Fast Break

Tennis

Roddick improves after the match

Andy Roddick was a bigger hit in his postmatch news conference Thursday than against top-ranked Roger Federer.

After a 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 drubbing from Federer in the semifinals of the Australian Open, Roddick delivered a stream of deadpan one-liners and jokes that revealed a wry sense of humor.

What it was like to be on center court of a Grand Slam and sent packing in straight sets?

“It was frustrating. It was miserable. It sucked. It was terrible,” Roddick said. “Besides that, it was fine.”

Questions turned to Jimmy Connors, the former great who is coaching Roddick.

“What did Jimmy say to you straight after the game?”

Roddick: “He gave me a beer.”

Baseball

Mets give Sele another chance

Right-hander Aaron Sele agreed to a minor league contract with the Mets, giving New York another starting pitching option heading to spring training.

Sele, the former standout at Washington State, would get a $1 million, one-year contract if added to the 40-man roster and would have the chance to earn another $1 million in performance bonuses.

The 36-year-old Sele was 8-6 with a 4.53 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.

College football

‘Super Buns’ features Paterno

Penn State fans can double up on their Joe at breakfast.

Football coach Joe Paterno’s likeness will appear on boxes of “Super Donuts” and “Super Buns” cinnamon buns made by R Super Foods. It’s a Pittsburgh company owned by NFL Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris, one of Paterno’s former players.

Paterno’s picture is part of a promotion to honor sports figures who have “immersed themselves in their local communities, providing initiatives and community service that helps others,” Harris said at a State College, Pa., supermarket, flanked by Paterno’s wife, Sue.

“I couldn’t stop at just one,” she joked about snacking on the food. “Joe has more discipline.”