Andre Agassi's revelation of using meth and basically getting away with it isn't really news anymore, but the surprising reactions are. Players whether current or retired are voicing their displeasure about Andre and how he lied to the ATP to avoid being suspended from tennis. I figured there would be some people giving a comment, but I never figured how much venom and how pissed off people became after Agassi's admittions. To me meth use isn't a big deal, well it is, but its not the same as saying he used drugs to help his tennis career. If anything doing meth would probably hurt more than help, so the way players are taking this so serious and getting bent out of shape over it is kind of a surprise to me.
The newly retired Marat Safin came out and said that Agassi should give his tennis titles, money, and grand slam championships back. Adding "If he is as fair play as he says he is, he has to go to the end." Safin said. "You know the ATP has a bank account and he can give the money back if he wants." Well thats all fine and dandy Marat, but all of his money and titles were not earned while he was on meth. Marat how many times did you show up at a tournament not giving a shit, and just mailed in a match or two? People around the world paid hard earned money to see you play, because you were great. But there were times I'm sure you didn't really care win or lose and didn't give it your best effort. So when the day you decide to give them people back their money because they saw you half-ass and plow through another match uninspired, that will be the day Andre should give back his money as well.
Sergi Bruguera. Sergi who? Exactly. Well Bruguera isn't a total nobody. He was a player from Spain who was a clay court specialist and managed to win the French Open a couple of times in the mid 90's. Bruguera also lost to Agassi in the 1996 Olympic final in Atlanta. After hearing about Agassi, Bruguera's headband got a little tighter and whined "He should be stripped of the medal if it is true that he doped and lied about it." Bruguera continued his tantrum "I feel swindled and robbed. And not only in that game, but in all other important matches we ever played" Also adding this tidbit "I would be delighted if they decide to give it to me." talking about the gold medal. Get real Sergi. You won a total of 1 tournament that wasn't on clay. This guy was a one-trick pony. He was good on one surface and was a contender for about 2 months of the season. After that he was above average at best. Now 13 years later hes trying to figure out a way to get the gold medal away from Agassi. Now who is trying to be the swindler, Sergi? Just accept what happened and go back into obscurity. Go coach up some kids in Spain, or hell coach some Americans on how to play on the "red stuff". Because you and me both know none of them have a clue. Or go and hustle some old codgers on the public courts in Barcelona. Seems like you would be good at hustling.
The great Boris Becker one of the most dynamic, gritty and hard working players ever, and also probably in the top 3 of my all time favorites also had to add his two cents to the Agassi saga. Boris a guy known for evading the tax man, getting caught banging a waitress in a restaurant closet which led to her getting pregnant. Also known for allegedly hitting his wife, and the guy who titled his autobiography "Player" (how fitting). AND THIS GUY IS SHOCKED BY AGASSI!?!?!? Boris never went as far as saying to give back his titles, but just voiced his surprise by how honest and revealing Agassi was about his secrets he had been keeping. Boris surprised by honesty? Now that is the real shocker.
Women's tennis legend Martina Navratilova compared Agassi to MLB pitcher Roger Clemens. But a couple days ago retracted the comparison saying Clemens did performance enhancers while Agassi did not do enhancers so the comparison wasn't accurate. Although she did make an interesting point "Andre lied and got away with it," Navratilova said. "You can't correct that now. Do you take away a title he wouldn't have won if he had been suspended? He beat some people when he should of been suspended." Which is interesting in that she is right. He should have been suspended. I don't think Andre Agassi 12-13 years later should be penalized for something the ATP let slide by. With her power Martina should look into pointing fingers at the ATP and get answers from them. It could only help the sport of tennis, in that nothing like this happens again.
A few current players gave their opinions as well. Roger Federe the greatest player to ever play said "It was a shock when I heard the news." Going on to say "I'm disappointed and I hope there are no more such cases in the future. The sport must stay clean." I totally agree Rog, totally agree.
Rafael Nadal questioned more of the timing of it all. "Why is he saying this now that he has retired? It damages the sport, it makes no sense. I'm the first one who wants to make sure tennis is clean."
American D-bag Andy Roddick called Andre Agassi "my idol" and also saying "I'll judge him on how he has changed the world for the better."
I find it refreshing that the two best players in the world currently are more worried about their sport staying "clean" and not having controversies like this happen again. Really, in how many other sports do their elite care about the good of the game over their own personal gains? Thats how I am looking at this. Seems like in "American sports" the individual players are more worried about doing whatever it takes to be the best and if it means taking illegal drugs, so be it. It might be a cultural thing. Or maybe Federer and Nadal know they are the elite and they don't want anyone who is enhancing through drugs to knock them off their perch. Now I don't really believe that is the case, but it is another view. But the one great thing about tennis is if you are caught doing any type of drug you are pretty much screwed. They don't do the ole few game suspension. No warnings. You are done for a year if not more. That is how it should be with all sports. International sports are like that. I know FIFA doesn't mess around as far as suspensions in soccer.
Through all this drama the sport of tennis will be better. The ATP isn't going to let things slide anymore. They cannot. There is no other option. They have lost almost as much credibility as Agassi, if not more through all of this. Look for them to crack the whip even harder than ever. Do you hear that Richard Gasquet?
It all comes down to if meth is a performance enhancer. Sure it is an "upper", but in the game of tennis you don't necessarily want to be "up" all the time. You need to be cool under pressure and have focus. If you are in a 5th set and have a 2nd serve in a tight match at Wimbledon I'm sure you don't want your hands fidgeting. You need to be under control, lower your heartbeat and be focused. So what Agassi did was wrong, and the lying about it made it way worse, but he didn't earn all his glorious moments BECAUSE OF METH. Its that simple.
If meth was a performance enhancer all the kids in trailer parks and their parents would be dunking a basketball right now. Hick towns with football teams like Ogemaw Heights would be dominant each and every year. Ahh just think of all the athletic glory the "rednecks" with meth labs in their trailers could have. Instead of grabbing a racket and pretending to be Andre Agassi, they can take a snort and be just like Andre...."Image is everything."
