Open by Andre Agassi

Erma Bombeck once said "Don't confuse fame with success; Madonna is one, Helen Keller is the other."
I tend to choose biographies of the successful, steering clear of the famous. But which is Andre Agassi? One way to find out! This Autobiography lays it all down. It reads like a first serve- 130 mph and nothing to lose. Agassi wrote this without fear(or his ghostwriter did...he gives credit at the end.) Believe it- he does not wear rose colored Oakleys or shrink away from the truth. He shares his insecurities, and dependance, his hard, focused, unloving father, failed relationships and drug use. Also, his strong friends, discovering a purpose and finding forgiveness and love.
No doubt, Agassi was famous. He and I are close to the same age. Growing up in my house we didn't play football, we played tennis, and the same for our TV habits. That little box showed that the young Andre Agassi was different. He played exciting tennis, and looked nothing like Jimmy Connors. He had a bit of Bjorg about him....lots of hair, but also an earring! and compelling expressive eyes. Something about him was captivating, more than Boris Becker, who was awkward and had no visible eyelashes or Pete Sampras who never seemed to have an expression at all. I watched him play tennis throughout high school, college, and then lost track while I was in veterinary school (lost track of most everything that wasn't vet related during vet school). He didn't miss me. He was still there playing. I had babies. Lost track of most everything but the babies during the infant and toddler years, but once again when I popped my head out of the sand- there's Agassi, still on the court. Bald, more chiseled, divorced (wait- he got married? To Brooke Shields?) and still compelling. Maybe his autobiography is more interesting to me because I remember so many of those matches as well. Yet another Agassi-Sampras final? But, I don't think so. I think even my teens would be captivated by his story. If I encouraged them to read this. Agassi was not usually known for his on court decorum. He was not adverse to yelling profanities during matches, which resulted in warnings and even getting tossed off the court like one of the balls he would fire into the top of the stadium when frustrated. These moments are recalled in the book, so if you don't want your children to read words like $^%&*^%$@#!*) ^%&$%#@&*^! then this is not a good choice. Likewise if you want your child to revere sports figures as heros. This "hero" does Crystal Meth, drinks a LOT and lies. But he comes clean on the page. Break point for honesty. He comes clean, becomes clean, finds his confidence, finds his love, forgives his father, is not unkind to his exes, and pays his taxes. He grows up, and becomes a man- a good one. I really, really liked the book, and it is not "chick lit", so keep in mind for a teen boy!
So, is Andre Agassi successful, or just famous? ...
I'll give him a little credit for both.