Timing is Everything

Andy Roddick played the best tennis match of his life today. He stared down the greatest player in the sport's history and fought toe-to-toe for almost five hours of brilliant stroke work, rallying and service as the spectators hovering over him cheered and pulled for his opponent.

Not often to you play the greatest game of your life and lose. But that's just what happened to Roddick today. No one gave the 26-year old American even a puncher's chance to compete with the great Roger Federer. Hell, no one gave him to a chance to even beat Andy Murray in the semifinals. Murray, Britain's transformed darling who was looking to be the first Englishman to win Wimbledon since World War II, was the favorite to shove Roddick aside to set-up a classic showdown between the country's favorite player and history's finest player. Roddick was exceptional against Murray in winning a 4-set slugfest and was even better against Federer. But Federer proved today why he's the ultimate champion, matching the feisty American with ever shot with a historic 5-set classic.

I can't help but sympathize for Roddick. He's definitely been the most talented American male tennis player of this decade and has been ranked as a top 10 player in the world since 2003. When you break down all of Roddick's statistics, research his injuries and coaching changes, studied his match-ups and draws, it really boils down to one hard core fact: Roddick is just the product of extremely poor timing.

Roddick was born on August 30, 1982 while Federer was born on August 8, 1981 (anniversary to be...WOO HOO!!!) Roddick won his first Grand Slam title in 2003 when he was crowned the US Open champion after defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero (that year's French Open champ.) Subsequently, he was awarded the world's number one ranking and looking like, not only the future of tennis in the country, but on the planet.

Then this Federer guy came along.

Federer started his siege of 15 Grand Slam titles in 2004 and has not looked back since. Roddick continues to plug along, consistently spotlighted in any tournament's field and usually defeating his opponents on his way through the bracket. Unfortunately, he's never being able to grasp another Grand Slam. Roddick has reached the finals of Grand Slams on four other occasions:

2004 - Wimbledon - lost to Federer

2005 - Wimbledon - lost to Federer

2006 - US Open - lost to Federer

2009 - Wimbledon - lost to Federer

There have been 23 Grand Slam tournaments played since Roddick's US Open title. Do you know how many of those tournaments have NOT been won Federer and Rafael Nadal?

Three.

That means, no matter how good you are, how hard you work to be the best, you've run into the greatest tennis duo EVER.

In contrast, Tiger Woods, the greastest golfer and who most people claim is the greatest athlete on Earth, has won 6 Major tournaments in the same span that Federer has won 15! Do you know how many times the same golfer has finished second to Woods or has been paired with Woods in the final grouping?

Zero.

Now, imagine if Roddick were 29 or 23 years old instead of 26. If he were 29, his best years might have been between 2001-2003, when guys like Goran Ivanisevic, Tomas Johannson and Albert Costa were winning Grand Slams. If Roddick were 23, he'd be the same age as Nadal - who currently has fragile knee problems - and the two just might be fighting for who would be the next great replacement to Federer.

No matter how you slice it, we probably will never remember Andy Roddick as one of the greatest tennis players of our time. Federer has been at the forefront of the tennis landscape for over five years and has wisked away everyone in his path on his trek into the history books. I hope Roddick wins at least one more Grand Slam title before his retires. If he doesn't, maybe he should join the PGA Tour; he probably would have better luck.

So, What's New With You

I would like to apologize to anyone that reads this entry and my lack of correspondence over, really, the month of June. I won't make excuses - I need to do a better job. I promise you that everyday, I think about a topic to filibuster about. Sometimes I am the only one that might think it's interesting. Sometimes I fall asleep. Sometimes I'm taking orders from my bride to be. In any case, I am not in a coma and will do my best to get back on track.

With that said, here's are some of the highlights in my world since last Friday:

Friday, June 26th - Before beginning my first of 4 400-mile pilgrimages in seven days, I had a Come to Jesus meeting with the current assistant coaches at the Harbour. The team has continued to grow on me since day one, but I felt it might be best to let the young staff know just how I felt they were performing. I had gotten them pizza and breadsticks, opened the air-conditioned clubhouse so they could sit on the leather couches, chilled the bottled water and made sure they were comfortable for our 15-minute get-together that commenced after the noon practice ended.

"If none of you come to practice and it's just me out there, we'll be fine," I remember sternly saying. "Do your job!"

If they weren't focused after that, there's no hope.

I want these kids to want to be good coaches and not just go through the motions. It's funny how some of them claimed they would work for free in their interview but are eager to always ask when they'll be paid next. They're great at giving the kids something to do, but should anyone have a question, answers are few and far between. No one really talked in the meeting except for me. Hopefully they weren't day-dreaming.

And once it was over, I was off to Arlington.

Saturday, June 27th - Patty was moving out of her house and the truck made a large, dangerous run going 40 mph with a queen-size mattress, box spring and a set of kitchen shelving. Everything made it to her folks' house safely, but there really isn't any room for a lawnmower let alone a 50" television.

Sunday, June 28th - Church, scrubbed Patty's house, watched the second half of the USA/Brazil game (I'm bad luck, I suppose,) drove back to Davidson - made 20 phone calls.

Monday, June 29th - Seals had a bye week, caught-up on Davidson labor, no television + lots of driving = early bedtime.

Tuesday, June 30th - Very noteworthy four-day stretch begins today. I wake up for practice and find my left eye very red and swollen, almost as if someone hit me with a gavel and then colored the Sclera with a red Sharpie. I still went to practice, but some of the smaller Seals made some quizzical faces at me. I really didn't think too much of it; it was only in one eye and the swelling of the eye socket led me to believe I had been bitten, hopefully by the same bug that got Spiderman.

At night, I went to a summer league meet to watch two of my winter swimmers compete. Both Katie and Nicole have slightly physical and cognitive disabilities and to see the two of them compete with their teams was really remarkable.

Wednesday, July 1st - Nothing says Happy Canada Day like early morning practice. My eye had not improved since yesterday and I decided that Vitamin Water and switching my goggles would do the trick. We did not celebrate Canada Day like we did at Chapel Gate, Queens Lake or Villa - selfishly, I wanted to keep it that way.

Tomorrow, I was scheduled to have an interview for a coaching position and stop by George Mason to double-check on classes. Here's what ended up happening after a bevy of phone calls:

Coaching interview: postponed
Teaching interview I: 9AM
Teaching interview II: Show-up

I finished some Davidson work and, at 5:45PM, I was off to Fairfax. On the drive, I placed a list of phone numbers next to my seat of rising seniors that I was going to call on the Wildcats' behalf. July 1st is the first day coaches are permitted to recruit over the phone and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. I left a few messages and have a couple of very nice conversations. I could spend all day on the phone and in transit recruiting. It really was one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job at Davidson.

Thursday, July 2nd - Eye now looks like I was in Fight Club and is watering at a sprinkler's rate. I drive to Interview I at 9AM only to find the principal will not be in until 12:30PM. Interview rescheduled for 3:30PM.

After postponement number two, I drive to interview II. "I'm sorry, that position has already been filled," muttered the receptionist. (Isn't it funny how, around noon, I received an email stating how the position had been filled almost two hours after visiting the school.)

So how do you kill time waiting for your 3:30 appointment.

YOU BUY WEDDING RINGS!

Patty and I drove to the same jeweler where I purchased her engagement ring, got fitted, and chose gleaming symbols of love (cough cough cough, sniffle.) To mark this special occasion, we bee-lined to Arlington to capture our wedding license. The best part was some lady coming from behind a cubicle, looking down at our information and, in one sentence, saying, "Raise your right and hand do you solemnly swear that all of the information that you have provided is the truth in accordance with the county of Arlington?" We didn't say anything and she already signed the papers. Now that's an official document.

The 3:30 interview went well despite the principal being mesmerized by my Quasimodo appearance. I hope I get to teach there. Should know in about 10 days.

I try to take a nap but I don't think drinking hot tea helped. I headed back to Davidson around 7PM.

Friday, July 3rd - Early morning practice to start. I considered not getting in the water because now, my eye does not open. Fortunately, there are plenty of assistant coaches not getting in the water so I hop in with the kids. The three of the five practices play a game I call "Braveheart:"

* Make two teams.
* Throw a bunch of toys in the middle.
* Give each toy a value (1 point, 3 points, 5 point Magic Penny, etc.)
* Yell, "GO!"
* Everyone swims ask fast as they can to the middle.
* You must swim your toy back to your side.
* No throwing onto the deck, but passing to teammates in allowed.
* No more than one toy in your possession at a time.

The best part comes when you throw three kickboards in the middle and say they are worth minus-3 point. So the kids have to place the boards on the opposite side against the defense of, sometimes, half the squad. We had 10-person pile-ups everywhere. Note: swimmers were ejected for grabbing the neck or head.

After leaving practice, I had a massive headache, one working eyeball, chills, and on and on. I visit the Davidson clinic only to find they are closed. I call a few other unoperable offices that like taking the day before national holidays off before heading to the CVS Minute Clinic. The doctor (I think) turns to me and says, "Whoa, did you get in a fight?"

The medical professional in this secret phone booth concluded after 7 minutes that I had a strong eye infection and fever. With medicine in hand, I departed the pharmacy with my ball cap three sizes larger than it should be. The rest of the day I was pretty ill and useless. However, I did manage to strike a deal with a nice lady for my dresser; she'd be here at 9AM.

Happy Independence Day - My eye looks a little better and I'm getting my appetite back. I help the lady cram the dresser in here Dodge Caravan and begin looking for more things to sell; this Craigslist thing is the greatest. I visit the Davidson office to get a little work done before heading back to the apartment, where I'll be making a pizza and root beer float to celebrate my freedom.

These next two weeks will be pretty adventurous, as well. By then, I hope to land a job or two, land a place to live, start well in my principal class, get more wedding stuff done (or supervise it getting done,) and get a nice gift for my folks' 33rd anniversary.

I hope everyone has a nice start to their July. I'll be checking in with much shorter entries throughout the month with more useless information.