This in from Fox Sports. Former U.S. Open champion and tennis star Andy Roddick will be joining the upstart Fox Sports 1 and its signature studio program, Fox Sports Live when it launches in August. Roddick’s role on the program will be as a co-host with Charissa Thompson who is leaving ESPN2’s SportsNation as part of various panel discussions. Fox Sports Live will be one part panel discussions led by Roddick and Thompson and the other part highlights hosted by TSN SportsCentre’s Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole. With Fox Sports Live occupying a three hour block, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic works.
Fox Sports execs are familiar with Roddick’s sports knowledge with him having co-hosted a syndicated radio show for Fox Sports Radio with Bobby Bones.
And Roddick is also known for being the husband of Brooklyn Decker. Say no more.
Here’s the official announcement from Fox Sports.
TENNIS LEGEND ANDY RODDICK TABBED FOX SPORTS LIVE CO-HOST
Former World No. 1 Player & Grand Slam Champion Appears on FOX Sports 1 Beginning August 17
New York – Andy Roddick, at one time the No. 1 men’s tennis player in the world and a Grand Slam singles champion, is joining FOX Sports 1, America’s new sports network launching August 17, as a co-host for FOX SPORTS LIVE, the network’s flagship news, opinion and highlights program. The announcement was made today by FOX Sports Co-President and COO Eric Shanks and Executive Vice President, Studio Production, Scott Ackerson who is overseeing FOX Sports’ news coverage.
“It is very rare that you find an exceptional athlete who can step off the field or in this case the court, who has the potential to be as equally talented in an on-air role,” said Ackerson. “Andy is not only an expert tennis analyst, but his knowledge, candor and opinions on all sports are equally as impressive, and that makes him a unique fit for what we have in mind for FOX SPORTS LIVE.”
Besides his obvious credentials as a world class tennis champion, Roddick is an avid sports fan. The Nebraska native has had a lifelong devotion to the Cornhuskers and became an ardent follower of the Heat after moving to South Florida as a young boy, frequently attending games. Roddick is also a fantasy sports junkie, and spends a great deal of time on his football and baseball teams. Roddick joins Jay Onrait and Dan O’Toole, previously announced as the primary highlight team, on FOX SPORTS LIVE.
“I was a tennis player for a long time, but I’ve been a sports fan a lot longer than that, and I am beyond excited to be joining FOX SPORTS LIVE, being a part of television’s newest national sports network, FOX Sports 1,” Roddick said. “It has always been a dream of mine to pursue an opportunity like this after my playing career, and I am incredibly grateful to Eric, Scott and the entire FOX Sports 1 team for helping make this dream a reality. I can’t wait to get started.”
Roddick is a former world No. 1 professional tennis player and is the most recent North American male to have won a Grand Slam singles event with his 2003 US Open title. Following his US Open win, Roddick spent much of the next decade ranked in the world’s top 10. He advanced to the Wimbledon finals three times, reached the Australian Open semifinals four times and played in 42 Davis Cup matches, leading the United States to victory in 2007.
One of the greatest tennis players in history, Roddick announced his retirement from the sport on August 30, 2012 – his 30th birthday – with the aim of focusing on his foundation. He founded the Andy Roddick Foundation at the age of 18 with the goal of developing and inspiring underserved youth through sports-based mentoring. Roddick’s work off the court was recognized in 2005, when he received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award. He then received the Arthur Ashe Leadership Award in 2007 and the Heineken Star Award for achievements in the fields of athletics and philanthropy in 2009.
No stranger to television, Roddick made the rounds on the late-night talk show circuit during his career with multiple appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He also made daytime television stops at Live with Regis and Kelly and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Roddick hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 2003, becoming just the second professional tennis player to host the show.
In 2011, Roddick began hosting a show on FOX Sports Radio with his friend Bobby Bones, which was nationally syndicated in 2012. The successful show was a mix of sports, pop culture and entertainment, and while seemingly unlikely, sports other than tennis usually ruled the day.
Roddick was born in Omaha, NE, and moved to Boca Raton, FL, at age 11, which served as the catalyst for his tennis career. He was the No. 1 junior player in the U.S. from 1999 to 2000, and by 2000 he was ranked No. 1 in the world. He won six world junior singles titles and seven world doubles titles. In 2000, he won the Junior US Open and Australian Open singles titles before going pro that year. He is married to model/actress Brooklyn Decker.
More stuff is on the way.
