14 Friday 30th October, 2009

guides high-profile figures through public relations crises. “It’s going to make Andre Agassi even richer. This is going to help him sell his book, which is why he wrote it,” ‘I hate tennis’: Grabowski said. Agassi report- edly received at least $5 million for the book; the first Agassi’s book printing is a half-million copies, a relatively high number in publish- ing. adds to his tale “His book will WASHINGTON (AP) - So much of just learn more about me, what it is I’ve “It takes a lot probably sell. It Andre Agassi’s life has been spent in the been through, but somehow through those of guts and seems very inter- public eye - the various highs and lows, on lessons, they can learn a lot about them- courage to come esting, to say the and off the court, during his transforma- selves. And I think it’s fair to say that they out and say least,” seven-time tion from tennis brat to elder statesman - will.” something Grand Slam singles that it was possible to wonder how much SI and the Times of London are that nobody champion Venus more there was to be said about it all. among four publications that paid for the would have Williams said on Plenty,it turns out. Excerpts of rights to print parts of “Open: An really Wednesday at the WTA Agassi’s upcoming autobiography pub- Autobiography.” Among the material known Championships in lished on Wednesday by Sports Illustrated excerpted: Doha, Qatar. and the Times of London contain graphic - Agassi calls his father “violent by Calling Agassi depictions of his use of crystal meth, an nature,” and recalls being in the car when account of how he wriggled his way out of his father pointed a handgun at another a suspension by lying to the ATP Tour driver. after failing a 1997 drug test, and the jar- - He writes about making money by ring contention that he always hated ten- hustling people on tennis courts and nis “with a dark and secret passion” remembers when, at 9 years old, he beat because of his overbearing father. NFL great Jim Brown in a match to win a If image is indeed everything, as $500 bet for his father. Agassi used to say to sell a sponsor’s cam- - He poignantly recalls a telephone eras, he has provided new, indelible, conversation with his father after win- behind-the-scenes images - along with rais- ning Grand Slam title No. 1 at ing questions about why he chose to reveal Wimbledon in 1992. Dad’s initial reac- his crystal meth habit. tion? “You had no business losing “Is it cathartic? I don’t know. I think that fourth set,” Agassi writes. it’s strictly from the heart. That’s the way - He writes about using crystal he has operated in my view, going back to meth “a lot” and in sometimes-posi- Andre Agassi the latter portion of his playing career,” tive terms, including reference to “a said Arlen Kantarian, who ran the U.S. tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps Open from 2000-08. “I’m sure he feels good away every negative thought in my about getting it out on the table.” head. I’ve never felt so alive, so hopeful - about,” Fernandez said. “I’ve always medal in 1996 - and then it all unraveled. Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam and I’ve never felt such energy.” admired Andre. He was a huge part of He dropped to 141st in the rankings and “an icon of his sport,” IOC president singles titles before retiring in 2006, is not “Apart from the buzz of getting high,” inspiring my generation, and he did a lot of resorted to playing in tennis’ minor circuit Jacques Rogge said, “If his admission explaining himself at the moment. His he says, “I get an undeniable satisfaction great things and continues to do a lot of in 1997, the year he says he first tried crys- would go together with the message to representative referred interview requests from harming myself and shortening my great things. He’s opening up now, and tal meth. young athletes that it should not be to his publishing company,which has set career,” he writes. “But the physical after- that’s his choice. Maybe people can learn After he escaped punishment for the repeated, then that would be useful.” up a “60 Minutes” appearance on Nov. 8, math is hideous. After two days of being from it and not make the same mistakes.” drug test, he writes, his thought was: The International Tennis Federation the day before the book’s scheduled high, of not sleeping, I’m an alien. I have Agassi turned pro in 1986, reached his “New life.” said the reference to the 1997 drug test release. the audacity to wonder why I feel so rotten. first major final at the French Open in In addition to returning to No. 1 in was surprising but noted that it did not After an exhibition match on Sunday I’m an athlete, my body should be able to 1990, quickly drew plenty of attention and the world, and completing a career Grand oversee anti-doping efforts on the men’s in Macau against longtime rival Pete handle this.” kept drawing it - for his service returns, Slam, Agassi became an influential voice tour back then. The ATP, which did, Sampras, Agassi was asked if the book - Agassi says he wrote to the ATP Tour considered by many to be the best in the on the tennis tour. He also raised tens of issued a statement on Wednesday about contains major revelations. to explain the 1997 positive test and that game; for his quick-as-could-be reflexes at millions of dollars for at-risk youths in his its rules, in general, noting an independ- “I think I had to learn a lot about “the central lie of the letter” was that he the baseline; for his denim shorts, neon hometown of Las Vegas and opened a ent panel makes the final decision on a myself through the process,” Agassi said. claimed he accidentally drank from a soda shirts, flowing hair and dangling earrings; preparatory academy there. doping violation. “There was a lot that even surprised me. spiked with meth by his assistant “Slim.” for his two-year marriage to Brooke He also got remarried, to tennis great John Fahey, president of the World So to think that one won’t be surprised by U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Shields and friendship with Barbra Steffi Graf - he calls her “Stefanie” in the Anti-Doping Agency, called on the ATP to it, it would be an understatement. Fernandez, a former player who was a con- Streisand that provided fodder for the book - and they have two children. “shed light on this allegation.” “Whatever revelations exist, you’ll get temporary of Agassi’s, described the drug tabloids. Always evolving. The tour declined repeated requests to see in full glory,” he added. “But the revelations as disappointing and “a bit of a He won Wimbledon in 1992, was “It fits in with the story arc of his from The Associated Press to address the truth is, my hope is that somebody doesn’t shock.” ranked No. 1 in 1995, won an Olympic gold redemption,” said Gene Grabowski, who specifics of Agassi’s account.

Pollard joins Afridi Racing for pride on futuristic new circuit Bangladesh in South Australia by Tim Collings bowls out uge optimism and end-of-term fever T20 squad will grip the Formula 1 paddock this Hweekend as the series races into the ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) - West unknown on the futuristic Yas Marina cir- for 219 Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard has been cuit in Sunday’s inaugural Abu Dhabi GP. DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) signed by South Australia for the domes- The 2009 World championship was set- - Bangladesh’s Abdur Razzak tic Twenty20 Big Bash tournament in tled in Brazil 10 days ago so the leading took five one-day teams and drivers all believe they can December, joining Pakistan star Shahid Thursday for just the second relax and take a more aggressive approach Afridi in a powerful lineup. time to bowl out Zimbabwe for to winning the season’s finale. SPECTACULAR SETTING: Yas Marina at sunset, showing how the GP circuit curves Pollard, whose signing was 219 in the second game of a five- Ferrari and McLaren are confident of round the harbour and under the hotel. announced Thursday, scored 54 off 18 performing well on the new harbour-side match series. balls in Trinidad and Tobago’s prelimi- track, as are champion Brawn and its sea- from a week of celebrations, budget wor- and the team’s budget. Zimbabwe made a steady nary round win over Australia’s New son-long rivals Red Bull. ries and endless speculation over the He said: “Jenson’s obviously a great start after winning the toss at South Wales in the Twenty20 Champions That means a fierce scrap between out- future of his team after its fairy-tale suc- driver and he has to be a target for those Shere-e-Bangla National League in India this month. going champion Lewis Hamilton and his cess in winning both the Drivers’ and teams without their full complement of Stadium but lost regular wick- successor Jenson Button is in Constructors’ titles in its first season, says drivers. ets once captain Hamilton prospectBrawn is still engulfed in media he is determined to do well in Abu Dhabi. “We want Jenson to stay in the team and Masakadza was trapped leg- frenzy over Button’s future. Yet, he may still be engulfed in the I think we will find a solution. He has a before- for 34 while trying Former champion Kimi Raikkonen, media frenzy around his talks with Button contract with us but of course that con- Injury ends Safina’s Mark Webber and his Red Bull team mate for a new contract. Brawn has made it tract is not the salary of a World champion to sweep Naeem Islam. Sebastian Vettel, and Button’s Brawn part- clear he wishes to keep the 29-year-old and not the salary of a team that is now in Three wickets then fell with season, claim to ner Rubens Barrichello are also likely to Englishman on board but has to find a a much stronger position than it was 10 the score on 96 and Zimbabwe be at the forefront of the action. compromise between his salary demands months ago. (IoL) never fully recovered, giving Brawn team boss Ross Brawn, fresh Bangladesh a good chance to No 1 ranking draw level in the series. DOHA, Qatar (AP) - Dinara Safina Razzak took wickets all finished the best year of her career with Queen launches Commonwealth Games baton relay down the order to finish with a tears in her eyes on Wednesday, as a seri- career-best 5-29. ous back injury ended her season and her LONDON (AP) - The baton, which where they should be. Bangladesh did the real dam- hold on the No. 1 ranking she owned for Queen Elizabeth II on contains a message to There have been delays age to Zimbabwe’s batting order much of 2009. Thursday launched the the athletes from the both in relation to the in the 21st and 22nd overs. Safina lasted just 13 minutes in her baton relay for the 2010 queen in her role as of infrastruc- Justice Chibhabha was first round-robin match of the Sony Commonwealth Games head of the ture for the Games and by wicketkeeper Ericsson Championships before calling it in New Delhi, an event Commonwealth, will indeed the operational Mushfiqur Rahim on 39 for one quits while serving at 1-1 against Jelena which is facing organiza- reach the Indian capital planning,” of Mohammad Ashraful’s two Jankovic. tional delays. in time for the Oct. 3, Commonwealth Games wickets, was Her withdrawal meant she lost the The monarch handed 2010, opening ceremony. Federation chief execu- bowled by Razzak and Charles year-end No. 1 ranking to Serena Williams, over the baton to Indian The baton will cover tive Mike Hooper said Coventry was caught in the a sour ending to a season that saw her President Pratibha Patil more than 190,000 kilo- outside the Palace. slips, also off Razzak. become firmly established as one of the in a ceremony outside meters in 340 days as it “Our focus is not on No. 7 Malcolm Waller sport’s top stars. Buckingham Palace travels around the world the bricks on mortar - replaced the injured Prosper “I did everything possible to play here,” Safina said. “As I was chasing this before 14 athletes - before the 71-nation we are sure it will get Utseya and top-scored with 40 No. 1 (ranking), I was fighting with my including India’s 1983 event. there. It is really on the A dancer performs during the the launch of the XIX but he too fell to Razzak. body.” World Cup winning Games organizers operational delivery.” Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay for Delhi Ashraful finished with 2-28, After stopping play in the third game, captain Kapil are racing to try and get Hooper reiterated that 2010 outside Buckingham Palace in London, Thursday, while Islam took 2-43. a teary-eyed Safina walked over to her Dev - ran with it around all the facilities complet- there is no possibility of Oct. 29, 2009. The launch on Thursday coincided with Tatenda Taibu hit 38, the chair and covered her face with a towel the Victoria Memorial ed in time. the games being moved the State Visit to Britain by India’s President Pratibha only other batsman to get past on The Mall. “Things are not from Delhi. 25. before retiring. Patil. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)