The Sauce

"Derek Jeter took steroids.” “Tiger Woods is a robot.” “Shaquille O’Neal lost 200 pounds.”

These are statements that would shock me more than the recent revelation that Andre Agassi used crystal meth. (Well, except for the one about Tiger. I bet that one’s true.)

In an excerpt from his autobiography, which is to be released on Nov. 9 (reserve your copy now!), Agassi admits that he experimented with crystal meth back in 1997 and that he lied to the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour after failing a drug test and persuaded it to dismiss the case against him.

The backlash from the news was understandably harsh. The International Tennis Association said it was “surprised and disappointed.” Roger Federer was embarrassed for the integrity of his sport. Martina Navratilova even went so far as the compare Agassi to Roger Clemens.
“Shocking,” she told ESPN.com. “Not as much shock that he did it as shock he lied about it and didn’t own up to it. He’s up there with Roger Clemens, as far as I’m concerned. He owned up to it [in the book], but it doesn’t help now.”

What bothers me the most, though, is not that Agassi used the drug and lied about it — though in no way am I condoning those actions — but rather the way in which all of this information has come out.

Agassi said that he wanted to come clean and to help any others that might experience similar struggles. Excuse me for being cynical, but it doesn’t seem that the incentive to release this information is quite that good-natured.

Tell-all books like this one are generally published with one motivating factor in mind: money. I don’t know what Agassi’s financial situation is these days; maybe he’s blown all his tennis winnings and endorsement money or maybe his bank account is as big as ever. But you’d be hard-pressed to convince me that the prospect of a nice big payday was not the reason that Agassi finally decided to reveal the truth.

We’ve all seen this act before. After Pete Rose gambled away all his money (shocking, I know), he finally wrote an autobiography and admitted that he wagered on ball games in which he managed (Pete Rose bet on baseball?! Get out of here!). For 20 years, nothing could motivate Rose to admit his mistakes — not the pleas of his fans, not the decrees from the commissioner’s office and not even the prospect of getting into the Hall of Fame.
 

But once he needed the cash, he suddenly felt compelled to clear his conscience.

Agassi’s appears to be a similar case. Perhaps the whole story has been a burden to him over the past 12 years, perhaps he just wanted to get it off his chest and perhaps he thought he would be helping others by doing so.

But what exactly about this book is going to move people to live a clean life? Agassi suffered no ill consequences from his misdeeds; he lied to the Tour, got away with it and continued to play professional tennis as a fan favorite for another decade (oh, and he won five majors along the way).

Agassi doesn’t seem as though he is admitting his mistakes and begging for forgiveness. Instead, it seems like he simply wants to brag about all that he’s gotten away with in his career — and sell a few books while he’s at it.

Rafael Nadal recently summarized the bizarre nature of these admissions and their timing quite well: “To me it seems terrible. Why is he saying this now that he has retired? It’s a way of damaging the sport that makes no sense.”

No, Rafa, it doesn’t make any sense. But something tells me it will make quite a few dollars.

--

David Heck is a senior majoring in philosophy. He can be reached at David.Heck@tufts.edu.

Comments

10 comments

zu bari

Fri Nov 6 2009 04:06

I dont know whats the big deal about taking a "recreational drugs" or that he lied about it or the timing of the issue. I think whats most important is what example he sets to the kids who look up to him especially because he runs a school for under-priveleged children who would be more impressionable to such declarations.

Philip Dear

Wed Nov 4 2009 17:59

Mr. Bodo, if it's true as you say that Agassi wrote the book because he wanted to be "utterly honest about himself and his life," I have only one question for you: why put that honesty in the form of a book? Why not just go on 60 minutes or something and have a nationally-televised interview in which you explained your use? This way, more people would see it, and there would be no possibility of doing it for money. When people write autobiographies that don't really serve any social purpose other than to draw attention to themselves, which this appears to be, it is only logical to assume that money was at least a minimal factor in the author's reasoning. I think Mr. Heck is right on the money, no pun intended. If Agassi's intentions were purely philanthropic, a book was certainly not the best choice to expose these inner demons. Agassi stands to make millions from this book. He will be profiting off of his drug use and misdeeds. Granted, as one commenter wrote before me, it is possible he will donate this money to a charity. For the sake of the integrity of Agassi and the sport of tennis, I hope he does.

David Heck

Tue Nov 3 2009 03:44

Mr. Bodo,

Thank you for your comment. I do not know Andre Agassi, and I have absolutely nothing against him. In fact, I was a great fan of his growing up.

The point of this piece was not only to suggest that his admissions might have been motivated by the prospect of making money -- which I clearly stated several times that I could not say for sure -- but also to question why Agassi came out with these admissions at all and why he did so now.

In your most recent blog post, you wrote, "Can you conceive of someone writing his autobiography under the premis [sic] that he wants to be utterly honest about himself and his life? Is that such a hard idea to swallow?"

I think that there is a problem with that when that honesty yields such negative consequences. By revealing the truth, Agassi disrespected and embarrassed the sport that gave him so much. And further, I don't feel that anything good will come out of Agassi's autobiography; as I said in my column, it does not seem that his book will serve to discourage others from repeating his mistakes.

Since you seem to be caught up with my philosophical background, allow me to put my claims in a philosophical context. From an ethical perspective, I'd argue that it was unacceptable for Agassi to disclose the information that he did; the revelations from his book will bring about more harm than good, and thus they are morally reprehensible (the theoretical stance that I'm applying here is called "utilitarianism.") I could make similar claims employing another popular ethical theory, Kantianism, because Agassi acted in a way that I doubt he would want others to -- that is, sullying the reputation of his sport and himself for no apparent rational reason.

From a logical perspective, it stood to reason that Agassi might have been motivated by making money because there is no other clear benefit from his book: not for the sport of tennis, not for his fans and not for Agassi himself.

As a longtime fan of Agassi's, it pleases me to hear from someone that knows him that he is not driven simply by the almighty dollar. Nonetheless, I think it was inappropriate for him to reveal the information that he did -- especially in the way that he did and at the time that he did.

I appreciate and respect your right to disagree with me. I only wish you had done so without calling into question my study of philosophy and my dedication as a student.

Thanks for reading.

Michael

Mon Nov 2 2009 23:53

"i am a big fan of his but horribly disappointed by his comments on this subject. its almost comical after defending Gasquet just a few months back. "

You're kidding right?

Rafa's comments are consistent with how he is and what he stands for: Justice and fairness.

Out of all the players' quotes, Rafa's was the most honest and straight to the point. It IS terrible for Andre to come out with all of this now. It is downright cowardly. His wife knew his troubles and so he had that peace. He could have found peace and forgiveness from God if that's what he was searching for. He could have repented in peace and dignity. He would have spared humiliating himself AND dragging his family, fellow tennis players' and his legacy down.

I am NOT impressed with his confession. It's cheap and it's cowardly.

But also, as Rafa pointed out in his quote (it was left out in the article), the BIGGEST shame of all is how the ATP COVERED IT UP! If anything, Rafa is more angered by that. Preferential treatment, covering up for a player who broke the law and was downright cheating. Then putting Gasquet through the ringer and giving him hell for just a SPECK of cocaine in his system! Of course it's unfair! The system is corrupt! Anyone with a moral fibre in their being (and a spine to go along with it) would be angered by that!

Rafa speaking out against those things are in line with how he stuck up for Gasquet and spoke out against lowering the pay of the other players in favor or increasing the prize money for the AO champion (he was successful in exacting change and was paid less as a result), the examples of how he stood up for others can go on.

He is consistent in where he stands. He is true to himself. And he seems to be the only one on tour who is intelligent enough to grasp the real issue and courageous enough to stand behind it and speak up and speak out.

Your name

Mon Nov 2 2009 21:46

I dont think this has anything to do with money and why would he NEED forgiveness? this story is overly tired and played out... kind of like Rafa has been lately on the court, and i am a big fan of his but horribly disappointed by his comments on this subject. its almost comical after defending Gasquet just a few months back.

Your name

Mon Nov 2 2009 20:47

"But once he needed the cash, he suddenly felt compelled to clear his conscience."

I was wondering how you could arrive at this conclusion so hastily, but that sentence cleared it all up for me: You want to appear opinionated, but don't know a lot about this subject.

But hey, you already got your reads, so I guess you win anyway!

Jason

Mon Nov 2 2009 19:56

So great, he's not motivated by money (because he's got more than he can spend), what exactly are the selfless positives that his admission is based on? Um...struggling here....

If he was really a great guy who is he helping with this? Who benefits? The sport? His peers? Somebody that is more than happy to cheat and then lie about it, then write a tell all that clearly damages the sport that made him rich is far from a saint so I forgive the author for being a tad "cynical".

Mim

Mon Nov 2 2009 18:09

I agree completely with this article.

I am so disappointed. Andre waited until he could suffer no consequences before he "confessed".
WHY? I think if a confession hurts the people SURROUNDING the person more than the person himself, than it is a selfish confession.

He did NOT own up to it. He did NOT face the consequences. He isn't teaching anyone anything by doing this. There are far too many success stories out there about surviving drugs and addiction. Andre did not need to try and be one of them.

And to wait this long...after he is retired. It all seems so cowardly to me.
And as a fan, it hurts.

Jon Bulto

Mon Nov 2 2009 17:50

All pure speculation.

Nobody knows why he did it. The poster and Bodo are a little dishonest assuming they do. Bodo, the poster could say, has professional and perhaps friendship interests for defending Agassi; to keep access to him.

But had Agassi wanted to come clean and not under suspicion that it money was a motivating factor, perhaps he could have done so in a different venue, or perhaps he could donated all earnings from the book to charity. He is a charitable person, so maybe that is indeed the case and we will learn that soon.

Peter Bodo

Mon Nov 2 2009 10:55

Sorry, but I know Agassi quite well and trust me, the last thing he was motivated by is money. This is surprisingly cynical for someone interested in philosophy, with its underpinnings not only in logic, but a contemplation of human nature.

Add comment


I am not posting spam. I understand posting spam or other comments that are unrelated to this article will cause my comment to be flagged for deletion and possibly cause my IP address to be permanently banned from this server.

Enter the characters in the image above:

log out