Agassi thanks sport for life, wife at tennis Hall of Fame

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Andre Agassi kept his word.

The 41-year-old Las Vegas tennis legend had promised he would enjoy his moment in the spotlight Saturday when he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Smiling during most of his 20-minute speech while managing to keep his emotions in check, a seemingly relaxed Agassi thanked the sellout crowd of 3,710 at the Bill Talbert Stadium Court for staying with him during the bad times as well as the good and allowing him to use the sport to help him with what he believes is his true life purpose: helping others.

"I fell in love with tennis far too late in my life," he said. "Standing here, you give me compassion, understanding and love more than I can imagine, and sometimes more than I've deserved."

Afterward, Agassi said the ceremony had been enjoyable bordering on surreal.

"Being emotionally overwhelmed by the experience was the most fun for me," he said. "I'll always remember how clear the road of my life has been as I looked out into the audience and saw those who had shared the experience with me."

During his speech, Agassi took the crowd through his amazing tennis journey, or, as he has so aptly put it previously, "my many lives." He began by paying homage to his father, Mike, who introduced him to the sport when he was a toddler and never stopped believing the day would come when his son would receive tennis' ultimate honor.

"Dad, please don't ever stop telling me what to do," Agassi said, looking at his 82-year-old father who led the long line of Agassi's family and friends sitting in the front row.

He talked about the highs and lows. Of being No. 1 in the world in 1995, slipping to No. 141 in 1997, then climbing back to the top of the tennis world in 1999.

"I know what it's like to be at rock bottom," Agassi said. "It's not all that bad a place to be, because it forces you to make a decision whether you should continue on or quit. I was going to quit. But as I have been known to do, I changed my mind, and that turned out to be the right decision."

Agassi was introduced by Simone Ruffin, one of the graduates of Agassi Prep, his West Las Vegas preparatory school. Ruffin, the 2009 class salutatorian, talked about her "hometown hero" and lauded Agassi for his philanthropic efforts to build the school on Lake Mead Boulevard, where she was able to obtain a first-rate education.

"I am the voice of so many children whose lives have been changed by the generosity of one," said Ruffin, who attends Concordia University in Irvine, Calif.

After the ceremony, Ruffin said she quickly got over whatever nervousness she might have had.

"I wanted to make sure I did him proud," said Ruffin, whose participation was kept a closely guarded secret until an hour before the ceremony. "I've known him since fifth grade, and what impressed me with his speech was the fact he was so humble it's almost ridiculous."

Some additional Las Vegas flavor was injected into the proceedings when A.J. Green, a 2010 Agassi Prep graduate, belted out an impressive a cappella version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Agassi didn't dwell much on his eight Grand Slam championships, his 60 singles titles, his two Davis Cup wins for the United States or his 1996 Olympic gold medal, the events that ultimately led to Saturday's honor.

Instead, he focused on his need to help others and make sure the next generation has the opportunity to achieve even greater things.

"At the beginning of my journey, my friend Gil (Reyes) said to me, 'Andre you have dreams, and I have strong shoulders; so stand on my shoulders and reach,' " Agassi told the crowd. "To my children, and to all of our children, stand on our shoulders, reach higher than we could, reach for your dreams. Because today, standing here receiving this honor, I am living proof that no dream, no journey is impossible."

Late in his speech, Agassi tapped into his inner Dr. Seuss in recognizing his wife and fellow tennis Hall of Famer, Steffi Graf.

"Thank you tennis for my life; thank you tennis for my wife," Agassi said, the crowd chuckling. "And thank you tennis for enabling me to find my life's work."

When it was over, Agassi acknowledged the cheering crowd with his traditional bow and kisses with both hands to all four sides of the stadium. He and fellow inductee Fern "Peachy" Kellmeyer -- the first woman to play on a men's Division I college team and, later, the first employee of the Women's Tennis Association -- then took a lap around the court with their framed Hall of Fame awards.

Agassi was clearly enjoying the moment, a huge smile creasing his face as he made his way around the court, hugging family and friends and waving to the fans.

"He's a good boy; he's a really good boy," said Reyes, Agassi's longtime friend and strength coach. "He's a person who actually does care about those around him."

Before the induction ceremony, Agassi said of being honored: "I really believe the Hall of Fame connects your past to your present to your future of the sport. My goal was always to leave the sport better for having me. I always went about that in ways that made me proud. But tennis has given me the gift to change the life experiences of others. That's just flat out a real fun thing to do."

To cap his Hall of Fame weekend, Agassi will play Todd Martin in an exhibition match today.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at carp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.