A Look Back + Andre's Chat...

Hey everyone! I admit, since the start of the radio show, I haven't been blogging as much as I used to. I'll try and change that and stop ignoring you die-hard bloggers.

First of all, what a year it has been in the world of tennis. Going into the last tournament (besides Davis Cup finals)...take a step back and think about all that has happened in tennis. In no real order...

-Agassi's book, Clijsters, Serena's outburst...

-Nadal's injury, drug bans, Nadal losing at French...

-Fed equaling and beating Pete's record, New roof at Wimbledon, Rafa takes the #1 ranking,...

-Fed takes the Career Slam, emergence of Verdasco, Soderling, and Del Potro...Roddick loses 15 lbs...Henin announcing her return...

-Safin and Santoro ending their careers....

This has been an incredible year for the game.

A special highlight on that list, for me, is saying farewell to two of the games greatest personalities. Fabrice Santoro might go down as the biggest overachiever the game has ever seen. His two hands of both sides magician-like play was unlike anyone I have, or probably will ever see. Above all, he was an intense competitor and a great sportsman. I don't think the world will ever see another "Magician."

Marat Safin also says good-bye to the courts as he hangs up whichever rackets he hasn't already cracked. When he wanted, he could play with anyone...the only problem was that this didn't happen often enough. We saw the brilliance he had to offer in flashes that won him 2 Grand Slams and a brief period at No. 1 in the World. His temper and shot making will be greatly missed on the tour. The ATP will also have a huge void to fill in press conference personalities.

Also(if you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know this) Andre Agassi held an online chat press conference on ESPN.com to answer questions from his fans. I frantically submitted about 20, and he actually answered 2 of mine. Considering it was only a roughly 15 minute chat, I was pretty excited.

To see the full chat click HERE

My Questions and Andre's answers...

Ryan B. (Fairfield, CT)

In your new book, you admit to hating tennis for a bulk of your career. What would you say to fans that supported and idolized you during a time in your career when you didn't care whether you won or lost?

Andre Agassi

(12:04 PM)

There were many times when I didn't care about myself. This has been a journey for me and quite a process to reconcile my contradictions. There were many days when I did love it. I think I felt that my eyes would betray me out there. I always wore my heart on my sleeve. This book, while not the ideal perception of me, it is the real me. I think that journey can help others.

Ryan B. (Westchester, NY)

If you were at such a bad place in your life that you turned to crystal meth, why should we believe that you wouldn't turn to performance enhancing drugs to get back to the top of the game?

Andre Agassi

(12:09 PM)

Crystal meth was a way of hurting myself, it wasn't a way of cheating others. I was in a place where I didn't like myself and it was a form of affliction. My route back to the top was earned because of the place I was starting from. There's a huge difference from the desire to cheat others and to hurt yourself.