I always love it when I hear my friends or other people that aren't NASCAR fans put down all of racing with reasons that just don't have much merit. "It's not a sport" they say.Andy Roddick, welcome to that list.
Roddick, to the best of my Wikipedia knowledge, is currently ranked as the 6th-best tennis player in the world and is competing in the Davis Cup in the heart of NASCAR country, Winston-Salem, N.C.
During an interview there, Roddick was asked about tennis not being as popular as football or NASCAR in the area.
"It's a little disappointing that we're behind a sport that you turn left for four hours," Roddick said. "But it's pretty easy to have American superstars in sports that only Americans play. We're not concerned. Around the world, it's probably just behind soccer as the biggest sport in the world."So Roddick played the "oversimplification" card against NASCAR and racing in general.
Well, Andy, what exactly is tennis? Is it nothing more than two or four people hitting a little yellow ball back and forth for a few hours? Or would that be as ignorant as his view on NASCAR?
The last time I caught a NASCAR race, I'm pretty sure there was a little more involved than just "turning left for four hours", but I must not have been watching the same thing as Roddick.
Ah, roasting professional athletes for their views. It's a great fun.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. I love tennis and I liked Andy Roddick. Maybe he is still high on the elation of finally beating Federer...finally. It's been a bummer the past couple of years that the tennis finals haven't included Americans. If Roddick was there then he always managed to get his ass kicked because it takes more than a big serve to win in tennis.
Why can't we have a driver place him in a passenger seat for 500 miles and see what he thinks then?
I am so sick of idiots like him thinking that Nascar and their fans are a joke and beneath them.
Posted at 6:17PM on Apr 11th 2008 by Susan
2. That's ok Susan don't get to upset besides what do you expect from a person that plays a sport (?)...that's other divisions are PING-PONG AND BAD-MITTEN.....LMAO
Aloha, Brad
Posted at 7:54PM on Apr 11th 2008 by Brad
3. I think Roddick is secretly jealous. Maybe he dreams of the day when he can get endorsements galore, fans cheering his every move and the chance to wear long pants to work.
Posted at 3:04AM on Apr 12th 2008 by Rusty@therustygourmet.com
4. 15 LOVE - WHO GIVES A SHIT - LOVE THIS
Posted at 9:08AM on Apr 12th 2008 by steve rice
5. Putting down another sport. Thats a good way to promote yours ......
I like Tennis and I am desapointed that there is not more coverage but thats is just a clueless comment.
Nascar >>>>>>>>>>> Tenis simply because they know how to promote it.
Posted at 12:51PM on Apr 12th 2008 by Frederick
6. He is SO right!! If you want REAL racing attend road courses where drivers need to turn both directions (sometimes immediatee changes either way). NASCAR stinks and is losing popularity quickly. When it was good was years ago when they were driving REAL cars and not tin cans using the same manufacturer rear ends and nothing more than reshaped tin over chassis. What a joke. Go try and buy one of these fakes the Monday after the race!!!!!
Posted at 2:18PM on Apr 12th 2008 by Budo
7. Tennis is a game.
Racing is a sport.
Posted at 3:17PM on Apr 12th 2008 by tony
8. It's NO WONDER Rod duck, thinks that way, cause the last I heard he can't even drive; barely got his license. You are correct, it IS A ENLARGED Version of Badminton. Maybe thats why it's played with a RACKET?
Posted at 7:01PM on Apr 12th 2008 by tooslick
9. Andy Roddick made the US Open finals a couple years ago. Tiger Woods went to the match in New York to cheer for the Swiss player Roger Federer. That should be all you need to know about Roddick's status in tennis.
Posted at 7:47PM on Apr 12th 2008 by Susan
10. Shoving baseball in on a nascar race is crazy. i wouldn't give you a dime for pro ball. if nascar don't want to piss alot of ppl off they should change this very soon.
Posted at 10:54PM on Apr 12th 2008 by H. Michael Smith
11. It is interesting that the NASCAR fans used sentences that are all gramatically incorrect. Just compare the educational and income levels of tennis fans and NASCAR fans and you will see the real difference between the two sports.
Posted at 8:51AM on Apr 13th 2008 by paul
12. Until you have been to a Nascar race you just cant know the excitement. Its not just watching cars driving around a rack. You feel it.From the second those cars start the ground rumbles. You feel the adrenilin,the excitement. You know the risk the drivers are taking everytime they get in those cars. I am a huge football fan, I even like golf but Nascare is in a league of its own. So are the fans. The drivers are more involved with their fans and the sport is respectful. If you mess up on or off the track you pay. You can't curse or be disrespectful. They pray and sing the national anthem before EVERY race. And the Jets fly over head.Its American. The feeling is unbelievable. Dont judge. Go to a race then give your opinion.
Posted at 10:04AM on Apr 13th 2008 by Sissy R
13. someone a few comments ago put it well. look at the average nascar fan...then the tennis fan. i bet those drivers got to be in REALLY good shape to sit in a car and turn left for 500 miles...enough said
Posted at 11:19AM on Apr 13th 2008 by buddy
14. what wrong with nascar and what is hurting them is those talking heads they call commentators. the race is suppose to start at a certain time but those keep talking nonsense for an hour an a half
Posted at 11:20AM on Apr 13th 2008 by WILLIAM BIRKLA
15. can anyone even remember when Andy Rod-dick has won anything and if so against anyone that was any good?
perhaps he should keep his eye on the ball more often....
Posted at 11:23AM on Apr 13th 2008 by larrywoz
16. HEY DICK , go drive in for four hours and then give your comments asscrack
Posted at 12:26PM on Apr 13th 2008 by james in mobile AL
17. Re: Paul in response 11 -
It is interesting that the person commenting on the poor grammar used by NASCAR fans does not not know how to spell "grammatically". Obviously, this person also does not know the educational and income levels of NASCAR fans (higher than he thinks), and is shallow enough to believe that these levels are accurate judges of the merits of a sport.
Posted at 2:16PM on Apr 13th 2008 by AndyPandy
18. It takes alot of stamina to race for 4 hours in 100+ degree heat non-stop at 100+ miles per hour. Not to mention their lives are on the line if they make one wrong move. But honestly, all athelets are paid way to much money just to play a game. As long as fans continue to pay the money(high class or low class) their pay checks will continue to grow as ours shrink.
Posted at 2:23PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Janet
19. 17. Re: Paul in response 11 -
It is interesting that the person commenting on the poor grammar used by NASCAR fans does not not know how to spell "grammatically". Obviously, this person also does not know the educational and income levels of NASCAR fans (higher than he thinks), and is shallow enough to believe that these levels are accurate judges of the merits of a sport.
Great response. i think I will save it for the future
Posted at 2:44PM on Apr 13th 2008 by Frederick
20. THIS ANDY RELISH STORY,I think ya all are giving too much weight and too much consideration to a clueless mediocre athlete. No wonder why the everyday posters are neglecting this ANDY RADISHES
wortheless full.And i like tennis even tuogh i do not follow it much.
On another subject: I think the ghostblogger is still in action and has posted on this file under a
another personality also previously used in the DALE/JEFF FILES last week.
Posted at 6:03PM on Apr 13th 2008 by anzajoe