NEW YORK — Andre Agassi‘s upcoming autobiography contains an admission that he used crystal meth in 1997, the year he dropped to No. 141 in the rankings.
In a story posted on People magazine’s website Tuesday, Agassi says: “I can’t speak to addiction, but a lot of people would say that if you’re using anything as an escape, you have a problem.”
Excerpts from the book are being printed this week by People and Sports Illustrated. A writer from SI first revealed the crystal meth reference on a Twitter posting Tuesday.
“The tweet from SI that posted earlier today which tipped to one of the revelations in the book — Agassi’s use of crystal meth in 1997 — was accurate,” Knopf spokesman Paul Bogaards told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday.
In the posting on People’s website, Agassi says he “was worried for a moment, but not for long,” about how fans would react if they found out he used drugs.
“I wore my heart on my sleeve and my emotions were always written on my face. I was actually excited about telling the world the whole story,” Agassi says.
Among the most successful — and, without a doubt, one of the most popular — tennis players in history, Agassi won eight Grand Slam singles titles before retiring in 2006. Knopf is publishing the book Nov. 9.
Astros hire Mills as manager
HOUSTON — Brad Mills is finally getting his chance to run a big- league team.
The 52-year-old Mills was hired by Houston after six seasons as Terry Francona‘s bench coach in Boston. Mills will manage in the majors for the first time, though he has managed a total of 11 seasons in the minors, with affiliates for the Chicago Cubs (1987-92), the Rockies’ Sky Sox (1993-96) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2002).
“One thing that I’m going to bring in is a freshness, being with a champion and bringing that freshness in,” Mills said.
• Jamie McCourt is filing for divorce from Dodgers owner Frank McCourt in Los Angeles.
Serena wins, Venus loses in WTA
DOHA, Qatar — Serena Williams overcame Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (6), 7-5 in the group stage of the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships, improving her chance of ending the year as No. 1.
The win gives her a share of the lead in the Maroon Group with Elena Dementieva, who rallied from a set and a break down to beat defending champion Venus Williams 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2. Victoria Azarenka defeating Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-3 to lead the White Group.
Footnotes.
Golfweek and Golf Digest have reported on their websites that Michael Whan has been selected new LPGA Tour commissioner and will be introduced today in New York.
• University of Kentucky president Lee Todd says he has no problem with the way the school has handled the investigation into freshman guard John Wall‘s eligibility.
reported last week the NCAA was looking into whether Wall violated NCAA amateurism rules.
The Associated Press
