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If anything he should get ANOTHER trophy and MORE money! Meth is NOT a performance enhancing drug!!! He didn't give himself an edge, he made his game worse, and they STILL couldn't beat him.
I agree with Hot-Dog. Meth didn't help his game, so really it was not relevant to his winning those trophies. Rather than demonizing someone who was "guilty" of using a banned substance which did not contribute to his success, we should be applauding his honesty. It may be appropriate to chide him for setting a poor example, but Safin is a sore loser for implying Aggasi should give back his trophies. That is simply ABSURD and it gets me worked up thinking about it.
The one word that stuck during his interview was 'compassion'. Imagine doing something all your life but never really enjoyed. The one person's opinion I may be interested in is Jimmy Connors.
Ridiculous. Why should he give back the titles he earned? If he was under the influence of meth while he was on the court, he certainly would not have won as many titles as he did. What he did off the court should not affect what he did on the court, unless he gambled on tennis. Agasi was a great tennis player.
Agassi paid back with all his donations he made to charity.
The man obviously used meth when his ranking fell so low. However, to be able to turn in around and win more is certainly a great example, especially from a public figure for him. I was always Pete Sampras fan, but what he's managed to accomplish since then and his openness about it has made me an Andre Agassi fan too.
What an absurd statement, "give the money back." People are human, but rarely honest. I am so tired of people who constantly want to punish others. Agassi is paying the price daily for his mistakes and for the beating his body took over his career. Why throw the guy under the bus, too? Philistine.
Speaking of "giving back", Agassi has done a lot for the community and for the sport before and after his retirement. Navratilova and Safin, being very vocal against Agassi, have yet to come out with their own Foundation that helps underprivileged children.
We berate athletes when they won't tell the truth (baseball players in front of Congress come to mind) and then we want to berate others when they TELL the truth? Give the man credit for owning up to mistakes and for setting an example of how to overcome them with class and generositiy.
Stars like Agassi made it possible for lesser players like Safin to win a lot of money that would not have been available in tournaments expect for the appeal and draw of the stars. Few people went to a tournament to see the choker Marat, but he benefited by being associated with those who had bigger names. Pete and Andre and Boris and Jimbo and a few others gave more than they took. Tennis really needs the big stars to be viable.
For those who believe he should give back the titles and prize money...you're all losers
Marat Safin is nothing but a sore Russian loser!
One possible thought for Andre, during the time he used Meth, take that amount of cash and assist the unfortunate in regards to Drug and Alcohol treatment. Open a Rehab center, Vegas does need another.
One of the greatest "comeback" stories in all of sports. Meth took him to the ranking of 141 after being # 1. Then back to # 1 when he started playing for HIMSELF. Class act.......return the money for taking a performance INHIBITING drug. NAAA I dont think so. And that pompous Navratalova should have some class and keep her mouth shut with those thoughts.
So true...self righteous people crack me up...What about the $40 Million of his own money that he's given to charity or the $101 Million that he's raised for underpriviledged kids? Doesn't that count for the LESS than $ 1 Million he earned in 1997 when he was on the stuff?
I agree with all those supporting Agassi. Meth is not a performance enhancing drug. He didn't do himself any favors or get an unfair advantage over his fellow competitors by taking it. Maybe his story should be a lesson to all those potential terrible tennis parents who push their kids into a sport that they really hate. I have to say I am surprised by any backlash he gets from his fellow competitors. Some of them should be glad he was taking the drug in '97; otherwise they wouldn't have won a few of those tournaments.
I admire Agassi, but I'm not looking too fondly at the nay-sayers. I'm wondering about their motives.
the baseball players were caught and still deny it. he wasnt caught and admitted it.its a far cry from roger clemons
From what I have read, he used a performance inhibiting type drug, not enhancing. He also used for a short period of time compared to how long his career was. I don't agree with his choice but I also have never been to the low point he describes in his book. I think he deserves to maintain all the trophies, prize money, titles etc that he worked so hard for. We all make mistakes. He just happens to be in the public eye and scrutinized harshly for his.
No one has mentioned the possibility of Agassi not getting into the Hall of Fame, which he rightly deserves, but with all the political correctness freaks out there, it may be a stumbling block. With all the pluses and this one minus I couldn't conceive of him NOT getting in.
Mr. Agassi has given so much to this country, one indescretion cannot erase all of those good efforts. Please protect me from the "Holier Than Thou" groups who are always so quick to condemn!