I watched the Cowboys defeat the Giants last night with some Cowboy fans and you would not know that the Cowboys were winning. The one thing I love about having so much useless sports knowledge is that once in a while it becomes useful. They both were ranting after Romo threw his customary interception that led to the Giants first score. I quickly told them that Romo over the last 3 starts against the Giants has thrown for over 900 yards, 9 touchdowns, and only 1 interception in those games prior to last night. He has averaged 30 plus points a game in the losses and has gone toe to toe with Eli Manning. Yes he threw that horrible pass to Austin that may have led the Cowboys on a run to the Super Bowl and not Eli but,he is not the reason they have failed in recent years. Maybe this is his year for redemption. They shrugged off the knowledge and continued to complain about his performance. They even missed his first two touchdown passes afterwards.
Andy Roddick has been killed over the last decade because of the dominance of Federer. He is Patrick Ewing of the tennis world. Yes he has won one major title. Ewing has a college title. (could easily had 3 titles). Patrick Ewings nemesis was of course Micheal Jordan. Ewing was criticized quite heavily for not winning when Jordan retired and was criticized for several playoff failures. Even though no one critcized Ewing's heart or hunger or effort, He just never won. Andy Roddick played with heart, passion, fire, hunger, but no matter what he did, he could beat Federer when it mattered. He played the greatest match I have ever seen in Wimbeldon a couple of years ago against Federer. He did everything anyone imagined that he could do in a match. He played harder than I have ever seen him play. Both he and Ewing were heavily critcized in the media because of the way they answered the same tired questions about why they could not overcome Jordan or Federer. 3 of Roddicks losses in the finals of grand slams were to Federer. He just came out at the wrong time. Hell even the day he loses his final match, Roddick is upstaged when Federer loses to Berdych.
The reason he and Romo are easy to compare is both men come across as men who dont take their professions seriuosly. Micheal Jordan is an adequate golfer but you knew that basketball was his profession. He practiced hard. He played hard. You never questioned his desire or motivation on the court. Yes they tried to when he went to the casino after a playoff game. What they dont tell you is the game after the casino, he scored 37 points. He was still Micheal Jordan. Romo and Roddick are not known for on the field pursuits. People talk about who they are dating more than their performance on the field. Roddick has had his fair share of Hollywood starlets. Romo too. Most people feel that Roddick is more interested in being a showman than a winner. Even though Roddick has 62 titles. Only Federer has more in his era. Even though he has won the second most matches in his era. He was once the Number 1 player in the world. He cannot do enough to please anyone. When lead America to the Davis title, most people thought he was on the verge of something special in his career. His critics will say that he got satisfied and never did enough to be a great like Agassi or Sampras. What people don't talk enough about is he tried everything to beat Federer and maintain top status. He lost weight, served and volleyed, tried to hit his serve harder and softer. Even superman has kryptonite right? Romo gets the same rips because he has no rings and Eli has two. Romo is blamed for collapses in the regular season and the fact that Dallas has only one playoff win since he became starter. Romo has been beaten up in football toughest division for years and no one cares what the excuses are. He didn't play defensive back last year when they collapsed in the fourth quarter 3 times or messed up the Arizona game when the Cowboys made a field goal and iced their own kicker. I believe Romo's arm was in a sling at that time. I remember the botched field goal in Seattle. He dropped the ball. Cowboy fans seem to have this doom is impending attitude when he has the ball in his hands. Last year he and Drew Brees were the only quarterbacks to carve up the vaunted 49er defense. When the Saints were unbeaten in 2009 he proclaimed that they were going to go to New Orleans and beat the Saints ending their unbeaten season. He did. He has more games of brilliance than most but he has not won. Lebron James did not win either till this year. Lebron and Tony Romo were probably in the same boat until this year.
So who is the correct answer? Roddick had people in tears when he retired. If Romo retired today most Cowboy fans would rejoice. The answer clearly is Romo. No Cowboy fan today is proclaiming the Cowboys are the team to beat. They are all saying the same thing. They are saying we will see what happens in Seattle. Can you imagine if Tebow had gone to the Cowboys? That would be must see tv. America will miss Andy Roddick. He carried our flag well for a decade. He has had a good career. He did not win like Agassi, Courier or Sampras, but he had the same burdens that they had. The only difference is that they had each other to lean on. Roddick had no one. Romo is quarterbacking the Dallas Cowboys who had Troy Aikman and the large shadow of Roger Staubach looming over his every performance. A super ring quiets eveyone. Ask Trent Dilfer.....
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