Jacka$$ Roddick and the death of American tennis!
Ichiro51fan
Posts: 379
in Sports Talk
Don't know if any of you caught Andy Rodick's latest choke-job & rant at the Australian Open last week. This guy has got to be one of the biggest losers in American sports history. Loads of natural talent, but continues to choke away his opportunities year after year. As if underachieving were not enough, this idiot's latest rampage makes me ashamed that he's an American. Let me re-set it for those of you who missed it: Roddick (6th seed) is in a 4th set tie-breaker vs Germany's Kohlschreiber (Kohl) (29th seed). He' already down 2 sets to one & the breaker is really close. A little more than half way in, Kohl hit's a deep shot that Roddick lets go at the baseline becuase he thinks it is going to be out. It IS called out, but Kohl challenges the call. The replay shows that the ball was clearly in, so the point is taken away from "The Dick" rightfully awarded to Kohl. Well, that sent Roddick into a rampage, because he thought they should replay the point since, according to him, he could have played that ball if it hadn't been called out. After berating the chair umpire for a couple of minutes, the idiot continues to play and actually ends up winning the tie-breaker to force a 5th set. BUT... that wasn't the end of it. After the tie-breaker was completed, Roddick continued to berate the umpire, resorting to personal insults on several occassions. He was basically saying that he didn't think you even needed a 2nd grade education to become a chair umpire and then he proceded to spout of to the booing crowd.. "kids, stay in school or you too could become a chair umpire". This pathetic display was just sickening and I don't know why professional tennis allows it to happen with no fear of ramifications (that's a story for another time though).
As if this rant wasn't enough, here is something to consider about this incident... Roddick was actaully 100% wrong in his assertion in the first place! They showed several replays and the guy had absolutely given up on the ball BEFORE it was called out. His positioning on the court was such that there was NO WAY he could have played that ball after it bounced because it was actually behind him on his backhand side and his racket was out in front of him on his forehand side. Not even Roger Federer could have made that shot! This is just another event on top of many previous ones in which Roddick has made a complete idiot out of himself and made his country look bad as a result. I'm actually glad when the guy loses and gladly root for any of his opponents from any country in the hopes that they will beat him down.
Unfortunately, he is the highest ranked US male, with James Blake really being the only legitimate US contender left. Blake seems to be an all-around good guy, but he hasn't proven he can win the big one yet. Hoefully he can make a break-through this year, but he has to ho up against Federer next in Aus, so the chances aren't in his favor. I really think that when Andre Agassi retired 2 years ago, it marked the end of a great run of success in US men's tennis. Agassi had great succes, as did Samprass, as well as Conners & McEnroe before them. Unless Blake can break through soon, I think it will be a long while before the US fields a top-10 player, much less a threat to be #1 and win a grand-slam.
The women's side seems just as bleek, with the US's only real claim to current success being the Williams sisters. Sure, they've won their share of big tournaments, but their attitudes and demeanor also leave a lot to be desired. Their history of ridiculous confrontations on the court, as well as simply stupid comments make it very tough for fans (even US fans) to root for them. And, I caught an interview with one of them at the Aus open the other day after her victory and her smugness and bragging was truly sickening. She was actually talking about how well she was playing and a bunch of other nonsense that you would NEVER hear out of classy players like Agassi, Borg... probably even Federer who isn't exactly known for keeping his ego in check.
Anyway, for these reasons, i really think that US tennis is on it's last breath... at least for a while. Look at the success all of the European countries are having... especially Russian, but more recently, even the very small Serbia is performing WAY better than players from the US. I'm truly rooting for Blake to have a great year because I think he is our last, best hope for the foreseeable future.
As if this rant wasn't enough, here is something to consider about this incident... Roddick was actaully 100% wrong in his assertion in the first place! They showed several replays and the guy had absolutely given up on the ball BEFORE it was called out. His positioning on the court was such that there was NO WAY he could have played that ball after it bounced because it was actually behind him on his backhand side and his racket was out in front of him on his forehand side. Not even Roger Federer could have made that shot! This is just another event on top of many previous ones in which Roddick has made a complete idiot out of himself and made his country look bad as a result. I'm actually glad when the guy loses and gladly root for any of his opponents from any country in the hopes that they will beat him down.
Unfortunately, he is the highest ranked US male, with James Blake really being the only legitimate US contender left. Blake seems to be an all-around good guy, but he hasn't proven he can win the big one yet. Hoefully he can make a break-through this year, but he has to ho up against Federer next in Aus, so the chances aren't in his favor. I really think that when Andre Agassi retired 2 years ago, it marked the end of a great run of success in US men's tennis. Agassi had great succes, as did Samprass, as well as Conners & McEnroe before them. Unless Blake can break through soon, I think it will be a long while before the US fields a top-10 player, much less a threat to be #1 and win a grand-slam.
The women's side seems just as bleek, with the US's only real claim to current success being the Williams sisters. Sure, they've won their share of big tournaments, but their attitudes and demeanor also leave a lot to be desired. Their history of ridiculous confrontations on the court, as well as simply stupid comments make it very tough for fans (even US fans) to root for them. And, I caught an interview with one of them at the Aus open the other day after her victory and her smugness and bragging was truly sickening. She was actually talking about how well she was playing and a bunch of other nonsense that you would NEVER hear out of classy players like Agassi, Borg... probably even Federer who isn't exactly known for keeping his ego in check.
Anyway, for these reasons, i really think that US tennis is on it's last breath... at least for a while. Look at the success all of the European countries are having... especially Russian, but more recently, even the very small Serbia is performing WAY better than players from the US. I'm truly rooting for Blake to have a great year because I think he is our last, best hope for the foreseeable future.
Jim G
All-time favorite athletes:
Steve Sax, Steve Garvey, Larry Bird, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Andre Agassi, Karch Kiraly, Wayne Gretzky, Ichiro Suzuki, Andres Galarraga, Greg Maddux.
"Make the world a better place... punch both A-Rods in the face (Alex Rodriguez and Andy Roddick)!"
All-time favorite athletes:
Steve Sax, Steve Garvey, Larry Bird, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Andre Agassi, Karch Kiraly, Wayne Gretzky, Ichiro Suzuki, Andres Galarraga, Greg Maddux.
"Make the world a better place... punch both A-Rods in the face (Alex Rodriguez and Andy Roddick)!"
0
Comments
Bosox1976
he finally got it out of his system and redeemed himself.
Men's tennis is barren of great American talent right now, or so it seems, who knows who might emerge next year? or might surprise us this year.
I'm no fan of Penis and Vagina Williams, but there is no disputing their talent, just their drive. If they didnt derail their careers with acting and modeling stints they could have retired as two of the best to ever play the sport.
I'm a big fan of Lindsey Davenports and was impressed with her comeback.
and Federer doesnt need to keep his ego in check. He has become one of the greatest players of all time and he's still young! He is confident, cawcky and backs it up with tremendous play and I dont think he comes across as a prima donna at all.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
As for Federer... yeah, he's one of the all time greats to be sure. I don't think he's a jacka$$ or anything like Roddick is, I guess I'm just saying he could be a bit more humble. There certainly have been elite athletes that show more of it than he does, and yes, that includes those that have been at the very top of there sport!
All-time favorite athletes:
Steve Sax, Steve Garvey, Larry Bird, Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Andre Agassi, Karch Kiraly, Wayne Gretzky, Ichiro Suzuki, Andres Galarraga, Greg Maddux.
"Make the world a better place... punch both A-Rods in the face (Alex Rodriguez and Andy Roddick)!"
1) I watched the Roddick match and was not surprised. Basically, he's a dumb player. He's a one trick pony and when that isn't working he has no Plan B. "Dumb as a box of rocks" is how he was described to me by a tennis coach at the US Open a few years ago. When he lost the 3rd set the other day, I thought "this match is over". Connors has gotten a little more out of him but Jimmy can't think for him out there. As for the part about being an arse, most tennis players are arses at one point in time. I truly believe the only way Roddick will win another major is if someone upsets Federer and Roddick has an easy draw.
2) James Blake is a top 20 player, but will never be a top 5 player. He's the modern version of Todd Martin, does everything well but has nothing spectacular about his game. And in big matches, he's a mental midget.....only a matter of time before he gets down on himself and checks out.
3) Agassi is all class. Total 180 from his early days, which makes him all the more remarkable. If his back was healthy, he'd still be out there.
4) Roger Federer is even more classy. Better yet, he's the greatest to ever hold a racket. Even if you are not a fan of the sport, watch him play at least once because he's the Jordan and Woods of tennis.
5) US Tennis will come back and be fine. These things are cyclical. Everyone said that US Tennis was dead in the late 80's when McEnroe was struggling and Connors was aging. Then along came 4 guys named Sampras, Agassi, Courier, and Chang.
Ron
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
And whoa, Sharapova pulled out some Whoopass on Justine Henin!!
The simple reason for this is that these kids do not suffer deprivation early in life and thus do not develope a fire in the belly that causes them to go out and put in the hard work to become world class athletes.
I know basketball coachs who tell me that white american males who have the physical skills and the drive to become NBA players are a dwindling breed on the road to extinction. Same thing goes for kids of black families who have done well. Isiah Thomas [love him or hate him] grew up poor, hung out on the mean streets and played hoops as a way to get out of the hood. He was asked whether his kids have an interest in following in his footsteps. He said his kids are not interested in playing basketball and would rather spend their time playing video games and playing on the computer. The NBA is becoming a more diverse league with the large number of international players who not only make teams but become all stars. Why? They have fire in their bellies and are better than many american black basketball players who may not have as much fire as they did 10-20 years ago.
American male tennis may be suffering the same thing. White males from affluent families (I assume most white american tennis pros come from backgrounds where their families are well off financially) may look at how hard and competitive tennis is and choose to not compete beyond a certain level in the sport, thus leaving the pro tennis tour populated with players from outside the USA who, given life in their home countries, have fire in their bellies.
I wonder if the same thing is happening in Hockey, Baseball and other sports (excluding the NFL).
entertaining than watching that robot Borg.
Tennis needs this...T and A just isn't getting it done.....well maybe still, but they need this.
JS
<< <i>The only time I got into tennis was watching old Johnny Mack. Now THAT was entertainment AND the guy could ball. Much more
entertaining than watching that robot Borg.
Tennis needs this...T and A just isn't getting it done.....well maybe still, but they need this.
JS >>
You can't be serious!!