The 5th annual Gibson GrandSlamJam is returning to Austin, TX, February 3-4. Those of you who have attended in the past know that the GSJ combines two of my greatest loves -- tennis and music.

This year on court we welcome two of the young guns on the Pro Tour: Andy Roddick and Taylor Dent. Andy finished 2004 ranked second in the world and led the U.S. Davis Cup Team to the finals. Taylor was a semifinalist at the Athens Olympic Games and brings his throwback serve-and-volley style to Austin. These are two of the biggest servers on Tour going to battle. We also welcome a fresh new face to GSJ in Donald Young. This 15-year-old from Atlanta is being touted as the next great American male with good reason; he has been rewriting the junior tennis history books. They say experience counts for something. We shall see as I'll be putting my experience on the line against his youth.

On the stage we welcome back the amazing Gavin DeGraw, who will headline our music evening Friday night at The Paramount Theatre. He's no stranger to those of you who have been with us at GSJ before but now the rest of the world has caught on to our little secret. It has been exciting to watch him climb the charts with his single "I don't wanna be" this past year and we are thrilled to have him back on our stage with his band.

In the past four years we have had more than 25,000 people join us for GSJ -- all to raise money and awareness for The Hope Foundation. The Hope Foundation, based in San Antonio, supports the largest clinical cancer trials organization in the world, with the vision of ending the pain and suffering that accompany cancer.

I hope that you will join us in helping The Hope Foundation continue its fight against all forms of cancer. This is a special group of people donating their time and energy to help defeat cancer in our lifetime. Please join me in welcoming them to Austin for GSJV. I look forward to seeing you there.

Sincerely,