Andre Agassi, one of the best tennis players in the world during his career, as well as one of the most charitable athletes, has just published his autobiography, “Open,” where he admits to using crystal meth during his career.

Wait, what?!

It’s true. Agassi admits to using crystal meth for around a year during 1997. He then lied about it to the ATP after failing a drug test and continued to play out the season.Well, at least that explains how he went bald. It also explains why he failed to win a major, or any other high ranking tournament in 1997, as well as why his marriage to Brooke Shields fell apart.

But in all seriousness, I’m not surprised. I’ve watched Agassi play while he was in his prime. He was a wild, crazy, spandex-wearing maniac who knew how to play the sport.

I’m surprised crystal meth is the only drug he’s used. I do respect Agassi for his openness in his book, and although some people viewed his confession as just a ploy to sell more books, I think he just wanted to come clean, to let people know what he had done.

He also admits to wearing a wig during a large amount of his matches; obviously he didn’t like being bald.

Although most of the tennis world is shocked, is this one confession really as bad as the sports of baseball or football? I think not.

Performance enhancing drugs are rarely seen in the tennis world, and none of the tennis players are running illegal dog fighting rings.

Agassi, after that year of drug use, got his act together, winning multiple slams. After retiring in 2006 he has focused mostly on charity, working with the Boys and Girls Club, three of his own charities, as well as Athletes for Hope, a charity made up of many of the top sports stars. Athletes for Hope is an organization that helps professional athletes become involved in charitable causes and volunteer in their respective communities.

Although there is no excuse for pro athlete’s drug use, Agassi’s year of crystal meth use is nothing more than a small mark on his character. His admitting to wearing a wig has got almost the same amount of news coverage as his crystal meth use.

Overall, Andre Agassi is one of the most respected, skilled and giving tennis players in the history of tennis, and I’m sure he will continue to be a role model and an inspiration to many.