Read this book.
Not because of Andre Agassi, the tennis player, who won eight Grand Slam singles tournaments and an Olympic gold medal in singles.
Not because of the crystal meth usage he admitted to or the wigs he wore to hide his premature baldness that received so much attention in the media.
Read this book because of the behind the scenes stuff we never saw or heard about, but deserve...no...are privileged be told.
Pulitzer Prize-winner J.R. Moehringer is an epic storyteller, sifting through hours of interviews, countless recorded conversations, in order to tell us Agassi's story in Andre's words.
Moehringer opens a window into Agassi's world where TV cameras couldn't take us and by doing so, makes Andre more human than ever. More real. More like you and me.
It's through this window that we realize that no matter the fame or fortune, we are all so similar, yet still so different. It's a story of the evolution of a life and the maturation of a man.
The book opens on the day of Agassi's last professional tennis tournament, the 2006 U.S. Open, in New York City. The 36-year-old Agassi takes us through his entire day, from breakfast with Steffi and the kids in the hotel suite, to being escorted from the locker room by a familiar security guard, "James,"at the tennis complex in Flushing, Queens.
From two showers to loosen up his stiff back, to the car service from Manhattan to Queens, his pre-match routine is so detailed, the reader feels he or she is with Agassi for the duration. It's this super-specific, extremely detail-oriented narration that Moehringer masters throughout Open.
We learn of Andre's rough childhood filled with a drill sergeant-type father when it came to tennis. At the age of seven, his father forced him to return 2,500 tennis balls a day, shot out of the "dragon" at 110 mph from a tennis court in their backyard.
It's here we learn that Andre "hates" tennis. A theme that despite all of his success on the court over the years, never goes away.
His overbearing father, Emmanuel "Mike" Agassi, an Iranian immigrant, went as far as giving Agassi caffeine pills, and eventually the drug 'speed' before his matches as a youth. Andre was shipped off to the "tennis boot camp" Bollettieri Academy in Florida at the age of 13. It is here where Agassi rebels by wearing outrageous outfits and growing a mohawk. But, Andre gets away with murder at the Academy because he is simply a phenom on the court.
When Agassi drops out of school and turns pro at the age of 16, his brother Philly embarks on the journey with him. Philly was never as good as Andre on the court, but always believed in and knew Andre was that good.
From driving Andre to tournaments, to eating canned food in cheap motels to save money, Philly shows the unconditional and undying support of a big brother who will back his younger brother no matter what endeavor he pursued. It's during these endeavors, the process of pursuing a dream, that the most memorable moments occur.
Agassi looks back fondly on these memories. He tells us about his first Nike endorsement deal in which he and Philly "negotiated" themselves at a restaurant on their way back from a tournament. They declined the first offer from the Nike rep, demanded more money, and actually got their asking price. Andre and Philly remain calm in front of the Nike rep, only to jump up and down like little kids when the man drives away. From fast food wrappers littered all over the car and racking up miles from tourney to tourney, the two share a special bond en route to the top.
Throughout his journey, we learn of the special people in his life. From his trainer Gil Reyes, to his best friend Perry, we get to meet the people that are so important to Andre, but have remained behind the scenes over the years. These are the people Andre draws strength from when he is alone on that "island" on the tennis court.
Looking up to his "coach's box" during countless matches, Agassi draws inspiration from the people that mean the most to him. From Gil who has seen him at his weakest moments, both emotionally and physically, to his best friend Perry who when they were 13 years old told Andre he'd see his best friend on the cover of Sports Illustrated some day, it is these people who have always been there for him.
Gil has played the role of father, psychiatrist, trainer, and can silence Andre's doubts by reinforcing Andre to bring out the best in him as he only knows how to.
We learn about the relationship with Barbara Streisand, the courting of Brooke Shields through faxes while she was filming a movie overseas, and how he finally snatched up Steffi Graf, whom Andre had a crush on since he was 16.
We learn about the good heart and philanthropy of Andre that doesn't seem to find the spotlight. From the foundation of his tuition-free charter school for "at-risk" children, the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, to his countless hours of volunteer work for Athletes for Hope, Andre has always given back.
Andre even goes as far as deferring a tiny percentage of his Nike endorsement deal to set up a college fund for the son of the manager of his favorite New York City restaurant, who took care of him numerous nights over the years, both in good and bad times. It's these little anecdotes that Moehringer tells, which makes Open so real.
Moehringer also shows the vulnerability of Agassi by portraying him as a "regular" guy. Agassi hates tennis, his "job," but realizes that tennis has made him the superstar that he is and has afforded him the lifestyle he has grown accustomed to.
He cannot imagine his life without it, so he sucks it up and goes to "work" because he fears that he has no alternative, talent, or education to do anything else.
Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the book. You will understand why it is a privilege to take a peak into the "window" of Andre's world.
I have always been a fan of Andre Agassi, the tennis player. After reading Open, I will forever respect Andre Agassi, the person.
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