AndreAgassi-Steffi Graf

Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf got married on october,22,2001.their two children are son,Jaden Gil and daughter Jazz Elle. Andre Agassi says secret to success is his wife,Steffi Graf. Steffi Graf inducted into hall of fame in 2004,introduced by her husband,Andre Agassi.Agassi speech brout Graf to tears.The full house of,5,087,could feel warmth and devotion of one for other. July 11, 2004 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION, NEWPORT 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." --------------------------------------------------------------- STEFFI GRAF TRANSCRIPT I want to thank all of you for coming out here today. It is great to look out and see so many friends and familiar faces here. It's an incredible, incredible honor. Yesterday when we took a picture with members of the HOF and as I looked around and I saw all of these incredible, incredible champions, I felt so privileged and overwhelmed to be inducted here today. I want to thank the enshrinement committee for this honor. I want to also thank the HOF for allowing me this time to talk about some of the people that have made this possible. We're all defined by our relationships in our lives. Our accomplishments are the results of these relationships. I was blessed to have a great group of friends and family at my side during my career. I want them to know that this ceremony honors them as well (applause). My family isn't as big as Dodo's so don't worry (laughter), but nevertheless, extremely important: Dad, thank you for bringing tennis into my life and for me teaching me the sport in a way that I could always strive to get the best I can. Your effort and committment sent me on a wonderful journey that is still today going on. Thank you, Dad (applause). Mom, what can I say about you? I mean there's not enough time. Thank you for your support. You always gave me everything and beyond everything I needed. Thank you for the inspiration you showed everyday. Most of all, thank you for teaching me by your life how to care for person's heart more than for their circumstance (applause and Heidi wiping away tears). Mike, my brother, you've been always my protector. You're the younger brother, but you always felt like you're the older to me. Thank you for giving me a platform to come out of my shell and expose life's challenges (? not sure if she said "challenges" or "journeys" or some other word - Steffi's german accent came back for a second there) and for always, always, always looking out for me (applause). I'd also like to thank my coaches and trainers. One of my first coaches, Pavel, thank you for the time you gave me. Especially as a mother, I now appreciate even more how much you gave(?) of you world to commit so much to my career. Heinz, you're my coach on the court and my mentor off of it. You had the rare quality of understanding me better at times than I understood myself. However, what I appreciate most was your patient and sensitive way that allowed me to learn about life and myself. And the most, most important thing, you were the one that encouraged me to follow my heart with Andre (applause and laughter from Steffi). Joannie, your work and insight were invaluable to the length and quality of my career. You as well as many trainers and doctors around the world made it possible for me on the court to leave everything that I had. Thank you (applause). And last, I would like to thank the fans who supported me my whole career. Many of them that I see in the stands (big applause from the stands) and those that continue the passion we all have - the passion of tennis. Thank you. ___________________________________________________________________ Tony Trabert then presented Steffi with her enshrinement certificate