Agassi homesick on his book signing tour in Paris

Over the past two weeks, Andre Agassi has been the high-profile guest of many French radio and TV stations on his visit to Paris to promote his autobiography "Open".

But the 8-times Grand Slam winner can't wait to get it over with.... To go back home and show his pictures of the "City of Lights" to his kids !

Ref : http://www.lefigaro.fr/lefigaromagazine/2010/01/02/01006-20100102ARTFIG00108--andre-agassi-tourne-la-page-.php

 

Is Agassi really coming clean ?

Reading some comments in blogs worlwide, we found many asking a relevant question : "is Agassi really coming clean with his autobiography ?".

Some think, with reasons, that his belated revelations tarnish his reputation.

Extract from a  New-York Times sports article reviewing the flops of 2009 with one comment from French  editor Jean-Philippe Leclair  

"What kind of message does that send? Take drugs, make money and wait for twenty years before asking the world to forgive you".


Ref : http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/sports/30forumtwo.html?_r=1

So, is Agassi really coming clean ?

Agassi : "I picture myself older, fat, and happy to be that way"

Agassi made a joke-answer to a journalist who asked him how he pictured himself in ten years, in an interview published in French Magazine Paris Match  :

"I see myself fat, old, and happy to be that way... No actually, I mind my weight a lot"

Ref : http://www.parismatch.com/People-Match/Sport/Actu/Agassi-confession-d-un-enfant-de-la-balle-154040/

Agassi : "My father wanted us to live the American Dream"

Agassi accounted for his father's relentless will for success that would push him to hate tennis, in a recent interview to French Magazine Paris Match:

"His only dream in life was for his children to live a better life that his. That they live the American Dream. My father is a warrior, he never surrenders".

Ref : http://www.parismatch.com/People-Match/Sport/Actu/Agassi-confession-d-un-enfant-de-la-balle-154040/

For twitterians, is Agassi's Open a page-turner ?

Of course, twitterians are divided about Agassi's autobiography Open, but most were caught by the story which is often reduced to a pile of shocking revelations.

A good method to assess its success is too spot the last messages on Twitter with the key word "Agassi". That's what we did with our twitter profile  : http://twitter.com/AgassiSupport   

VickiBohlsen simply couldn't "keep her head out of the book Open", while greendaylove38 quoted an extract from the autobiography : ""it must be bizarre to have strangers think they know me and love me beyond reason"

jonpg78 calls the fans to read the book "Anyone who's a fan of tennis, or sports in general, needs to read the Agassi book "Open""

sutherlandjamie "just finished Agassi's story and couldn't put it down".

rosiebohl simply "enjoyed the Andre Agassi autobiography"

Ok, that's an experiment but since we call for fair treatment on this blog, up to you now to pick up the bad vibes on Agassi's autobiography and to post them in the comments ;)

http://twitter.com/AgassiSupport

Agassi : "Tennis doesn't like cheaters"'

In a recent interview to French daily Metro, Agassi accepted the general outcry created by the release of his autobiography "Open", and even found justified the reactions from many top tennis players, including Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal."

"In a way, it's good that the world of professional tennis didn't support me. Tennis doesn't like cheaters. And here is somebody who gets away with it"

Adding : "But I was 141 in the world, and nobody predicted I could come back. That's why they (the ATP) concluded it was no performance-enhancing drug"

Ref : http://www.metrofrance.com/sport/agassi-le-tennis-n-aime-pas-les-tricheurs/milp!FE5z04YVM2OmY/

John Newcombe voices his support for Agassi

Aussie Tennis legend John Newcombe came in support of Agassi after the turmoil created by his revelations of crystal meth use in 1997.

He argued that Agassi's drug use was not related to doping, but linked with depression.

""It's just a little show of support because there are a lot of people criticising him ... and I'm not sure they have got the facts right."

"The weaknesses revealed are not anti-tennis, they are human frailties, the story of living with that sort of pressure," he said.

Ref : http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/tennis/newk-serves-up-some-love-for-agassi/2009/11/12/1257615112723.html

"Open : a book of forgiveness" Agassi says

Agassi just gave an interview to CBS4 in which he presents his autobiography as "a book of forgiveness", rather than a settelement of accounts, as it is often depicted.

Ref : http://cbs4.com/video/?id=86748@wfor.dayport.com

Agassi "open" support group : why this blog ?

Following the publication of Mr Agassi's autobiography "Open", a mediatic lynching started, soon followed by a general public outcry. Condemnations of Mr Agassi's revelations flowed from all sides. The sport's arena and the columns of wide-audience newspapers blasted Mr Agassi's past actions. A near to slanderous media campaign thus depicted Mr Andre Agassi as a "shameful" individual.  

This blog is dedicated to restoring some media balance in the way Mr Agassi  is treated, in a distanced and neutral manner.

A blog-editor (French, sorry, my English is rusty) for many years now,  I've studied the way internet has been sensasionalizing media coverage, much to the detriment of ethics and truth.            

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Agassi about "Open" : "Steffi was scared"

Andre Agassi made a confession to French Magazine "Paris Match" about his wife's reaction upon the annoucement of his autobiography project.  His life-partner Steffi Graf, the 22 grand-slam german winner, was "scared".

"She doesn't like publicity, she's a very discreet person. But she knows what person I am, she knows about my motivations. She said to me "you are strong, it will be hard in the beginning, but down the line it will make you feel better"

Ref : http://www.parismatch.com/People-Match/Sport/Actu/Agassi-confession-d-un-enfant-de-la-balle-154040/