Nevada Hoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 18,485
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Post by Nevada Hoya on Sept 4, 2006 13:48:16 GMT -5
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Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
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Post by Elvado on Sept 5, 2006 14:51:28 GMT -5
Thank God it's over. If I had to hear one more teary-eyed retrospective of this guy's career, I was going to vomit.
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Post by FairfaxHoya on Sept 5, 2006 14:57:02 GMT -5
Thank God it's over. If I had to hear one more teary-eyed retrospective of this guy's career, I was going to vomit. Agreed, agreed, agreed. Go away, Andre.
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Oh My!
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 938
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Post by Oh My! on Sept 5, 2006 16:23:15 GMT -5
Do either of you 2 guys recognize CLASS when it deserves recognition? Agassi may have had a different approach to life years ago, but his courtside thank you & farewell yesterday showed just how much of a GENTLEMAN he has grown to be. In an era when many athletes flaunt personality through unwarranted hype, Agassi reached a point in life where he discovered that he should not take himself so seriously. Without him & Sampras on the court, James Blake may be the only "impact" American tennis player today who plays with class. In fact, the entire sport now suffers with an absence of integrity, sportsmanship, and competitiveness. Thank God for Federer, who embodies all 3 for the entire Pro Tour.
I have no doubt that Andre will continue to serve the world through his very special education foundation. Few people with the means to impact the lives of at-risk youth commit themselves to doing so. Hats off to Andre.
With regards to Perry being Andre's confidant, I think Andre will always have regard for things Georgetown. Not only did he meet his first wife through my former classmate (Marina Shields supposedly introduced him to her sister Brooke), but Andre maintains to this day that one of his favorite meals is the Chicken #1 at the Tombs.......................All True.
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Elvado
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,080
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Post by Elvado on Sept 7, 2006 12:39:38 GMT -5
And all of that somehow excuses the media's incredible Editedthon surrounding his retrirement? I've got nothing against Agassi. I'm simply sick to death of the "story" which the lazy, brain-dead mass media chooses to latch onto in the absence of doing any real work.
And by the way, it's TENNIS.
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
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Post by RDF on Sept 7, 2006 13:49:11 GMT -5
I always followed Agassi and like the sport--but I like just about all sports, so that doesn't mean much. However I agree about the media's "lovefest" and how disgusting it got. I also thought it was quite telling that Agassi finished his career by losing to someone like Benjamin Becker--which kind of resembled his career. For all of Agassi's talents and he was one of the more talented guys to play the sport, he was an underachiever. Only Majors he won would be when Sampras was beaten by someone else--the lone time he raised his game and beat Sampras was in Australian Open--where Sampras's poor conditioning came into play. Agassi would've dominated the sport if he approached the game mentally/committed to fitness in his prime--instead of in late years.
Media almost made it seem like a 36 year old man should win matches because of who he is--and I believe USTA wanted Agassi to pass the torch to the overrated/annoying Andy Roddick. Agassi then would've taken that better--but his crying and extended freak out fest after he lost was beyond odd/lame. His back was shot, he was old, and he was outplayed, how did he not see the end coming? He should've enjoyed the moment instead of making it a public wake. And this comes from a fan of the guy. It was beyond awkward watching.
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Post by williambraskyiii on Sept 7, 2006 14:25:57 GMT -5
rdf - i think you are being too hard on andre - to liken his career-ending loss to the underachieving of his youth is ludicrous...the guy was basically running on adrenaline and anti-inflammatory drugs at the end - that's it...most of us wouldnt be able to walk up a flight of stairs, but he was out on the court pushing himself and possibly endangering his long-term health receiving multiple cortisone shots. so i think that is an unfair analogy.
and elvado, use your sarcastic, it's tennis bullshat, that's fine. but i was genuinely touched at andre's eloquence after his final match. i think one of the hardest things for premier athletes to do is to recognize their own physical limits/mortality and this was just another example of one man coming to terms with it. while a jimmy connors-esque run would have been magical, the way andre went out reflects a true gentleman and an all-around great guy.
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EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
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Post by EasyEd on Sept 7, 2006 15:20:57 GMT -5
Anyone who calls Andre "a true gentleman" did not observe him over the first 10 years or so of his career. If he turned a corner and straightened out and became "an all-around great guy", fine, but I, for one, will not lionize him. I still see him taunting the officials and the crowd and complaining at every call that did not go his way. He, at that time, reminded me of a spoiled 6-year old.
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
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Post by RDF on Sept 7, 2006 15:29:57 GMT -5
What I never liked about Agassi over his career and he's admitted doing this--is how he'd "tank" games. He did it as a talented, young player, and even last week he would tank games. If you don't respect the game, you never reach your potential and this is a guy who had the potential to be the best player ever--nobody could return like him and yet he drifted in/out of being committed. No big deal and still an all time great talent, but I look to this as not being a true sportsman. And for the doubters, it's the games where he just decides to hit ridiculous shots--either in pace or attempt.
He's done a lot for charity and I commend that, but I never talk about athletes as "good guys" unless I personally know them. How the hell do I know if he's a nice man or gentleman? I actually was shocked at his response to the loss on Sunday--thought he'd be more upbeat and reflective instead of an emotional wreck and acting like he'd just been upset-he was outplayed by a journeyman player and the fact his back was done is another sign. Sports is a young man's profession and always will be--for every legend, there are others coming up and to me the fact Agassi committed himself more to sport as an aged player, and was so emotional is somewhat interesting--considering he blew many opportunities as a young player by not being committed/focused.
Roger Federer is the best player I've ever seen and for all of those who see the raw talent, it's his commitment and refusal to focus on anything but his job--which is being a professional athlete and #1 in the world. It's refreshing to watch--of course I also enjoy Tiger Woods in Golf for the same reason--they despise losing as much as they love winning. Agassi didn't have that mentality and he still won 8 Majors--so it shows his talent/potential and fact he might have been the greatest ever--if he realized this when younger.
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Oh My!
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 938
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Post by Oh My! on Sept 8, 2006 16:13:06 GMT -5
Anyone who calls Andre "a true gentleman" did not observe him over the first 10 years or so of his career. If he turned a corner and straightened out and became "an all-around great guy", fine, but I, for one, will not lionize him. I still see him taunting the officials and the crowd and complaining at every call that did not go his way. He, at that time, reminded me of a spoiled 6-year old. I guess you hold in very low esteem the likes of McEnroe, Connors, BORIS Becker, Joakim's dad on the men's side and Hingis, Navratilova, Seles on the women's side. Each of them, too, taunted & complained, yet each has been recognized over the years as an excellent champion, a fine representative of the sport of tennis, and either "gentleman" or "lady" (except maybe McEnroe).
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hifigator
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 6,387
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Post by hifigator on Sept 8, 2006 16:50:49 GMT -5
Doogie, Elvado and RDF among others ... you are venting in the wrong place. I have no endearment of the media for sure. Nearly a year ago you couldn't watch 5 minutes of Sportscenter .... or anything else for that matter ... without something about T.O. Then for about two weeks, every single story had something about Ben Roethlisberger's motorcycle accident. Now I understand that a player like T.O. is news. His talent alone would dictate such, but in my opinion his off field nonsense ... and on field nonsesen for that matter, make him LESS of a story. Obviously I am an island on this one, but if you want to point fingers at undue media coverage then I would suggest starting with bozos like TO. Roethlisberger's story was a little different but still over discussed. That was a running joke down here for about 3 weeks. "Did you hear the news?" "No, what happened?" "Ben Roethlisberger was in a motorcycle accident" followed of course by "He wasn't even wearing a helmet."
Please, a couple of short days covering the retirement of the greatest American tennis player of this generation is certainly acceptable. Only player with the Golden Slam -- the Grand Slam and a Gold at the Olympics. Cut him a bit of slack.
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