Andy...The Rocket

Okay, I stepped off the radar screen for nearly five months. There has been a new edition (addition as well) to the family (she’s wonderful). We are working on developing a new Web app, I am launching a Web development business with some associates and I have yet to take Our Tennis Team to the point I planned to many years ago. There is much to do. But, life is good.

And then I learn Andy Roddick is retiring from professional tennis. I hate to see this, but it’s his call and I have a feeling he will still be around in our Tennis World. Life goes on.

Picture this: You just attended the 2003 U.S. Open, which Roddick won, you are wandering the streets of New York the very next day, you come out of an alley into the middle of Time Square and you see Andy Roddick standing on a street median with the Flatiron Building as a backdrop.

I am no celebrity hound. I’ve been near a few. I saw Bjorn Borg cross my path while waiting for a flight in Nice, France and I didn’t even flinch, just watched him and his small entourage pass before me as I sat reading something. I nearly missed having a drink with Clint Eastwood (the only celeb I believe I would actually want to spend some time with – he probably feels otherwise) while on vacation in Carmel, California.

So here’s Andy, less than fifty yards from me, with 20 or more photographers snapping shots and there is not a sole walking the streets giving him any notice.

As I see it, this is Andy and me in the middle of New York City, just hanging out, but he is trapped in this photo op and I don’t have to fight to get to him and he can’t easily escape. In other words, I don’t need to embarrass myself to get the opportunity to meet him. “Meet” may be a stretch. I just wanted to congratulate him on his win and “Yes”, to say I met him. There’s a connection here – I just saw him win the U.S. Open. Yeah, right.

Juan Carlos Ferrero didn’t have a chance. Roddick simply over-powered him. That’s my recollection of the match as I attempted to view it. I have heard many write or say there is not a bad seat at Arthur Ashe Stadium. They weren’t sitting with me. I would have enjoyed the match much more had my seat been about 80 feet lower, without the Spanish contingency sitting two sections over. Actually they were a lot of fun and they laughed as I mocked them in some pseudo-Spanish tongue as they cheered – two years of Spanish in school and I still can’t quite grasp the language.

So I walk up to Andy and say, “When you get a chance?”, as if I was selling something or he was in dire need to meet me.

Andy is wearing these terribly tattered jeans, a pull-over and his hair was in the spike style he chose back then. I never realized how tall Andy was, but the spiked hair added about three inches to his stature.

He replies, “Just give me a minute. I have to finish up with these guys.”

That was it. I congratulated him, he thanked me and I asked him to autograph a street guide I had in hand. I have no idea why I asked for an autograph. I have no clue where that street guide is. Meeting Andy was like being introduced to a new friend by an old friend - unpretentious and very comfortable.

I never felt that I had come upon some sort of bond with Roddick, but it is human nature to pay more attention to someone you’ve met versus someone you haven’t.

Even after his 2003 U.S. Open win, I wasn’t a fan of Andy’s tennis game and it would be a few years before I was simply a fan of Andy.

I happened to be at the Davis Cup match in Charleston, SC (my love and favorite city) when Roddick served his 155 mph serve. At this time, I still couldn’t take claim to being a Roddick fan. But, I had some friends whom were near him in downtown Charleston one night and then I saw him play on Sunday when the results were inconsequential.

The U.S. had already won the match overall, but Andy came out and gave it his best, although struggling from a lack of sleep or whatever. He won.

Over the coming years I came to see Andy compete with the Davis Cup team and continue to show up and be a threat at most any major tournament.

His game changed. He was working on other shots and techniques. You could also see his game strategy change occasionally. Roddick became the club player’s role model as you could watch him develop the other aspects of his tennis game.

Unless he writes a book (please don’t) about some awful experience in his tennis journey, I believe Andy truly loves the game more than most anyone on the pro circuit.

Yes, I’m a Roddick fan. Do I hate to see him leave competing as a professional? Yes. Is the sport much better because of him and will he give back to the Tennis Community? Hell Yes! As if he hasn’t already given so much.

I am not easily impressed, but I loved it when one of the coverage team reporters asked Roddick after his somewhat grueling (at times) four set match against Fabio Fognini, (I’ll paraphrase), “Do you have the energy to continue on and win?” “It’s not a matter of energy. You have to do what it takes.” That’s what I love about this guy.

Congratulations Andy. I would love to have even fifteen minutes (more time would be appreciated) to hit with you one day, but I fear practicing service returns with you – that’s out.

Call me. I’ll pay for a can of balls.