I'm not a big fan of speaking too much about people or events that happened before my time.

It's hard to really understand and appreciate the likes of Hank Aaron, Joe Montana, John McEnroe et al. because their successes all occurred before I was born, or at least before I was old enough to recognize those accomplishments.

Therefore, it's impossible for me to truly hold any value in all the hype over Andre Agassi's one-of-a-kind transformation from rebellious hotshot to stately legend on the tennis court over a span of 21 years.

In a way, this makes Andre's lasting impact on me — and young tennis fans everywhere — even more impressive. Sure, we never got to watch Andre with the rocker look, with the colorful shirts and long blond hair, with a bad-ass, "image is everything" attitude. It doesn't mean anything to me that he dated Barbara Streisand or married Brooke Shields, mainly because 9-year-old boys don't get wrapped up in the comings and goings of People magazine.

So, while those over the age of 30 can look at Andre now and say, "I can't believe how great this guy has become, especially after being a juvenile punk for the first eight years of his career," I don't see two Andres. I only see one. There's only one image I know from Andre, so there's no basis for comparison.

That said, allow me to step aside for just a moment. I'll take this opportunity to admit that Andy Roddick has been my favorite player ever since he turned pro. Andre's been up there on the list, but Roddick has been the guy I try to mimic on the court, as well as the one player I always support, for better or for worse.

At this year's U.S. Open, had Andre gotten the victory over third-round opponent Benjamin Becker, the man who ended Andre's career, perhaps the biggest tennis event of the millennium would have been set into motion: a fourth-round blockbuster match-up between Roddick and Andre.

If those two players had clashed at Flushing Meadows … well, for the first time ever, I would have wanted Roddick to bow out. For some reason, I truly believe the mystique that Andre has carried with him on his farewell tour would have carried him through against America's Best.

And who knows? James Blake, the top-ranked American at the Open, advanced to the quarterfinals with an easy three-set win yesterday. Blake and Andre had an unbelievable, eye-popping, mind-numbing five-setter in the quarters of last year's tournament. How about a rematch in the final? That would have been something, right?

(For you diehard tennis fans … Yes, I know Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal make all of this seem impossible. But, I implore you, just hang with me for sentiment's sake!)

Unfortunately, this all was not to be, as the German qualifier Becker did knock off Andre in four sets last Sunday. But, the point is, everybody has been frightened for the state of American tennis lately, saying that with Andre gone, there's no real superstar to take charge against the world.

Well, I think Andre would agree that this tournament may be a sign of good things to come. With both Roddick and Blake hitting the quarters, and Robby Ginepri not far behind those two, American men's tennis is going to be just fine.

Revisiting my points about Andre earlier; I refuse to be a frontrunner and say that Andre's my favorite player ever, because that would just be untruthful.

But when Roddick retires, don't bet on 23,000 fans at Arthur Ashe stadium giving him an eight-minute standing ovation. Don't expect the players' locker room to stand still as he enters, and give him a round of applause. Don't be surprised if the media — the ever-critical New York media, I might add — doesn't leave character completely and tell Roddick how much they'll miss him during a somber news conference full of tears.

Not that Roddick won't leave his mark on U.S. tennis, but Andre was something special. He not only represents the last of the American superstars from the '80s and '90s, but he found a way to be universally loved, a colossally difficult feat in an individual sport like tennis.

So, down the road, when I think of Andre, I won't think of how he changed his image or how he acted in his early years. I'll simply remember his memorable matches against Sampras, Blake, Federer and the rest of them. I'll remember how much he has given to tennis, what with his charities and the academy he runs in Las Vegas. I'll remember the respect he held for his opponents, the officials, the fans, the media, for everything in tennis.

But most of all, I'll remember what a first-class, one-of-a-kind, stately legend he was. Tennis was a better game with him, and it won't be the same without him.

Farewell, Andre. Thanks for the memories, you will be missed.

On a happier note, Aaron's year was made when the University of Colorado absolutely blew it against a Division I-AA program, losing to Montana State 19-10. That might be the funniest thing ever. Seriously. Share your favorite Andre moment at [email protected].