Agassi's Racket

For those of you who follow the world of sports even casually, you're probably aware that former tennis star Andre Agassi's tell-all book hit store shelves this week. I was watching a program on ESPN in which the guest lauded Agassi for admitting to taking crystal meth and other sorry admissions because it was important to do because of his Christian beliefs. WTF?

If Agassi's current behavior is indicative of high Christian morals and standards then I'm more glad than ever that I'm a Taoist!

Here's the chronology of how Agassi's Christian beliefs intersected with his behavior.

1. While basking in the limelight and raking in millions of dollars, Agassi was taking a banned substance. (So much for the body as a temple.)
   
2. When confronted with evidence of a failed drug test, he lied about it. (So much for thou shall not bear false witness.)
   
3. Later on, he retires from tennis and leaves behind the limelight and the large flow of millions of dollars.
   
4. Missing the limelight and big money, he decides to write a tell-all book.

Agassi received a reported $5 million advance for the rights to his book and the current list price is around $30. Beginning one month before the book's release, he ran around the news and entertainment industry accepting offers to appear for almost any interview. Because of all the hype -- most of which he generated himself -- the book stands a great chance of being a best seller.

So, what's the great Christian lesson here? It's okay to do things to satisfy one's ego and then to lie about it when it might cost you dearly. Once the danger of penalty has passed, you can then 'fess up in a way that gets your name back into the limelight and puts millions of dollars in your pocket.

What a grand religion! I hear that God, Jesus and a bunch of angels have started doing the wave up in heaven.