Upcoming Andre Agassi memoir reveals drug use

In his upcoming memoir, tennis star Andre Agassi admits that in 1997 he used the recreational drug crystal meth -- or "gack," as his assistant, referred to only as Slim, called it. The book "Open: An Autobiography" will be in stores in November, but is being serialized by the Times of London beginning Thursday. And they ran this excerpt today:

Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I’ve just crossed.

There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I’ve never felt so alive, so hopeful -- and I’ve never felt such energy.

I’m seized by a desperate desire to clean. I go tearing around my house, cleaning it from top to bottom. I dust the furniture. I scour the tub. I make the beds...

Later, Agassi tested positive for the drug. It would mean a public suspension, and he feared, a lot more.

My name, my career, everything is now on the line. Whatever I’ve achieved, whatever I’ve worked for, might soon mean nothing. Days later I sit in a hard-backed chair, a legal pad in my lap, and write a letter to the ATP. It’s filled with lies interwoven with bits of truth.

I say Slim, whom I’ve since fired, is a known drug user, and that he often spikes his sodas with meth — which is true. Then I come to the central lie of the letter. I say that recently I drank accidentally from one of Slim’s spiked sodas, unwittingly ingesting his drugs. I ask for understanding and leniency and hastily sign it: Sincerely.

I feel ashamed, of course. I promise myself that this lie is the end of it.

While the admission now may get him in hot water with some sports officials, it certainly can't hurt his book sales. How many people knew the 1992 Wimbledon champion had a memoir coming out? Now, we all do.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

Photo: Andre Agassi at a 2007 press conference. Credit: Ian Salas / EPA

Comments

[alex]

tennis is not a sport that drugs to play better. Unlike A-rod and Bonds and many other liars in Baseball, Agassi did not need the drugs to perform better. No one could hit the ball as hard as he did. He did it by talent and excellent physical shape! Cut the guy a break. So he did recreational drugs once or twice? Big deal. He does more for the community than any other player out there. He is and always will be one of the best Tennis players ever.

[LC]

This happened years ago and he did not hurt anyone but himself.... and his tennis game .... Those drugs are only going to hurt his game not help it... Why he would want to make the fact that he did do drugs public is beyond me... But that is his choice.. and its his life.. Its not like him and his wife need the cash either so who knows... but the media should just leave the whole thing alone but they will not..... Its just like McQuire coming back into baseball everyone in the media says he must talk about his drug use steroids... but he does not owe anyone anything if I were him my reply would be NO COMMENT... and walk away. The media blood suckers can go f--- themselves.

[Jordasche Bledsoe]

I agree with Alex.

[Blankfrank]

So what. He's not the first nor the last. His drug use doesn't change my opinion of him & I hope that he is drug free at this point of his life (I doubt his wife would have allowed him to continue anyway).

[AJ]

recreational drugs? Can you buy it anywhere? What a disappoint !!!

[AJ]

He does more for the community than any other player out there? So Pablo Escobar Gaviria did for the Colombian community as well

[Melaine Samson]

He is still only borderline interesting.

[jad]

What? Another young kid taking drugs? Shocking! Leave the massive drug taking to old folks.

[mark]

Fair Play. He came clean> We're all human

[Mark]

Why he decided to go out in public NOW is actually very clear. Publicity never hurts in our society, especially if you have a book in the pipeline. Agassi was always a smart money-maker.

[Charles]

It doesn't change my opinion of him.

[Yari]

Coming clean, great.

However, the real problem here is Agassi (after amassing millions) is making a business decision to make even more money on his book sales by revealing this drug issue.

He knows revealing the drug issue now does not hurt him or if it does, he does not care as long as the result is more $$$$$$$$$ in his pocket.

In my eyes, Agassi is less of a champion and even a lesser man.

[Vicky Sebastian]

What is the point of Agassi revealing his illegal drug use? Is there a moral to his illegal drug use? Is he asking the public to condone his illegal drug use? What? He is just a self absorbed nacissist who wants some public stroking. How sad for him and his family.