Why we should respect Roddick ?

[Aykhan Mammadov]

Leaving aside his non-sportsmanship behaviors sometimes discussed here at forum a lot of times, I have started respect this boy. Do u know why? Number of reasons.

1. First this American boy started wear non-American Lacoste. No matter how much he is payed. Matters that he is American and he is not blind nationalist and fanatic and can respect although something different from Nike.

2. Despite he doesn't have great tennis ( IMHO) but as recently a few matches proved his serve makes it's job and even against delicious tennis players. I have started to think that one has an option not to spend his main time in improving of different strokes but can reach great service instead. THIS HARD WORK IS COMPARATIVELY IN THE SAME DEGREE HARD AS IMPROVING DIFFERENT STROKES.

Same as happened with Ivanisevich.
And his tremendous service really deserves to be appreciated.

3. This boy is the 3-rd in ATP race as well as in Entry ranking what proves his consistency.

I'm predicting tough final Federer vs Roddick. I think Fed will win but extremely hard.

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

Sorry he is 4-th in Entry ranking.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

Forgive me for saying this but what the hell are you trying to say?

Anyway, you respect roddick because he wears non-american clothes...ok...

And you say he shouldn't work on his strokes but rather just focus on improving his already big serve? ok....

 

[gugafanatic]

A.ROD game has come on alot this year. He is willing to add more variety to his game, as he showed against Grosjean. The slice backhand and volley look pretty solid compared to past few years. He is capable of hanging with players with his serve alone, and this is why he is soo dangerous on grass courts and fast hard courts.

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

Forgive me for saying this but what the hell are you trying to say?

Anyway, you respect roddick because he wears non-american clothes...ok...

And you say he shouldn't work on his strokes but rather just focus on improving his already big serve? ok....

ATXtennisaddict, those were words, not the hell.
Also I didn't advise him not to improve other strokes. I told that if a player has only GREAT service it is enough to be respected, this is extremely hard to reach it.

 

[127mph]

nice to see you on the forums since you went into hiding after nadal beat federer ayhkan, it seems being off the forums didnt change your state of mind

 

[FrancisB]

Why do you hate Nike so?

Have you seen the thread count in the Lacoste stuff? it's junk I tell you, junk!

But I'm glad to see his lack of Nike apparel meets with your approval, and signals his distain for America.

We wouldn't want tennis players to actually show any respect or appreciation of their own country... Unless of course, they're not American, and then of course it's expected to love the scrappy, hard playing Russians, Aussies, Kiwi's, Germans, etc. who actually speake positively of their homelands... BushHitler and all that, right?

There are lots of other forums, maybe we could save the political comments for those?


-f-

 

[fastdunn]

Leaving aside his non-sportsmanship behaviors sometimes discussed here at forum a lot of times, I have started respect this boy. Do u know why? Number of reasons.

1. First this American boy started wear non-American Lacoste. No matter how much he is payed. Matters that he is American and he is not blind nationalist and fanatic and can respect although something different from Nike.

2. Despite he doesn't have great tennis ( IMHO) but as recently a few matches proved his serve makes it's job and even against delicious tennis players. I have started to think that one has an option not to spend his main time in improving of different strokes but can reach great service instead. THIS HARD WORK IS COMPARATIVELY IN THE SAME DEGREE HARD AS IMPROVING DIFFERENT STROKES.

Same as happened with Ivanisevich.
And his tremendous service really deserves to be appreciated.

3. This boy is the 3-rd in ATP race as well as in Entry ranking what proves his consistency.

I'm predicting tough final Federer vs Roddick. I think Fed will win but extremely hard.

Good thread title but not so convincing argument.

I started to respect Roddick because he is still hanging around tough.
Still trying to improve his game and give close match to Hewitt.
Despite disappointing last two loss to Federer at Wimbldon,
he still hanging tough, keep challenging Federer.
This guy deserves a Wimbledon title someday, IMHO.....

 

[Chopin]

I think he wears non-american clothing because he gets more money to wear lacoste than he would have gotten with reebok...why don't you try scratching that one off of your list...

 

[big ted]

i dont think its respectful to keep calling him "boy" but mabye its just me

 

[verdasco67]

i dont think its respectful to keep calling him "boy" but mabye its just me

hahahahaha

 

[West Coast Ace]

Why do you hate Nike so?

Have you seen the thread count in the Lacoste stuff? it's junk I tell you, junk!

But I'm glad to see his lack of Nike apparel meets with your approval, and signals his distain for America.

We wouldn't want tennis players to actually show any respect or appreciation of their own country... Unless of course, they're not American, and then of course it's expected to love the scrappy, hard playing Russians, Aussies, Kiwi's, Germans, etc. who actually speake positively of their homelands... BushHitler and all that, right?

There are lots of other forums, maybe we could save the political comments for those?


-f-

Thanks, couldn't have said it any better. Great 1st post.

While I admire Agassi Version 2 and other US players my favorites now are Fed and JHH - because they have the best all around games. I don't really worry about where someone grew up - just how they play the game. Doubt I'm alone.

If tennis were just a serving contest I'm sure most fans would never watch another 'match' - and Roddick would have to work at Home Depot between events because 1st prize would be $20. Roddick is improving - but he should have done a lot of the work before he even got to the Tour - and he has a long way to go. And still needs to reign in the childish behavior.

 

[Nyl]

isnt it the P.mac's and J.mac's love towards andy that made us dislike him ???
i always think he's a top tennis player and should be well respected. no matter wut u say about his serves and his games, he's one of the top.

 

[Sharapova #1 Fan]

Not focusing on his strokes and only working on his serve is why he isn't beating Federer in the first place.
BTW a little off topic but does anyone else find it a little wierd that Feliciano Lopez is pretty much the only Spaniard that has the best stats and success at Wimbledon and The worst at Roland Garros?

 

[loopy]

let me see, he's a top 5 player whose won a Grand Slam which I could only dream of accomplishing, that alone deserves respect IMO

 

[West Coast Ace]

let me see, he's a top 5 player whose won a Grand Slam which I could only dream of accomplishing, that alone deserves respect IMO

Did your parents move to accomodate you getting better at the game and did you have access to the lessons he did? Why should anyone respect that?

He won a genetic lottery - not like he chose his parents thinking "I think these two will help me become 6'3" and sacrifice to help me become a tennis pro." Why should anyone respect luck?

 

[raftermania]

Andy has got to be nice on the "hand me downs". That trucker hat he gave his brother John was in horrible shape!

With that gesture, I have lost all respect for Roddick.

 

[devila]

I have lost all respect for him because he isn't perfect and gorgeous like Federer.
I mean, who doesn't want to be the best human being alive?
CERTAINLY, no physical advantages were given to Federer at birth.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

there's too much site space wasted discussing this Roddick guy. not much to his game, not much to say about him nor do I care what brand he or anyone wears.I'm sure he'll wear Wall-mart clothes if they'd pay enough.

 

[Exile]

let me see, he's a top 5 player whose won a Grand Slam which I could only dream of accomplishing, that alone deserves respect IMO

But that can only take you so far.

Maybe he is the male sharapova?

You don't see roddick dominating the mens game like federer is.
It is a waste of talent to be what roddick is, a 22 year old has-been.
He will probably never get to the number one spot again unless

1) He works extremely hard to fix everything that is wrong with his game, like that BH, his mental game, and his way of thinking on the court.
2) Everyone who poses a threat, dies simultaneously.

 

[0.2RatedPlayer]

Did your parents move to accomodate you getting better at the game and did you have access to the lessons he did? Why should anyone respect that?

He won a genetic lottery - not like he chose his parents thinking "I think these two will help me become 6'3" and sacrifice to help me become a tennis pro." Why should anyone respect luck?

believe it or not, but just because you're tall it doesnt mean you're going to be an automatic grandslam champion. otherwise that would be like saying anyone who is 6'4" and above should be a basketball player. and just because he had access to lessons (albeit a great coach or whatever) it doesn't guarantee a grandslam either.

 

[0.2RatedPlayer]

You don't see roddick dominating the mens game like federer is.
It is a waste of talent to be what roddick is, a 22 year old has-been.

how is he a has-been? he just turned pro 5 years ago and the man is only 23 years old

 

[elbuzzard_lives]

he is the frat boy of tennis. respect deez nuts.

 

[monologuist]

another reason to respect Roddick...and why we should stop p'-hatin' him...he cracks me up sometimes....
from an interview after Roddick took care of Grosjean yesterday at Wimbly....


"His last answer was even better. A British reporter asked if Roddick had ever experienced any on-court marriage proposals, like Scottish star Andy Murray and female diva Maria Sharapova received this week.

Said Roddick: "My fans don't think th"at long-term."

 

[dennis1188]

Some decent volleys frm Roddick, in his last few matches.
Hope, he can keep it up.

 

[Deuce]

he is the frat boy of tennis. respect deez nuts.

No, no, no...

He's the Duran, Duran of tennis, silly.

Think about it...

 

[activentures]

You americans need to take a reality check. You have had it too good in the last decade with Pete and Andre that your judgement is warped. The guy is a secure member of the top 5, has been for a while and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. He doesn't have the natural ability of PS or AA, or Fed, but he has brought a new style to the game, and an enthusiasm that shouldnt be criticised. We keep hearing how tennis needs characters and ARod is a major character on the tour. Some have questioned his on court attitude, and yet this is a country that embraced the perennial whinger J Mac. You guys are worse than the British press is towards Henman. Stop expecting the second coming, he's the best you have.

Regards,
Mrs Roddick.
..i mean activentures.

 

[pound cat]

Well put Blanche..errr, activentures . No one knows a son like the mother.

 

[Jonnyf]

Look he is a top 3 player he has been so unlucky that he has started to play top tennis when Fed does BUT he will get no 1 again and definately WILL WIN ATLEAST 1 MORE GRAND SLAM.

 

[fedex27]

god he is not wearing american clothes? no one should respect him then

 

[barry]

I think you have to respect him because soon he will be the last American player in the top 20.
American tennis is slipping!

 

[baseliner]

Let's see

It seems we should not respect Roddick since he has only won one GS and is a perennial top 5 finisher. Now exactly what does that show? The constant belittling of ARod is baffling to me. Here he is in the SF of Wimbledon and the complaints start to increase. On the other hand Federer is half way to a Grand Whiff and the posters tell me how great he is and debate whether he is GOAT.

 

[barry]

As long as the guys in the back room keep giving Roddick the easy draws, he will remain a top 10 player.

Anyway Roddick is writing a book "How I made it to grand slam finals without playing a top 20 player". Should expose the seeding committee. Of yes there is a section in the book about the 2005, which states "Why I have 8 qualifiers in my quarter of the draw".

Soon the seeding issues will be addressed and the grand slams will have to seed 64 players.

http://www.tsn.ca/tennis/news_story.asp?id=128500

 

[Babblelot]

As long as the guys in the back room keep giving Roddick the easy draws, he will remain a top 10 player.

"C'mon!" barry, Hewitt didn't start b!tching about the #2 seed until after Karlovic got knocked out by Bracciali. It seems clear that the powers that be were merely sparing Hewitt (and themselves) the embarrassment of another early exit (of the #2) at the hands of Karlovic.

Ivo owns Hewitt on grass. Look it up.

 

[andfor]

As long as the guys in the back room keep giving Roddick the easy draws, he will remain a top 10 player.

Anyway Roddick is writing a book "How I made it to grand slam finals without playing a top 20 player". Should expose the seeding committee. Of yes there is a section in the book about the 2005, which states "Why I have 8 qualifiers in my quarter of the draw".

Soon the seeding issues will be addressed and the grand slams will have to seed 64 players.

http://www.tsn.ca/tennis/news_story.asp?id=128500

You finally found an article to support you position. Congratulations. Just remember. As I or anyone for that matter can write and publish words on paper or anywhere for that matter does not give instant credibility. Of course the more you write the more readers may or may not perceive credibility. You know all about credibility, right Barry?

Back to the post. Why not have respect for an athlete who can maintain a position at the top or near the top of their profession? Just cause you respect them does not make you a fan. Sure I respect Roddick as I do anyone who trys to be the best they can be and make their way as a professional in any endevor.

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

You americans need to take a reality check. You have had it too good in the last decade with Pete and Andre that your judgement is warped. The guy is a secure member of the top 5, has been for a while and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. He doesn't have the natural ability of PS or AA, or Fed, but he has brought a new style to the game, and an enthusiasm that shouldnt be criticised. We keep hearing how tennis needs characters and ARod is a major character on the tour. Some have questioned his on court attitude, and yet this is a country that embraced the perennial whinger J Mac. You guys are worse than the British press is towards Henman. Stop expecting the second coming, he's the best you have.

Regards,
Mrs Roddick.
..i mean activentures.

activedentures: ;-) You're flappin' your gums about "You americans"? (lower case?). What's that about? Btw, where're you from? Remind me to show you and your nationality a smidgen of respect should I feel compelled to make mention of it.....on second thought, nevermind......that won't be needed--I ALWAYS make it a habit to CORRECTLY avoid denegrating someone's nationality by not treating it as a mere common noun (i.e. lower case lettering). That aside:

as for Roddick, yes there is the whining "I-hate-Andy" peanut gallery what with their sniping and griping about his game, his seed at Wimbledon (e.g. check out the nasty whine-fest in the thread "It's a pity--spoiler!"). But these "brat-o-philes" are not exclusively American. And there are others who will note that Roddick (for all his warts) is in the top 5, has won a Grand Slam and who may not be the total and complete dork that the "sneer brigade" would have you believe. You points are well taken, and believe me I see where you're coming from, however, I do take issue with your sweeping generalizations about Americans in this case. It's the "squeaky wheel" brat-o-philes out there (American AND OTHERWISE) whose strident anti-Roddick chirping almost you want to root for the guy based on their "turn-me-off" quotion alone. Roddick has won Queens (again), played Federer very competitively in last year's Wimbledon finals and is maybe just maybe NOT the "lucky stiff" poster boy for the Wimbledon seeding committee that Mr. and Mrs. Whine would have you believe.....that is, you might want to reconsider your sweeping generaliztions about...er... us americans. ;-)

As to your statement "and yet this is the country that embraced....J Mac." Definitely NOT so. Example--11:00 a.m. U.S. Open: J McEnroe vs. Shlomo Glickstein (Israel). I was there....it was almost embarrassing to see not only an American but a New York City kid (McEnroe) having maybe 1/4 of the crowd behind him. I saw it and "heard" it. Connors (until he was in the twilight of his career) was dispised by the New York crowd as well.

 

[kicker75]

I respect Roddick for a few reasons...

-He would whoop me in a tennis match any day with a nerf racquet, and I pride myself on being a pretty good player.

-He serves faster than I drive.

-He is one of the few players (I've seen Federer...) who will actually overrule an ump to give a point to his opponent if he believes the ump made an incorrect call.

-Aside from tennis, the guy does so much charity work, regardless of what must be an insane schedule.

 

[Babblelot]

-He is one of the few players (I've seen Federer...) who will actually overrule an ump to give a point to his opponent if he believes the ump made an incorrect call.

-Aside from tennis, the guy does so much charity work, regardless of what must be an insane schedule.

Good points!

Believe it or not, I've seen McEnroe give his opponent a point on a bad call. He'd let his oppenent serve and not attempt to return it.

More recently, do you recall during the late stages of the Safin-Robredo match when Safin overruled the call at a very critical point in the match--possibly costing him the match--at 2005 Roland Garros?

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

No, I don't have any hate to Nike. When I see Fed wearing Nike it doesn't rise any question in my mind, it is something ordinary for me. I told simply that I'm satisfied watching American player wearing something non-American, it is good sign, it must become something usual and normal. Similar to American driving BMW or Mercedes, or me Azerbaijan watching American films.

 

[Chadwixx]

-He is one of the few players (I've seen Federer...) who will actually overrule an ump to give a point to his opponent if he believes the ump made an incorrect call.

if your reffering to that clay court match, then u should have watched it. the linesperson did call make an incorrect call, but the umpire was on his way down to overrule the call, roddick did give the other guy the point, but the ref would have done the same thing once his feet touched the ground. roddick was even quoted as saying "on a hardcourt i would have taken the point".

it was just another case of the media trying to hype up roddick as a nice guy. in reality roddick just saved the ref a trip, just like he was quoted.

how sportsman like was roddick in the 2003 us open when he was playing nalbandian?

 

[Chadwixx]

You finally found an article to support you position. Congratulations. Just remember. As I or anyone for that matter can write and publish words on paper or anywhere for that matter does not give instant credibility. Of course the more you write the more readers may or may not perceive credibility. You know all about credibility, right Barry?

do i have to remind u of the "roddick gets special treatment" thread? 8 pages later after factually proving he did, u still didnt admit it.

 

[fishuuuuu]

-He serves faster than I drive.

Yup. Faster than the fastest I have ever driven too ...

And Chadwixx ... I suppose Andy Roddick does get a lot of special treatment... but you know what they say, "What comes around goes around." His oncourt character may slip, but he remains a very "nice guy." Thats more than I could say for some members of this board ...

---

As long as the guys in the back room keep giving Roddick the easy draws, he will remain a top 10 player

Hehe ... they're random.

 

[gully]

how sportsman like was roddick in the 2003 us open when he was playing nalbandian?

Okay, I'll bite, since I have this match on tape: what unsportsmanlike conduct whould you like to point out from this match, Chadd? Those unfair aces? The underhanded comeback?

Hint: there's none. At most, a couple of very mild line-call protests on both sides.

There are other matches, of course, where Roddick has been unsportsmanlike -- a comment we could make about half of the tour. But there was nothing unsportsmanlike about the match you mention. It's jut another red herring on your part.

But I agree that Roddick was given too much credit for giving the point away in the clay match this year: the ump would have simply changed anyway.

 

[Chadwixx]

how about the key point where a fan called a ball out, nalbandian stopped play, and roddick took the point. if he were a sportsman he would have replayed the point.

im still curious as to why the umpire didnt call a let, but hey its the us open.

 

[gully]

how about the key point where a fan called a ball out, nalbandian stopped play, and roddick took the point. if he were a sportsman he would have replayed the point.

im still curious as to why the umpire didnt call a let, but hey its the us open.

That's not a good example, sorry. Umps do NOT call lets in this situation, and players KNOW full well to "play through" any crowd noise. Happens every once in a while, but it's hardly the measure of "good sportstmanship. Roddick does some stuff oncourt that's pretty cool, and some that's not, but this particular incident is pretty meaningless.

 

[Tchocky]

I'm starting to respect Roddick more but not for the reasons listed. P.S. what is that thing he has tied to the bottom of his strings....looks like a rubber band.

 

[Chadwixx]

i beleive moya replayed a point in last years davis cup vs roddick due to the crowd.

it obviously affect nalbandian and if roddick were the sportsman u say he is, he would have replayed the point.

so what ur saying is i can goto professional tournaments, sit in the front row and yell "out" and they dont replay the point?

 

[Elizabeth]

I have lost all respect for him because he isn't perfect and gorgeous like Federer.
I mean, who doesn't want to be the best human being alive?
CERTAINLY, no physical advantages were given to Federer at birth.

what?!? Federer gorgeous...please tell me you are joking! and compared to andy, who actually is?

 

[gully]

i beleive moya replayed a point in last years davis cup vs roddick due to the crowd.

it obviously affect nalbandian and if roddick were the sportsman u say he is, he would have replayed the point.

so what ur saying is i can goto professional tournaments, sit in the front row and yell "out" and they dont replay the point?

Yes, and I also believe you're enough of a nutjob to do it. Let me know about bail!

 

[gully]

i beleive moya replayed a point in last years davis cup vs roddick due to the crowd.

it obviously affect nalbandian and if roddick were the sportsman u say he is, he would have replayed the point.

so what ur saying is i can goto professional tournaments, sit in the front row and yell "out" and they dont replay the point?

Besides, when did I call Roddick a sportsman? All I said was your example was pointless. Which it is.