“Welcome to Flushing”

Roger Federer looks to prove the world wrong over the next two weeks, and show that he still has what it takes to capture a big time championship. Can he win the US Open for an amazing 6th time?

The tennis world will gather in Flushing today as the this year’s final Grand Slam gets under way.  There are many key storylines as play begins:

-1.  Andy Murray is looking to secure his first Grand Slam Championship.  The British phenom has been near the top of the tennis game for some time now, but has never been able to take home the big pay-day.  Will his luck change in Flushing?

-2.  Rafael Nadal looks to complete the career “Grand Slam” by capturing the one Grand Slam event that has eluded him in the past.  After two consecutive semifinal appearances in Flushing,  can Rafa demonstrate his all around toughness on the hard courts of New York?

-3.  Can Roger Federer prove to the world that his reign is not over yet and capture his first US Open title since 2008?  He was the runner-up in New York last year, losing in 5 sets to Juan Martin Del Potro (who will not be playing this year).

-4.  Can an American end the 7 year drought of Grand Slam Championships?  The last time an American male captured a prestigious Grand Slam Championship was in 2003, when Roddick took home a title at this site (the US Open).

So these are the 4 key questions to the tournament in my eyes.  Lets delve into some answers.

1.  Andy Murray is more than capable of  bringing home the first Grand Slam title of his career here.  Murray possesses an outstanding all around game that fits perfectly for the hard courts of Flushing.  He has proven that he can beat the big dogs lately, by knocking off both Federer and Nadal in straight sets in Toronto.  So definitely do not overlook Murray, who is ranked 4th heading into this event.  I will state though, both Nadal and Federer’s hunger to prove the naysayers wrong will not help Murray’s chances though.  Look for Andy to go deep as usual, but to come up short, in either the Semifinals or the Finals.  I would expect a Semifinal exit though.

2.  Nadal is more than ready to take home the one Grand Slam that has eluded him during the course of his stellar career.  He currently holds the number 1 ranking.  He has won 5 titles this year.  Has a combined 52 and 7 match record.  Plus he is hungry.  Expect this guy to roll into the Finals for a date with his old nemesis Mr. Federer.  Rafa plays every point like it is his last and will cruise his ways into the Finals.  Counterpunchers can be quite dangerous on the hard courts of New York.  Sure he will have challenges such as a possible date with Andy Murray, but it is very hard to stop this guy when he is motivated.  I expect Rafa to come up just short though and lose in the Finals due to the fact that another man is even more motivated, Roger Federer.

3.  Roger Federer will shock the world over the next two weeks and take home an astounding 17th Grand Slam title.  I am not sure what it is about this guy.  All directions are pointing against him capturing a 6th US Open title.  But I for some reason feel like this guy has one more big time tourney left in him.  And this is the one.  Sure Wimbledon has always been his playground, but he has not exactly been a slouch in Flushing over the years.  Look for Roger to upset his old nemesis, Rafa, and prove to the world that even at the age of 29, he is still capable of playing like the best player in the world.

4.  This will not be the tournament that an American will end the 7 year drought.  Guys like Nadal, Federer, and Murray are just too good to all go down here.  But I will state, guys like Roddick and Fish could both go deep.  They have both played outstanding this summer and have each enjoyed success in the past in Flushing.  All 4 of the top Americans, have had their best Grand Slam finishes in Flushing during their careers. Coincidence, I think not.  Roddick captured his only Grand Slam title here in 03.  Fish, made the quarterfinals in 2008. John Isner made the 4th round in 2009.  And Sam “the man” Querrey made the 4th round in 08.  I definitely would not be surprised to see at least one of these four guys, maybe two of them if we are lucky, sneak into the Quarterfinals.  But do not expect one of them to take home the hardware.  It would be one of the most improbable runs in history.

So there you have it.  The biggest tennis tournament that America has to offer gets under way today.  As the pro tour loves to say, “We will be seeing you in New York.”

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“USA All the Way”

Kevin Durant is looking to lead a young Team USA squad to it's first FIBA World Championship since 1994.

Team USA continues to roll and show the world that even without our cream of the crop superstars, we can still be dominant.  And many are probably saying, hold your horses.  It has only been two games.  The team has not played any of the major threats yet.  And when they did play a tough competitor, they squeeked out a win by the smallest of margins (86 to 85 exhibition win over Spain).

Now I will admit, I had my doubts about this team when I heard that Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Dwyane, nor Dwight Howard would be playing.  And frankly, I still do.  But this team little by little is starting to put my mind at ease.  They are young.  Full of speed.  Boasting with athleticism.  Long at every position. They have some great shooters.  And they are being led by Coach K, who all he knows how to do is Win, Win, Win.

I realize, this team still has three more pool play games before they even advance into the real tournament play.  Can Kevin Durant and the boys take care of business against Brazil, Iran, and Tunisia?  You better believe it.  But the real questions start to arise when this team has to take on teams like Greece, Spain, and Argentina.

Well have no fear, Kevin Durant is here.  This guy is the real deal.  He is a shooting star that is still only 21 years old.  He has quickly developed into one of the top all around players in the NBA, and possibly the best all around scorer.  The kid has length, athleticism, and a pretty stroke.  No team in this entire tournament, much less probably in the NBA, can really check this guy.  Not to mention he has players like Derrick Rose, the human fast break himself to dribble drive and free him up. 

I mean take a look at the US starting lineup.  A major strength that top teams in the NBA have as of late is great length at every position.  Durant is 6 foot 9 and long.  Iguodala is 6 foot 6 with phenomenal athleticism.  Lamar Odom is 6 foot 10 and reminiscent to a tree.  Plus our backcourt of Derrick Rose and Chauncey Billups are both 6 foot 3 guys who can really get up and down the floor. 

I will admit when Coach K picked this team, I did not understand why guys like OJ Mayo or Rajon Rondo did not make the squad.  But now after seeing this team play, I am seeing the logic.  He has a great chemistry going with this squad with a group of guys who really complement each other well.  This has been a problem for US teams in the past, who have not been able to capture the FIBA World Championships since 1994.

Talent is not everything.  Sure it helps, but it will not win you a major title by itself.  Coaching, discipline, and overall team chemistry are what will take you to that Championship level.  This team appears to have it all.

Look for Team USA to go all the way and bring back the FIBA World Championship to the United States for the first time in 16 years.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“30 for 30 Brilliance”

Bill Simmon's "30 for 30" documentaries idea has taken the sporting world by storm over the past 11 months.

 Last evening, I was at the gym getting a work out in after a long day at the office.  While working out, I would fixate on the clock every few minutes.  Typically, I am never in a hurry to leave the gym in that it is my relaxation for the day during the work week.  It is kind of closure to my day before I sit down to eat dinner and watch the Red’s game.  But realizing that the “30 for 30” special featuring Michael Jordan was on at 8, I made sure to keep track of the time.  And once it hit 8 on the dot, I darted out of the gym, and sprinted all the way home.  From 8:05 until 9:00 (yes I was 5 minutes late), I did not move from my chair, even during commercial breaks as I watched, “Jordan Rides the Bus.” 

This has been a common thread for me and many other sports fans during the past 11 months for these “30 for 30” specials.  These specials have truly become a phenomenon.  And rightfully so.  The idea originated from one of the best in the business.  One of the guys in the sporting world, that whether you agree with his opinions or not, you are still going to read his column.  And his columns are some of the longest I have ever read regarding sports, but you better believe I read every word.  None other than Boston’s biggest homer, the “sports guy,” Bill Simmons. 

Simmons proposed the idea because he felt that some of the events that have occurred during the past 30 years, throughout the ESPN era, could really be more than just a another blip on the radar.  They could be turned into documentary specials.  There are many fine directors out there.  Why not really delve into some of these special events and capture the interest of current, past, and future sporting fanatics?  The first special of the 32 part series filmed in October of 2009 documenting the story of “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, leaving Edmonton for Los Angeles, and completely changing the scope of the NHL.  Other “30 for 30” specials that have really caught my eye have been “Muhammad and Larry,” “Without Bias,” “The U,” “Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs the New York Knicks,” and last evenings, “Jordan Rides the Bus.”  In total 18 of these 32 specials have aired.  And you better believe I am hyped for the next 14.  

I will admit I love Sportscenter and all of the shows that the greatest sporting network in the world (ESPN) has to offer.  Even at times if items get entirely too repetitive, that is all a part of the world we live in today.  Communication is constant and connectivity is at a premium.  But these specials, are done so well, are extremely informative, and very entertaining at the same time.  I guess that is what you get when you take big time directors and let them put out footage on sporting events.  Last evening, really brought back some memories of my young childhood.  I mean I could not have told you all the details of what had happened when Jordan left the League to pursue an ambition of playing professional baseball.  I was just a little kid.  This special last night though, provided me and probably the rest of America with some much-needed perspective.  I mean how many people knew that Terry Francona, the current manager of the Boston Red Sox, was Michael’s manager for the Birmingham Barons?  

These specials in essence, connect the dots for people.  They bring these major stories of the past to life and provide some closure.  Many of these stories may have been analyzed and shown on various sporting news shows over the years, but never has their been a major director showing the facts through expert cinematography. 

So thank you Bill Simmons.  America appreciates you coming up with this simple, yet innately innovative idea. 

And make sure to tune in next week for the special entitled, “Little Big Men,” which will document when the 1982 Kirkland, Washington All Stars shocked the world, and brought the Little League World Series Title back to the United States. 

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze. 

-TheSportsKraze 

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“Leinart vs Young Part?”

Vince Young shocked the world in January of 2006 when he defeated Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, and the mighty USC Trojans. Last night, he once again showed why he owns Matt Leinart.

Last evening, America got to witness a familiar sight.  A blast from the past.  Matt Leinart and Vince Young were once again competing on the football field.  Different times with much different personnel, but a very similar result.  Now I realize it was just a preseason game, and it is hard to judge much from these “pretend” games as many like to call them. But Young once again demonstrated why he has, and will most likely continue to be, the better pro quarterback than Leinart.

I will admit, I, along with most of the rest of the America (outside of Texas), was all about the Matt Leinart and the USC bandwagon 5 years ago.  I figured there was no way that Vince Young, and a very strong Longhorns team could beat the seemingly “professional” (little did we know) looking team out of USC.  The Trojans were invincible.  Outside of a minor hiccup against Notre Dame (USC still won the game), there never appeared to even be a chink in the Trojan armor.  I was very surprised when Young finished 2nd in the Heisman Voting that year ahead of Matt Leinart.  But who really cared?  Leinart was projected to be the better pro QB by the Mel Kiper’s of the world and was on his way to a second consecutive National Title.  Or so we thought…

Welcome to the 2005 BCS National Championship.  Seemingly a home affair for the heavily favored Trojans in Pasadena.  USC was leading late in the game and Matt Leinart was putting up another strong performance.  But the real story of the game was the amazing play of Vince Young.  The guy accounted for 467 total yards of offense, which is a mark that has never been touched by another player in a BCS National Championship game.  Not to mention he led his team to 41 points against a very tough USC defense.  How didn’t this guy win the Heisman Trophy, I, and many other people wondered?  Either way, late in the 4th, Young scampered into the end zone past a diving Frostee Rucker to secure the stunning upset victory for Texas.  It was the end of a Trojan dynasty.  And little did we know, not only was this the beginning of the end for the program, but it was also the end of Matt Leinart as we knew it. 

In 3 years as the Trojan starter, Leinart threw for over 30 TDs and less than 10 INTs each year.  He also completed over 63% of his passes, won a National Title, and won a Heisman Trophy.  Vince Young also was a starter at Texas for 3 seasons.  In his first 2 years as the starter, he threw for 18 TDs and 18 INTs.  Very modest numbers to say the least.  But he was still finding ways to lead the Longhorns to victories.  Do realize that he rushed for a combined 2,074 yards in these first 2 years as the starter as well.  He was not your prototypical NFL pocket assassin.  As a senior though, his game began to gel on all cylinders.  He threw for 26 TDs and only 10 INTs.  He also rushed for 1,050 yards and 12 TDs.  The man was doing it all.  Looking reminiscent of Michael Vick at Virginia Tech.  Well the BCS National Championship Game marked the end of an era for Leinart.  And apparently the beginning of a new era for Vince Young. 

Come April 29th, 2006, NFL Draft Day. Mel Kiper had been stressing for months what a great class that was coming out.  Guys like Reggie Bush, Mario Williams, AJ Hawk,  and how there were 2 can’t miss QB prospects.  The draft started out with a major debate as the Texans took defensive end Mario Williams rather than “Heisman Trophy” winner Reggie Bush (appears to have been the right decision now).  Following this, Vince Young was the 3rd overall selection, while Matt Leinart fell to 10th overall.  I was in disbelief.  Leinart had the look of a big time NFL quarterback and had all the tools.  He was 6 foot 5, had a strong-arm, a pocket presence, and had that Tom Brady like moxy, or so it seemed.  Vince Young reminded me of Michael Vick.  And  guys like Michael Vick could get teams victories in the League, but guys like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were the pocket guys that could bring teams Super Bowls.  Sure Vince Young would be fun to watch I thought, but Leinart would be the one hoisting up the Lombardi Trophy in a February within the next few years.  Boy was I wrong.

Now I will admit that neither of these guys have panned out to be superstars.  But it appears Young just needed some time to adjust to the pro game and is slowly but surely becoming a solid NFL quarterback.  Leinart on the other hand, not so much.  For Leinart’s career, he has played in 29 total games over a 4 year stretch, throwing 14 TDs and 20 INTs.  His passer rating has been a very subpar 70.8.  Young on the other hand has played in 45 games, throwing for 32 TDs and 39 INTs.  His passer rating has been an also subpar 72.3.  But he is a guy on the rise.  A guy who brought Tennessee back from the dead last season.  Leinart on the other hand has not shown any signs of improvement.

Will Young continue to soar into a star in this League while Leinart’s career continues to fizzle out and end in the near future? Or will these guys continue to compete for many more years to come in the NFL? 

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

TheSportsKraze

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“A Tale of Two Kobes?”

Kobe Bryant turns 32 today and has truly transformed his image during the course of his amazing 14 year NBA career. He is the greatest winner in the game today.

It was the best of times.  It was the worst of times.  This famous quote from the Charles Dicken’s classic novel, “A Tale of Two Cities” is the best way to describe the career of one of the all time greats.  A man who is one of the top two shooting guards of all time.  A man who is the greatest player in the history of one of the League’s most storied franchises.  A guy who is loved and hated alike. A guy who has done everything there is to do in the game of basketball.  A guy that has shown that it is possible to screw up and come out stronger.  A guy that..

By this point, you all better know who I am talking about.  But I can keep going.  The man who they call the Black Mamba.  The man who is the greatest winner in the game today.  A man who closes out games better than any player in the League since “His Airness.”  A man who sweats perfectly (if there was a perfect way to sweat).  A man who has the smoothest offensive game in the League.  A man who can defend with the best of them.  A man who is the closest thing we have to Jordan these days.  A man who is hated on the East Coast and beloved on the West Coast.  A man who couldn’t share a city with “Superman.”  A man who has demonstrated phenomenal toughness and leadership with age.

Kobe Bryant turns 32 today.  He is no longer the same 17-year-old kid that took LA by storm after being drafted in 1996.  He has matured into a man.  A tireless worker who settles for nothing less than being the greatest winner this game has ever seen, or at least the greatest winner of his generation (he will not catch Bill Russell’s 11 titles).  And he very well could tie Jordan this upcoming year as he goes for his 2nd version of the famous Phil Jackson “3-peat.”  Now I am by no means saying Kobe is Michael Jordan.  Kobe Bryant is and will always be just “Kobe.”  He has not worried about being the greatest player of all time or about his legacy for the better part of a decade now.  Kobe has simply wanted to win.  And sure he was immature and naive early in his career.  Sure he has made his mistakes.  But I have never seen a professional athlete demonstrate the resilience that this guy has shown (maybe outside of Lance Armstrong).  And not only has he demonstrated a phenomenal resiliency, but he has shown that people can change not only themselves, but the perception that people have of them.

Kobe hit an all time low in the Summer of 2003 (hard to believe it was already over 7 years ago).  It came out that he had possibly committed sexual assault towards a woman in Eagle, Colorado.  Now this occurrence was an awful event in the life of Kobe Bryant.  But at the same time, it might have been just what he needed to get back to the top of the game.  Though I feel horrible saying it, this event may have been a blessing in disguise for Kobe Bryant.

Now sure people had the perception that Kobe Bryant was always about numero uno.  And they may have been right.  Slowly but surely, after this horrible off the court situation, Bryant developed into a better person and a better teammate.  He began to change the perception that the country had about him.  Within a few years, the Lakers had acquired Pau Gasol, and were back to being the best team in the West as they were in the early 2000s.  Now it was no easy turnaround, but Kobe made it happen.  He demanded ownership to put a team around him that he could take to the next level.  They listened and now Kobe is on the brink of history.

Even if Lebron wins titles in Miami, he will never be looked at as a winner the way that Kobe Bryant is.  His ship has been sunk due to his own stupidity or lack of confidence.  By leaving Cleveland, he has tarnished his legacy forever. Call it what you want, but the “King” will never be called a winner the way that Kobe Bryant is and always will be no matter what great feats he accomplishes throughout the rest of his career.

So Happy Birthday to the Black Mamba.  Now I am sure Kobe will be tirelessly working on his game and conditioning all day.  But he deserves a day off to celebrate all that he has accomplished not only as a player, but as a person.

Kobe is thinking 3-peat.  Is the rest of the NBA ready?

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

TheSportsKraze

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“Friday Night Lights”

Blue Chip recruits such as former Princeton quarterback and now LSU running back Spencer Ware (pictured above) will be missed this year. But the talent pool is still deep as always and you better believe that the Friday Night Lights will still be as exciting as ever in Southwest Ohio.

With all of the commotion lately revolving around the outstanding play of the Reds and the beginning of a big year for the Bengals, many including myself have lost sight of something that we really pride ourselves on in Cincinnati, “The Friday Night Lights.”  High school football arrives this weekend with the usual Skyline Crosstown Showdown.  Games for this annual event will be played at Nippert Stadium (home of the Bearcats) and at St. Xavier High School’s beautiful football venue, Ballaban Field.

This is the 13th year of this major tradition in the tri state area, and this year features teams predominantly from the local area, but also a highly acclaimed Good Counsel High School squad coming in from Maryland.  In my eyes, this is the year after the “year.”  Sure last year was unusual for Southwest Ohio in that no local team won the State Championship.  The area has been spoiled in the past decade with numerous state champions coming from Region 4 (Southwest Ohio region).  But do not be surprised to see a local team reclaim the title back for the area.

Last year was a year that the tri state area was richer on Division 1 College talent than I can ever remember.  I mean the area was flat-out stacked.  Especially at the Quarterback position.  There were 4 big time quarterbacks in the area with 3 going to major Division 1 programs and the other going to a major NAIA school.  These top guns were Luke Massa (St X now heading to Notre Dame), Andrew Hendrix (Moeller now heading to Notre Dame), Spencer Ware (Princeton now heading to LSU), and Mark Miller (Elder now heading to Ohio Dominican).  Not to mention the local area featured one of the top 5 rated offensive lineman in the country (Matt James who was headed to Notre Dame) and the overall number 1 rated linebacker in the country (according to most polls, Jordan Hicks heading to Texas).  I mean the area was simply amazing.  And though this year does not include nearly the amount of high-profile names, you better believe it will be another exciting year.  Here are some reasons why:

1.  High school football in Cincinnati is always exciting.  It is always the “it” thing to do on Friday nights.  The UC Bearcat football boys mainly play on Saturdays and the Bengals mainly play on Sundays.  So for football hungry Cincinnati, why not go out and watch the next generation of stars?

2.  The level is outstanding in Ohio.  Football in Ohio is widely regarded as one of the country’s elite consistently producing many Division 1 players and consistently putting teams into all of the National Ranking polls.  There is a reason why Ohio teams have dominated the Kirk Herbstreit Classic since the idea came to fruition a few years back.  Ohio says bring on the rest of the country.  We will teach them what high school football is like in the Buckeye State.  For those of you who do not know, the Kirk Herbstreit Classic is an annual event that has Ohio teams play against top high school programs from all over the country.

3.  Though I hate to say it, we feature the Greater Catholic League (GCL).  This league has consistently put out some of the country’s elite teams for years now.  And though at times I and many others feel like these schools have an unfair advantage over the public schools, they do produce some pretty strong teams every year.  The discipline of these kids is absolutely amazing and is a testament to great coaching.  Do not forget that legendary College Coach Urban Meyer got his start handling the defensive backs job at St. Xavier.

4.  Colerain is full of outstanding talent this year.  The public school power is looking to atone for a very unusual absence from the Ohio State playoffs.  Be on the lookout for this team to really make some noise this upcoming season.  Featuring major Division 1 talents such as Tyler Williams, Traylon Durham, Jarret Grace, Andrew Smith, and Chris Dukes.  These guys are simply loaded and will wow fans with their amazing triple option attack.

5.  The GCL South is really up for grabs this year.  All 4 of the teams are expected to be tough as usual.  But for once, the favorite appears to be the Lasalle Lancers.  Lasalle has traditionally been the doormat for this conference in football for some time now.  This year though, they boast a quarterback heading into his 3rd year as a starter.  You better believe this Andrew Kummer kid (the QB) will come in very handy late in games during the major pressure situations that define GCL Football.

6.  And this is my final reasoning.  Do not act like you have something better to do between 7 and 10 on Friday nights.  Go watch your current institution or your alma mater.  We are very fortunate to have an amazing level of high school football in Southwest Ohio.  Not to mention games typically cost 3 to 5 dollars to get into.  So take advantage of the opportunity that has been given to you.

Friday Night Lights are back baby.  Can a Southwest Ohio school bring back the state title crown?

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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“The Roddick of Old”

Many had hoped to see a Roddick vs Federal Finals matchup in Cincinnati today. Instead, fans got a Mardy Fish vs Roger Federer 3 set battle.

Yesterday, at the Cincinnati ATP Tennis Master Series event, fans were thrilled to see an All American Semifinals matchup between childhood buddies Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish.  This was a big time match that featured three sets of solid tennis, high tension and emotions, and two rain delays.  The man who sports the last name of “Fish” swam his way into a finals date with Roger Federer that occurred earlier this afternoon.  Federer came out victorious in an exciting three set rumble, but Mardy had a great tournament and looks very solid heading into the US Open.

Yesterday’s match was quite disappointing on many fronts though for not only Andy Roddick, but for American tennis in general.  Sure many were shocked to see the struggling American men’s game put two players into the Semifinals.  But the “it” guy in American men’s tennis for the past 8 years has been none other than Andy Roddick.  Roddick fell out of the top ten a couple of weeks ago and could have really used a finals appearance or possibly even a title in Cincinnati heading into the final Grand Slam of the year.

Roddick, as I have said many times before, has thoroughly impressed me for years now.  He has truly worked his tail off to develop a backhand and a more patient game.  He used to just blast big first serves and rely on his very strong forehand.  For years now, he has demonstrated an all around game.  And though he hit number 1 in the summer of 2003, his game was not nearly at the level in which it is at now.  Many of you are probably asking how that could be possible.  I mean he was ranked number 1 then and is not even in the top 10 now.  Well it comes from watching the guy play.

ARod still demonstrates a very strong forehand and first serve.  But he has really cut down on his unforced errors and now has a somewhat effective backhand.  Plus he has developed a reliable net game and his fitness level is light-years better than it ever was.  Lastly, he typically has demonstrates a cool, workmanlike demeanor on the court.  Andy’s amazing work ethic shows in his abilities to play all around tennis these days.

All of this went out the door though against his good buddy Mardy Fish. The match was all knotted up late in the first before a rain delay.  Roddick took advantage of the delay though and immediately closed out the first set in the first game following the delay.  Then in the 2nd, he seemed to be cruising until a second rain delay hit.  This time, Fish took advantage coming back from a 5 to 2 deficit, and captured the 2nd set in a tiebreaker.  Fish cruised to finishing things off in the 3rd.

The  end of the 2nd and the entire 3rd set reminded me of the “old” Roddick days.  Andy appeared out of shape and looked to close out points as quickly as possible.  His patience went out the window and it showed with the amount of unnecessary unforced errors he committed.  Plus his backhand was lapsing.  Lastly, his temper came out.  Roddick has generally been good at keeping his emotions in check for years now.  Yesterday was a major exception though.

In the end, the Roddick of “old” came out and cost him a finals showdown with his old rival Roger Federer.  Roger captured a much-needed title today though and looks very sharp heading into the US Open.

Roddick still had a great week and knocked off 2 top five players in Djokovic and Soderling.  But his recent bout with mononucleosis seemed to hurt his stamina yesterday.  Lets hope that this does not hurt him in Flushing as he is probably the only American hope to bring home the title.

Which Roddick will show up in Flushing Meadows? The new and improved Andy, or the “old” Andy?

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.

-TheSportsKraze

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