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Admiring Capriati's class Recovery from off-court struggles done the right way
Updated: Wednesday June 06, 2001 8:54 AM
It seems like these days celebrities are queuing up to tell their stories of beating this, that or the other hardship to triumph against the odds. Apparently, if you don't have an abused, drug- and booze-addicted delinquent tale to tell about your past you just don't make the grade as a bona fide celebrity any more, whatever your field. It's almost like they wear it as a badge of honor. It's refreshing therefore to come across a sporting celebrity who's managed to resurrect her tennis career with as much quiet dignity as Jennifer Capriati.
At the time of writing, the once troubled teen is an Aussie Open champion; has just scored a gutsy victory over Serena Williams to make the French Open semifinals for the first time in 11 years; and has become a grounded 25-year-old with what seems like a firm grip on who she is, where she's going, and the rightful place of tennis in the great scheme of things.
What's more, she's left the glaring headlines of the past in the past. When she's interviewed, it's about tennis, and not a soul-baring session about how well she's emerged from the lost years of her youth. She leaves it for the journalists to rehash the details of her wayward years when the pressure of coping with her precocious talent sent her off the rails. And you don't hear her crowing about what an incredible story her comeback has become either. She's just out there playing tennis, with her father in support, and her eyes firmly fixed on the present and future. And you've got to love that. Because as tough and unfortunate as it was that Jennifer and other celebrities fell from grace, at least some of it had to be their own doing. The kind of behavior they chose to adopt showed weakness, not strength. It doesn't become character-enhancing just because they're famous. So all credit to Jennifer for keeping it real. She made mistakes, took responsibility, and moved on to reclaim her life in spectacular fashion. If only some Hollywood celebrities could take a leaf from her book. Terry Baddoo is co-host of World Sport, the international sports show that airs live on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN International.
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