This is not a defence of Andy Roddick but a defence of myself.
Let’s get one thing straight. If I watched tennis for good behaviour, I'd have a very different set of favourite players.
A lot has been said about Andy Roddick’s meltdown over the footfaults. I’m not saying it was okay. It wasn’t his finest moment, and there have been a lot of not-fine moments over the years, but you know what, I don’t care. If I was into tennis for the ‘nice guys’, I’d be a fan of Rafa and be done with it. If you support the nice guys, good for you (seriously), but for me, it’s not about that. I want my players to have an edge. I want them to get pissed. I want smashed racquets, furious rages, umpire yelling and cold handshakes. I want my players to want to destroy the guy across the net, and get incredibly angry if they don’t. I want them to die for every ball. Because that’s what sport is to me. I live for the passion, the hunger and the excitement. I love it when they get snarky over another player because it shows they want to win above all costs. As much as I like Muzz being a ~classy loser~ when he plays Rafa, I can’t help thinking that if he didn’t hero worship him so much, he might be a bit more inclined to punish him. (I’m just glad he doesn’t hold back on anyone else ;)). If you asked me which Novak I prefer - the cocky, arrogant kid who didn’t give a shit what anyone else thought and won a slam, or the nice guy we see today who struggles to beat the top guys because some say he lacks the ‘desire’ - it’s the former every time. And one of my favourite Mario moments? The time when he shoved Capdeville in the chest. It’s that thought process that means I couldn’t care less if my favourites fist pump on double faults or whatever. It means they want it so badly, they don’t care how they get it.
That’s not to say I like it when my favourites act like dicks (and hey, as far as I know, none of my favourites are dicks off court). Andy acted like a dick last night, and I don’t think anyone could say otherwise, but I also know why he did it - he feels, lives and breathes the game while he’s out there, and if he feels there has been some injustice, he doesn’t hold back. It doesn’t make it okay, but I know I’d take that any day over a ‘nice guy’ who comes off court full of modesty and praise for his opponent. Also know that I'm not saying nice guys don't want to win as much, but they'd rather do it nicely ;)
I know I’m in the minority here, and players are supposed to be ambassadors for the game etc etc, but I don’t care. I’m looking for the pure, raw, thrill of the game in tennis. I’m not looking for a husband. I want a fighter. I want an entertainer. I want a player. And that’s what these guys are to me.
A lot has been said about Andy Roddick’s meltdown over the footfaults. I’m not saying it was okay. It wasn’t his finest moment, and there have been a lot of not-fine moments over the years, but you know what, I don’t care. If I was into tennis for the ‘nice guys’, I’d be a fan of Rafa and be done with it. If you support the nice guys, good for you (seriously), but for me, it’s not about that. I want my players to have an edge. I want them to get pissed. I want smashed racquets, furious rages, umpire yelling and cold handshakes. I want my players to want to destroy the guy across the net, and get incredibly angry if they don’t. I want them to die for every ball. Because that’s what sport is to me. I live for the passion, the hunger and the excitement. I love it when they get snarky over another player because it shows they want to win above all costs. As much as I like Muzz being a ~classy loser~ when he plays Rafa, I can’t help thinking that if he didn’t hero worship him so much, he might be a bit more inclined to punish him. (I’m just glad he doesn’t hold back on anyone else ;)). If you asked me which Novak I prefer - the cocky, arrogant kid who didn’t give a shit what anyone else thought and won a slam, or the nice guy we see today who struggles to beat the top guys because some say he lacks the ‘desire’ - it’s the former every time. And one of my favourite Mario moments? The time when he shoved Capdeville in the chest. It’s that thought process that means I couldn’t care less if my favourites fist pump on double faults or whatever. It means they want it so badly, they don’t care how they get it.
That’s not to say I like it when my favourites act like dicks (and hey, as far as I know, none of my favourites are dicks off court). Andy acted like a dick last night, and I don’t think anyone could say otherwise, but I also know why he did it - he feels, lives and breathes the game while he’s out there, and if he feels there has been some injustice, he doesn’t hold back. It doesn’t make it okay, but I know I’d take that any day over a ‘nice guy’ who comes off court full of modesty and praise for his opponent. Also know that I'm not saying nice guys don't want to win as much, but they'd rather do it nicely ;)
I know I’m in the minority here, and players are supposed to be ambassadors for the game etc etc, but I don’t care. I’m looking for the pure, raw, thrill of the game in tennis. I’m not looking for a husband. I want a fighter. I want an entertainer. I want a player. And that’s what these guys are to me.