Tonight the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints kick off the 2007 NFL season. If you prefer tennis, your big game was Wednesday when tennis titan Roger Federer beat upstart Andy Roddick for a shot at his fourth consecutive U.S. Open title. New York Times sports writer — and News & Notes resident sports guru — William Rhoden weighs in.
FARAI CHIDEYA, host: I'm Farai Chideya and this is NEWS & NOTES.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: For all of you football fans out there, the wait is over. Tonight, the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints kick off the 2007 NFL season in downtown Indy.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Or if you prefer tennis, your big game was yesterday. When tennis titan Roger Federer beat upstart Andy Roddick for a shot at his fourth consecutive U.S. Open title.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: For these stories and more, we've got New York Times sportswriter and NEWS & NOTES resident sports guru, William Rhoden.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: How is it going, Bill?</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): Farai, how are you doing? I'm great.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: I'm doing great. So - I just have to whine and complain - this is an old complaint - the Colts used to be the Baltimore Colts, but anyway. They're…</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): I'm with you. Listen, I went to school in Baltimore, I went to Morgan and that, you know, there's always the Baltimore Colts.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): But, you know, I'm - this is my profession so we have to move on.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: We have to move on. We must press on.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): That's right.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: So the Indianapolis Colts and the Saints - what can we expect?</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): Well, it's sort of the - we have the sweet and sour. I mean, this game sort of represents all the goods, you know. You have Tony Dungy has become the nation's beloved football coach, you know. He's mild-mannered great guy. Peyton Manning is the beloved - the nation's beloved quarterback.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): And the New Orleans Saints, you know, are sort of (unintelligible) team after how well they rebounded last year and they represented the hopes and the dreams of a city that was devastated.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): So tonight's, you know, a good time Charlie night. It's a night in the football league. Everything is, you know, everything is love and hugs. Sunday, of course, will be something different when the Atlanta Falcons open up in Minnesota.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): And there's, you know, Farai, this is such a bizarre open to season because I just described the warm and fuzzy feeling around tonight's opening. But there's this cloud hanging over the league because it's probably one of the most popular player, Mike Vick, is not going to be around. He's facing, you know, he's facing jail time. And it's - I think among a lot of players, it is sort of a bittersweet beginning to this season because of some of the things that happened to Vick and, you know, the dogfighting. This dark cloud is kind of over the league because of all the players who have been suspended. So it's a very bizarre opening to the night of the nation's past time.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Let's hop back to the Colts for a second.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): Yes.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: They are led by Coach Tony Dungy and he has a new book out. He's had a tough couple of years. Do you think that he and his team have another win in them?</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): I think they do. I think that - Dungy has a really nice biography, and you're right. I think he's son committed suicide tragically a couple of years ago. And Tony has such a deep spirituality around him that's - that I think has attracted sort of warmth and great respect from everybody who watches football. His team really believes - his team is a reflection of him. And, yeah, I think, absolutely, if Peyton Manning doesn't get hurt, if Marvin here and gets hurt. There's no really great injuries. Yeah, I think that your Baltimore - I mean, I'm sorry. I think that he - they didn't have more (unintelligible) Colts.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): No, I think that the Colts definitely can put themselves in a position to repeat.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Now, let's move, Bill, to tennis. You have Roger Federer holding his ground at the U.S. Open. It was a good match but begs(ph) the question: Is Federer unbeatable?</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): Well, first of all, nobody's unbeatable, you know. I've been doing this for 35 years. And just when you think that somebody's unbeatable, they get trampled in an upset. But Federer is close. He is as close to a perfect tennis player as you can come.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): Last night, you know, Roddick - Andy Roddick, threw everything he had. I mean, he just played probably the best he can play and he still couldn't win a set. So - and I think that's probably what makes men's tennis attractive now although you don't have the depth that you get in the women's field.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): You need an Attila the Hun. You need someone who seems to be unbeatable, somebody - for anybody to shoot you. And that is clearly Roger Federer. He's trying to become the first men's tennis player since the '20s to win four straight Opens. Can he be beaten? Yeah. But, stand in line.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: All right. We're going to have to whip through this one quickly. What about the Williams sisters? We were looking for a Williams-versus-Williams match. But Serena got knocked out of the tournament. What do you see ahead for those girls?</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): Yeah. I don't think the Williams sisters want to play each other. But Venus - Venus coming off of Wimbledon is very strong. I think it's going to be great match tomorrow. She's going to play Justine Henin. I like Venus. She's really focused. She's out for revenge. She wants to beat the one who beat her sister. I like Venus in this match. I like Venus actually to win the women's side of the U.S. Open.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: All right. Well, we will certainly stay tuned, and, Bill, it was a pleasure as always.</s>Mr. WILLIAM RHODEN (Columnist, New York Times): It's always a pleasure. Go bowl some more.</s>FARAI CHIDEYA, host: Bill Rhoden is a regular sports commentator for NEWS & NOTES and a sports writer for The New York Times. He is also the author of "$40 Million Slaves: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Black Athlete."