to the crowd and then stepped up to the plate to against leftie hurler

TheCelebrityCafe.com - Valley Stream, NY, USA - The comedian led off the game, but struck out in his only at bat.

Billy Crystal would be wise to stick to comedy.

The actor, comedian and frequent Oscar host struck out in his first, and only at bat as a member of the New York Yankees Thursday.

Wearing number 60 a day before his 60th birthday and cheered on by his good friend and fellow comedian Robin

Williams, Crystal actually almost got a hit in the first inning.

Swinging late against the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm, Crystal bounced a chopper past first baseman Adam LaRoche that landed only a few feet foul. Crystal

Bleacher Report - Menlo Park, CA, USA - As a present for his 60th birthday on Friday, longtime actor and funnyman Billy Crystal was put into the starting lineup of the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Wearing No. 60, Crystal faced the Pirates' Paul Maholm as a DH batting in the leadoff position. How did he fare? Well let's just say, don't give up your day job, Billy.

He actually put one ball in play, a weak chopper that went foul past first base.  But after running the count to 3-1, he swung and missed at the next two fastballs and he was history. A strikeout victim.

This isn't the first

Playbill.com - New York, NY, USA - As previously reported, Tony Award winner Billy Crystal will receive the tenth annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Oct. 11 at 8 PM in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The starry list of entertainers who will salute Crystal include Bob Costas, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, Rob Reiner, Marc Shaiman, Martin Short, Barbara Walters and Robin Williams. The evening, which will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C., will air on PBS stations nationwide Nov. 12 at 9 PM ET.

The Mark Twain Prize, according to press notes, recognizes "people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the

The Sun - London, UK - POP Idol creator Simon Fuller yesterday agreed a £657million deal to take control of the image rights to music’s ultimate icon — Elvis Presley.

The 47-year-old headmaster’s son is to buy US firm CKX, which also owns rights to boxing legend Muhammad Ali and manages Hollywood stars like Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Woody Allen.

Mr Fuller, who manages David and Victoria Beckham and has a £450million fortune, sold his management company 19 to CKX two years ago.

CKX owns the rights to the Pop Idol and American Idol formats created by Mr Fuller — and manages the stars he nurtured, including supermodel

Contactmusic.com - Burley in Wharfdale, Ilkley, UK - DANNY DeVITO will be bringing the stars to Miami Beach, Florida later this month (Jun07) when he launches his new restaurant. The pint-sized movie star/director was forced to delay the opening of DeVito's Restaurant back in February (07) and now he's aiming for a red carpet event on 13 June (07). DeVito has revamped Ocean Drive's trendy Joia, an old haunt for stars like Madonna and Cameron Diaz, and called it his own. Stars like Kim Basinger, Kelsey Grammer, Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Michael Douglas, Billy Crystal and Tim Roth are expected at the new restaurant's launch. One item sure