Andy Roddick: The Unprofessional Professional
Andy Roddick is at it again.
And by "it", I don't mean playing good tennis.
As reported Monday morning, Roddick walked out of his press conference at the China Open after being upset in the first round by South Africa's Kevin Anderson.
A reporter asked Roddick, now 28-13 on the year following the loss, how low his ranking would have to drop to before he considered retirement.
It was a legitimate question, perhaps phrased poorly, but something that is certainly on the mind of more than a few tennis fans considering Roddick has been an afterthought since falling out of the Top 10 in the first week of April.
Roddick plunged as low as 21st in late August before rising back to the mid-teens, a place he will remain after his latest bomb-out.
Roddick's reaction to the question was something you might expect from Donald Young, Ryan Harrison or Jack Sock - players who are young, emotional and inexperienced with the media crush.
But on Monday, Roddick forgot the most important part of being a professional athlete: being professional.
Reporters ask a lot of dumb questions, and sportswriters are often the worst of the worst.
Don't believe me? Do a Google search for "dumb Super Bowl" questions and you'll get such luminaries as someone asking former Washington Redskin Doug Williams "How long have you been a black quarterback?"
But what Roddick did Monday, and what he has had the penchant for doing a lot in the last 18 months or so, is biting the hand that feeds him.
Winning tennis tournaments can make a player successful, but the media can make him famous, loved, a sex symbol or a world-class jerk.
Now "jerk" is a pretty strong word for Roddick's behavior of late, because let's face it, there are very few athletes out there without a whole lot of ego.
The real problem is that the little acts of petulance aren't being overshadowed by victories. Since his thrilling win over MIlos Raonic in Memphis in February, Roddick is just 14-10 overall in tournaments and an unflattering 1-5 against players ranked in the Top 20.
Compounding the issue is the surging popularity of Roddick's fellow American male players.
Mardy Fish has proven that 2010 wasn't a flash in the pan, rising to No. 8 in the world and doing so without a shred of controversy and Young bounced back from his Twitter-gate to capture the fans' hearts at the US Open.
What's on your mind?
Post a comment below.
Posted by
Nick on
10/3/2011 10:34:40 PM
Current rating: 0 (0 ratings)
Bookmark this page to:
Share Your Thoughts: Post a comment below.