Every time the US Open rolls around Andy Roddick’s name resurfaces.
He was the guy and his personality/playing style was easy for fans to embrace.
Unfortunately Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic came along to squash those dreams.
There are three things that stood out to me in this article.
He uses his ‘06 trophy as an actual plate where he sets drinks on.
A few years ago, Andy Roddick threw away nearly all of his trophies.
I thought, I dont really need these, he tells me.
Anyone whos in our house kind of knows what I did.
Its a house that feels lived-in.
Shoes can stay on.
Coasters are never mentioned.
As if to say, That was just one phase of my life, and that phase is over.
Fatherhood being the most obvious and important.
His business ventures and philanthropy.
His foray into TV commentating, at Fox Sports for a time and currently with the Tennis Channel.
But that first phase can never truly end until another American man wins the US Openor any other major.
Until then, he exists to most people as Andy Roddick: The Last to Do It.
There’s nothing wrong with that necessarily.
Some athletes just want to hang onto the memories of what got them to this point.
Others keep this kind of stuff to boost their ego and brag to anyone who visits the house.
Then there’s Andy Roddick, who uses the US Open runner up trophy as a food/drinking plate.
To be fair, it does look like a serving plate.
Now what on Earth would a random cabbie have to do with Andy Roddick’s tennis career?
He called up Little and ended up staying with the cabbie for a few days.
It was the weekend of July 4th, and the embassy wouldnt be open until Monday.
Worried about Roddick spending a few days alone in London, Gilbert asked Little to look after him.
We made quite an odd couple walking around the streets, Little recalls.
At the airport, new passport secured, Roddick suggested the possibility of hiring him again next year.
Roddick returned to the U.S. and won his first grand slam title.
He also hired Little’s son to work for him and Brooklyn Decker in America.
All of that is so fucking awesome to me.
Despite all the celebrity and fame the man never let it go to his head.
Another interesting part of the article centered around how Brooklyn Decker came into his life.
Deckers modeling career was taking off, but she was lonely living in New York with few friends.
She Googled Roddick and watched his acerbic press conference from the recent 2007 Australian Open.
She liked his humor.
They talked on the phone for weeks before he came to New York for their first date.
Here’s the interview that charmed her, it’s pretty great.
Life works in mysterious ways.
Not the worst consolation prize.
Certainly better than the runner up plate most tournaments give out for second place.
