SPORTS
If image is indeed everything, as Agassi used to say to sell a sponsor's cameras, he has provided new, indelible, behind-the-scenes images.
So much of Andre Agassi's life has been spent in the public eye - the various highs and lows, on and off the court, during his transformation from tennis brat to elder statesman - that it was possible to wonder how much more there was to be said about it all.
Plenty, it turns out. Excerpts of Agassi's upcoming autobiography published yesterday by Sports Illustrated and the Times of London contain graphic depictions of his use of crystal meth, an account of how he wriggled his way out of a suspension by lying to the ATP Tour after failing a 1997 drug test, and the jarring contention that he always hated tennis "with a dark and secret passion" because of his overbearing father.
If image is indeed everything, as Agassi used to say to sell a sponsor's cameras, he has provided new, indelible, behind-the-scenes images - along with raising questions about why he chose to reveal his crystal meth habit.
"Is it cathartic? I don't know. I think it's strictly from the heart. That's the way he has operated in my view, going back to the latter portion of his playing career," said Arlen Kantarian, who ran the US Open from 2000-08. "I'm sure he feels good about getting it out on the table."
Agassi, who won eight Grand Slam singles titles before retiring in 2006, is not explaining himself at the moment. His representative referred interview requests to his publishing company, which has set up a "60 Minutes" appearance on November 8, the day before the book's scheduled release. After an exhibition match on Sunday in China against longtime rival Pete Sampras, Agassi was asked if the book contains major revelations.
"I think I had to learn a lot about myself through the process," Agassi said. "There was a lot that even surprised me. So to think that one won't be surprised by it, it would be an understatement. "Whatever revelations exist, you'll get to see in full glory," he added. "But the truth is, my hope is that somebody doesn't just learn more about me, what it is I've been through, but somehow through those lessons, they can learn a lot about themselves. And I think it's fair to say that they will."
SI and the Times of London are among four publications that paid for the rights to print parts of "Open: An Autobiography." Among the material excerpted:- Agassi calls his father "violent by nature," and recalls being in the car when his father pointed a handgun at another driver.
He writes about making money by hustling people on tennis courts and remembers when, at 9 years old, he beat NFL great Jim Brown in a match to win a USD 500 bet for his father. He poignantly recalls a telephone conversation with his father after winning Grand Slam title No. 1 at Wimbledon in 1992. Dad's initial reaction, "You had no business losing that fourth set," Agassi writes.
Agassi writes about using crystal meth "a lot" and in sometimes-positive terms, including reference to "a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful - and I've never felt such energy."
"Apart from the buzz of getting high," he says, "I get an undeniable satisfaction from harming myself and shortening my career," he writes. "But the physical aftermath is hideous. After two days of being high, of not sleeping, I'm an alien. I have the audacity to wonder why I feel so rotten. I'm an athlete, my body should be able to handle this."
Agassi says he wrote to the ATP Tour to explain the 1997 positive test and that "the central lie of the letter" was that he claimed he accidentally drank from a soda spiked with meth by his assistant "Slim."
US Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez, a former player who was a contemporary of Agassi's, described the drug revelations as disappointing and "a bit of a shock." "It takes a lot of guts and courage to come out and say something that nobody would have really known about," Fernandez said.
"I've always admired Andre. He was a huge part of inspiring my generation, and he did a lot of great things and continues to do a lot of great things. He's opening up now, and that's his choice. Maybe people can learn from it and not make the same mistakes."
Agassi turned pro in 1986, reached his first major final at the French Open in 1990, quickly drew plenty of attention and kept drawing it - for his service returns, considered by many to be the best in the game; for his quick-as-could-be reflexes at the baseline; for his denim shorts, neon shirts, flowing hair and dangling earrings; for his two-year marriage to Brooke Shields and friendship with Barbra Streisand that provided fodder for the tabloids.
He won Wimbledon in 1992, was ranked No. 1 in 1995, won an Olympic gold medal in 1996 - and then it all unraveled. He dropped to 141st in the rankings and resorted to playing in tennis' minor circuit in 1997, the year he says he first tried crystal meth.
After he escaped punishment for the drug test, he writes, his thought was: "New life." In addition to returning to No. 1 in the world, and completing a career Grand Slam, Agassi became an influential voice on the tennis tour. He also raised tens of millions of dollars for at-risk youths in his hometown of Las Vegas and opened a preparatory academy there. He also got remarried, to tennis great Steffi Graf - he calls her "Stefanie" in the book - and they have two children.
Always evolving. "It fits in with the story arc of his redemption," said Gene Grabowski, who 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," Grabowski said.
Agassi reportedly received at least $5 million for the book; the first printing is a half-million copies, a relatively high number in publishing.
"His book will probably sell. It seems very interesting, to say the least," seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams said on Wednesday at the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Calling Agassi "an icon of his sport," IOC president Jacques Rogge said, "If his admission would go together with the message to young athletes that it should not be repeated, then that would be useful."
The International Tennis Federation said the reference to the 1997 drug test was surprising but noted that it did not oversee anti-doping efforts on the men's tour back then. The ATP, which did, issued a statement yesterday about its rules, in general, noting an independent panel makes the final decision on a doping violation.
Jim Fahey, president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, called on the ATP to "shed light on this allegation." The tour declined repeated requests from The Associated
Press to address the specifics of Agassi's account.
IND vs SA, 1st T20I: Sanju Samson creates history in Durban, becomes first Indian player to....
Anushka Sharma, Virat Kohli make heads turn in Mumbai, watch
J-K: Police recover bodies of two village defence guards killed in Kishtwar terror attack
Bengaluru-Chennai expressway to slash travel time to 3 hours: 71-km stretch to open on...
Amid Champions Trophy row, India to face arch-rivals Pakistan on THIS date
BIG move by Gautam Adani, as Adani Power cuts Bangladesh supply by over 60% due to...
PM Modi attacks Congress in Nashik rally, says party wants to create rift among OBCs
Health Insurance Claim Process: A Step-by-Step guide
Ali Haider emerges as a young, driven digital disruptor with ConnectPR
ACIBADEM LabMed Laboratories ensures high standards in medical testing
THIS is world's highest-valued currency, not dollar, pound, euro
'Forgive me if...’: Justice DY Chandrachud's final message as Chief Justice of India
Watch: KL Rahul's brain fade leads to bizarre dismissal in India A vs Australia A match
Meme fest erupts after Biden delivers speech with smiling face, netizens say, 'He voted for Trump'
Viral video: Netizens react in shock as woman washes hair with toxic foam from Yamuna river, watch
How Trump’s ‘America First’ policy opens doors for India’s regional power
42-year-old retired player breaks silence on registering for IPL, says, 'I have never...'
'Main pairon mein gir gaya': Virat Kohli recalls memorable encounter with Sachin Tendulkar - Watch
Is kala namak really a detox? Shalini Passi swears by this simple health hack
BIG blow to Mukesh Ambani, as Reliance Industries loses over Rs 4 lakh crore in...
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph suspended for two ODIs; here's why
Himachal CM Sukhu's samosas, cakes served to security staff; CID probe on
'Conspiracy against Kashmir': PM Modi slams NC-Cong's Article 370 resolution
Meet Tamanna Bharat, who is all set to represent India at Miss Asia Global 2024 in Kerala
Bengaluru coconut vendor's viral ad challenges Zepto, Blinkit prices, netizen says 'let him cook'
Vvan: Sidharth Malhotra drops motion poster of folk mythological thriller, Kiara Advani reacts
Virat Kohli gets embarrassed as crowd sings 'Happy Birthday to you' in live event, WATCH viral video
Gym and fitness is all about overall health, not just good looks: BigMuscles Nutrition’s Suhel Vats
Station master's phone call with ex-wife led to Rs 3 crore loss to railways, know how
Uproar in J-K Assembly as BJP members protest over special status resolution
Aligarh Muslim University entitled to minority status under Article 30: SC
Collaborative global response a must to combat climate change effectively: Dr Sanju Purohit
Viral: Man rants about his GenZ colleague's leave to heal from breakup, gets trolled
Splitsvilla, Crime Petrol-fame actor Nitin Chauhaan passes away at 35 allegedly by suicide
Worrying signs for Mukesh Ambani's Rs 840960 crore company? Elon Musk will push Donald Trump to...
Have Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma moved back to Mumbai? Here's what we know
Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani are fond of these five dishes which cost Rs...
Meet Indian-origin Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, who could be Donald Trump's likely pick for CIA Chief
Donald Trump's second term worries Elon Musk's transgender daughter, says....
Meet IAS officer, who was a disabled bangle seller, cracked UPSC exam, is now serving in...
Meet IAS officer, who is nemesis of criminals, cracked UPSC exam with AIR 36, she is...
SC to pronounce verdict on Aligarh Muslim University's minority status today
Happy Chhath Puja 2024: Top 50 wishes, What'sApp messages, quotes to share with your loved ones
Viral video: Woman's sensual dance to 'namak' sets internet on fire, watch
SA vs IND, 1st T20I: Predicted playing XIs, live streaming details, weather and pitch report
SA vs IND, 1st T20I Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for South Africa vs India match
Meet man who is set to lead Truecaller, not from IIT, IIM, earlier served Vice President of...
DNA TV Show: Why Pakistan worried about a Donald Trump presidency
Pakistan bow down as THIS country set to host India’s Champions Trophy 2025 matches
Amid heavy pollution in Delhi, these 12 Indian cities enjoy fresh, clean air
Bigg Boss 18: Vivian Dsena confides in Kashish Kapoor about his stepdaughters, talks about his...
After S Jaishankar's conference, India slams Canada for action against Australian news channel
Sidhu Moosewala's parents share NEW pic of his baby brother, netizens say 'so cute'
‘It definitely does a lot of good to my ego’: Aishwarya Rai gets candid in film promotion interview
Ignored for Australia Tests, India star slams sensational Ranji Trophy double ton
Interviewer asks Aishwarya Rai ‘how do you look so fab’, she says…