US Open 2009 - Andre Agassi's Speech at the Opening Ceremony

[lilnastiaaa]

hes just a human. a good one:)

[Mrhugh2011]

loved his book!!!

[CollateralDmage]

i saw the fan waving the poster "andre's house" damn its so true, to this day nobody gained the love and roar of the crowd like him

[Pacslyf]

love you Andre

[davd1986]

The only thing is that is a bit murky is the crystal meth use and the ATP chosing to cover that up. Now I know it isn't a performance enhancer and that Andre was struggling mightily just to stay relevant during that time, but I am not sure if I like that part of his career, but anyway, he's a good guy, a tennis legend and definitely someone who has changed so many lives with his charities and schools he has built. We need more people like Andre!

[TheARP101]

His favorite tourney. NYC loves Andre. He owned the Open and on any given day could beat anyone he wanted, he just had to put his mind to it.

A R P 101----->

[Sydfd1108]

A man whose heart is bigger than his image!

Thank you for giving us the best games

Thank you for giving the kids the opportunity of education

Thank you for being you

Thank you for being OPEN!

[cahancock12001]

worc, listen little one. How about you continue to sit back and make judgements about someone you could never be. Good luck with that. As for Andre, we thank you for everything you have done and all of the good you are yet to do. It's funny, Andy Roddick put it best when he said his greatness on the court will be the least of what he will be remembered for. We have yet to see the best Andre Agassi has to offer.

[TheSlush]

"We are all at risk of excellence." Thank you, Andre!!

[virgilsheart]

Fabulous work, Andre. We will keep the fire burning in all your endeavours especially for the youth of tomorrow.

[kingbiba247]

ur Assyrian Andre Why Dont You Help The Assyrians Out The ASsyrians Who Are Getting Killed For Being Christians IN Iraq We Need Someone Like You YOu Got Assyrian Blood Why Dont You Help US Out 2/3rds of our nation have been masscared by the ottoam turks n world war one nd tell this day we have persection to our peolple in iraqqq You ASSyrian

[xman4un]

Well...you forgot to say that he's also American then, haven't you? His mother is 100% American and he was born right here, with American values and cultures. It's not really true that he's Assyrian. You can only say that he has Assyrian ancestry.

[worc63]

METH HEAD! METH HEAD!

[shrikent22]

Hehehe what a numbskull you are ...he's a true champion and honest ...besides it's not like meth helps you play better .. Now he's won 6 grand slams is a millionaire and married to Steffi Graf , the world loves him and he is a sports icon....WHO ARE YOU AGAIN???

[worc63]

"he's a true champion and honest"

SO honest, he LIED to everyone! That is NOT a true champion!

"besides it's not like meth helps you play better"

No, it only fries your brain!

"Now he's won 6 grand slams"

He's won 8, you twit!

"the world loves him"

How do you know? Did you poll everyone on the planet?

"WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?"

Not you, thank God!

[shrikent22]

Hahaha youve obviously never watched any tennishe was one of the mot popular players on the circuit and crowds used to throng match venues to watch him play. Im not even going to get into Tv viewership during his playing days, so I dont need to poll everybody on the planet there are enough facts if youve genuinely followed the sport, but I guess a bozo like you cant make that connection.

[shrikent22]

. As for him lying, why are you getting your panties in a bunch the only reason were having this exchange is because hes been honest about the mistakes hes made and he can talk about them regardless of what happens to his fan base that is what makes him a true champion. You didnt find out from anybody else but the man himself. It wasnt an expose it was him being honest.

[shrikent22]

As for him doing meth, he overcame his problems and still went on to win grand slam titles when was the last time you won anything? Oh and thank god youre not me, you would have really screwed it up

[JamesLimborg]

Go Agassi !

[legolas57HU]

Agassi is the greatest player for me!!

[worc63]

Another limosuine libturd tooting his own horn! If baldie really cared about "social inequality", he wouldn't have blown $22 mill on a house in Tiburon!

[foul01]

if he really didnt care, he could have blown more billions on more houses.

so he spend millions for himself, but he gave out millions for others as well. what have you done to consider yourself rightful to criticize him?

let me guess... "if" you had millions, you "would have" given them all away.

"if" only you had the millions... but you didnt, and as agassi said "caring is doing", agassi worked his ass for his tennis career, you simply didnt cared.

[worc63]

Has it ever occured to you that if celebrities actually cared about the less-fortunate, they wouldn't have this overwhelming need to publicize their good deeds? Of course not -- you're too busy kissing their asses likes the mindless sheep you are!

[foul01]

the publicity does two things

1.) makes them look good (which is the only one you're aware of)

2.) it makes others with money look bad if they do not do the same too, so in a sense it encourages people to establish foundations too. (federer has one, arthur ashe has one, james blake has one... etc, its almost a tradition)

besides, being caring and wanting publicity are two different things

you're asking a person to be caring yet not showing to the world, like hell that'll be any better.

[worc63]

>> besides, being caring and wanting publicity are two different things

Gee, ya think?

>> you're asking a person to be caring yet not showing to the world, like hell that'll be any better.

People do good works everyday without tooting their own horn! Agassi and these other rich twits are nothing more than publicity whores with tax write-offs!

[foul01]

without publicity, such actions would not be known, and others will not be encourage to perform charities as well

but what do you care?

what matters to you isnt the charity school but the pretty house agassi has

[jtatsiue]

And you are someone with a highly biased, presumptuous and in all probability misguided opinion about AAs true motivation. Forget about AA and judge his actions by their results: kids are educated and going to college, mission accomplished. In your case youve posted a few vitriolic comments and a few others have responded, so, uh, nice work I guess?

[worc63]

AgASSi chose to air his dirty laundry for $5 million bucks -- that entitles the "misguided" media and public to judge him, shortbus! 'Nuff said!

[jtatsiue]

Nope, plenty more to be said. So, someones rehashed life is worth 5 million bucks and ipso facto they deserve your wanton negativity, really, just like that? So, little ole you just happens to have prima facie evidence that AA earned that money illegitimately? I'm not saying that anyone should genuflect whenever AA enters a room but certainly he deserves better than to be hectored by a member of the unwashed masses.

[worc63]

So, YOU'RE AgASSi's Meth buddy "Slim"! Now it all makes sense!

[jtatsiue]

So, your argument has run aground already, hence the limp-wristed cut down?

[shrikent22]

Agassi and Graf together have close to 50 million in career prize money , this is excluding their endorsements ....hahahahaha and this old fuck talks about 5 million... thats pocket change for them fool , i know it;'s money you'll never have but get over it you bitter old peice of shit

[MissAries76]

Wow...Andre looks great. I miss watching him play. He has so much heart and a great personality. He holds a special place in my heart.

[jispy8806]

My god, he's great.

[jasoninparis]

You're a good man, Andre.

By the way, you were obviously born under the Star of Charisma!

[Nigelxman]

Andre is a very cool human being.

[nabeshabu]

He is one of my favourite players :)

[nahralnel]

I hope to see him on the day

[mikemen1991]

I love the fact that Agassi quoted our Salutatorian and NOT our Valedictorian.

And of course Agassi didn't say it as excellently as Simone did...but it is still a powerful statement.

[drb12344]

Haha! I know, right? Simone smashed Desmend in all honesty.

[iimastar128]

I was a graduate of Andre Agassi College Prep. Academy !

[MissAries76]

Awesome!! Did you ever get a chance to meet him? He is one of my all time favorite players and I really admire him and what he's done off the court.

[kentheseer]

Andre,

Tennis is one of many ponzi schemes, that too stupid to fail. Who knew? I do.

[raisethe3]

Wait this isn't the hall fame ceremony?

[realitybitesu26]

Thanks for posting his speech.

[pittsburghpanther]

Clearly Andre misses the U.S. Open - and I definitely miss watching him there. Not really been the same since he retired.

[so011008]

Good to see Andre using his immense influence and fame in such a positive way! I wish more athletes would imitate his example in class, dignity, and selflessness.

[snoopy3170]

class act!!!! love him and his causes.

[mmsshh777]

What great heart this man has! A champion on and off court!! Andre, You're an inspiration to many!! Thanks for doing what you do!! wish you the best in life, always!!!

[whzpdlsWkd]

Andres Agassi is such a sincere person, and an inspiring athlete. Good to see him again.

[FONZZY07]

he has a good heart!

[safy12345]

wat a champion!!

[thinkinglie]

inspiring thank you for posting.