When Agassi’s Dad Asked Pete Sampras To Kiss His A**

Andre Agassi’s father didn’t attend many of the tennis star’s matches. It was Mike Agassi’s attempt to not distract his son or make him nervous. But he still managed to cause an outrageous scene during a tournament clincher against Pete Sampras.

Emmanuel “Mike” Agassi is a man who polarized many opinions among the tennis world. He was an overbearing figure in the life of his son, Andre, who would go on to win eight Grand Slam titles. Mike was a former Olympic boxer from a tough upbringing, and he instilled a strong work ethic in Andre from a very young age. In his autobiography, Open, Andre would go on to say that he secretly hated tennis.

Ever the character however, Mike turned many a head when watching his son play his perennial rival Pete Sampras in the final of a tournament at Palm Springs.

“[Sampras is] about to serve — phone goes again,” said Agassi. “‘Hey, are you gonna ever answer your phone?'” Sampras screamed. “All of a sudden, my dad’s head pops up. And he goes, ‘It’s my F’in phone, I’ll answer it if I damn well please. Kiss my a–!'”

When an irate Sampras finally turned and asked him if he planned on answering his phone, Agassi made a call that will stay with his son, and Sampras, forever.