Busted Racquet - Tennis

Yesterday, we broke down Andre Agassi's interview with Katie Couric, which aired Sunday night on 60 Minutes. CBS had been promoting the interview incessantly, promising reaction from Agassi about the revelations in his autobiography "Open" about his use of crystal meth.

But, according to the New York Times, despite having worked for weeks on the Agassi story, Couric didn't ask the eight-time Grand Slam champion about his drug use during their original interview. It was only after the story broke and became the biggest news in sports that Couric and her producers thought to question Agassi about it, which they did after flying back out to Las Vegas for a follow-up.

Tim Arango writes in Monday's editions:

Katie Couric of CBS News had been working for weeks on a piece about Mr. Agassi for "60 Minutes," which was scheduled to be shown Sunday night. Ms. Couric and her producers had access to the book and had been in Las Vegas interviewing Mr. Agassi. Apparently, neither Ms. Couric nor her producers decided to ask Mr. Agassi directly about the crystal meth use, although he brought up drug use in general when discussing his depression.

But once the news broke, and the media storm ensued, Ms. Couric went back to Las Vegas on Tuesday to ask Mr. Agassi about it and his take on the public's reaction.

Decisions are a lot easier to make in retrospect, but this one shouldn't have needed to be. Even though Couric and her team interviewed Agassi before the uproar over his drug use began, it should have been completely obvious that the most newsworthy part of his book was the section about the drug use and the subsequent lying to tennis authorities about the failed drug test. 

If you thought the interview was a softball before (as we did), then it becomes slo-pitch softball after this report. Not asking Agassi about the meth would be like interviewing Michael Vick and not asking him about dogfighting. The anchor of a network news program and a team of producers on the most legendary investigative news program in television history shouldn't need to wait for a story to break to know what the story is. 

digg delicious
more

72 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. bigboo's bro
    1. Posted by bigboo's bro Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:09 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Well, having Katie Couric as part of its news organization is just too CBS for words. Her interviews do not deserve to be called softball; they might as well have the subject's publicists send in a Q&A. Intellectually and journalisticly, she is the mentally defective daughter that Barbara Walters never had.
  2. bigboo's bro
    2. Posted by bigboo's bro Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:09 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Well, having Katie Couric as part of its news organization is just too CBS for words. Her interviews do not deserve to be called softball; they might as well have the subject's publicists send in a Q&A. Intellectually and journalisticly, she is the mentally defective daughter that Barbara Walters never had.
  3. Peter D
    3. Posted by Peter D Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:35 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    "So Andre, what newspapers do you regularly read?"
    "Oh I read lots of them! You know like all the good ones!"
  4. Travis
    4. Posted by Travis Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:49 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    She's awful. Dan Rather is turning in his grave. Oh, wait...
  5. Susie
    5. Posted by Susie Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:38 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I was right the first time - When Agassi began playing and TV was following his
    career, I said he's not playing tennis without some "inside" help, meaning drugs.
    It was obvious from his attitude that there was something wrong. Too bad. He
    had the ability and blew it. I for one think he should have all those titles
    taken away.
  6. AMD
    6. Posted by AMD Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:44 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    That's because you're a mental defective Susie.
  7. Monterey Mama
    7. Posted by Monterey Mama Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:08 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Dearest Susie... You seem to imply Andre was doing so well due to durg use??? Are you kidding me? Meth is NOT a performance enhancer inthe slightest. If anything it inhibited his fullest potential. He's as humble and genuine as ever. Albeit unfortunate he did drugs, he's certainly not the first. He's still a champion and master of the game he loved to hate... Nothing but support Andre, nothing but support.
  8. Rob
    8. Posted by Rob Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:03 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    Isn't there anything else going on in the tennis world? Didn't Djokovic just beat Federer in his hometown tournament? Didn't Andy Murray win at Valencia? How about the Paris Masters starting this week? This Agassi stuff is getting boring.
  9. Matthew A
    9. Posted by Matthew A Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:39 pm EST

    Report Abuse

    I'm sorry, but it's the fact he admits wearing wigs during tournaments that is the most interesting. Gee, tennis players do drugs. Shock. Have we forgotten Jennifer Capriati shacking up in hotel rooms on coke and sex binges? Bjorn Borg cut years from his career from constant drinking and sex, John McEnroe married Patty Smyth AND Tatum O'Neal. Andre Agassi married one of the hottest women ever, Brooke Shields. These are party guys, scoring with hot babes, all the time, and most of their tournaments also have the female players at the same event. It is not a Sunday School class out there.
  10. pov
    10. Posted by pov Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:38 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Sounds like they did a sensible, intelligent interview and then wussed out to the ogres of sensationalism and public hysteria. Good comparison with the Vick/dogfighting - asking about that would also be the kind of senseless, appeal to the LCD crap that many in the media and blogging seem to be fixated on. At least with Agassi, one can say that the topic is new.
  11. pov
    11. Posted by pov Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:39 am EST

    Report Abuse

    rothflmao. It was only after I posted that I realized this was a Chris Chase blog. Lol. No surprise there. Dude, do you have anyting that approaches critical thinking in your arsenal? lol
  12. benjamin63_99
    12. Posted by benjamin63_99 Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:50 am EST

    Report Abuse

    The fact that Katie Couric has a Peabody Award is proof positive that journalism in America is dead!
  13. Boris
    13. Posted by Boris Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:29 am EST

    Report Abuse

    lol at the moron who actually thinks crystal meth is like steroids in that it enhances tennis playing.
  14. Boris
    14. Posted by Boris Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:32 am EST

    Report Abuse

    pov, good journalism involves asking tough questions, even if they might make the person being interviewed uncomfortable. For you to insinuate that not asking a beloved tennis player about the drug addiction he just mentioned in his book is "sensible and intelligent" insinuates you don't know anything about journalism. Guessing you've never heard of Walter Cronkite or Mike Wallace....
  15. Boris
    15. Posted by Boris Wed Nov 11, 2009 2:40 am EST

    Report Abuse

    also regarding Michael Vick, if you aren't going to ask about the dogfighting, what's the point in interviewing him? He has little other relevance in the public eye in the last two years other than his conviction and sentence, given the extremely minute role he has on the Eagles at the moment.
  16. mgsc
    16. Posted by mgsc Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:20 am EST

    Report Abuse

    I want to like Couric. I want to respect her as a journalist. However, in the final analysis, she is the fluffmeister from the morning show. Put her back on AM where she belongs and promote an anchor with more gravitas.
  17. Guest
    17. Posted by Guest Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:18 am EST

    Report Abuse

    after seeing her interview spike lee about michael's jackson's death, I have found she can be really terrible at interviewing people, which surprised me (I haven't been watching her that long, I'm only 30). spike lee seemed to be a real fan of michael, and katie couric obviously is not, her interviewing a mournful lee while calling the recently deceased "weird" seemed totally unprofessional, that was not the time to talk like that
  18. Guest
    18. Posted by Guest Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:23 am EST

    Report Abuse

    that wig revelation is hilarious, it seems to go well with chris rock's point, some people go all out for hair, beyonce has weaves, it is all hilarious, and it makes agassi more real in my opinion
  19. Guest
    19. Posted by Guest Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:24 am EST

    Report Abuse

    (sorry, by more "real" I mean more down to earth, human, that kind of thing)
  20. david f
    20. Posted by david f Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:35 am EST

    Report Abuse

    david letterman would have done a better job! Better yet Jessica Simpson. In my opinion Katie is a terrible journalist.
  21. terrycfred
    21. Posted by terrycfred Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:36 am EST

    Report Abuse

    How about a little compassion for someone who thought so little of himself he sunk to doing crystal meth. A delibating drug NOT A PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG. It sounds like a very painful time in his life and thank God he was able to pull himself together and reach his full potential. I understand how Agassi's fans may feel a bit betrayed but I'm sure it's nothing compared to how he must have felt about himself after sinking so low. Frankly, I'm proud of him for fessing up. From what I've read it has cost him the respect of a lot of friends and a lot of fans. If this is the act that ends of defining him what a sad world we live in. I, for one, will look at the inspiration he can be to those who may be feeling lost themselves. I will look at how brave an act it is to out yourself (anyone who thinks he did this to sell books it just plain stupid -- I don't think he needs the money). And I admire the person he has become, a champion of children, a good father, a good husband. Perhaps without that fall, these things may never have been achieved. Best of luck Andre!!
  22. chris
    22. Posted by chris Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:44 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Drug use related to tennis players is nothing new. So why bring it up? Who cares? Other than Agassi being an idiot for using meth - why bring him into the spotlight for it?! If it was steroids, then you should take away every award he has. But then again, we still allowed A-rod and Pettit to play in the World Series and reap the benefits of that. Obviously the country (and MLB) doesn't really care if athletes are on performance-enhancing drugs. As far as the comment about "it would be like interviewing Michael Vick and not asking him about dogfighting". The guy went to prison for it - even though the guys that actually killed the dogs and conducted the dogfighting apparently didn't matter?! He has paid a penalty far greater than most athletes and politicians have for lesser things (manslaughter, rape, assault and battery). So he served his time, let him get on with his life. So I would be sick of hearing again any questions asked to Michael Vick about dogfighting - wouldn't the rest of America?
  23. Brian
    23. Posted by Brian Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:59 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Weak reporting at it's best.
  24. Myra L
    24. Posted by Myra L Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:48 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Katie Couric was, is, and always shall be... NOT A JOURNALIST. She was great in the morning when you want smiling, cute little fluffy crap, but on the Evening News, she's a joke. That's why the ratings are so low--nobody who wants real news tunes in to hear Katie Couric. Fashion tips? Hollywood gossip? Recipes? Sure, bring her in...
  25. billieboy
    25. Posted by billieboy Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:58 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Enough of that stupid agassi talk stuff ! !
    crazy " nitpicking " , yeah !

Busted Racquet

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Chris Chase

Busted Racquet is a tennis blog edited by Chris Chase. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Related Photo Gallery

Y! Sports Blogs

Yahoo! Sports Blog Recent Readers