Sportsmanship

Wish there were more athletes like him.

Andy Roddick is a class act. I've met him and he always has time for young fans, signing autographs, etc. At an exhibition he and Andre Agassi played in North Dakota last year he spent what seemed like forever leaving the arena, working his way around to greet hundreds of kids who'd paid pretty big money to see him. Roddick and Agassi have both been criticized for some tantrums they've thrown on the court, but their generosity and willingness to help a cause by playing benefit matches speaks volumes of their true character. This latest example is not surprising. And I too, wish more pro athletes were like Roddick.

I'm the same way when I play basketball, I will call my own violations before my opponents do. But at the same time, if an opponent is gonna try and call bs, then I'm pretty passionate about getting the call right, resulting in a couple fights, countless arguement, and respect. Eric

A few years ago I didn't care for Andy Roddick. I thought that he was too brash. However, I have come to like him. Remember when Andre Agassi was the wild child of men's tennis? Now he's the respected elder statesman. By saying this I don't intend to call Andy Roddick a loser, but he's gracious in defeat, and winning doesn't seem to be the only thing on his mind. Doing the right thing seems to be important to him. He doesn't mind a little self-deprecating humor, either. Example: the ESPN commercial in which he gets into an argument with Stuart Scott over who's "A-Rod."