Why Andre Agassi Won't Shut Up

Andre Agassi
Originally uploaded by Mulde®

Over the past three (3) weeks, Andre Agassi - one of the former greats in men's tennis, has been uttering some things that would convince you that he's dropped off a coconut tree and knocked his brains out.

(Andre has won 8 grand slam titles over his 20-year career. He retired in 2006).

The first statement that gained the sporting world's attention, was his revelation that he was on crystal meth, in 1997, during his tennis career and that he lied to ATP Tour officials, when questioned about taking drugs.

[The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male tennis professionals. Its  principal duty is to organize the worldwide tour for men's tennis (ATP World Tour) throughout the year].

But look at the timing of this revelation - the year 2009, and hence 12 years after the incident took place.. So the statute of limitations (10 years) has run out, so he can not be penalized for taking this drug.

...Unlike Marion Jones, who performance-enhancing habit was discovered whilst she was active in her career and thus she was stripped of their medals, accordingly, Agassi won't be stripped of his trophies, prize and endorsement monies...

Why? Because the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has decided not to pursue it.

They know that good old Andre, like any good sales person, is just trying to create waves, in order to sell his book.

Three (3) days ago, we heard of another stunning revelation - that he actually hated tennis...and you don't have to be genius to figure out where this was "first" revealed - in his book of course! :)

(Andre's autobiography, "Open", was released on November 9,2009).

But I agree with noted Jamaican Sports Journalist - Oral Tracey, Andre is not only disingenuous, but ungrateful to the sport of tennis - A sport that has not only given him fame, but allowed him to meet his present wife - Steffi Graf and given him millions in prize and endorsement monies - over US $32 million, to be exact.

The reality is that, as long as there are more copies of Andre's book to be sold, we'll unfortunately be hearing more from Andre Agassi that will continue to diminish his image in the sporting arena.

I used to hold this man up in high regard as a player who was good, but who became great, due to hard work, persistence and dedication. [He won three (3) of his eight (8) major titles in his 30's - I thought then, due to the strenuous training regiment that he was on...which both he and his coaches led us, the public, to believe].

Now that I know that he's a drug cheat, I will definitely not recommend him as a role model for youth, aspiring to be great sports stars...as he's a disappointment to the sporting fraternity.

If he was truly a man of integrity, he would have come out sooner and accepted punishment like other tennis stars, accused of using drugs.

As far as I'm concerned, Andre has a lot to contribute and has contributed immensely to sport of tennis via his Foundations.

But until he's really sorry for his drug use and not just using it as a prop for his book, all that he has done and continues to do, will be blighted.

After-all, no well-thinking mother, father or coach, would hold up a drug cheat as a person to be emulated by their sons, daughters or students...

There are too many "clean" (drug-free) athletes, who'll serve as good role models, before this takes place.

Nuff said (Jamaican, meaning, enough has been said).

(I would like to thank Mulde for the use of his Flickr inset photo above, of Andre Agassi winning the Copa Telefónica Chile, in March 2007).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Programme "Sports Commentary" -hosted by Oral Tracey, on Television Jamaica, November 16,2009

2) Article, "Agassi Admits Using Crystal Meth in '97", ESPN Sports News, October 28,2009