Tampa Tribune, Fla., Joey Johnston column: Player & Entrepreneur.(Column)

Byline: Joey Johnston

Apr. 26--TAMPA -- Jim Courier, tennis player.

Jim Courier, sports entrepreneur.

These days, Courier fills both roles, and they are difficult to separate.

"I don't sleep too much anymore," said Courier, 36, the Dade City native and former No. 1-ranked player in the world, who leads Saturday night's Mercedes-Benz Classic tennis exhibition at the St. Pete Times Forum.

One minute, he's training. The next, he's promoting, hoping the fourth annual event will make a tidy sum for charity. With Courier's contacts bringing aboard Pete Sampras, Chris Evert and Nicole Vaidisova, there's a promising marquee.

Then it's off to Boston, where Courier's fledgling …