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Andre Agassi Admits Error; Wants To Apologize To Pete Sampras
(March 15, 2010) Andre Agassi admits he stepped over the line in mocking Pete Sampras as a stingy tipper in Friday night's Hit For Haiti exhibition and said today he wants to apologize to his arch rival.
"It was out of line," Agassi told Rick Reilly of ESPN.com today. "It was inappropriate. The night was on fire. We were all having fun. I was trying to be comedic. I only had a split second to make a decision. I went for it and it fell flat. I was trying to get past it, but Pete didn't really let me get past it. He didn't really roll with it. I've texted Pete to ask him if I can apologize in person."
Agassi said Sampras has not yet responded to his message.
"The joke fell flat and I'm sorry, he added. "My hope was that the night was still enjoyable."
The doubles exhibition in which Agassi and Rafael Nadal faced Sampras and Roger Federer has raised more than $1 million for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development fund, which was established to help those impacted by the recent earthquakes in Haiti.
Sampras imitated Agassis' trademark pigeon-toed shuffle across the court prompting Agassi to retaliate with what he called his own impression of Sampras. Agassi turned his pockets inside out in a reference to the assertion he made in his memoir, "Open", that Sampras was a tight wad who once tipped a Palm Springs valet exactly $1 for pulling his car up at a restaurant.
Sampras smiled at the gesture, but clearly was not amused, saying "You got personal with me." Agassi pressed the issue in pushing his rivals emotional buttons a bit.
"Oh it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt huh?" Agassi said. "It's better than being a valet when you pull up. It's not personal. No, everyone knows it already. It ain't personal Pete."
That acrid exchange created a brief bit of tension and an awkward atmosphere when Sampras sent a serve right at Agassi's body.
"I nearly lost it in the lights," Agassi said of Sampras' serve. "It was close."
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