A-Rod's choice
No, not that A-Rod.
We're talking about the tennis player, Andy Roddick. Somehow my attention was pulled away Sunday night from NBA box scores and the lively activity on Facebook, and landed on some tennis news over at Andy Roddick's personal web site.
Roddick, a former No. 1-ranked player in the world, announced at andyroddick.com that his new coach -- drum roll, please -- will be none other than Larry Stefanki, a SoCal resident.
Great choice.
In fact, I'm more enthused about this selection than Roddick's previous high-profile coach, Jimmy Connors. (Still wondering what the heck happened with Jimbo over in Santa Barbara last week.)
Anyway, Stefanki is a straight-shooter. Yes, the media loves honesty and quotability.
But maybe this means that Roddick is ready to do some serious listening at a serious crossroads in his career. And he'll be dealing with a coach who has heard it all. He makes his players better and has never backed away from a challenge -- his client list has included the likes of John McEnroe, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Marcelo Rios, Tim Henman and Fernando Gonzalez.
He got Gonzalez to an Australian Open final. Can he do it with Roddick?
-- Lisa Dillman
Photo: Larry Stefanki talks to the crowd about his doubles victory with partner Bjorn Borg following a match against Jimmy Connors and Harold Solomon, circa 1993. Credit: Al Bello / Allsport
