Thoughts on Andre Agassi, Cotto-PacMan, Thrusday Night Football Game

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

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

A few days ago, on the cusp of his comeback fight from a 21 month layoff, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was not talking about his fight with top 5 Pound for Pound fight, Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather was doing what he does best, and that is talking about himself, mentioning that he gets unfair treatment from the media and public. This is nothing new from Mayweather, except the last point he brought up in the rant.

Mayweather took out the race card.

"If you're rich, you're a rich n-----," he said. "If you're poor, you're a poor n----. If you're smart, you're a smart n-----. At the end of the day, they still look at me as a n-----."

Yes, Mayweather finally went there in Ali fashion.

Someone has to tell Mr. Mayweather that the general public does not treat him unfair because of the color of his skin. If he were white, or latino for that matter, since he mentioned Oscar De La Hoya's name as well, and acted the way he does, he would still get roasted for it.

The public is "unfair" to you because you come off, basically as a phony.

I am not talking entirely about Mayweather's boxing career either.

Yes, Mayweather is one of the Top 40 boxers to ever grace a ring. He has the skill set that is very rare in a fighter. In the ring though, who is that signature all-time win against a top level opponent that history can talk about for years?

Oscar De La Hoya? Please, we found out through the years that he was not as good as advertised, and that he became a whore for money and promoting instead of truly trying to become one of the greatest.

Ricky Hatton? Again, not a chance. There was a reason Hatton was a 3.5-1 underdog as an undefeated fighter going up against Mayweather. He was exposed. Good job Floyd. I got to give you credit for that one.

Diego Corrales? He was about to go to prison. Chico was also a fighter that never used his jab.

The public's perception is that Mayweather cherry picks his fights. He will get into the ring with Carlos Baldomir for 8 million, but not Antonio Margorito or Shane Mosely. Why not? Because Baldomir was simply the much easier fight.

There are quite a few instances in Mayweather's career like this, including fighting Juan Manuel Marquez this upcoming Saturday, having Marquez move up nine pounds heavier than he has ever fought at. For non-boxing fans, that is like attempting to bench press 250 pounds, when the max you have ever done was 180.

That is one reason the public and media treat Mayweather unfairly. Here is the main reason though.

Mayweather is an egomaniac. He flaunts his lifestyle right in everyone's faces. Tossing one-hundred dollar bills at a camera is just one prime example of this behavior in the past. Matter of fact, the entire premise of HBO's 24/7 series, basically started with Mayweather's behavior. Remember Floyd, most of America dislikes Donald Trump for basically the same reason. It is not a race issue.

It is not hard to see that Mayweather is a different person with the camera on him, and when it is off of him. Mayweather off camera, is being sued by a bank for an unpaid loan for a half a million dollar luxury car. With the camera on Mayweather, he is giving food out to the homeless of Las Vegas. Off camera, the IRS is on Mayweather's back for over six million in unpaid taxes, on camera, he is mocking the IRS, saying, "I got a good relationship with the IRS; they ain't took nothing away from me." On, camera, he is taking his daughter skating and having a good time. What happened off camera ? Mayweather's two cars, two guns, ammo, and a bulletproff vest were seized from Mayweather's home in the investigation of a shooting, yes, right outside of that skating rink he brought his daughter.

Mayweather also opens his big mouth when he has no idea what he is talking about. Talking about the announcer for the upcoming fight, Mayweather said, "Larry Merchant don't know nothing about boxing," Mayweather said. "What's that other guy's name [at HBO]? [Emanuel Steward]. He's an Uncle Tom.

Now, all boxing fans know that Larry Merchant is a drunk fossil. The only reason why Merchant is still around is because he has been there for 30 plus years, but the Steward quote? Are you out of your mind Floyd?

Emanuel Steward for years has trained mostly black fighters into elite boxers, and groomed them as men. I would've loved to seen Floyd Mayweather say that with Thomas Hearns in the same room, I would bet my mortage that The Hitman's old right hand would of taken Mayweather's head off clean.

These are the reasons why the media and public treat Mayweather this way. It was not unjust, Mayweather puts his own foot in his mouth, never takes responsibility for it, then cries out about it afterward.

Want to know how to stop this perception Floyd?

Basically, stop your crying . Take care of business on Saturday, and for the rest of your career.  You have the American Dream already. Just live it out and have fun in doing so.

Can your ego handle that? We will see.