Product Details
The Agassi Story

The Agassi Story
By Dominic Cobello, Mike Agassi, Kate Shoup Welsh

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Product Description

Driven by his love of tennis, Mike Agassi decided to teach his children how to play the game. It was his son Andre’s talent that shone through the brightest, and Andre became dominant in the world of men’s tennis.

The Agassi Story begins on the streets of Iran, where Mike Agassi was born. Learning to defend himself at an early age, Mike developed a punch that quickly got noticed by the boxing community. After participating in two Olympic Games and getting a taste for a better quality of life, Mike set his eyes on America. It was in Chicago that he decided to focus on tennis, and he moved to Las Vegas so he could play year–round. Knowing that it was too late for him to pursue a tennis career, he made sure to develop his children into great players, and fulfill his dream that way. But his teachings came with a high price, and tensions between Mike and his children threatened to pull the family apart.

The Agassi Story is a heartwarming look at one family’s turbulent relationship, and their ultimate reconciliation.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #21200 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-10-15
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 178 pages

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Editorial Reviews

Review
"It’s a trail-of-tears saga worthy of Hollywood." -- Inside Tennis

About the Author

Dominic Cobello is a Montreal–based television, film, and music event producer, writer, and editor, who encouraged Mike to tell his story. The Agassi Story is his first book. Mike Agassi immigrated to the United States in the 1950s, ultimately settling in Las Vegas where he found work in casinos. He lives there with his wife, Betty.

Customer Reviews

Nice Biography, Warts and all5
Let's face it, this book doesn't get written if he's not Andre Agassi's Dad. But that is not the overall theme of this book. Mike is an interesting story in and of himself. Most people know the short biography, emigrates from Iran after being an Olympic boxer, works at a Las Vegas casino, and becomes a typical stressful tennis Dad who raises a world champion. This book takes that sketch and fills in the blanks starting with the massive change in lifestyles from Iran to America as well as a touch into the political environment of Iran. After a very successful marriage while in Chicago, Mike moves his young family to the new frontier in Las Vegas. Mike makes no excuses for the tyrannical tennis coaching of his four kids that he acknowledges alienated two of his kids, particularly Rita to whom he did not talk to for years.

Eventually the book does drift to Andre and his relationship with Nick Bolliteri, his career and his two marriages. But more than anything this book is about an American family headed by a driven immigrant from Iran and how it puts itself back together after volatile relationships caused by his tennis obsession. After following Agassi's career somewhat put off by his early grandstanding, I must admit, this book does give me far greater appreciation for the struggles in his life. If you're a tennis fan, I strongly recommend this book.

Authentic and insightful5
This is a great book for Agassi fans who want an inside scoop on Andre's life. Mike is a very tough guy and tells it the way he sees it. They have been through a lot. For me, this book provides justification for the admiration I have developed for Andre over the years of watching him play and following his story. The book is a beautiful tale of determination, character, soul, and ultimately, family. It is a quick read, thoroughly enjoyable, and I appreciate Mike's efforts in making it available.

A Star In the Family, At a Hell of a Price5
The stories of stage mothers is well known, this is the story of a tennis dad. Mike Agassi is Andre's father. Mike knew that he would never play at Wimbledon. With a lot of work he might have developed into a decent player, but not world class. He decided that he would work to have someone in his family reach those heights.

It took forty-four years, but in 1992 his son Andre got the golden ring. It was not a peaceful four years as the father tried to instill his dream onto his children. It makes you wonder if the price that Mike and the kids payed was worth the reward.