14 Monday 11th July, 2011

equal prize money at the major championships, a graders, has proven to be model of how students dream realized when Wimbledon and the French can excel even in a city’s most distressed areas. Open offered equal purses to the men’s and In a nod to the success of the Academy, Agassi women’s champions in 2007. students took center stage at the Induction ceremo- “This is the happiest day of my life,” said ny. A.J. Green, an 18-year-old Agassi Prep grad, Kellmeyer, whose award was presented by WTA delighted the crowd with his rendition of the Chairman and CEO Stacy Allaster and celebrated National Anthem. The honoree was then introduced by family, friends, colleagues and former players by 18-year-old Simone Ruffin, the 2009 class saluta- from her 38 years with the tour, where she contin- torian, current student at Concordia University in ues to serve as a consultant. “For me, being here Irvine, California and budding clinical psychiatrist, today doesn’t get any better.” who excitedly and eloquently gushed over her Then, as a nod to her co-inductee, Kellmeyer, “hometown hero,” who she said gave her and her humble as ever, sheepishly admitted, “I know I’m fellow students, “the tools to build our own lives” not the main attraction but, Andre, I’ll be your and the incentive to “never forget to look back and opening act anytime.” help others.” Ruffin ended her remarks by telling Agassi, dressed in a fitted charcoal suit and Agassi, “I am the voice of so many children whose coordinating tie, hardly resembled the brash, lives have been changed by one.” long-haired, denim-clad teen who stormed into After giving Ruffin one of his trademark bear the game in 1986, ultimately claiming eight major hugs, Agassi took to the podium and wrote virtual championships (four Australian Opens, two U.S. love letters to everyone from his parents, Betty and Opens, one Wimbledon and one French Open), an Mike, to his big brother Phil (sisters Rita and Tami Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996, two Davis weren’t present), his trainer/mentor/ friend Gil Cup championships, 60 ATP Tour titles, an 870- Reyes, his coaches , Darren Cahill 274 match record and the No. 1 world ranking. and Brad Gilbert and to “the woman who still takes Somewhere along the way he went from a kid my breath away,” wife Stefanie (whom he emotion- characterized by the “Image is Everything” ally introduced when she was inducted into the Hall moniker to a adult who, despite dropping out of of Fame in 2004) and kids Jaden and Jaz. He also school in ninth grade, now says that “Education gave nods to influential heroes (who is Everything” would more appropriately was inducted in the Hall of Fame 25 years ago) and describe his current vision of the world. former South African leader Nelson Mandela “My goal has always been to leave the sport whom, he said of their one meeting, taught him to better off for having had me,” said Agassi just “be careful in his decisions.” before his induction. “Tennis has given me the Agassi told a particularly charming story about gift to change the life experience of others. his father, a task-master and former Olympic boxer That’s just flat out a real fun thing to do and for Iran who fought in two Olympics but never won more rewarding than anything that can hap- a medal. Despite the sometimes contentious rela- pen on a tennis court. But it’s because of ten- tionship between the two that Agassi wrote about in nis that I have my life’s work.” his book, Open, it is clear that the bond between Despite his on-court accomplishments, them is ever-strong. “From the day I was born my Agassi may well be remembered more for his dad described to me the feeling I would have when I education reform than his reform-school stood up here so it’s kind of déjà vu right now,” said behavior that, early on, included mocking Agassi, smiling at his father nearby. “I was always opponents, tanking matches, spitting at here in my father’s imagination. umpires and using illicit drugs. After hitting “Last year, I was giving a speech in Las Vegas what he called “rock bottom [in 1997 when he and a man in the first row put up his hand to ask a plummeted to No. 141 in the world], a place question,” Agassi continued, bringing many in the that really isn’t so bad because it gives you a crowd to tears. “He said, ‘How do you know when to chance to look up,” Agassi said he finally stop telling your kids what to do?’ I looked down and “the woman who still takes stopped playing for others and decided to and realized the question was coming from my my breath away,” wife . (AP Photo) enjoy the game for himself, ultimately going father. Dad, when I was five, you told me to win from Challenger matches where he had to Wimbledon and when I was about seven you told me BY CINDY SHMERLER shag his own balls and turn his own score- to win all the Grand Slams and get into the Hall of card to regaining the No. 1 world ranking Fame. Then, when I was 29 you told me to marry NEWPORT—To Andre Agassi, a perfect day would and winning the 1999 French Open to become, Steffi Graf and that was the best order you ever include sleeping late while still hearing the distant at the time, only the fifth man in history to gave me. So Dad, please don’t ever stop telling me murmur of his kids, nine-year-old Jaden and seven- capture a career Grand Slam. (He has what to do.” year- old Jaz, playing in the background. It would since been joined in the Rarely has an athlete so dramatically and so allow for a workout of some sort and would end feat by Roger Federer and completely reinvented himself, but Andre Agassi with a backyard barbecue with family and friends Rafael Nadal.) But, more has clearly done that. He has made amends with jumping in and out of the swimming pool. In might importantly, his athletic himself, his foes and the game that he at one point even include an oversized proclamation trumpeting transformation worked loathed. He says that, at age 27, he gave himself per- his long-awaited induction into the International in sync with her person- mission to quit and that, only then, did he begin his Tennis Hall of Fame. al development which love affair with the game. That respect and admira- The splash of the swimming pool was replaced had become increasing- tion is now mutual between Agassi and his fans and by multi-million-dollar yachts lounging on nearby ly philanthropic. Agassi and his protégées. His membership into the Narragansett Bay and, instead of hotdogs and ham- game’s most prestigious club only accentuates burgers, the bill of fare included champagne and that. wide-brimmed straw hats. But the mood was both “I fell in love with tennis later in life but it buoyant and poignant as the 41-year-old Agassi gave me everything that I ever had,” said the joined 66-year-old Fern “Peachy” Kellmeyer as the newest Hall of Famer. “You always hope to be 219th and 220th members of the Hall of Fame, the perfect and you want to be perfect. But when highest honor bestowed in the game of tennis. The you’re out on the court you realize that you can ceremony, under an azure sky dotted with sporadic be far less than perfect. You just have to be bet- marshmallow clouds, took place Saturday afternoon ter than one person that day. on the Hall of Fame’s long-sold-out “I didn’t always show tennis the respect it Stadium Court before 3,710 fans. deserves but I now realized that it’s our respon- Kellmeyer, the first employee under founders and of the sibility to find our limits and push through Women’s Tennis Association in 1973, is credited them,” added Agassi. “It’s not too late to change. with helping the WTA grow from 23 domestic tour- guarantees equal funding for men and women in In 1994, Agassi founded the Andre Agassi We are here to do good quietly and shine in secret.” naments to more than 50 worldwide and expanding high school and college sports. While a college Foundation for Education. Together with his wife, Then, in a nod to both Dr. Seuss and the chil- prize money in women’s professional tennis from coach in Florida, Kellmeyer sued for the right to fellow Hall of Famer Stefanie Graf, he has raised dren’s book, Goodnight Moon, Agassi concluded by an early $300,000 to nearly $89 million today. But offer athletic scholarships to her women tennis $150 million to help at-risk youth in his hometown telling all of those assembled, “Thank you tennis perhaps her greatest accomplishment, often over- players and, in winning the suit, paved the way for of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Andre Agassi College for my life, thank you tennis for my wife. And thank looked in women’s sports history, is her early push all women athletes to received scholarships. She Preparatory Academy, which opened its doors in you tennis for enabling me to find my life’s work.” for Title IX of the education amendment which also fought for women professionals to receive 2001 and now educates kindergarten through 12th (Tennis.com)

the wage demands of the enjoy myself.’ than respectful to me. Cameroon striker, got too high. The transfers will be the first major ‘I hope that the people understand the However the latest step in the piece of business for the club following difficult circumstances I have been liv- long-running saga involves an the announcement they were set for a ing under the past 12 months, in £18m transfer fee which is com- £400m windfall from selling the naming regards to my family. pletely independent of Tevez, rights to their stadium and extending a ‘Living without my children in and Eto’o is keen to talk. shirt sponsorship deal with Etihad. Manchester has been incredibly chal- The two-time Champions Meanwhile, City’s pursuit of Aguero lenging for me. Everything I do, I do League winner hopes to secure appears more difficult. The club have so for my daughters, Katie and one final big contract before his far rejected talk they are in for the Florencia. I need to be closer to stock begins to drop as he gets Argentine, who is also wanted by Real them and to spend more time with Sergio older, and was unimpressed Madrid. them. Aguero when he held discussions with Yet after it emerged Juventus had ‘I need them to be happy Inter president Massimo Moratti offered Atletico Madrid £32.5m for Diego because my life is about them about improving his current Maradona’s son-in-law, the Spanish club now. I need to be in a place deal. He wants a further two claimed City had already bid £4.5m more. where they can adapt. Being years with a salary to match That in turn has forced Juve to look else- captain of Manchester City, City’s offer. where for attacking reinforcements and qualifying for the Champions The Eastlands outfit are wary they are now expected to challenge League, winning the FA Cup having been in a similar position Tottenham for the signature of and finishing as top-scorer before when Eto’o left Barcelona, Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi. last season has made me but have been assured he is more Aguero is seen as a natural replace- very proud. serious about the move this time. ment for Tevez although City still want ‘I hope that most of Eto’o scored 21 goals in Serie £50m for their Argentinian talisman. the City fans will under- A last season for a struggling Tevez rocked City in June by demand- stand that I have given Samuel Eto’o Inter outfit and having won all ing he be allowed to end his stay for the them my all on the pitch BY SIMON JONES that there is to in Spain and Italy, he sake of his family. and that my dedication would welcome a new challenge. Tevez, who was City’s top-scorer last to the city cause has been 100 Manchester City are ready to flex Last month, he said: ‘It is true that I season as they qualified for the per cent on the pitch. their muscles in the summer transfer have a few offers, I have a month off now Champions League for the first time, ‘I hope I have done my bit to help City is window with a sensational £55million to evaluate all of them and decide what issued a statement to Sportsmail explain- continue their progress towards their Samir double swoop for Inter Milan striker to do. I’m 30, I’m close to my final big ing his wish to leave the club. ambition to be champions of England Nasri. Reports Samuel Eto’o and Atletico Madrid’s contract and we’ll have to see whether I It said: ‘It is with great regret that I and to advance in the Champions late on Thursday suggest- Sergio Aguero. should stay or go. have to inform Manchester City of my League. I have no doubt that the players ed City and Arsenal had reached City had opened tentative discussions ‘My eventual departure is not to try to wish to leave the club. I would like to and management of City will achieve a deal that would see the Frenchman fol- with Inter over a possible swap involving earn 100,000 or 200,000 euros more. What state that I have great respect for the great success in the future.’ low Gael Clichy to the club for a fee of Carlos Tevez and Eto’o last month but matters in my career is being happy in a club, its supporters and the owner, Sheik Another player who could be heading £23m. that was abandoned as figures, including city, playing for a big club where I can Mansoor, who has been nothing other through the Etihad Stadium’s entrance (Mailonline)