I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to watch “Advantage Agassi” the same way ever again. The Times published excerpts earlier today from Andre Agassi’s soon-to-be-published autobiography, Open, including detailed revelations about the 1992 Wimbledon champion’s experiences with crystal meth.
In his book, Agassi recounts sitting at home with his assistant, referred to only as Slim, and being introduced to the drug. œSlim 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.
œAs if they™re coming out of someone else™s mouth, I hear these words: You know what? F*** it. Yeah. Let™s get high.
œSlim 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.
œThere 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.
œI™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.
Apparently meth makes you write in first person, present tense. Agassi has always seemed like a hasty first draft of a Bret Easton Ellis character, I guess. Hopefully he makes frequent references to an old promo poster for Elvis Costello staring at him from his bedroom wall.