It's a sad situation, but one that bears mention: Andy Roddick is suing a charity. That said, he's within bounds both legally and ethically. He provided services (in the form of exhibition match play and, no doubt, amusing comments) to a Miracle Match Foundation tour event in Connecticut and was not compensated as per contract. (Side note: Far too many signed contracts are hardly deemed binding anymore, it seems, at all levels of life. That's puzzling, if not flat-out flabbergasting.) Now Roddick is pressuring the nonprofit to pony up the funds promised to him, which he promises to turn around and donate to charity, albeit a different one.

Here's a look at Roddick's appearance in CT. He was joined by Jack Sock and Gigi Fernandez:

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Understatement of the week: This is most unfortunate, all of it. That said, Roddick is comporting himself well in the midst of a terribly dicey situation, one that could blow back on him, his personality, and his own interests and fundraising moving forward. Even so, that will not happen. The philanthropist that he is—the Andy Roddick Foundation has greatly aided children's health and interests over time—he knows when and how to choose his battles away from the tennis court. He's articulate, and has done and will do well to explain his position in this matter, which is not an enviable spot to find oneself. But if anyone in the pro tennis realm can appropriately and tactfully address it, it's Roddick.

For all the not-always-advisable jawing that he did with chair umpires and linespeople over time in his playing career, Roddick plays his proverbial cards perfectly away from the heat of match play. What's more, through numerous attempts to contact and retrieve the funds previously, he didn't seek this particular spotlight. He and his legal representatives would have much rather settled the dispute outside of the headlines.

Here's my write-up on the Miracle Match for a Cure event that came to Indianapolis at the beginning of Super Bowl week in late January 2012. Pete Sampras combatted Todd Martin in the main event. As this legal case goes now, one hopes for a speedy resolution that does as little as possible to soil the reputation of each individual involved.

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