People talk 4/10/02

Suit settled between Michigan man, rapper

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. -- A man has settled a civil lawsuit he filed against Eminem after the hip-hop superstar allegedly pulled a gun on him.

John Guerra will receive $100,000 minus attorneys' fees in the agreement he reached recently with the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III, The Macomb Daily reported Tuesday.

Guerra, 28, sued Eminem a few days after they confronted each other outside a Warren bar in June 2000. Guerra had kissed Eminem's then-wife, Kim Mathers, in public before the Grammy-winning musician allegedly pulled out an unloaded handgun and hit him in the head and face, according to the lawsuit.

Eminem pleaded guilty to charges of carrying a concealed weapon, and is serving two years' probation on the criminal charge.

Neither Eminem, 29, of Macomb County's Clinton Township, nor Guerra, of Warren, admitted liability or wrongdoing.

Actress details her battle with anorexia

NEW YORK -- Christina Ricci says she learned how to be an anorexic in her teens by watching TV movies about eating disorders -- which are supposed to dissuade people from such behavior.

"I did get all my tips from a Tracey Gold Lifetime movie on anorexia. It taught me what to do," the 22-year-old actress says in the May issue of Jane magazine. "There was also one on HBO, starring Calista Flockhart when she was really young. She was bulimic and anorexic. ... It was so crazy to me that for some reason it was appealing."

Now at 5-foot-1 and 98 pounds, she says she doesn't struggle with food anymore. "No more than anyone else does -- like the rest of the ... women in the world."

Ricci, a new guest star on Flockhart's series "Ally McBeal," stars in the upcoming movie "Prozac Nation," which is based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's book about her battle with depression.

Evangelist Graham will extend visit to hospital

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Evangelist Billy Graham, who was released from the hospital Sunday after sinus surgery, will remain here for several days while he continues his annual checkup at the Mayo Clinic-Jacksonville, a spokesman said.

Graham, 83, who had surgery Friday, has some remaining tests before he can return home to North Carolina, spokesman A. Larry Ross said Monday.

There were no complications from Graham's outpatient surgery to relieve symptoms of his sinus infection and bronchitis, Ross said.

Since November, Graham has suffered from recurring bouts of sinus and bronchial infections. Graham has Parkinson's disease and has undergone surgery to drain fluid from his brain.

Pavarotti opens opera season at Wichita

WICHITA, Kan. -- Luciano Pavarotti kicked off the Wichita Grand Opera's inaugural season in high style.

At the invitation of Wichita's new opera group, Pavarotti stepped onstage Saturday night at the Kansas Coliseum before 6,400 fans who paid between $20 and $500 per ticket.

Wearing a tuxedo with tails and clutching a white handkerchief, he seemed to command his Kansas audience.

Those who bought top-dollar tickets had the chance to see Pavarotti up close at a black-tie ball after the show.

-- From wire reports