Peter Bodo's TENNISWORLD April 13-30 | (tennis.com)

Tennis | Peter Bodo's TENNISWORLD April 13-30 | Roddick's Return --
Peter Bodo gave my blog a mention in his blog last week, but that's not why I'm linking to his piece on Roddick. It's because this is a very thoughtful and candid assessment of why Roddick has become a "crossover" sports celebrity, and why he's not going to be replaced anytime soon as the face of American men's tennis.

But what Bodo doesn't address--and it's a subject I confess is fascinating to me--is whether this is the kind of life Roddick wants. There is a downside to fame and fortune, especially when you're trying to actually achieve something that has nothing to do with either-- in Roddick's case, tennis greatness. In many ways, celebrity just gets in the way of this, and it's often difficult to balance the "good of the game" with the champion's desire to excel. That Roddick has walked this tightrope as well as he has, as young as he is, shows that he really is more than a serve and a forehand.