Omaha.com: Simply Red: Roddick coming to Omaha

He can travel the globe and date the hottest faces on Hollywood’s “A” list and go forehand-to-forehand with the world’s best before thousands of strangers hushed in anticipation. He can hit a fuzzy yellow ball so hard you can’t see it.

But a boy doesn’t easily change allegiances.

So Andy Roddick, two decades after leaving Omaha and the living room where he watched his Cornhuskers each Saturday, got nervous when Tom Osborne called two months ago and asked America’s top tennis player to join him for some football.

Roddick has won a U.S. Open and risen to No. 1 in the world. He has developed the most lethal serve in the game. Earlier this month, he spearheaded the United States to its first Davis Cup in 12 years.

But in an interview before his first career performance on Friday in Omaha, where he’ll host a Rock-n-Racquets exhibition with Serena Williams, Roddick preferred discussing less-publicized moments.

Like sitting in a press box suite with Osborne at the Texas-Nebraska game in October.

“I just tried to keep my mouth shut and not say anything too stupid,” said Roddick, who lives in Austin, Texas.

As Texas staged its fourth-quarter rally, Nebraska coaches in the adjacent suite were throwing things and banging walls, Roddick said. Quite the contrast from Osborne, who would notice a problem on the field and quietly mutter, ‘Uh oh.’

Click here to read the full article at Omaha.com.