agassi retires

Another great retires. It was so much more than him just being good. I didn't bat an eye when Pete retired. I don't really follow tennis, but Agassi was special. Not the same way that Jordan was special to basketball, but more like Vlade and Ginobili. Not like them in that he was a little flopping crybaby pussy. Rather, he played with a lot of heart and really strived to make a difference in all that he did. I remember watching him 3 years ago in the Syban open in San Jose against James Blake. He ripped Blake a new one...it was to the point where Blake threw his racket across the court and screamed "Does this guy ever miss?!" The Agassi that walked off the stage today was a gentler version, albeit one ramped up with injections of steroids (trust me, definitely not performance enhancing) and NSAIDs. He lost his last match and walked off the stage to a standing ovation, with all the class and dignity that Roddick can only hope for. It must have been awkward for Becker...worked his ass just so that he could play in the US Open. Got booed every time he made Agassi run. Then he went back to a locker room where everyone was cheering his opponent and jeering at him. Does one hold back or go for the kill? Sounds a lot like rounding in medicine.

-bender

p.s. I can't believe the men's basketball team got bronze...that's pretty sad considering the talent they had available to work with.