[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 108 (Wednesday, September 6, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PAYING TRIBUTE TO ANDRE AGASSI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JON C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Andre Agassi as he 
retires from a 20-year professional tennis career.
  Andre Agassi was born on April 29, 1970, in Las Vegas, NV, to 
Elizabeth and Emmanuel ``Mike'' Agassi. When he was an infant, Andre's 
father hung tennis balls above his crib in the hopes that he would some 
day become a tennis champion. From the time he could walk and hold a 
racquet effectively, Andre practiced his game, hitting up to 5,000 
balls a day. By age 5, he was practicing with pros such as Jimmy 
Connors and Roscoe Tanner. At the age of 14, Andre's father sent him to 
train at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy in Florida. Two years later, 
in 1986, he turned professional, winning his first top-level singles 
title in 1987 at the Sul America Open in Itaparica, Brazil.
  Andre has won eight Grand Slam singles titles and has achieved a 
total of 60 career singles titles with one career doubles title. Andre 
is one of only five players to win all four Grand Slam events in his 
career: four Australian Open titles, one French Open, one Wimbledon, 
and two U.S. Opens. Furthermore, Andre won the men's singles gold medal 
at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and in 1999 was ranked the No. 1 
player in the world.
  In addition to his achievements on the court, Andre participates in 
many charity organizations and founded the Andre Agassi Charitable 
Association (AACA), whose mission statement is to provide educational 
and recreational institutions and activities for abandoned, abused, and 
at-risk kids. Every year, the AACA holds a concert benefit entitled 
Grand Slam for Children, featuring performances by artists such as 
Celine Dion, Robin Williams, and Sir Elton John. After its 11th year, 
the event has successfully raised over $50 million for the at-risk 
children of Las Vegas. In 1995, he won the ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian 
award in recognition of his efforts for helping disadvantaged youth in 
Las Vegas. In 1997, Andre opened the Boys & Girls Club to assist the 
youth of Las Vegas, which features a junior tennis team, Team Agassi, 
as well as a basketball program, the Agassi Stars. In 2001, Andre 
opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy in Las Vegas, NV, a 
K-12 public charter school founded on the principle that nothing can 
impact on a child's life more than the education they receive. 
Additionally, through the AACA, he supports Clark County's only 
residential facility for abused and neglected children called Child 
Haven, donating funds for a six-room classroom building now named the 
Agassi Center for Education. His foundation also provided $720,000 to 
assist in the building of the Andre Agassi Cottage for MedicaIly 
Fragile Children.
  In addition to his professional success and his contributions to the 
community, Andre is a dedicated family man; he is the loving husband of 
former tennis champion Steffi Graf, and the devoted father to 4-year-
old son Jaden Gil and 2-year-old daughter Jaz Elle.
  The consummate sportsman, Andre praised his fans following his match 
on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at the U.S. Open. This match brought to a 
close one of the most impressive professional careers in all of sports. 
After walking off the court, Andre said ``The scoreboard said I lost 
today, but what the scoreboard doesn't say is what I've found. Over the 
last 21 years, I've found loyalty. You have pulled for me on the court 
and also in life. I have found inspiration. You have willed me to 
succeed sometimes in my lowest moments.'' He will always be No. 1 in 
the world, not only as an athlete, but also as a great humanitarian. 
Andre has willed our community and children to succeed at some of our 
lowest moments.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Andre Agassi. I would like 
to offer Andre my sincerest congratulations on an esteemed career, my 
warmest thanks for his ongoing contributions to the Las Vegas 
community, and wish him much luck in his future endeavors.

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