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Post by tall_one on Jul 12, 2004 19:49:05 GMT
Graf among three enshrined into hall of fame NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) -- Steffi Graf's highest praise in tennis may have occurred the night before she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Graf, 34, the world's No. 1 ranked player for 377 weeks -- including a record 186 straight from August 1987 to March 1991 -- received some lofty accolades from Hall of Famer Chris Evert. "When someone asks me who was the greatest player I've ever seen in the last 25 years, I'd say Steffi Graf -- with no hesitation," Evert said Saturday evening at a Hall of Fame dinner. Graf, 34, inducted on a center-court ceremony Sunday along with Stefan Edberg and Dorothy "Dodo" Cheney, seemed genuinely surprised. "I was very touched by that by someone who has achieved so much in the game, and that I was fortunate enough to play against," said Graf, who was there Saturday along with her husband Andre Agassi. "I had a tear," she said. Graf won 107 WTA titles, including 22 Grand Slams. Edberg, 38, who was in the Top 10 for 10 straight years, captured 41 singles titles and six Grand Slams. Graf was presented by Agassi, who stole the show with a touching tribute. "As I struggle here to find the words for someone who has truly changed my life -- Stephanie," he said. It brought her to tears before she came up for her speech. "Not that this occasion isn't emotional enough," she said. "The best part of the tour is I ran into you. I'll be forever grateful for that." Edberg may be most remembered for helping his country capture four Davis Cups, but his favorite event was his 1991 U.S. Open title. "That was the best match I ever played," he recalled. "I've been a little bit of a lone Swede because of the way I am," he said of his one-handed backhander. "I've helped 16- and 17-year-olds in my country, and they all use two-handed backhands." Graf, a member of seven Fed Cup teams, had trouble picking her most memorable title. After pausing, she thought her initial Wimbledon crown may have been the best. "The good thing is there are so many to pick from" she said. "The tough thing is to pick one or a special one." Cheney, 87, from Santa Monica, Ca., has won over 300 senior titles, 20 senior Grand Slams. She was introduced by Hall of Famer John McEnroe. "This is an unexpected pleasure to be able to induct someone I suggested five years ago when I was at the podium," he said. "Tennis is a game for the ages," she said with a smile. Cheney is the daughter of 1956 Hall of Famer May Sutton Bundy, making it the first mother-daughter combination. Edberg, seated next to Cheney during a morning press conference, smiled and said: "I hope I'm on the court at 87."
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Post by tall_one on Jul 12, 2004 20:03:24 GMT
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Post by tall_one on Sept 7, 2004 6:16:31 GMT
found this and thought you guys might like it, they only posted part of the speech so i posted an article that shows more of it......
Andre Agassi Transcript: Presenting His Wife, Stefanie Graf, for International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Sunday, July 11, 2004
"I truly consider it a rare honor to stand here today before so many of you that have done so much for our sport and have meant so much to me and Stefanie. Looking out across this audience filled with warm friends and great champions I am overwhelmed with the history and the tradition of this moment."
"As I attempt to find words worthy to introduce the person that has changed my life, I realize that the words have yet to be invented that are large enough, colorful enough or true enough to express the heart and soul of this woman that I love."
"Stefanie, I wonder what can I possibly say to do justice to the way you've lived your life and to the lives that you have changed."
"I began several years ago on the small chalkboard sitting in our kitchen, a tradition that I've carried on every night. At the end of each day I have picked up the chalk and tried to express the many things you mean to me. Sometimes just a brief line, sometimes a short story, but always just the overflow from a grateful heart, and yet after these months and years of writing to you each night I have never been at a shortage of ways to reflect the light you've brought into my life. And now how ironic that in these few short moments I need to capture in words these things I so deeply appreciate in you. Maybe I can say it to you this simple way."
"Not long ago we were on the road and I looked out our hotel room window from the upper floor of a very tall high rise. I could see the rooftop of an old and beautiful cathedral. It was stunning with its carved stone and marble - all done so perfectly. I could not believe the work of art I was seeing and I wondered how many years did they take to create this and what drove them to be this committed? Then I began to appreciate something greater. I realized that when this rooftop was built it was by far the tallest building. In an age long before airplanes or skyscrapers these artists believed each day as they went about their work that no human being or one set of eyes would ever see their creation. How could they not have cut one corner?
How could they consider no task routine? I can only think it came from a place deep inside - the need to be true to themselves was their reason and their reward."
"All of this has helped me to understand you just a little better, never needing applause to be your best, only needing to give the best your soul could give to feel complete."
"From the roar of voices inside the lines of center court to the quietness of a child's bedroom that generous soul that unbending strength that soft spoken integrity has not been shaken. The arena of tennis simply gave you a platform and an opportunity to refine those inner qualities even more."
"You have always been about the action not about the words. You have never defined yourself by what you have achieved, rather you have achieved by how you define yourself. And even now, it has taken my breath away to see how you've quietly laid down your racket to pursue love and motherhood with the same zeal and high standards you have always demanded of yourself."
"No, no one has ever known you to be infatuated by your own accomplishments. In fact, as I have often said, anyone who speaks with you will most likely forget the great things you have done within the first thirty seconds, but they will feel cared for, their feelings engaged and you never let go of their heart until they know that they are completely understood."
"The history books will record for posterity your ability to embrace and rise above adversity, to play through injury and to win again, and again and again."
"Far in the future people will analyze and discuss your place as the greatest of your time. And as those future generations hear of your strength and dominance they may be tempted to think that they know you, or the real heart of a giant that beats inside of you. But for those blessed enough to actually see first hand your quiet humility, to watch you represent your sport with unmistakable dignity and for those of us who are even more blessed to be lifted out of ourselves by your laughter, to be on the receiving end of your always generous heart, we will have etched forever in us something a statistic could never contain."
"We have been touched deeply by your life. You have made us better and we will never be the same. Stefanie, you have spent many years of your life competing, but right here we stand in the ears of your children and right now in my heart, you have no rival."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the greatest person I have ever known."
Agassi's heartfelt speech to his wife highlights Hall ceremony
By Rick McGowan/Daily News staff
NEWPORT - Andre Agassi served up a love game Sunday that left Steffi Graf in tears.
In an eloquent presentation speech, Agassi introduced his wife, one of three inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, at Talbert Center Court.
Graf, the German star known as "Fraulein Forehand," joined Stefan Edberg of Sweden and Dorothy "Dodo" Cheney of Santa Monica, Calif., in the Class of 2004.
Their enshrinement brings the number of inductees to 186 from 18 countries.
Less than a minute into Agassi's seven-minute Valentine, Graf was wiping her eyes. Soon many of the women in the full house of 5,300 were doing the same.
"I truly consider it a rare honor to stand here today before so many of you that have done so much for our sport and have meant so much to me and Stefanie," said Agassi, an eight-time Grand Slam singles champion and future Hall of Famer. "Looking out across this audience filled with warm friends and great champions, I am overwhelmed with the history and the tradition of this moment.
"As I attempt to find words worthy to introduce the person that has changed my life, I realized that the words have yet to be invented that are large enough, colorful enough, or true enough to express the heart and soul of this woman I love.
"Stefanie, I wonder what can I possibly say to do justice to the way you've lived your life, and the lives that you have changed."
Graf, 35, won 107 career singles titles, among them 22 Grand Slam wins in the 1980s and '90s: seven Wimbledons, six French Opens, five U.S. Opens and four Australian Opens.
She is the only player - male or female - to win each of the four majors at least four times.
"You have never defined yourself by what you have achieved, rather, you have achieved by how you defined yourself," Agassi said about his wife of three years. "And even now, it has taken my breath away to see how you've quietly laid down your racket to pursue love and motherhood with the same zeal and high standards you have always demanded of yourself.
"No one has ever known you to be infatuated by your own accomplishments." Agassi said. "In fact, as I have often said, anyone who speaks with you will mostly likely forget the great things you have done within the first 30 seconds, but, they will feel cared for, their feelings engaged, and you never let go of their heart until they know that they are completely understood."
Graf won the Grand Slam in 1988. She also earned the "Golden Grand Slam" by winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Seoul.
Graf also held all four Grand Slam titles consecutively - the 1993 French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon and the 1994 Australian Open.
"The history books will record for posterity your ability to embrace and rise above adversity, to play through injury, and to win again, and again, and again.
"Far in the future, people will analyze and discuss your place as the greatest of your time," continued Agassi, who has a son and daughter with Graf. "And as those future generations hear of your strength and dominance, they may be tempted to think that they know you, or the real heart of a giant that beats inside of you. But for those blessed enough to actually see first-hand your quiet humility, to watch you represent your sport with unmistakable dignity, and for those of us who are even more blessed to be lifted out of ourselves by your laughter, to be on the receiving end of your always generous heart, we will have etched forever in us something a statistic could never contain.
"We have been touched deeply by your life. You have made us better, and we will never be the same.
"Stefanie, you have spent many years of your life competing. But right here where we stand, in the eyes of your children and right now in my heart, you have no rival.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the greatest person I've ever known ..."
After a quick embrace of her husband during an ovation that lasted more than a minute, Graf wiped her eyes again. She drew a deep breath and stepped to the microphone.
"Not as if this occasion isn't emotional enough," Graf said. "To hear that you're loved so much is terrific."
Graf gathered herself to thank her parents and brother, who were present, in addition to her coaches, trainers and doctors. "We are all defined by the relationships in our lives," she said. "Our accomplishments are a result of these relationships.
"I was blessed to have a great group of friends and family during my career. This ceremony honors them as well."
Graf thanked her fans for their passion for tennis.
And, of course, her biggest fan. "Tennis has allowed me to get this incredible journey," she said in her opening remarks in her six-minute acceptance speech.
Graf then turned to her husband. "The best part about this journey," she said, "is it has led me to you."
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Post by Laury on Sept 7, 2004 20:42:11 GMT
Thank you for posting this news  |
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