Andre Agassi’s Dirty Little Secret
People under the age of 25 might not realize it but men’s tennis in the United States was immensely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. And arguably no player during that time span was more popular than Andre Agassi, whose flashy clothing, abundance of charisma and undeniable talent made him one of the sport’s worlds biggest stars during his tennis career.
That is why it is so surprising that his soon to be released book, “Open: An Autobiography,” reveals that he used crystal meth during his playing career. The details of his use — like how much he used, how frequently he used and if he ever played while under the influence — are still unknown to the public but the fact that he has admitted to using the illegal drug is nothing short of shocking.
Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that another athlete has used drugs, but this case is a bit different than usual. Known performance enhancing drugs are often illegal and usually banned from professional sports, but at least they are used by athletes with the intent to enhance their game. While that doesn’t make it right to use them, it certainly has a different feel from a fan’s standpoint than an athlete using a recreational drug like crystal meth.
Unfortunately, we will have to wait until the book’s November 9 release date to find out more information. Until then, we are left with only questions about the latest athlete to fall from grace.
What do you think about the news? Is it better or worse than being caught for using performance enhancing drugs? Should an athletes personal life matter to fans?
