Agassi's Book Adds to His Tale
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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 Zimbabwe 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 wickets 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 batting 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.