Just Skimmed Through Andre's Book

[marc45]

was just at barnes and noble....the book was literally front and center on the main table as you go into the store.....as a sampras fan i just wanted to see the parts about pete for now (i'm waiting for the library freebie)....some parts about pete have been leaked, bad tipper, dull personality according to dre....andre, and his writing partner, use a phrase throughout the book summing up the long-time role pete played in andre's life, "as always, pete".....the main matches covered, 90 u.s. open, 93 wimby, 95 u.s. (andre says he had a bad rib injury and was nowhere near healthy,... i know, people hate this stuff after the fact), 99 wimby, 00 aus, 01 u.s., 02 u.s.,....probably missed 95 aus...in general, one thing that seems to come up about their matches is that andre wanted to get pete involved in long drawn out matches but pete just wouldn't comply with his aggressive tactics and big serve...btw, no index in the book so i had to skim with intent, the pages were cut at the edges as well, discount?.....andre says in the end pete and he would probably always be strangers because of their personalities.....i think it's been told but there was a discussion in the locker room after andre beat pete in 01 indian wells where pete tells andre he's marrying his actress girlfriend bridgett and andre tells pete he's had enough of actresses (brooke)...andre said he wanted to have a heartfelt coversation about relationships and tennis but simply wished pete good luck.....btw, if you think andre's description of his father was colorful, a brief snippet about his paternal grandmother is classic...i think andre's book is going to cause alot of people/players to be asked about what andre said about them

 

[Weathered33]

I really hope his book is better written than that post. O.O

 

[meltphace 6]

Any Lendl stuff in there?

 

[tennisfa]

how much is the book?...

 

[Moose Malloy]

I think people should take this into account when accusing Agassi of badmouthing 'player x' etc:

Q: Again, as I read the book, we hear a lot about who you dislike — (Jeff) Tarango, Becker, Connors, (Thomas) Muster, (Michael) Chang — not so much who you like, besides (Pat) Rafter. Who do you like? Or is it just tough to really have that kind of bond in high-stakes tennis?

I'd like to address the first part of what you said. I want to really make sure that we put this in a proper light. This book is written in present tense, and what I'm going through at those moments with those players are through an 18-year-old, through a confused, scared, angry 25-year-old. I do like Boris. I didn't get to talk about when we went out to Oktoberfest and drank beers together and laughed about some of this stuff. There's nothing hidden between any of us. When I walk in a room with Connors, just because his book is written doesn't change what has existed between me and Connors. So, you know, it feels long ago and juvenile in many ways.

Q: What you're saying is that your relationship with these people has evolved, and because you don't like them in the book doesn't mean you're not friends with them now.

Yeah, and it doesn't mean that I am either.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tennis/2009-11-08-agassi-interview-partIII_N.htm

some other interesting comments:

Q: You called Pete Sampras dull, you point out he's a bad tipper. Why do you include those details?

I'll tell you why. Because, first of all, there were huge distinctions between me and Pete, and they manifested themselves in two entirely different kinds of careers. I needed inspiration in my perspective, in my lens, and that lack of inspiration at times caused me great despair, and a great sense of meaningless.

And Pete didn't. Pete didn't seem to need inspiration. And as a result, he kicked my ass way more times than I beat him. As it relates to anything off the court, this is what I realized in this process: That I don't know Pete, despite all that we've lived. When there wasn't a net between us, there was a wall between us. I fought to find any interaction with him off the court that could somehow be true to the distinctions that exist between us. There's just nothing to pull from. … And that tipping thing really happened. He better not deny it either. (laughs)

Q: You recently played an exhibition together. Can you find more of that common ground today, or is it sort of the same?

No, absolutely the same. He still confuses me. And I'm sure that I confuse him. When he asked me about my book, I told him about the thousands and thousands of hours that I've put into it, and he looked at me like, "What the hell is the matter with you?" At least that's how I perceived it. (laughs)

Q: You call the number of Slams as sort of the marker for someone's greatest in tennis "bogus," and winning all four the "holy grail." How did you come to that? Someone could look at that and say that's a little self-serving.

Yeah, interesting, but I'm charged also with the duty of giving my perspective on it. If you look at it through historical lenses, through people who know the sport inside and out, people who play the sport, champions from the past, you'll see a history of generations that skipped many tournaments. Bjorn Borg didn't play Australia when it was on grass and he was dominating Wimbledon — he played it one time. … So I'm not degrading what an accomplishment it is to win more Slams. Every one you win is a great accomplishment. What I'm saying is it was never the benchmark. It didn't become the benchmark until the '90s.

Q: But in your mind winning all four is more important than winning 10.

In my mind, I would prefer to win all four than to win 10.

 

[marc45]

how much is the book?...

26, marked down 20 at b&n

 

[Moose Malloy]

its only $15 at amazon

 

[marc45]

Any Lendl stuff in there?

didn't check..again, no index so you'd have to search....i'm sure he pops in at the beginning of andre's career (don't know if the "haircut and a forehand" remark is mentioned, maybe now weave and a forehand)...book's structure is the 2006 u.s.open first, titled "the end" and all the back pain and the baghdatis match, then chronologically through his career and life, finishing with "the beginning" post-career, his school central

 

[marc45]

I really hope his book is better written than that post. O.O

thanks, sorry i couldn't please you shakespeare

 

[marc45]

he may prefer all four more than ten, but what's the cut-off point?...hypothetically, 12, 14, 16 (one more than federer), 20...just sayin'...and i didn't mean to suggest above that players will be asked why andre hated them, just that the comments are provocative, no matter in what tense they're written

 

[GS]

I'd rather buy Pete's book, at any price. But, I'll still watch the Lendl/Agassi 1988 US Open semi tonight---just got it on dvd, for free!
(Wonder if Andre invites his dad over for Thanksgiving dinner in a few weeks....)

 

[Outbeyond]

I, like you, plan to hang around a B&N to flip through pages at my leisure (without paying the $31.99 or whatever the heck the price is)! But if it looks extra good, I plan to place a hold on the book in my local library. Your comments about it thus far seem to indicate that Agassi was in competition with Pete in more ways than one...was Pete better off financially than Agassi - or was Pete's family better off than Agassi's? I'm just wondering what the social class thing was that went on between them, if any.

 

[marc45]

I, like you, plan to hang around a B&N to flip through pages at my leisure (without paying the $31.99 or whatever the heck the price is)! But if it looks extra good, I plan to place a hold on the book in my local library. Your comments about it thus far seem to indicate that Agassi was in competition with Pete in more ways than one...was Pete better off financially than Agassi - or was Pete's family better off than Agassi's? I'm just wondering what the social class thing was that went on between them, if any.

i'm going with a hold at the library too....agassi definitely had pete on his mind, though off the court i wouldn't call it a competition from what i read...it was more agassi trying to understand what drove pete and what made them so different.....i'm guessing from all i read that the families were similar in financial terms...first generation immigrants, at least pete's mom i believe, and andre's dad of course, that were middle class at best, money tight but not poor..the bad tipper comment was proceeded by a comment saying how rich pete was...andre says pete didn't need "inspiration" and just wanted respect, whereas andre needed to be inspired and needed approval...not sure it's as black and white as andre makes it seem...i think pete was inspired by the aussie greats, was inspired playing at centre court wimbledon, was simply inspired to be great, but that somehow andre thought pete was this inward driven machine and andre needed the crowd the hype and something external to drive him

 

[marc45]

I'd rather buy Pete's book, at any price. But, I'll still watch the Lendl/Agassi 1988 US Open semi tonight---just got it on dvd, for free!
(Wonder if Andre invites his dad over for Thanksgiving dinner in a few weeks....)

it would be an interesting conversation

 

[Outbeyond]

i'm going with a hold at the library too....agassi definitely had pete on his mind, though off the court i wouldn't call it a competition from what i read...it was more agassi trying to understand what drove pete and what made them so different.....i'm guessing from all i read that the families were similar in financial terms...first generation immigrants, at least pete's mom i believe, and andre's dad of course, that were middle class at best, money tight but not poor..the bad tipper comment was proceeded by a comment saying how rich pete was...andre says pete didn't need "inspiration" and just wanted respect, whereas andre needed to be inspired and needed approval...not sure it's as black and white as andre makes it seem...i think pete was inspired by the aussie greats, was inspired playing at centre court wimbledon, was simply inspired to be great, but that somehow andre thought pete was this inward driven machine and andre needed the crowd the hype and something external to drive him

Interesting...Agassi looking for inspiration makes sense in light of his forced march into tennis. It sort-of makes sense on a surface level, even, that he would yearn to feel at ease with this career and that Sampras' apparent and unquestioned ease with it was thus a wonderment.

 

[crash1929]

I'm gonna buy this book

 

[JeMar]

I bought the book 3 hours ago (teacher's discount for the win) and right now I'm on page 150ish. So far it's a really good read, worlds better than Sampras'. The only thing I feel Sampras did better than Agassi was describing what it was like playing his main rivals, but Agassi's life is so much more interesting than Sampras' that it's really not a big issue.

 

[TheTruth]

I'd rather read Pete's book. Andre's sounds like too much drama, insecurity, and self-seeking. I can watch the Housewive Series for that, and even they're getting old.

 

[snvplayer]

I just finished reading his book also. I skimmed through some pages, though.

I have also read Pete Sampras', Spadea, Nick. B's, and Agassi's father's book.

For fans who are interested in learning more about tennis stories, Sampras' or Spadea's are much better. Agassi's book isn't really too much about his tennis life or development as a tennis player.

It's also interesting how Agassi gives ZERO credit to Nick. B while Nick B. talks about how he helped Agassi to develop his game.

Having read the interview posted above, Agassi's book doesn't really feel like "reflection" of his past. More of what was going on his mind at that time.

 

[snvplayer]

Also, you really learn the difference between Sampras and Agassi.

Sampras played the game because he loved and he made the choice himself to be a professional player.

Agassi was more of "made" by his father to become a tennis player. His father had him committed to tennis since he was really young. By the time Agassi was old enough to think about life, he really didn't know how to do anything else but to play tennis. Kind of like, "you know what? I really really hate what I do, but I am talented and good at this. So I am going to make most of out it."

It probably explains why Pete was able to remain so tunnel visioned while Agassi wasn't...

 

[Kcraig]

Just finished the book and it was a pretty fast read (2.5days). I enjoyed hearing about the early 90s/players and his time with Nick--as that is when I was playing tennis competively and even went to Bolleteirri myself one summer in 1989 so that brought back some memories! I enjoyed the tennis stories and his relationship, or lack thereof, with other players. The book is a little narcissitic/self-serving if you ask me and I wonder how much I really believe (probably 70%)--but all in all a good read and I would recommend to the tennis fans out there--which I assume is ANYONE reading this post/thread!

May have to check out Pete's book next as one stated there were more "tennis stories" and I enjoyed those more than anything else.

 

[Orion]

Walmart has it online for $14.00 plus shipping.

 

[Mick]

wow lots of request for this book at the local libraries.
__________
Open: An Autobiography
by Agassi, Andre
11/2009
ISBN: 9780307268198

Owned: 4

Requests: 66

 

[zapvor]

thanks for the review. i feel like he has such a tortured past we dont know about. its overly dramtic but its relevant to who he is today

 

[T10s747]

It's also interesting how Agassi gives ZERO credit to Nick. B while Nick B. talks about how he helped Agassi to develop his game.

Why would he give any credit to Nick B., what does he he really know about tennis, seriously. Agassi was hitting the ball early and hugging the baseline which is what his father drilled him at. He had a natural hand eye coordination that few have. What element did Nick bring to the table. When he left B's, Agassi's serve and volleys sucked. He knew nothing about hitting approach shots and coming in. Nick is a motivator like 95% of tennis pros and knows little about technique and strategy, way overrated.

 

[Harry_Wild]

how much is the book?...

Book list for around $28.95! Discounted in most bookstores at 30-40% off!

 

[Datacipher]

Why would he give any credit to Nick B., what does he he really know about tennis, seriously. Agassi was hitting the ball early and hugging the baseline which is what his father drilled him at. He had a natural hand eye coordination that few have. What element did Nick bring to the table. When he left B's, Agassi's serve and volleys sucked. He knew nothing about hitting approach shots and coming in. Nick is a motivator like 95% of tennis pros and knows little about technique and strategy, way overrated.

If he didnt' give Nick great credit as a motivator, then he is selling him short because I very much doubt Agassi would have had any kind of successful pro career without Nick. You are somewhat right in that all coaches take too much credit for pro player's strokes though. He used to give Nick a lot of credit, but perhaps he's taking the Seles route now...not nice, and untrue!

 

[raspell38120]

Sampras Tipping

i have a friend who waits on Sampras at KOI and he is NOT a bad tipper at ALL. Also, many people try to pay for his meal and he politely refuses as he doesn't want to be indebted.

I am currently reading the book. I don't think he credited a ghost writer but i GUARANTEE that he didn't write this. The style of writing is way above his education level. It does read well.

I had the mis-pleasure of sitting thru one of his tanks. He was paid to play the Memphis tourney but Sampras entered also. the previous week Sampras had destroyed Gagassi in San Jose and also Gagassi had an Enquirer story that he was with a stripper at the Fairmont. this was when he and Brooke were still dating. Anyway he did NOT want to be in Memphis. He drew his buddy Luke Jenson who they wild carded in based upon his doubles popularity. Gagassi served into a 1 foot box. Unfortunately that 1 foot box was 6 inches below the top of the net. He played fast and got off the court and left town. He felt bad for taking the six figure guarantee so next year he agreed to come back. Unfortunately he again lost in the first round to an unknown. Four months later the unknown was not unknown, Gustavo Kuertan just prior to bursting in to win a Grand Slam.

Memphis was a first stop for Gaggasi, I think it was his first tournament win and he dated a girl from here. A lot of good stories about him in town. But for me, he was always a fake and this book proves it to me. And he can say with a straight face that winning all 4 GS is more important than the number. Still chasing Sampras. Sad.

 

[Texastennis]

People seem to be missing the point of the book being written in the present tense - it doesn't convey what he thinks NOW, it's a device meant to convey how he felt at the time, whenever the time is ie how he felt about Bolletieri when he was 15, 20, 25.
Now he's almost 40, he's probably well aware of the Bolletieri contribution - apparently eh spoke at some gala for NB last year to that effect and I noticed in an interview this week that NB did not deny how crazy things were at his academy when Agassi and Courier were there and said he's not angry about the book at all. Apparently he can understand Agassi is explaing in the book about how he felt at various times. Same with comments about Pete and the other players. (Although I've noticed on numerous message boards that Pete's being a bad tipper is well known - Tiger too apparently. Go figure.)

The book's been out for nearly a week - isn't this a thread for people who have read the book, not for yet more comments on no context extracts?

 

[Alec78]

I am currently reading the book. I don't think he credited a ghost writer but i GUARANTEE that he didn't write this. The style of writing is way above his education level. It does read well.

He absolutely did not write the book himself, but having worked for a publishing company that specializes in the biography genre, I can tell you that many of the best ghostwriters prefer anonymity. Some of them make very healthy livings ghostwriting novels by best-selling "authors," too.

 

[snvplayer]

i have a friend who waits on Sampras at KOI and he is NOT a bad tipper at ALL. Also, many people try to pay for his meal and he politely refuses as he doesn't want to be indebted.

I am currently reading the book. I don't think he credited a ghost writer but i GUARANTEE that he didn't write this. The style of writing is way above his education level. It does read well.

I had the mis-pleasure of sitting thru one of his tanks. He was paid to play the Memphis tourney but Sampras entered also. the previous week Sampras had destroyed Gagassi in San Jose and also Gagassi had an Enquirer story that he was with a stripper at the Fairmont. this was when he and Brooke were still dating. Anyway he did NOT want to be in Memphis. He drew his buddy Luke Jenson who they wild carded in based upon his doubles popularity. Gagassi served into a 1 foot box. Unfortunately that 1 foot box was 6 inches below the top of the net. He played fast and got off the court and left town. He felt bad for taking the six figure guarantee so next year he agreed to come back. Unfortunately he again lost in the first round to an unknown. Four months later the unknown was not unknown, Gustavo Kuertan just prior to bursting in to win a Grand Slam.

Memphis was a first stop for Gaggasi, I think it was his first tournament win and he dated a girl from here. A lot of good stories about him in town. But for me, he was always a fake and this book proves it to me. And he can say with a straight face that winning all 4 GS is more important than the number. Still chasing Sampras. Sad.

Well you have to remember, that was just one occassion in which Agassi saw Pete tipping somebody.

A few years ago, there was a person who claimed to have served Pete at a resort or something. He said Pete was rude, sarcastic, and a bad tipper.

Maybe he is a lot more generous towards people who he regularly sees?

If you have ever read Agassi's interview, he is actually pretty articulate and is able to use various expressions. I am sure he did work with someone else, but you shouldn't discredit his intellectual side.

 

[snvplayer]

If he didnt' give Nick great credit as a motivator, then he is selling him short because I very much doubt Agassi would have had any kind of successful pro career without Nick. You are somewhat right in that all coaches take too much credit for pro player's strokes though. He used to give Nick a lot of credit, but perhaps he's taking the Seles route now...not nice, and untrue!

Nick. B talked about how he coached Agassi to slow things down against Goran at Wimbledon finals and how Agssi gave Nick. B the Panda doll as a gift, and so on and on.

According to Nick, it really seemed like Agassi and himself had reasonably personal and meaningful relationship - at least after Agassi turned pro. But, Agassi doesn't mention anything about it. At the same time, Agassi doesn't really talk bout Brad Gibert that much, and how meaningful the relationship was.

Anyway, I agree with you that Agassi wouldn't have achieved what he did without Nick B.'s academy.

 

[Datacipher]

Nick. B talked about how he coached Agassi to slow things down against Goran at Wimbledon finals and how Agssi gave Nick. B the Panda doll as a gift, and so on and on.

According to Nick, it really seemed like Agassi and himself had reasonably personal and meaningful relationship - at least after Agassi turned pro. But, Agassi doesn't mention anything about it. At the same time, Agassi doesn't really talk bout Brad Gibert that much, and how meaningful the relationship was.

Anyway, I agree with you that Agassi wouldn't have achieved what he did without Nick B.'s academy.

\

I am quite certain they did by all other accounts. The fact that Agassi was so hurt by the split (something he admitted), demonstrates that! I dont' think Nick had much to do with Agassi's strokes, but he did nurse and manage and get a complete head-case (in numerous aspects) out there on the tour and winning. Even with all of Andre's talent, he could EASILY have flamed out and failed badly on the tour without that support and motivation.

 

[llama]

I am currently reading the book. I don't think he credited a ghost writer but i GUARANTEE that he didn't write this. The style of writing is way above his education level. It does read well.

Still chasing Sampras. Sad.

Obviously you don't like Agassi, which is your privilege - but if you're going to post - get your facts straight. Agassi sought out Pulitzer Prize Winner J R Moehringer to help him with the book - because he admired his writing so much. He's NEVER denied this and wanted Moehringer's name on the title, but Moehringer refused.

As for chasing Sampras - as most people here, you've got tunnel vision that only sees a tennis world. Andre Agassi as a human being has so surpassed Pete Sampras as a contributing member of society that it's laughable. And at the end of the day - tennis is just a game. What has Sampras - with all his millions -done to contribute to the betterment of the world? Hate Agassi all you like, but he is one of the most philantropic athletes in the world today, who has helped thousands of children to a better life. THAT is what real success is.

 

[Datacipher]

Obviously you don't like Agassi, which is your privilege - but if you're going to post - get your facts straight. Agassi sought out Pulitzer Prize Winner J R Moehringer to help him with the book - because he admired his writing so much. He's NEVER denied this and wanted Moehringer's name on the title, but Moehringer refused.

As for chasing Sampras - as most people here, you've got tunnel vision that only sees a tennis world. Andre Agassi as a human being has so surpassed Pete Sampras as a contributing member of society that it's laughable. And at the end of the day - tennis is just a game. What has Sampras - with all his millions -done to contribute to the betterment of the world? Hate Agassi all you like, but he is one of the most philantropic athletes in the world today, who has helped thousands of children to a better life. THAT is what real success is.

Obviously you love Agassi, which is your right, however, if YOU'RE going to post - get your logic straight. First, Agassi had now admitted to cheating the very sport which got him all those riches. Second, I don't feel I'm in a position to judge Sampras relative contribution to society as compared to Agassi, and I'm not sure why you do either. A lot of players (sampras included, do not publicize all their philanTHROpic work). Third, even if we had the knowledge and right to judge who is more philanthropic, that in NO WAY implies that Agassi himself is not resentful of Sampras' tennis accomplishments. When he goes out of his way to publicly write about ONE incident of Sampras giving a low tip....well...it's hardly a classy move and certainly makes one question, why such a petty incident would be deemed worthy of placement in one's public biography.

So please, try to be at least superficially objective.

PS. Never mind. No mind in even trying. The childish mentality (Llama) that accuses others of not liking Agassi, writes posts consisting of:

"Are all of you so one-dimensional that you don't realize Agassi is talking about Sampras as a PERSON, not a tennis player? And there is no denying that Sampras, as a PERSON is indeed one-dimensional."

So, that speaks for itself.

 

[llama]

Obviously you love Agassi, which is your right, however, if YOU'RE going to post - get your logic straight. First, Agassi had now admitted to cheating the very sport which got him all those riches. Second, I don't feel I'm in a position to judge Sampras relative contribution to society as compared to Agassi, and I'm not sure why you do either. A lot of players (sampras included, do not publicize all their philanTHROpic work). Third, even if we had the knowledge and right to judge who is more philanthropic, that in NO WAY implies that Agassi himself is not resentful of Sampras' tennis accomplishments. When he goes out of his way to publicly write about ONE incident of Sampras giving a low tip....well...it's hardly a classy move and certainly makes one question, why such a petty incident would be deemed worthy of placement in one's public biography.

So please, try to be at least superficially objective.

PS. Never mind. No mind in even trying. The childish mentality (Llama) that accuses others of not liking Agassi, writes posts consisting of:

"Are all of you so one-dimensional that you don't realize Agassi is talking about Sampras as a PERSON, not a tennis player? And there is no denying that Sampras, as a PERSON is indeed one-dimensional."

So, that speaks for itself.

Actually, I don't "love" Agassi. And I could care less if you hate his guts. I make no apologies for being interested in complex, compelling people, other than mindless robots. Mea culpa that "one dimensional people" bore me to tears. Just a quirk of mine. And the only thing that causes me to respond to these posts is that I loathe this "holier than thou" attitude of people. They seem so positively affronted that Agassi had the NERVE to not be the person they thought he should be! And he CONFESSED it!! What kind of a person would do THAT???? He had the audacity to say he HATED tennis! Why - this wasn't the perception of him at all. How DARE he? How dare he mess up our little tennis world! So neatly stacked with everyone in their proper place.

What I hate is the hypocrisy. How many times in your life, when your own personal world is lousy, do you meet an acquaintance who queries "How are you" - and you say "fine, just fine" when all the while you're miserable. You think you might have an STD, you're in trouble at work, your significant other might not be your significant other for long. But still you put up a facade. Just being "civilized" you tell yourself, although you'd love a shoulder to cry on. Well, Agassi was "civilized for a long time, saying the right things, smiling the right smiles, all to make tennis fans feel that all was right in their own little world, with Agassi in his proper position as "elder statesman", spending his spare time bemoaning the fact that Pete Sampras was better than he was. How DARE he have different feelings! How DARE he hate tennis for a good part of his life - and have the nerve to ADMIT it!!!! How DARE he perceive Sampras as less than the GOAT!!! And as for DRUGS!!!! Why - no one respectable EVER touches drugs! And to admit it! What kind of a person does that??? Oh, I don't know, maybe a decent person who, for no other reason than he wants to confess, does so. Depression???? Why, that's not appropriate either. In little tennis minds Agassi has it all, money, fame, Graf - how DARE he admit to depression!!

So to make yourself feel better about this betrayal you say say - ah! but of course it's because he's so bitter, he's so filled with envy of Pete Sampras, this must be the reason. This makes you feel so much better.

I'd venture a guess that he rarely gives Pete Sampras a second thought - but if it makes YOUR world feel better that he's reeling with jealousy - then carry on.

After seeing the thread "Who's hotter, Shields or Graf?" I gave my head a shake and said -for God's sake WHAT are you doing hanging around this place???? I'm most defnitely not a hormone-driven adolescent....so no more posts for me. A little voice inside me just whispered "you're better than this - and I am".

 

[quest01]

I may have to pickup a copy of this book one of these days. I have the Sampras autobiography and that was a good read so hopefully the Agassi book is the same. I've heard some good reviews and a lot of interesting things have been posted about the contents of the book such as the wig and drug use in 1997.

 

[Matt H.]

If you are a Sampras fan, you have to read this book. Vice versa for Agassi fans reading Sampras’ book.

I’m at page 140 now of Agassi’s book. I read Pete’s book last year. The writing styles reflect the 2 personalities. You can pick up on that instantly.

Andre needed motivation because tennis was not his choice. Tennis however WAS Pete’s choice. Andre rebelled because he hated the sacrifices that he was forced to endure. Other than an occasional bum evening from realizing he wasn’t out enjoying himself, Pete was well aware of the sacrifices and accepted them.

Pete had a goal of breaking certain records. He accomplished his goal.

Andre, despite hating tennis, clearly had a case of OCD with his attention to detail. It makes perfect sense with him being ok with only 8 slams. The more important thing to him is that he left no holes or gaps in his resume. All the slams, #1, the gold medal, and the Davis cup.

 

[GS]

Okay---I bought Nick's book used for 99 cents awhile back (it was even autographed) because I wanted to know how much he really knew about tennis, and how he dealt with Agassi and Seles stiffing him, after he gave them free coaching, room and board for years (he even housed and fed Seles' family for free). Since he was a lousy businessman, he just had a handshake agreement with both players, basically saying "pay me later". When they started earning millions, he asked both of them for just $200,000 each---they balked and left town. Agassi said his success brought Nick's academy alot of free publicity, and Seles' father said he himself was her coach all along. Seles never paid him a dime---all Agassi gave Nick was a Chevy Corvette, and 2 steak sandwiches at Wimbledon. Later on, Boris Becker paid Nick big bucks for staying and training at his academy, since Becker was not a cheapskate.

 

[snvplayer]

Okay---I bought Nick's book used for 99 cents awhile back (it was even autographed) because I wanted to know how much he really knew about tennis, and how he dealt with Agassi and Seles stiffing him, after he gave them free coaching, room and board for years (he even housed and fed Seles' family for free). Since he was a lousy businessman, he just had a handshake agreement with both players, basically saying "pay me later". When they started earning millions, he asked both of them for just $200,000 each---they balked and left town. Agassi said his success brought Nick's academy alot of free publicity, and Seles' father said he himself was her coach all along. Seles never paid him a dime---all Agassi gave Nick was a Chevy Corvette, and 2 steak sandwiches at Wimbledon. Later on, Boris Becker paid Nick big bucks for staying and training at his academy, since Becker was not a cheapskate.

Actually, you don't get any idea of how much Agassi had paid Nick. B. It's not really fair enough to assess based on Nick's book. I forget what Agassi's father said about it.

Anyway, Agassi's book doesn't really revolve around his tennis or his relationships with other people. Most of his book is about what he was going through, how he was feeling, and so on.

 

[Texastennis]

Agassi and Seles made NB - he'd be just another coach with an academy without them - I think he's made many times over what he would have made without them and since arguably their favors had far more imnpact on them in terms of making them the players they were, I think he would do well to appreciate that. His payoff has been huge.

 

[db24]

I have not heard of a book by Agassi;s father.Can you provide the title and any comments.
Db24

 

[sureshs]

I have not heard of a book by Agassi;s father.Can you provide the title and any comments.
Db24

Agassi Story
by Mike Agassi, Kate Shoup Welsh (With) , Dominic Cobello (With) , Andre Agassi (Foreword by)

 

[Morrissey]

Sticky please?!

Actually, I don't "love" Agassi. And I could care less if you hate his guts. I make no apologies for being interested in complex, compelling people, other than mindless robots. Mea culpa that "one dimensional people" bore me to tears. Just a quirk of mine. And the only thing that causes me to respond to these posts is that I loathe this "holier than thou" attitude of people. They seem so positively affronted that Agassi had the NERVE to not be the person they thought he should be! And he CONFESSED it!! What kind of a person would do THAT???? He had the audacity to say he HATED tennis! Why - this wasn't the perception of him at all. How DARE he? How dare he mess up our little tennis world! So neatly stacked with everyone in their proper place.

What I hate is the hypocrisy. How many times in your life, when your own personal world is lousy, do you meet an acquaintance who queries "How are you" - and you say "fine, just fine" when all the while you're miserable. You think you might have an STD, you're in trouble at work, your significant other might not be your significant other for long. But still you put up a facade. Just being "civilized" you tell yourself, although you'd love a shoulder to cry on. Well, Agassi was "civilized for a long time, saying the right things, smiling the right smiles, all to make tennis fans feel that all was right in their own little world, with Agassi in his proper position as "elder statesman", spending his spare time bemoaning the fact that Pete Sampras was better than he was. How DARE he have different feelings! How DARE he hate tennis for a good part of his life - and have the nerve to ADMIT it!!!! How DARE he perceive Sampras as less than the GOAT!!! And as for DRUGS!!!! Why - no one respectable EVER touches drugs! And to admit it! What kind of a person does that??? Oh, I don't know, maybe a decent person who, for no other reason than he wants to confess, does so. Depression???? Why, that's not appropriate either. In little tennis minds Agassi has it all, money, fame, Graf - how DARE he admit to depression!!

So to make yourself feel better about this betrayal you say say - ah! but of course it's because he's so bitter, he's so filled with envy of Pete Sampras, this must be the reason. This makes you feel so much better.

I'd venture a guess that he rarely gives Pete Sampras a second thought - but if it makes YOUR world feel better that he's reeling with jealousy - then carry on.

After seeing the thread "Who's hotter, Shields or Graf?" I gave my head a shake and said -for God's sake WHAT are you doing hanging around this place???? I'm most defnitely not a hormone-driven adolescent....so no more posts for me. A little voice inside me just whispered "you're better than this - and I am".

Wow! Excellent post. Can we just close this thread after this post? Because nothing that comes after this will ever be this good. My vote for post of the year. And I critisized Agassi for releasing this book. But this post was just too honest and bare that it may be too much for the non-Agassi fan to ever accept. That post deserves a sticky.

 

[David_86]

Wow! Excellent post. Can we just close this thread after this post? Because nothing that comes after this will ever be this good. My vote for post of the year. And I critisized Agassi for releasing this book. But this post was just too honest and bare that it may be too much for the non-Agassi fan to ever accept. That post deserves a sticky.

Considering that this person thinks there are people in this world who are mindless robots, I wouldn't give him a Pulitzer Prize just yet. Maybe he has been hanging around a ward that still practices lobotomies. That attitude stinks of someone who thinks a person can't be suicidal unless they show the world their cuts.

 

[35ft6]

Wow! Excellent post. Can we just close this thread after this post? Because nothing that comes after this will ever be this good. My vote for post of the year. And I critisized Agassi for releasing this book. But this post was just too honest and bare that it may be too much for the non-Agassi fan to ever accept. That post deserves a sticky.

I agree. Nice one, llama. I'm sure some of these people will be praising Sarah Palin's book any second now...

 

[chalkflewup]

I don't care if Agassi or Seles made him or not but, it's clear to me that NB loves the game of tennis.

 

[35ft6]

Agassi and Seles made NB - he'd be just another coach with an academy without them.

Agassi definitely helped NB become famous, but this is a weird chicken or the egg dilemma. I think NB probably helped Agassi just as much as the other way around. If we were talking about almost anybody else, I might agree with you, but NB came up with a radically different approach to tennis. At some point, you have to admit a guy probably isn't "just another coach" when he attracts so many top players and trained so many number ones.

 

[scotus]

Agassi definitely helped NB become famous, but this is a weird chicken or the egg dilemma. I think NB probably helped Agassi just as much as the other way around. If we were talking about almost anybody else, I might agree with you, but NB came up with a radically different approach to tennis. At some point, you have to admit a guy probably isn't "just another coach" when he attracts so many top players and trained so many number ones.

Agreed.

It should be remembered that Bollettieri would have become famous with Courier even without Agassi and Seles.

 

[Moose Malloy]

you guys do know that Bollettieri coached many top pros well before Agassi or Courier? players like Brian Gottfried, Jimmy Arias, Kathy Horvath, Carling Bassett, Aaron Krickstein, Paul Annacone. Why do you think Mike Agassi sent Andre there? His academy was already quite famous by then.