Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Sampras and Agassi have never been good friends, but in Open, Agassi's autobiography, Sampras was called "robotic" and implicated as a terrible tipper. And when such a grievous flaws are brought up during a charity tennis match, apparently it's over the line. FanHouse's Greg Couch explains:
(At one point), Sampras started giving a little more effort."You always have to get serious, huh Pete?'' Agassi said.
...
Sampras had been upset about the book, and said a few weeks ago that he and Andre needed to talk man-to man.
"OK Andre, I'll joke around a little bit,'' said Sampras through his mic. "I'm going to imitate you.''
Then Sampras stood pigeon-toed and started waddling, the way Agassi walks.
I'm pretty sure I saw smoke come through Agassi's teeth.
"Say something,'' Sampras said. "Say it.''
"I want to impersonate you,'' Agassi said.
He pulled out his pockets and said, "I don't have any money. I just like ... I ... ''
"Oh,'' Sampras said. "About my tipping? OK.''
"No,'' Agassi said. "No wait. I've got a dollar.''
Sampras: "That's how you want to play, huh?''
Don't believe Couch? Watch the video:
Maybe Sampras and Agassi will privately patch things up. But they tried on Friday to work out their dispute publicly, and with humor, and failed miserably, hijacking a charity event in the process. That is more damaging to either man's legacy than any revelations of minor character flaws could ever be.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Wow, that was pretty funny. Agassi seemed to escelate for no reason, but what do I know.
Does anyone know what the reference to Obama meant?
by shoefly.tsn on Mar 13, 2010 1:59 PM EST reply actions
I have no earthly idea.
by ahutchins.tsn on Mar 13, 2010 2:39 PM EST reply actions
when you have nothing to say cuz your desperate, blame obama. works like a charm for some.
by scurds on Mar 13, 2010 4:17 PM EST reply actions
"when you have nothing to say cuz your desperate, blame obama. works like a charm for some."
Desperate for what? Take a look around you. I’ll give him this much…he took great acting lessons on how to get elected.
In terms of our favorite tennis pair, the lack of self-deprication was fairly pitiful. Good take.
by squeaky9 on Mar 13, 2010 5:47 PM EST reply actions
desperate for something to say, a retort or a comeback. he tried to look clever but couldnt come up with anything to say. he could have said fred flintstone, but he said obama, JUST LIKE YOU.
by scurds on Mar 13, 2010 7:25 PM EST reply actions
Barack Obama comment:
Andre indicated Pete was a poor tipper. Pete responded by saying “I’m sorry, Barack Obama.”
It’s Pete’s way of saying he gives enough. He’s like “I paid my bill…plus a bit extra. That was the deal. That should be enough. But it’s never enough for some people.”
Obviously, Pete is a Conservative. In general, he resents being expected to give his money to people who he feels didn’t earn it. Whether it be an inadequate waitress or a Welfare recipient who’s healthy enough to work. He also believes that Andre, and the Liberal President Obama, do not sympathize with his beliefs. So he lumps them both together and interchanges their names.
That’s what he meant.
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by chinye on Mar 14, 2010 8:49 AM EDT reply actions
sad as that is, hiawatha is correct i believe, but its lame.
by scurds on Mar 14, 2010 10:43 AM EDT reply actions
They are both tools….but it was entertaining.
by PabloDeTejas on Mar 14, 2010 11:29 AM EDT reply actions
It’s not a big deal, it’s not "damaging to either man’s legacy".. get real. These are people, human and imperfect, with insecurities and hangups, just like everyone else, albeit larger egos. Wow, they didn’t handle their competitive rivalry perfectly during a charity event. Who cares? They still raised plenty of money. Stop expecting "celebrities" to be perfect robots. I have no problem with it. At least they were being genuine, which is hard to come by these days, thanks in part to the kind of media commentary found on this webpage.
by whitemtntn99 on Mar 16, 2010 12:35 PM EDT reply actions
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