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I'm #1 (with regard to the comments on this article).

Woo Hoo !!

I don't get it. Agassi comes clean and is seen at fault for tarnishing the ATP? Isn't that how we got here in the first place? "Oh no. Agassi tested positive- but it would be bad for the sport to publicly sanction him. Ok. Let's just buy his soda can excuse and sweep this under the rug- so there's NO "dark cloud" hanging over our beloved ATP."

Federer and Nadal seem to fail to understand that Agassi's forthrightness in this matter is the only thing that can bring about positive change in the system- otherwise even more super stars would have been granted the same leniency... and very well could have hurt themselves.

I for one applaud Agassi. Better to live in reality (even if it took him awhile to get there) than in some fantasy land where the ATP and all its stars are supposed specimens of perfection.

Stop it...Who didn't think Mr. A was stuffing his nose at that point? I lived in Vegas during those years and saw the boy "Crankin'" the Porsche convertible West of Sahara at a Buck and a Quarter.....

All the Holier than Thou Carrot Eating Set can't even think about such atrocities...as Muffie is upside down with the Russian Butler in the pantry...

My opinion is that the current players are coming down too hard on Agassi.

While it is indeed disappointing that he was not truthful back when the incident occurred, the fact is that he didn't hurt anyone, and he didn't hurt the sport either.

He was simply experimenting because of peer pressure from a friend. Even the WADA and ATP admit that it was a case of a "recreational drug" and not a performance-enhancing drug.

If you know tennis history, you also know that at that time, Agassi's career was in a slump, and he didn't win any major tournaments at that time anyway.

In fact, he ended up hurting himself - the drug episodes ended up distracting him, and he dropped out of the French Open *and* Wimbledon.

- J

Absolutely Mr. Jay. I've already seen that mistake made a too many times to count. Agassi did NOT test positive for performance enhancing drugs. They were recreational drugs- and as you said- during a deep slump in his career- both personally and professionally. He only hurt himself- as during one of his prime years (1997) at age 27- instead of competing for majors- he was using drugs and pulling out of tournaments.

Not for nothing- but I am willing to wager that the list of tennis players who used recreational drugs at some point during their careers is probably longer and more distinguished than we think (as in any walk of life).

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 09:52 AM ET  11.04 by Mr.Jay

He was simply experimenting because of peer pressure from a friend.

Mr. Jay...U need to stop that...it sounds like what I used to tell my mother when I'd come home puking..."Bad Pizza"..".Johnny gave me 3 sips"...."I found the Beer on the street"....

And my Mother...God Rest Her Soul....Believed Me

It was Vegas in the '90's..there were more Cookers in Vegas at that point then anywhere in the Country...He was a wild B.a.s.t.a.r.d....I used to see Brooke at Kreiss picking out Fabric while he was Rockin' the Turbo....

Do you think Mac had a clean nose in New York?....I'm sure only after Tatum really lit it up is when he said "No Mas"

It really doesn't matter. Kudos to Agassi for coming forward. Kudos to Federer for saying the right thing, when he really doesn't give a flying crap about something that happened long ago.

Agassi is no hero for waiting until there was $ to be made to come forward (even assuming this is the full truth in the first place), and I say that as a lifelong fan.

But for the ATP to whine about their role being exposed is pathetic. They made bad choices because he was the face of the game. Understandable, but now they have to deal with the consequences of those choices.

**And Wertheim has actually reported that his failed drug test was for a banned stimulant, not for methamphetamine specifically.** Of course, the test may simply have reacted to the amphetamine part of that drug in his system, which would make complete sense. But Wertheim did specifically point out the difference, so there may be more to the story that is not being reported yet.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 12:22 PM ET  11.04 by ws19

Agassi is no hero for waiting until there was $ to be made to come forward (even assuming this is the full truth in the first place), and I say that as a lifelong fan.But for the ATP to whine about their role being exposed is pathetic. They made bad choices because he was the face of the game. Understandable, but now they have to deal with the consequences of those choices.**And Wertheim has actually reported that his failed drug test was for a banned stimulant, not for methamphetamine specifically.** Of course, the test may simply have reacted to the amphetamine part of that drug in his system, which would make complete sense. But Wertheim did specifically point out the difference, so there may be more to the story that is not being reported yet.

Possibly. I doubt it though WS. Agassi seems to be in full-on "mea culpa" mode with this book and I think we're getting the whole "uncomfortable" story in all its glory with no holding back. Hell... he admitted to even wearing a rug.

Anyway, as Wetheim also suggested, if Agassi is indeed contemplating politics- he would want the FULL story out there early so he can get in front of it. I don't think he'd risk a further devastating disclosure like that (i.e. performance enhancing drugs) by talking about his meth use but not the other drugs. Any political advisor of any merit would advise him to get it ALL out there now rather than endure an embarrassing expose by a political rival somewhere down the line...

One final thing...

Enough with the "choir boy" stuff from all the other players. Agassi is an imperfect guy who made a mistake 12 years ago. That said he's done a great deal more for his community and society as a whole than 99.9% of the professional athletes out there (not just tennis players). Yeah- he got a nice advance for this book and one can question some of his motives for disclosing all this... but Agassi routinely puts his money where his mouth is. A true humanitarian... and as the Japanese say... "You are not your past- you are the man who stands in the room RIGHT NOW." Certainly applies to Andre.

I am really surprised by you all. I am, and always have been, a huge Agassi fun but COME ON. He cheated, he broke the law, lied about it at the time so he could continue to play, he continued to lie about it for the rest of his career which afforded him the opportunity to cash in on endorsements that surely he would have lost, then he waits until 4 years after he is out of game and comes "out" with it in a book he made 5 million dollars on. Sounds to me like a life time of bad, selfish, money grubbing and criminal behavior.

Also the rules have long been changed and are much more strict today - giving players very little wiggle room. Had Agassi come out with this "bombshell" last spring would Gasquet have been given the opportunity to rejoin the tour. My guess is no. There was so little in his system he could not even have been doing it recreationally. My guess is that next time, there will be no leniency for fear of someone pulling an "Agassi". Someone, some player will suffer the consequences of this so the ATP, WADA and the ITF don't look bad again. And Agassi, he will be feted with enshrinement in the hall of fame.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 01:06 PM ET  11.04 by NYjoel

Sounds to me like a life time of bad, selfish, money grubbing and criminal behavior.

Really? Check out the Andre Agassi College Prepatory Academy and get back to us with a single athlete who's done more for their community TANGIBLY than Agassi has.

Get a grip. He used some drugs (the shock! the horror! never ever happened in tennis before- I swear!) and was the beneficiary of a system that was more lenient towards its big stars than the average joe (sounds like every system I know). Suspect? Sure. But what should we do? Erase his titles and delete him from the record books? Come on. Might as well erase Vitus Gerulaitis and Johnny Mac while we're at it too...

Many of those ill-begotten "gains" were pumped right back into his laudable charitable endeavors anyhow. Yeah! damn it! Agassi's such a bad guy! He made all that money off Nike, Cannon and Mountain Dew and gave thousands of kids a future the rest of the country had left behind! Throw him in jail!

Come on man. Don't sound like much of a "fan" to me.

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 01:56 PM ET  11.04 by Smithtown31

Really? Check out the Andre Agassi College Prepatory Academy and get back to us with a single athlete who's done more for their community TANGIBLY than Agassi has.

Obviously I was referring to his behavior in regard to the "drug, lying, deceiving" and did not intend to suggest that this was the sum total of his human experience and worth. Rather, since my opinion was related to the specific thread I didn't think I needed to qualify by saying " in other areas of his life he has represented himself proudly." We are talking about an issue here not his whole life. You can cite the amazing work he has done for charity and I can cite many other examples of less than stellar behavior (treatment of tournament workers and his, to my knowledge unaplogetic, homophobia.) A life is obviously a culmination of all moments and decisions, the good and bad. I understand that, which is why I chose to keep my comments related to the issue and my opnion of his behavior.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 02:16 PM ET  11.04 by NYjoel

Obviously I was referring to his behavior in regard to the "drug, lying, deceiving" and did not intend to suggest that this was the sum total of his human experience and worth. Rather, since my opinion was related to the specific thread I didn't think I needed to qualify by saying " in other areas of his life he has represented himself proudly." We are talking about an issue here not his whole life. You can cite the amazing work he has done for charity and I can cite many other examples of less than stellar behavior (treatment of tournament workers and his, to my knowledge unaplogetic, homophobia.) A life is obviously a culmination of all moments and decisions, the good and bad. I understand that, which is why I chose to keep my comments related to the issue and my opnion of his behavior.

My apologies for the misinterpretation of your comments. Let's face it though... "lifetime" is a pretty encompassing word... or can be at least. I don't think that was the best choice of words (without qualifying them in anyway). Just my opinion though.

Anyway, I do see your point better now... and believe me- I am well versed on all of Andre's missteps along the way... including those that occurred AFTER his great comeback and he had secured his place as one of the great elder statement of the game (his skipping his post-match interview after losing in the 2nd Round at the 2000 French Open as defending champion and his abusive melt down in the 2001 Wimbledon Semis against Rafter immediately come to mind).

Look- the guy's not perfect- but I do get the sense he's trying the best he can to set things right. The reality is that our society creates these marketing monster cash machines around young star athletes and their names become actual "brands". That can be a lot of pressure for athletes in their 20's to deal with (especially when they feel like so many are counting on them for their livelihood) and sometimes things spin out of control in the name of "defending the brand" that has little regard for the human being itself... and truth is the first casualty. That's apparently what happened here... and I wager happens countless times every year with many star athletes. If Agassi's book sheds some light on this- well at least he's made yet another contribution.

And yes Agassi will be feted at his Hall of Fame induction... because he DESERVES to be.

I appreciate your remarks and I think there is a lot of truth there. However, Andre could have set the record straight at any time. He played for 8-10 years after this. He is now 39 years old - not the "boy" perhaps he was at 30, or thereabouts, when this occurred. It just seems to me that he did the wrong thing for all those years, and in coming clean he is making another 5 million dollars. That hardly sounds like a legitimate pennance to me. He made money by lying about it and now he is making money by talking about it. Can I be blamed for thinking to myself: "charity work aside, has this guy really evolved? And how is this good for tennis?"

Thanks NYjoel.

The events in question happened in 1997 when Agassi was 27 (not being knit-picky- just so you know and can make your own evaluation). To me 27 is the cusp of needing to know better (especially when you consider what 18 years olds in the military go through every day)- but perhaps most of us weren't exactly the people we wanted to be at that age either (I'm 33). I do think being surrounded by handlers and yes-men, having millions on the line and married to Brooke Shields, etc. would likely cloud the picture a bit more than the average 27 year old though...

Anyway, I think your motivations and timing questions are fair ones... and someone will surely ask him at some point. I would love to hear what he says. I think to be fair though- none of this was ever going to be a "cup of tea" for Andre (despite being a media darling) and his family- and as its his life and experiences that he's choosing to share with us... I can't really begrudge him for trying to control the conditions (timing and forum) around which the disclosures are made.

I'm not certain that a leaked disclosure with an embarassing admission (after releasing a book called "Open") somewhere down the line would have been any better. I actually think it would have been worse. I just don't think we can assume that Andre would have been able to keep this out of the public eye until he went to his grave...

I guess what this all shows is that the REAL Andre Agassi story is and has always been a compelling, tragic, inspiring and legendary American tale. He'd been sort of "sugar-coated" the last few years- whereas in reality he was a divisive and controversial figure for at least half of his career. There are lots of "rough edges" to Agassi- and I for one credit the man himself for reminding us of that.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 12:50 PM ET  11.04 by Smithtown31

"You are not your past- you are the man who stands in the room RIGHT NOW." Certainly applies to Andre.

ST-31...Thank God...From My POV....

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 05:38 PM ET  11.04 by NYjoel

And how is this good for tennis?"

You know what would be good for tennis? More people playing on all those muni courts that sit there and go unused other than for Hoops and Street Hockey...How? Get some publicity instead of "Grassroots" BS....See the Current lead "Serena shatters Earnings Record"....That's whats good for tennis...Not some Russian Babes that look like Models or Hookers...

The real athletes making sports choices at young ages look more like Serena than a Country Club Kid....Name 3 US Tennis players that have top 20 Q ratings....other than the Williams sisters....

Sorry TedC44, but the Williams sisters are the worst thing to happen to American tennis in 30 years because they are such unbelievable **** (Venus less so now than when she was #1, but Serena sure goes all-out to make up the difference). They have driven more people away from tennis by representing the game so poorly than they have drawn in by being minorities in a white-bread sport. They sulk and pout and display the worst sportsmanship (excluding Henin) of any athlete since McEnroe, and neither is all that heavily engaged in community development/minority advancement in tennis. They spend far more time on their personal clothing lines than setting up urban tennis academies. Plus, I would bet a lot of money that Serena has used performance enhancers to fuel her latest comeback. Her story reeks of Clemens - an egomaniac past their prime who has a sudden rejuvenation and becomes more dominant than they were when they were younger? Physiologically almost impossible without assistance, and she is so bulked up now that that South African runner is now calling Serena "masculine."