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Agassi selected for International Tennis Hall of Fame
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Students at Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy await the announcement Thursday that the school's namesake will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Agassi will be inducted in a summertime ceremony at the hall in Newport, R.I. Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal » Buy this photo
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Andre Agassi, at the Las Vegas school that bears his name, basks in the news Thursday that he will enter the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Jessica Ebelhar/Las Vegas Review-Journal » Buy this photo
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Jan. 21, 2011 | 7:56 a.m.
It's supposed to be what you do on the court that gets you into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Not in Andre Agassi's case.
The 40-year-old Las Vegan's pending induction July 9 in Newport, R.I., is about more than his accomplishments in tennis.
Yes, the eight Grand Slam singles titles, 60 singles championships, Davis Cup wins, Olympic gold medal and No. 1 rankings are impressive. But in Agassi's case, his work away from the court, helping thousands of Las Vegas children to get a first-class education at his private charter school, goes hand-in-hand with what he achieved during his 20-year professional playing career.
"I don't know how you can separate the two," Agassi said Thursday after the official announcement was made inside the gymnasium at Agassi Prep in front of the entire 655-member student body. "This school gave me my career and my success in tennis gave me the opportunity to create this school. If it wasn't for this school, I wouldn't have had the career I had."
Agassi considered quitting tennis in 1997. His game and his life were a mess. He was struggling with injuries, a plummeting ranking and his marriage to actress Brooke Shields was foundering.
But he decided he wasn't going to go out on those terms, so he regrouped. Agassi got healthy, battled back and in 1999 completed his career Grand Slam by winning the French Open.
"I'm most proud of never quitting," Agassi said, reflecting back on the darkest period of his life when he admitted using crystal methamphetamine in 1997. "I may have quit in a lot of battles, but I never quit on the war.
"I was too scared to quit. Fear pushes me. It drives me. It makes me fight harder."
He would play until Sept. 3, 2006 when, at age 36, his bad back finally forced him to retire after a third-round loss at the U.S. Open. That day, Agassi gave an emotional speech to the New York crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On Thursday, it was an upbeat, relaxed Agassi who spoke to students from kindergarten to high school seniors at the school that bears his name, and he invited them to celebrate with him.
"It'll be much more emotional at the ceremony," said Agassi, one of two individuals to be inducted July 9 (the second will be announced next week). "I wanted the announcement to be fun and make it more of a celebration."
It was a day for fun. A drum line, cheerleaders and the enthusiasm from students made the mood in the gym upbeat like a pep rally. Agassi used the opportunity to remind the students to persevere and never let anyone tell them they were incapable of achieving greatness.
Absent from Thursday's event were Agassi's wife and fellow Hall of Famer Steffi Graf, who was inducted in 2004, and his parents, Mike and Betty. However, brother Phil, who was along for the entire ride of Agassi's tennis odyssey, was there for the occasion.
"It's one accomplishment I didn't have to stress," Phil Agassi said of his brother's unanimous vote for induction from the 135-member panel of international tennis journalists and the 21-member nominating committee headed by Hall of Famer Tony Trabert. "I'm so proud of him and for him.
"He brought color to the tennis world. His style he played with, the flair in which he played with, he helped change the way the game is played today."
Mark Stenning, chief executive officer for the Hall of Fame, said inducting Agassi is an easy call.
"The question I've been asked the last four years is, 'When is Andre getting in?' " Stenning said. "There was never any question whether or not he was going to get in. You just counted the days.
"He is truly a renaissance man. He brings so much to the table. We've already sold out our dinner for induction weekend, and that doesn't happen very often."
Hall of Fame chairman Chris Clouser said: "It was 25 years ago this day that we announced the induction of Arthur Ashe into the Hall of Fame. Those accomplishments of Arthur Ashe have been exceeded here by Andre Agassi."
Agassi was truly humbled by Clouser's remarks.
"That was flat out shocking when I heard that," Agassi said. "One of my regrets was I never got to know and appreciate Arthur when I was younger."
And as he prepares to join the ranks of the immortals of tennis, Agassi appreciated earning a place with Ashe, Trabert, Jack Kramer, Bill Tilden, Sam Smith, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Pete Sampras -- all legends of U.S. men's tennis -- along with his idol, Bjorn Borg.
"I always looked at myself as someone who just tried to get better," Agassi said. "But it's a surreal experience. I know numbers, what they are and what they mean. But it's still very humbling to be included with all of the game's greatest players."
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@review journal.com or 702-387-2913.
"On the court, Andre had one of the greatest returns in the sport and he backed up his tennis skills with a strong connection with the fans, entertaining them in a way few ever have. Off the court, he has a sense of responsibility that transcends tennis. Andre has a deep commitment to give back and to make a difference in the lives of others, and the beauty of it all is that he is just getting started. So much of his wonderful legacy is left to be written."
-- Billie Jean King, International Tennis Hall of Fame member and close friend of Agassi
"Throughout his career, Andre had a tremendous impact on the sport of tennis -- on and off the court -- and he will be a great addition to the Tennis Hall of Fame."
-- Pete Sampras, International Tennis Hall of Fame member and Agassi' biggest rival during his 20-year career
"Andre had the complete career. He rose above every hurdle to taste victory at every major championship. He's in elite company as very few can make claim to that honor. He's one of a kind, that's for sure."
-- Darren Cahill, one-time Agassi coach
"His tennis record is off the charts. His longevity is amazing. Twenty years on Tour. His stellar record. People get into the Hall of Fame with two Grand Slams. He has eight. If it was baseball, he'd be a unanimous choice for the Hall."
-- Brad Gilbert, who coached Agassi during his comeback and remains a close friend
"I always felt Andre was special. He brought excitement to the game. There were old ladies at Wimbledon wearing those denim shorts. That's the kind of impact he had on people. They loved him and they still do."
-- Nick Bollettieri, Agassi's coach during his teen years and early in his professional career
"Andre Agassi is an inspiration to all of Nevada's student-athletes, and I'm pleased that his hard work and excellence is being recognized with the highest honor an athlete can receive."
-- U.S. Sen. Harry Reid
"As great a tennis player as Andre was and as much a fan of his that I was, I'm even more impressed by the great person that he is because of the compassion that he has for children in our state and the unbelievable work that he has done to make their lives better."
-- U.S. Sen. John Ensign
"I am absolutely delighted that one of the most remarkable tennis players and remarkable citizens from Nevada has been selected for the Hall of Fame. His extraordinary impact on tennis is exceeded by his remarkable achievements in the community. It dwarfs what he has accomplished in tennis. He's literally changed the lives of thousands of young people and thousands more who will never know him."
-- U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, in whose district Agassi resides
"There's nobody more deserving. If athletes are supposed to be role models, there is no one better than Andre -- a great tennis player, a great community partner and a great guy."
-- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman
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Norm must be so happy. Agassi's biggest fan.
Andre Agassi, looks like Jared Lee Loughner[az], mark kelley & bother[az] and a cop from video taken of titus meeting in henderson, nv on saturday in 2010
See kids, use meth and you too can get in the hall of fame.
I wonder if he is going to show naked pictures of his wife there too. Classless act from someone I thought knew better, even if it was a joke.
Good for him!