Agassi Opens Up

Had to say that I was surprised as all get out last week when I read that Andre Agassi's tell-all book, titled "Open" reveals that he used crystal meth repeatedly in 1997.

First comes the disappointment that a player I loved to watch when the majors were on television would do something something so stupid. But then there's the grudging acceptance... that's just how things are a lot of the time. Watching the interview on "60 Minutes" last night also went a long way toward seeing it in a different light. In "Open" (a double meaning of tennis's biggest matches and Agassi coming clean about exactly what happened) you can see a man wanting to set the record straight on his own initiative, and you can see him asking for forgiveness. The cover of the book is striking itself, with a full-frame close-up sending the message that this is the story front and center, no hiding, no weaseling.

One can also see that crystal meth is not a performance-enhancing drug. Agassi is not on the level of a number of baseball stars who admittedly, or according to official drug testing, used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. I think most of their (and Major League Baseball's) fault lies in trying to conceal what they did. Still, to sweep illegal drug use under the rug as if it's OK sends the wrong message.

Seems that the larger lesson that Agassi wants to communicate is his personal redemption. Getting caught by the pro tour's drug-testing lab was a wake-up call for him. And wake up he did. His play from 1999 to his retirement in 2006 produced a lot of great tennis. Most of all, the classic U.S. Open final against Pete Sampras.

Some in the tennis world have come down pretty hard on Agassi, including legend Martina Navratilova, and current phenoms Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The American public has an amazing capacity for forgiveness --- but only when they are told the truth. This story would have been many times worse had it been revealed any number of years in the future. Agassi does deserve some compassion right now, and while I remain disappointed, I'm also glad he told the story honestly --- and openly --- on his own.