Whoa, this is a surprise. Irie Lagos, your thoughts?
Andre Agassi admits crystal meth use in revealing autobiographyTENNIS legend Andre Agassi, winner of eight Grand Slams, used crystal meth in 1997 and will describe the experience in his forthcoming autobiography.
His admission will appear in excerpts of the book that are scheduled to appear in media around the world later this week.
The quotes will be part of an series to be published in The Times, The Australian reports.
In his book, Agassi recounts sitting at home with his assistant, referred to only as Slim, and being introduced to the drug. "Slim is stressed too ... He says, You want to get high with me? On what? Gack. What the hell's gack? Crystal meth. Why do they call it gack? Because that's the sound you make when you're high ... Make you feel like Superman, dude.
"As if they're coming out of someone else's mouth, I hear these words: You know what? F*** it. Yeah. Let's get high.
"Slim dumps a small pile of powder on the coffee table. He cuts it, snorts it. He cuts it again. I snort some. I ease back on the couch and consider the Rubicon I've just crossed.
"There is a moment of regret, followed by vast sadness. Then comes a tidal wave of euphoria that sweeps away every negative thought in my head. I've never felt so alive, so hopeful - and I've never felt such energy.
"I'm seized by a desperate desire to clean. I go tearing around my house, cleaning it from top to bottom. I dust the furniture. I scour the tub. I make the beds."
Paul Bogaards, director of media relations at Knopf, a division of Random House said, "Those excerpts contain revelations about Andre's use of crystal meth when he was a tennis player."
The information was first made public today via the Twitter feed of Richard Deitsch, a writer for Sports Illustrated.
"FYI: There's an off-the-charts book excerpt from Andre Agassi in the forthcoming SI: He admits to taking crystal meth during his career," said the message, which was removed shortly after it was posted, according to the New York Daily News.
One of the most beloved players in the annals of the US Open, Agassi retired in 2006 after 20 years in professional tennis, having won eight Grand Slam championships, 60 singles titles, and a total of $31 million.
Agassi, 39, often made news for his brash style and high-profile romantic relationships. He is married to tennis great Steffi Graf, and they have two children.
He is also an acclaimed philanthropist whose school in Las Vegas for underprivileged kids has become a national model.
In writing the book, Agassi worked closely with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer J.R. Moehringer, author of The Tender Bar.