European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Friday june 8, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 23commentaryaqassi flashes to the French fore Andre Agassi is today a Howard Cosell. Or Reggie Jackson. Or Muhammad All. You either love him or hate him. You never leave him. You might squint at Agassi a Neon Pink and Biack Tennis togs. You might curse his Long hair and Bandanna. Then again you might applaud the Way he pounds the Ball. Or when he wings his shirt into the crowd. Whichever Way you go its not out of the stadium. Not while Andre Agassi is playing. The Guy is simply the Best asset in pro Tennis. You could easily forget Jonas Svensson Thomas Muster and Andres Gomez. They re the other ones left for fridays quarterfinals in the French open. But forget Agassi forget it. You could watch a tournament just because of him. In person or on to. That a what makes this 20-year-old Las vegas player the hottest shot in the game. He a big time entertainment which is exactly what something like the French open is. The open had plenty of empty seats when Jim courier played Jose Francisco Altur. And when Michael Chang played Javier Sanchez. When courier and Chang met Agassi they were met by packed fans. Fans that Sang for Agassi a attention. A bag a ssi a they bellowed Between every Point. They cried out with other sounds too. Maybe cuss words. It was All in French so Agassi was hardly affected despite his French first name. Even if he understand the language he heard it. He said at his press conference after waxing Todd Woodbridge in the second round a a it a not the question of winning or losing but hearing that High pitched voice. After a while you appreciate it. You kind of want them to Settle Down and wait until the Point is Over. I wont complain about Agassi Drew a throng two Days later for a third round match with French Tavonte Amaud Boetsch. Favorite that is until Agassi Speed walked onto the court 1 Clay. That a when the a bag a ssi exclamations started. The hoopla aside Agassi is one serious Tennis player. He has to be otherwise he be Able to Bash balls on the Rise the Way he and Only a few other pros can. As Chang would later say of Agassi a concentration a the does no to like to Agassi Wasny to about to lose against Boetsch a 21-year-old with top looks but a 263 ranking. The vegas rebel ranked fifth in the world was All business while swinging to a 6-3,6-2, 3-0 Lead. The show was on. Agassi turned the volume up on Bucky Fox his grunts. The crowd laughed. He smiled. He served wide telling himself a a that a because you re he whacked one Long calling out a make him which Drew a fan response of a a you be made him run once Agassi led that third set 5-0, he expanded the show. When Boetsch managed to score on a slam the fans erupted with cheers. Agassi joined in with his own applause. When Agassi countered with a winning shot he asked for similar Huzzah. He got them. Moments later Agassi dived for a Winner. He walked to his chair for a Towel then asked a blonde in the stands to dust off his Back. Who smiled at that Exchange everyone. That a entertainment. Especially since he won the set 6-0. And yet Agassi has a dark Side. Like when he a losing. He fell behind major unknown Martin Wosten Holme in the first round and nearly broke Down. He broke his Racket in the second set. He tried to break Wosten Holmes a neck with two vicious shots right at the net minding Canadian in that crucial second set. Wolstenholme a 27-year-old native of Oakville Ontario with a 122 ranking later talked with a Small group of reporters Over his 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 6-1 loss. He was asked about Agassi a Boxer like entourage. A a he a got a show a said Wolstenholme. A i guess its Good for and the shots at the net a a that a part of his character too a said Wolstenholme. A just below the surface he a just below boiling Point. I know you re trying to trap me into saying stuff. Its just part of his did Agassi a Racket busting tirade shake Wolstenholme the Canadian said no a a that a encouraging. It Means in a beating him. With All those Guys he has hanging around its a lot of excess baggage. Its a lot of pressure on him because if he loses in the first round he looks Agassi sounds bad in press conferences. He carries a snippy Edge. Like the time a up reporter asked what he meant by a a pro 1�?� Racket. A Toronto newsman tried to help by prompting Agassi to explain the rackets size. Agassi snapped a a that a his Job to find the French Tennis federation Isnit hip to Agassi. Its president Philippe Cha Trier Isnit Happy with Agap Andre Agassi shoots for his first French open title. Assis clothes. He announced last week that the French open committee was a toying with the ideas of adopting the same a predominantly White Rule for clothes As at Wimbledon. The hubbub reached Steffi grass press conference where she said a you mean Agassi. I am conservative myself. For me it is White mainly that people should be dressed in. I am not such a big fan of Graf probably prefers substance Over Agassi a to and Aura. The German might not fill Roland Garros the stadium named after a French world War i hero but she has won nine grand slam titles and will try for her third French Crown saturday. Agassi has yet to win a grand slam championship although that will change sunday. Maybe Graf prefers Muster hardly a hot dog. He a favored by Many to win the French open but is he a crowd favorite this is from Goran Ivanisevic before he lost to Muster in the quarterfinals a i done to like to watch him because i think he is too Agassi said he would As soon Fly Back to vegas As ditch his flying colors. You have to love his moxie. Or hate it. The stars and stripes Berlin Grinders gun for playoffs football a the Berlin Adler German champions of american football in 1989, will play a pair of games this month in trying to qualify for the playoffs. On sunday the Adler will meet the r i i in hurricanes at 2 . At Lichter held station in Berlin. Berlin will then face the Dortmund local Roundup giants june 17 at Rad Renn station in on Zeneberg. Three americans Are allowed on each team. Admission to the games is 10 Marks. Softball a Wil Flecken will hold s and women a tournament june in i Ead Ine for the $50 team entry fee its june 27. Call ets 3263-884. Running a the association of the 0 f army is holding a 10-Kilometer race 7??Ayom Hanau. Registration is from a jul to 8 30 . And the race starts at 1 at Hanau High school. Contact or egstrom at ets 322-8016. Volleyball a v corps will hold n. Quot a and women a Community level tournaments saturday in Darmstadt. The men Pav at the Cambrai Fritsch Cavern yanks Rode tradition by dropping Dent Bucky Dent went 36-53 As manager. A i done to know what ill do by Jack of Connell the Hartford courant Boston a in the City where he enjoyed his grandest moment As a player Bucky Dent suffered his gravest disappointment As a manager. His head had been placed on the Guillotine reserved for new York Yankee managers the past week before principal owner George Steinbrenner dropped the Blade wednesday. The Cut May have been unkind but it was hardly unexpected. This is the Way the Yankees operate. The manager is always to blame. A mediocre pitching staff Ana an unproductive offence combined to form the Yankees 18-31 record the worst in the major leagues. The Yankees were on a four game losing Streak and had lost nine of 10 games. Dent paid the Price As the overseer of a club in disarray. Steinbrenner broke from tradition in one Way by not having a familiar figure replace the deposed manager. The new Man in charge is stump Merrill 46, a career minor leaguer who took the infamous Columbus shuttle to his new assignment. The Yankees named Rick Down As Columbus manager. Cut Loose with Dent were his twin lieutenants third base coach Joe Sparks and batting coach Champ Summers and bullpen Catcher Gary tuck. The Yankees put Buck Showalter the Eye in the sky in uniform to coach third Case and will have Gene Michael take Over the Job of positioning fielders from upstairs. Marc Hill a roving minor league catching instructor is the new bullpen Catcher. At the Yankees disposal were such men As Dick Williams Chuck Tanner and Davey Johnson discharged last week by the new York mets. According to Yankees general manager Pete Peterson and vice president George Bradley Merrill was chosen for his loyalty to the organization. A we believe we have the Best Man possible for the Job a Peterson said. Steinbrenner did not attend nor did he return Calls to his Tampa fla., office. Dent was promoted from triple a Columbus aug. 18 last year to succeed Dallas Green who was fired. Dent was 18-22 the remainder of the season. Dents Overall winning percentage of .404 36-53 ranks 26th of the 28 managers in Yankee history. Only Harry Wol Verton 50-102 in 1912 and Norm Elberfeld 27-71 in 1908 had poorer records
