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Andre Agassi Speaks Out

November 6, 2009 4:27 AM

In an interview to air on 60 Minutes, tennis great Andre Agassi talks candidly with Katie Couric about his life, career, and drug use while playing professional tennis.

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by Tsanamy November 21, 2009 8:09 AM EST
He just wanted to put some closure on his experience. People just need to stop being too quick to judge others. Great for him. I actually have more respect for him after the interview.
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by ikarussucks November 9, 2009 7:11 PM EST
Self-righteous aholes like ikarusrules make me puke. There seems to be a lot of anger bottled up in your comments. You just sound like a pathetic loser!

Personally, I didn't care that much for Andre in his younger years but learned to respect him as an athlete and a person later on. He seems like a good guy who has had an interesting life and is now telling his story. Nothing wrong with that. Does anybody really think he needs the money and that is why he wrote the book? Come on?
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by Sherryba November 9, 2009 9:21 AM EST
I wish there had been more important questions like how has this experience changed him in his life now? How does he treat his children? What is important to him today? What if anything would he have changed? There are a lot more I can think of. I was disappointed in pushing him to tell us how many times he used meth. It was trying to sensationalize it and I expected more from 60 minutes. That question belonged in Access Hollywood.
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by just4mary November 8, 2009 8:40 PM EST
Being a recovering addict myself, I can understand the depths Andre had fallen to, and his fear of being uncovered. Recreational drugs are different from performance-enhancing drugs, but both are becoming a serious epidemic in North America. He deserves understanding and compassion. Those of you who cannot comprehend of anyone geting themselves in this situation are only those fortunate enough to have never been there or have never lost a loved one to this terrible disease. Addiction IS a disease and it can happen to anyone. Way to go Andre for owning up to it now!!
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by shegotgame November 8, 2009 8:35 PM EST
p.s. andre, please give your children the education, range of extracurricular activities (music, art, etc.) that children deserve to have in order to discover their own natural, innate talents and passions. my four year-old daughter just tried piano and now runs to play a dozen times a day. each child is a surprise waiting to open. a parents' job is to love them, protect them, give them safety and security, and expose them to varied aspects of life to help them discover their own sense of passion and purpose. please do not give it to pressures to 'produce another andre' or 'produce another steffi'. give your children what you didn't have... the freedom of choice. wishing you the best and applauding your transparency.
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by bkny69 November 8, 2009 8:35 PM EST
Seems like Martina strikes again as to not knowing what to say when she becomes aware of the personal struggles of others.... or maybe its just those whose names have that Andr-- in it as this is an excerpt from an interview by Andrea Jaeger..."Martina was staying in the flat next door and I went there to try to order a cab. Martina's trainer got the phone book out for me, but Martina turned and looked at me then turned away again. She didn't get out of her chair.
"It hurt me that a match the next day was much more important than seeing if a kid was going to be OK.
"But it suddenly dawned on me: 'Oh my gosh, she's in her killer-instinct-focus-on-the-match mode and I've just broken her concentration.'
"I felt so bad that I'd interrupted her preparation that I felt I couldn't even go out and try. I even didn't arrange a warm-up so I wouldn't start well.
"Martina's been asked about it in interviews, and she says she saw no reason why I didn't try.
But she's in an awkward position because if she says she knows I didn't try, they'll ask why and where does she go from there?
"Does she say, 'Well, she was afraid her father was going to hurt her that night."

Andre... as you have learned, the tennis last but for a minute, but the rest of life continues. What is truly sad is Martina's inability to move on,... You have done well despite your personal demons... Hopefully you and Steffi will enjoy the rest of your lives. And to those who criticize, tell them to go grab a coke and smile and shut the hell up!!
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by DorothyBins November 8, 2009 8:35 PM EST
I admire Andre Agassi as a tennis player, a husband, father, and a person. I've watched his career the up, the down, and the up again. When our son demonstrated tennis ability, I wanted to 'push', our son didn't want a tennis career, he wanted an education. He's a sophomore in college. Tennis is a lonely sport, it's hard, and for those who turn pro at an early age it's especially difficult...there is no childhood and many are under tremendous pressure because they are the breadwinners for the family. He owned up to his drug usage and what he's done since the end of his career I believe defines his legacy. Andre's drug usage was wrong, it was an escape. Clements allegedly did it to improve his performance. When Andre recognized he had a second chance, he worked his way back to number one in the world without drugs. When Federer, Nadal, and Martina build a school, graduating students who go to college, and fund raise for education, I'll take their remarks more seriously. On second thought, I won't.
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by just4mary November 8, 2009 8:32 PM EST
Being a recovering addict myself, I can understand the depths Andre had fallen to, and his fear of being uncovered. Recreational drugs are different from performance-enhancing drugs, but both are becoming a serious epidemic in North America. He deserves understanding and compassion. Those of you who cannot comprehend of anyone geting themselves in this situation are only those fortunate enough to have never been there or have never lost a loved one to this terrible disease. Addiction IS a disease and it can happen to anyone. Way to go Andre for owning up to it now!!
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by shegotgame November 8, 2009 8:28 PM EST
stop criticizing andre, people. he did not come from privilege, but did not have THE most important thing a child needs... a loving parent who encourages their child to follow their own heart. stop judging him, lest you be judged. i'm sure that not one of you who have made critical comments below can say you never lied or done something that you regret. you are lucky you never grew up in the public eye. it is not something to envy. i did a feature documentary on the women's pro tennis tour and i can tell you that it is a brutal world full of stories like andre... full of kids whose parents force their children to sacrifice education, friends, socialization, for the insane dream of a parent. it is psycho and i applaud andre for breaking the silence about this sad world of lost childhoods. the public is just as guilty for expecting heros to be perfect. do any of you REALIZE what is required to be #1 in the world of tennis. it requires your soul, nothing more. nothing less. may andre give his children the education and opportunities that come from their own hearts...
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by Phillygirl37 November 8, 2009 8:16 PM EST
I am so sick of poor, little, privileged, rich boys saying how much they hated their lives. Try working 50 hours a week for a salary just above the poverty level and then tell me how miserable your life is. Agassi should be happy he is not in jail for his drug use but I guess the rich are exempt from consequences.
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