When I was a kid, I thought the sport of tennis was a waste of time. Granted, even as a mighty mite, I loved to hear John Mcenroe mouth off to the officals, but I thought the sport was entirely dull.
Then, Andre Agassi came.
Andre Agassi got the general public interested in tennis, because of his brash image. He was the exact opposite of what tennis was basically since time started. He was a rock star(The guy actually messed around with Barbara Streisand. I know that is not exactly most of my generations cup of tea, but for someone of Streisand image to mess around with a guy in his mid 20's? that was impressive), and I was part of the population that got interested in what Agassi had to offer.
So when I found about his new autobiography, "Open, An Autobiography", I was obviously intrigued to read it. Then the topics of the book came out, and the revelation that Agassi was a meth-head, tanked matches, and basically was the kid that was forced to do something until he hated it.
Now, I do not know if Agassi admitted this stuff about his past to finally get his skeletons out of the closet, or that he wants to be on the New York Times Best Seller List, but the backlash Agassi took from former and current players was far too harsh.
Martina Navartilova compared Agassi to Roger Clemens. Are you out of your mind? Name me one person that enchanced anything they did by sucking on a glass dick? Agassi, unlike Clemens, was not asked the question of drug use out in public forum everyday for chunks of his life. That would be the equivlence of someone saying Martina's titles should be tained because she was a lesbian. Yes, it sounds stupid Martina, doesn't it?
Russian tennis player Marat Safin came out and said that Agassi should forfeit his winnings and titles because he lied about using a banned substance. Same answer Safin. Crystal Meth is not steroids, HGH, or even too much caffeine. Matter of fact, if Agassi is not on Meth and tanked matches because frankly, he was a brat, he more than likely has 10-12 Grand Slam titles, and is one of the Top 3 players ever. By the way, this is coming from the most anal crybaby the sport of tennis has ever seen, and that is saying alot.
Do I condone what Agassi did? Not in the slightest, but I just cannot stand has-beens and never-was people jabbing their two cents on an issue because the media has totally forgotten about them. What are these people's opinions on Agassi's charity contributions? In the long run, Agassi has made up for his wrong doings, and then some.
People like Marat Safin have to realize that a huge reason why he is a multi-millionare today, is because Andre Agassi had to go through all the crap with his father, the image, etc. that brought the advertising and sponsor dollars in tennis to all time highs.
I am a bigger fan of Agassi today than ever. People can relate to someone who really was flawed in many ways. I will lean towards the side that Agassi just wanted to finally get this off his chest than selling books. Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf have enough money for 50 lifetimes already.
If that is the case, he is a bigger man to admit his flaws and mistakes than most of us.
-This Saturday night, boxing has it's potential Fight of the Year, when Miguel Cotto puts his Welterweight Title on the line against the public Pound for Pound champion, Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is about a 2 to 1 favorite in the fight, but after watching HBO's 24/7 series, I am kind of leaning towards Cotto now.
Pacquiao did not have the greatest of training camps. The monsoons in the Phillipines, the war between his strength conditioner and his advisor, and even Freddie Roach looking to quit after Pacquiao refusing to leave Manila, all setbacks in this training camp.
Cotto seemed like he had a solid training camp, but could be exposed by the lack of experience his new trainer has, especially by one of the best like Freddie Roach.
I do not think Pacquiao can withstand Cotto's power. He is facing a true Welterweight this time around (Oscar De La Hoya was a shell of his former self, and a complete joke). Cotto wins by unamimous decison.
-Thursday Night Football is here!
Shame some people will not be able to see it because of stupid cable companies and networks crying over cents on the dollar.
When is the last time the Bears went into SF and won a game? 1985? The 49ers usually roll the Bears at home.
The Bears defense is in shambles and they give up 4.5 yards per carry on the ground. Frank Gore is salivating.
San Francisco 49ers 27, Chicago Bears 17
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