Judging Andre.........  I like to think of Andre as a Tennis Player.   He's not required to be perfect or anyones role model.  He was brash and used to give away points in matches, the original Rebel.  Andre certainly was not loved by all when he splashed onto the sceen but he was controversial and usually very interesting.  He generated tons of interest in the game so the tournament directors, the fans, and The Press all appreciated someone who could provide some fodder.  Who am I to judge a celebrity like him and who am I to judge his father or his family or his coaches?  I am certainly not going to judge him harshly for his admission.  Andre's life is Andre's life, compared to most it appears to me that he has helped alot of people on and off a tennis court. 

Tennis is a game that will remain unscarred by anything one person says or does.  The ATP is an organization that is mainly going to be looking out for their self interests, don't we all? 

Andre was FANTASTIC tennis player and generated tons of interest for the pro game and he continues to do the same, he's a rebel.  How can any of us be surprised by his confession?  Whether he is after a buck, or more attention, or just wants to make a clean slate of things, who are we to judge? 

Drugs and their use should alarm us when it starts to interfere with the lives of others.  If Andre's previous drug use did any harm to any person, besides the temporary loss of consciousness he had personally, we have no evidence of that.  Apparently no one was harmed by the modest amounts of recreational drugs he is confessing about.

 

           SmokingAce is right.  This was not a performance-enchancing drug.  In fact, it would have hurt Andre's performance.  I really don't think recreational drug use is the ATP's business anyway.  They should only be concerned about drugs that give players an unfair advantage.  The fact that Martina Hingis was suspended for three years because she went out and partied is assanine.  Nadal's comment implying that Andre "cheated" is apparently based on ignorance of the nature of the drug.  His handlers should keep his mouth shut until he knows what the hell he's talking about.  Same with Martina Navratalova.  Putting Andre in the same class as Roger Clemons?  Again, this is not a case of performance-enhancing drugs.

            Andre helped invent the modern game.  He kept tennis afloat when it was "dying" as Sports Illustrated reported.  His presence made everyone lots of money thery wouldn't have made without him, and he didn't even want to play--he was forced into the sport by his dad.  Andre probably has been more giving than any other athlete in history.  Who cares if he did some drugs?  This just shows that he is a real human being, not like the grinding robots the game tends to produce (boring).  I'm just glad Andre got through it o.k., because the drug he took is very dangerous and harmful (to him).   

           

 Personally I have to take the Agassi at face value and that may be naive but he has never given me the impression that he would resort to making up a story such as this to "sell books."

"Out"side of the Andre story, don't the publishers have a responsiblity for honesty and delving into the truth of what they publish as well?  

  Even IF the publisher wants to make a disclaimer, don't they have a reputation and network that they need to protect as well.  If one wants to accuse people of lying, and lying simply for profit then accuse the publisher of selling cheap lies.  I am certain that "the law" isn't going to do anything and will have no role.  But, if someone like Aaliyah wants to say she suspects Andre is lying and therefore her plan is to "punish" Andre by not buying his book then wouldn't a more sensible plan be to expose the publisher and penalize the publisher generally and more thoroughly?

 Maybe in a couple years Andre will change his story and his publisher for yet another payday?

I agree on the Aaliyah - what's the indication Agassi is lying in the book?  I was amazed and appalled tennisweek posted the Aaliyah comment anonymously (since that's a pseudonym) on their news feed - no standards on this website I guess.

Here are two calmer pieces by Peter Bodo on the Agassi affair:

 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4608557&name=bodo_peter

http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2009/11/agtassi.html

I hope TexasT! continues to provide thoughtful and critical insight to this board.  Bodo provides context to this story like a beach to an ocean.

Nice stories thanks.

Thank you, Hairload, for being willing to step up and say what many people are probably thinking but don't want to say out loud. He was/is a great tennis player, but his ego is really a turn off. I have never been his biggest fan for that reason. Anyone who can allow himself to be feted for an entire week upon retirement can be nothing but an egotist. I felt embarrassed for him. Also, the Longines ad, which shows him and Stefi working with the kids at his school (yeah, I bet they really do that--hah)  is disgusting for being so excessively self-serving and self congratulatory. He beats his chest so much. There are plenty of players who probably do a lot of charitable work, and perhaps much more than he does; but they do it quietly and without so much bragging. Agassi on drugs? At this point, so what. He should not have lied and they should not have let him off. About the best that can be done now is to make an example of him. What's really more important is for the anti-drug authorities to straighten up and fly right. 

Saccharine

Back in 1995, when Andre was at the peak of his popularity and his tennis game, I went to a tournament where Andre was the main draw. I had the chance to watch a practice set he was having with a guy in the tournament who was at one time ranked about 17 but was  ranked around 30 when he practiced with Andre. The crowd swirled around Andre and gave him so much adoration that it was like they were seeing Elvis when Elvis was young. And Andre seemed to love every bit of the adulation. During  the practice set, Andre's opponent had the temerity to start hitting some winners down the line and actually played Andre on a fairly even level. Andre made it quite clear to the crowd that he could take over the set whenever he felt like it and then proceded to do just that. The practice partner (whose name I won't mention) soon learned just how good Andre was when Andre decided to turn on the juices. I always wondered why it was necessary to do that in a practice set. Sampras, in contrast, would never show anybody up in a practice set. Pete would just go about his business.
  I know that when Andre got older he stopped doing things like showing up opponents in practice and so maybe it is not right to judge the players by what they do when they are still in the maturing stage but I didn't like what I saw on the practice court that day. And I am guessing that Andre's opponent didn't like it easier although he was goodnatured throughout the thrashing he received.The guy plays some on the European BlackRock tour so maybe he will play a seniors match with Andre.

Scoop:

Rafael Nadal: "If the ATP covered for Agassi then I think that's dreadful. If they covered for the player and punished others for doing the same kind of thing then that would seem to me to be a lack of respect for all sportsmen ... Now that he is retired, he comes out and says this? It's a way of senselessly damaging the sport."

 

Red I agree, this was a very classy and courageous thing to say by Nadal about Agassi , Nadal reminds us that the sport is bigger and more important than ANY of the players. Nadal respects that. Nadal's comments also put to rest, IMO, any suspicions that he is using performance enhancing drugs. 

 

 

Actually, I thought it was a classless comment. Then again I never was a Nadal KAD. I also don't think his comments put to rest any suspicions about him possibly using performing enhancing drugs.  Lots of folks went to great lengths (Marion Jones anyone?!) to deny using performance enhancing drugs.

 

Say what you will about Agassi. That he had a huge ego. But do you really think Agassi admitted this to damage the sport?!  Yes the sport is bigger than any one player. Even bigger than the egos of Nadal and Agassi combined.

 

But Agassi's admission will do a lot more to damage his own credibility (though perhaps not as much as some, like Aalyah) would have liked.  Navratilova was her typical classless self in criticizing Andre. First by slamming him for it, then by comparing him to Roger Clemens - proving once again she hasn't a scintilla of journalistic sensibility or credibility to her since Andre never denied using recreational drugs over and over, whereas Clemens, and others, repeatedly denied using steroids. And then she questioned why he admitted it all. For her, it was apparent she just felt the need to hear her own voice again. I am only surprised she didn't somehow draw Steffi into the situation. (Where was her 'Steffi is a groupie' rant?!) Martina never misses an opportunity to publicly slam Graf.

I think Martina has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about Stefi. Martina was the top player until Stefi came along and beat martina like a drum. I don't think Martina ever beat Stefi after Stefi turned 17. Martina was slowing down and her time was passing but she still didn't like to lose to Stefi. That may explain her need to take a shot at Andre.

Not to change the subject but Martina Navatilova at her peak would not be top ten today. Remember that Tracy Austin, who did not exactly remind anyone of DelPotro in the power department, defeated Martina N in the US Open Finals 1981, their biggest match against once another. And Tracy totally befuddled Martina. Had their rivalry not been derailed by injuries, Tracy would have dominated.

Red, I remember that Andre once called Vince "a classic journeyman" and then Vince defeated Andre twice afterward. Did Vince hold any grudges about Andre's statements? To me, the comments from Andre seem demeaning but maybe Andre simply did not find the right wrods to use and he could have meant a craftsman or something akin to that. Interesting to hear Vince's take on that. 

Moving away from the "Drug" part of the book for a second, I have one question...Is Agassi's dad still alive? If he is, I dont imagine there are too many family barbecues with the grandchildren sitting on Grampas lap now that Andre threw his dad under the proverbial bus with the tales from this book. If he passed away thats even worse, the man doesnt have a chance to defend himself....

Actually, I thought it was a classless comment. Then again I never was a Nadal KAD. I also don't think his comments put to rest any suspicions about him possibly using performing enhancing drugs.  Lots of folks went to great lengths (Marion Jones anyone?!) to deny using performance enhancing drugs.

Nadal was not at all classless.  He brought to light that Agassi was given favorable treatment for doing something illegal, which other players were punished for back in 1997 and onwards.  He also implied that Agassi and the sport of tennis were better off if Andre kept his big fat mouth shut.  

But I agree that Nadal's comments do not put to rest any suspicions that he is using performance enhancing drugs.  Just like Federer and Djokovic are not above suspicion. 

 

Say what you will about Agassi. That he had a huge ego. But do you really think Agassi admitted this to damage the sport?!  Yes the sport is bigger than any one player. Even bigger than the egos of Nadal and Agassi combined.

The sport is bigger than any player and their egos.  Well, the only ego that acted bigger than the game recently is Agassi's. 

Nadal may have an ego like any human being, but it was not even on the radar this week, or ever.  Just some of his haters are just too sensitive.  

Navratilova was her typical classless self in criticizing Andre. First by slamming him for it, then by comparing him to Roger Clemens - proving once again she hasn't a scintilla of journalistic sensibility or credibility to her since Andre never denied using recreational drugs over and over, whereas Clemens, and others, repeatedly denied using steroids.

Let us think legally.  Andre did something illegal, tested positive for it (legal evidence to prove a crime at the workplace), and lied about it (more illegality).  Roger Clemons never tested positive for steroid use so there is no evidence to prove that he ever did anything illegal; therefore, he has nothing to lie about or confess to (yet). 

If anything, it is Andre Agassi who is more of a criminal just by his confession, and the positive test back in 1997; and the ATP is negligent for not punishing accordingly.   Andre (and the game of tennis) was better off if he kept his mouth shut. 

Martina was not classless in criticizing Andre.  He did something criminal and there is proof, so slam him accordingly.  Roger Clemons is officially not a criminal.  So Andre the criminal was compared to Clemons the non-criminal in Martina's criticism.  How is this classless?  If anything, it is a slap in the face to Roger Clemons. 

 

I think Martina has a bit of a chip on her shoulder about Stefi. Martina was the top player until Stefi came along and beat martina like a drum. I don't think Martina ever beat Stefi after Stefi turned 17. Martina was slowing down and her time was passing but she still didn't like to lose to Stefi. That may explain her need to take a shot at Andre.

Martina is just better than Steffi.  Period!   Steffi rarely beat Martina like a drum.  She often needed three-setters to beat an opponent who is 12.5 years older.  And Martina did beat Steffi after Steffi turned 17.  29 year old Martina beat a 17 year old Steffi in the 1986 US Open semis.   30 year old Martina beat 18 year old Steffi in the Wimbledon and US Open finals of 1987.  34 year old Martina also beat 22 year old Steffi in the US Open semis of 1991.  Who beat who like a drum? 

And Martina has the Super Slam (all 12 slams in singles, doubles, and mixed combined) in Tennis.  

Firstly, they test for drugs like cocaine b/c they are masking drugs for steroids.

Secondly, Martina in my mind, was a better player than Steffi. Graf wasn't as good as the young Monica Seles.

Thirdly, Agassi's dad is alive and they don't get along well. When Agassi's dad wrote his book, Andre totally had nothing to do with it.

Lastly, off the drug topic--which I say, "Big deal" about b/c everything about Agassi suggests he probably did hard drugs back in the day, but what about AA saying he hates tennis. It's one thing to say it when he was a junior being forced to hit a million balls a week by his bullying father, but it's quite another to say he hated tennis even when he was playing his final US Open.

I think that is the bigger lie in the book, not the drug admission, which I believe. I don't think AA really hates or hated tennis. If he did, why would he have played so long and shown such grit in his practices and matches. I think he's saying he hated it to be controversial and flip people into buying the book. " How could this great tennis player say he hates playing tennis?"

You think Michael Jordan or A-Rod would say they hate playing their sport?