Growing up with Andre and Steffi
So last week I had two options for books - In the plex (A book about google) and Open (an autobiography).
But I wanted to read some fiction, Secret of the Nagas, which had not yet released. Lately I have been having an overdose of non fiction, so thought would wait for it. But then that meant boring bus rides. So this came in handy and thought I might as well go the Agassi way :)
So after that brief pseudo bragging of how much and what all I have been reading/planning, I might as well write about the book :P
At home, I and baba (dad) are the only Tennis fans. I got it from him. That's the one thing we share *exclusively*. Our love for Steffi Graf, trying to find her perfect replacement, getting disappointed with every Martina, Venus, Maria (injury quotient wise), then Agassi-Sampras rivalry, hoping for something like that and more between Roger-Rafa, loving Federer's perfect shots and countless other stuff. He idolizes Steffi Graf. He can go gaga about her game, lack of injuries (until well after her peak years), grace, calm, composure. So one can wonder what role model I had while growing up. (He also has some older (era-wise) favorites, but since I havent grown up with them, I don't understand them much :D)
Agassi on the other hand was solely supported by me at home. Well his long locks, outrageous fashion made him stand out, did not it ? And growing up years need someone exactly like him to rebel up to! Baba always used to say Agassi never plays upto his potential. How will he ever make history. The book resonated with those words. Nevertheless Andre did create history. I personally did trust him less after his countless injuries, back outs, that *drug* thing, but his charm never faded. Until he and Sampras played, our home saw to it that I supported Andre and baba Pete. He even asked me once, if I like rooting for the underdogs. I did not know then. But baba was gracious enough to fairly let me take sides of whomever I liked/loved. Another contradiction in Agassi's story. He did not get to choose much for himself at least.
Another thing I loved the book for was for making me remember all the childhood tennis players. Courier, Corretja, Krajicek, Rafter, Chang, Becker Wilander.. Gosh! It seems like eons ago! I have literally youtube-d whatever videos I could find of matches described in the book and tried to re-live the times :) Nostalgia!!!
But I wanted to read some fiction, Secret of the Nagas, which had not yet released. Lately I have been having an overdose of non fiction, so thought would wait for it. But then that meant boring bus rides. So this came in handy and thought I might as well go the Agassi way :)
So after that brief pseudo bragging of how much and what all I have been reading/planning, I might as well write about the book :P
At home, I and baba (dad) are the only Tennis fans. I got it from him. That's the one thing we share *exclusively*. Our love for Steffi Graf, trying to find her perfect replacement, getting disappointed with every Martina, Venus, Maria (injury quotient wise), then Agassi-Sampras rivalry, hoping for something like that and more between Roger-Rafa, loving Federer's perfect shots and countless other stuff. He idolizes Steffi Graf. He can go gaga about her game, lack of injuries (until well after her peak years), grace, calm, composure. So one can wonder what role model I had while growing up. (He also has some older (era-wise) favorites, but since I havent grown up with them, I don't understand them much :D)
Agassi on the other hand was solely supported by me at home. Well his long locks, outrageous fashion made him stand out, did not it ? And growing up years need someone exactly like him to rebel up to! Baba always used to say Agassi never plays upto his potential. How will he ever make history. The book resonated with those words. Nevertheless Andre did create history. I personally did trust him less after his countless injuries, back outs, that *drug* thing, but his charm never faded. Until he and Sampras played, our home saw to it that I supported Andre and baba Pete. He even asked me once, if I like rooting for the underdogs. I did not know then. But baba was gracious enough to fairly let me take sides of whomever I liked/loved. Another contradiction in Agassi's story. He did not get to choose much for himself at least.
Another thing I loved the book for was for making me remember all the childhood tennis players. Courier, Corretja, Krajicek, Rafter, Chang, Becker Wilander.. Gosh! It seems like eons ago! I have literally youtube-d whatever videos I could find of matches described in the book and tried to re-live the times :) Nostalgia!!!
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| Spotted on a sunny morning at the LV store at the Taj (Mumbai) circa 2007 November (I was a little sad when none of my friends could identify with my excitement after seeing it) courtesy - google |
Oh, and Andre also married Steffi Graf. I was so happy then that I told baba that now you should not doubt him, he has the best girl out there :) That's a perfect love story for me!! (but its pretty normal and mundane if you read the book)
Anywho, great read if you watch/like tennis. Also inspirational when you see the struggle Agassi put himself through, with all the ups and downs of life. Pretty rewarding actually.
~nightflier
P.S. I still have not connected with anyone over Tennis (except for a friend or 2). Its still that special thing I share with baba. To think of it we don't have many common interests :)