Andy Roddick-Roger Federer: In Celebration of the Underdog

On Friday evening, four of us, two die-hards Federer-ites, and two die hard Nadal-ites sat eating a few slices of Pizza getting constant updates of Federer getting over the Haas-been hurdle.

We all knew that at the most, Federer would be stretched to a tie break, or in the event of a complete miracle, lose a set. As it turned out, Haas ended up Haas-been. Yawn.

Then our talk turned to A-Rod vs. Murray.

"Dude, Murray vs. A-Rod. Anybody betting on Roddick?"

"Nope. I like Roddick more, but Murray plays better. Besides he has incredible home support." (Note: England is presently part of Scotland)

"Ah well. I still like A-Rod better."

As it turned out,  6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5) in favour of Roddick was not something any of us had in mind. But really, its just poetic justice.

As I saw Roddick bury his head onto the Center Court grass, emotion pouring off into the stunned English air, I felt like giving Mr. Roddick an ovation myself.

All through his career, Roddick has been an underdog. He was neither a Sampras, nor a Federer. His serve was the ultimate WMD, yet Pistol Pete knew when to serve better.

The whoosh his forehand produces usually can bring down the temperature around the court. However, he is unfortunate enough to play in the era of the Federer and Nadal, who pack not only TNT, but also nucleaorology into their mitts.

His backhand can be closely compared to Ivo Karlovic minus his serve: not very useful in winning a point. But all along, all through his Federer humiliations, which must be said, he took with amazing calmess and a great sense of humor, Roddick plowed on.

Take a list of players in the Top 10 of the ATP consistently over the past eight years, there is only one man in there whose name is not Federer (and no, his name is not Murray, not even Nadal). That man is the Boom-Boom (Mach 2), Andrew Roddick.

Regardless of whether or not Roddick beats Federer (a highly unlikely scenario), he has proven he has the heart of a true champion.

In the post match interview on Star Sports (just after the players had exited Centre Court), Roddick said a few words that reflected his passion towards his profession. And here they are:

"Throughout my career, I've had many shortcomings, but trying hard wasn't one of them."

He then proceeded to say that Murray has been a better player than he over the past year, but that he, Roddick, played better today.

But pause. Read that sentence again. Parents and coaches training their hopeful young wards should take a printout of that, frame it and tinsel wrap it for keeping it under the Christmas tree.

If there is one thing that separates true champions from mortals, it is their work ethic and input.

Talent alone does not make a summer slam (case in point: Marat Safin). Sure, Federer hits forehand passing shots that no other individual (Nadal, or otherwise) can.

But nobody ever sees the hours he spents hitting balls into empty open courts imagining Nadal doing the roadrunner imitation.

Roddick played like a champion in the clutch tie-breaks. He unleashed his monstrous serve when it was needed.

Murray admittedly made unforced errors, but that is not Roddick's fault. In fact, at one point in the fourth set, the errors column read Murray-19, Roddick-20.

Murray may be the Great Scottish-English-British Hope, but he is not there yet. History remembers Grand Slam Finals. And Murray is missing a trick here. But, ah Andy!

You are yet a boy child, and not a man child. As many fist pumps as you do, your biceps are not Made in Majorca or your forehands Designed in Basel.

But lets forget Andy-M, shall we? Let us celebrate Andy-R, that man among men, that lone American gunslinger facing high noon at a place not so long ago ruled by another American cowboy, some "Pistol" dude.

The Mighty Fed will in all probability win on Sunday. If Roddick is a gun slinger, Federer is a Marine with an Uzi.

But there we must stop. And let go. And let Andy (Roddick, not Murray, please) have his hour of glory. He may not be the better player, but he has an equally big heart. And in sports, that is something.