(this blog is also posted on www.opensalon.com)
Andre Agassi has added himself to the list of celebrity gut-spillers. Why, I ask? Is it really necessary to tell fans and future tennis players that he’s a lying dope-sniffer? What purpose does it serve? A pop in the vein of publicity, perhaps? Is he that lagging in the media attention department?
Smut, sex and secrets always sell. But, where is the accountability in it all? I certainly haven’t spilled any secrets of the misspent parts of my youth to my 21-year-old son. What would be the point? I’ve used what I learned from my mistakes to guide my son—not to disillusion him nor to condone bad behavior.
I’ve met Andre Agassi. I was a Davis Cup hostess here in Vegas one year. I’ve also played tennis competitively and as a sports hobby for over twenty years. There is nothing “gutsy or courageous” about Agassi’s confession, as one of his peer told the media. It’s a cheesy ploy to promote his book, in my humble opinion. It takes away from The Agassi Foundation’s goal and credo “where there’s education, there’s hope.”
Rather than spill his guts, Agassi should put his money where his nose was: donate some hard cash to help teenagers on drugs. Teenagers who never had the drive, the support, the dreams that surrounded Andre when he was growing up; kids who do drugs because they have nothing else; no home, no money, no education, no privilege.
Apparently, Andre hasn’t cheated on Steffi—score an ace in that department. She better hope he never does, either. He’d have to write another book, complete with every gory detail, no doubt. Rather than being noted as one of the top tennis players of all time, Andre has sold his soul down the literary river for a loaf of banknotes. He’s joined the team of all-time losers. The Tell-Alls. How interesting they only “tell all” when it’s publicity-expedient.
Next time, Agassi, save it for the confessional, will ya? YAWN.
